Moving day is fast approaching! Soon, you’ll be hitting the road. You’re all done with the packing so the worst is behind you at least. But now it’s time to pack a moving truck. And we all know you can’t just shove boxes and furniture in there with no rhyme or reason. There are certain rules you should follow to ensure that everything fits properly and nothing gets damaged in the process. So what goes in first? And how do you arrange everything for maximum use of space? Let expert local movers Florida give you some tips!
Before you pack a moving truck
There are a lot of things you need to do before you get to pack a moving truck. You will need to rent a moving truck, for example, and pack all the things you need to load into it. The good news is that by the time you have the moving truck parked in front of your door, the hardest part will be over.
Pick the right one
Picking a moving truck of the right size is crucial. Too small and you won’t be able to put all your stuff in it. Too big and the boxes will slide and bump, causing damage to the things inside. So how do you know which size to choose? Well, a good rule of thumb is that you need 3 cubic feet of space in a moving truck for every room you’re packing. Even if you sell or donate some of your things, the furniture alone will warrant a similar calculation. A truck of 24 cubic feet of space, for example, will fit 8 rooms worth of stuff.
Packing supplies help
Even after you’re done with packing your stuff, you will still need some of your packing supplies. Moving blankets, tape, dollies, furniture pads and similar things that help move, secure or protect your items are particularly useful. But extra boxes are not going to hurt. After all, you never know when something might get dented, ripped or wet and needs to be replaced.
Get help loading the truck
Do you plan to pack a moving truck on your own? Because that’s not necessarily the best idea. Instead, enlist the help of your friends and family or even moving professionals. Furniture and moving boxes can get quite heavy so moving them on your own might be difficult.
Start to pack a moving truck by loading the largest and heaviest items first
When it’s time to start loading the truck always follow the rule that large and heavy things go in first. Loading heavy items first put them closer to the front of the truck, distributing weight properly. It also lays a solid foundation that you can put other things on top of and ensures lighter items aren’t crushed under the weight of something heavy. Some of the first things you should, therefore, load into the truck are:
- mattresses and bed frames
- tables, coffee tables, and chairs
- refrigerators
- washer and dryers
- couches and sectionals
Disassemble the furniture
Loading up whole pieces of furniture is neither easy nor practical. Complete pieces are quite heavy and often very awkwardly shaped for a move. This is why it’s best to disassemble everything you can. Take the legs off chairs, desks, and tables. Separate backs, arms, headboards, and footboards from frames. And, of course, take any glass paneling to pack separately out where possible.
Some things are notoriously difficult to move on your own and not even all moving companies will deal with them. Disassembling and a pool table yourself, for example, can easily result in injury or damage. So don’t play around! Hire pool table movers Florida if you’re moving a pool table: this is one of those cases where you don’t want to be cheap!
Load things upright when you pack a moving truck to save space
While furniture is obviously solid and always takes up the exact same amount of space, loading sofas, tables, boards, and the like upright will make it easier to place other things around said furniture. In a moving truck, where space is quite limited, this is a major advantage. Just remember to lean your upright furniture against something sturdy like the wall of the truck. Wrap moving blankets around it for protection.
Larger boxes first, things you need last
Once you finish up with all your furniture and large appliance, it’s time to start loading boxes. Remember that rule about large and heavy items getting packed up first? Well, it applies boxes too! Start by loading your biggest and heaviest boxes first. Put them closer to the front of the truck and its sides. Then stack medium and smaller boxes on top of them.
But size isn’t the only thing you need to think about. Everything that gets packed needs to later be unpacked, right? To make unpacking easier, leave the boxes you will need first for last when packing a moving truck. That way you can easily access them first. These are boxes with some basic cleaning supplies and toiletries, documents you may need for the movers or utilities, and a change of clothes or two.
Distribute weight evenly while you pack a moving truck
An important thing to keep in mind while you pack a moving truck is that weight must be distributed evenly. The best way to achieve this is by putting the heaviest items close to the front of the truck and against the sides. Items of medium weight can then take the center of the truck. Or you can stack them on top of heavy things. Lighter boxes belong at the very top and towards the back of the truck, farthest away from the cab. This way you can unpack without getting buried under an avalanche of boxes. Most importantly, an evenly weighted truck is easier to drive and control on the road. This makes it safer and ensures that you and your possessions all arrive at your destination safely!
