Guide to equipping your moving truck

Organizing a move can be difficult. There are many things you have to take care of since you are moving your entire household to a new address. Most people do not really think about the moving truck until they have to load it. However, equipping your moving truck is as important as packing or any other moving-related activity. For this reason, by reading this guide you will prepare your moving truck as well. 

Decide on the size of your moving truck 

You cannot start equipping your moving truck if you do not know which size to take. Many rental companies have many sizes offered. Renting a small one might seem like a good idea to save some money. However, if you do take the small moving truck, you will not be able to put all of your things inside. You will be forced to take the trip several times in order to transport all of your belongings. For this reason, your overall moving costs will be much higher than anticipated. Instead of saving money, you will end up paying more than necessary. If you have any doubts about the size you need, you can always ask people from the renting company. 

Get your packing supplies 

Before equipping your moving truck, you have to pack your belongings. In order to give them adequate protection, you have to buy packing supplies. These include moving boxes, blankets, bubble wrap and tape to seal the boxes. In addition to these, it would be smart to have labels for the boxes as well in order to be organized. Lastly, do not forget to get moving straps to keep your belongings in one place during the transit. 

Equipping your moving truck with friends’ help 

If you are planning to load a moving truck on your own, better think twice. It is never a good idea to lift and carry heavy boxes. You could easily injure yourself or damage some pieces of the furniture. For this reason, ask for help. Your friends will surely help you with this difficult task. After loading the moving truck, you can prepare a lovely dinner for them or take them out. In addition to this, if someone helps you with this task, you will finish the process faster, thus saving money since your rental time will be shorter. Another way to save money is to pack some items personally.

The right equipment for your truck 

All moving trucks come pre-equipped with loading ramps. For this reason, you do not have to worry too much about equipping your moving truck since the rental company has already done so. What you need to have is a dolly. Since carrying heavy boxes might lead to injuries, having a dolly will prevent any accidents from happening. You do not have to buy a dolly. Instead, you can get it from your moving company. 

Disassemble your furniture 

When you start equipping your moving truck, the furniture will take most of the space. In order to save space and money, you should disassemble your furniture. Not only will it maximize the use of space in your moving truck, but you will also distribute the weight of your furniture. If you are not sure how to disassemble your furniture, you can look up on the Internet, use a manual or simply ask people from the moving company to do it. Just make sure not to lose all the small pieces in the process. 

The order of loading the moving truck 

Now that you know how to prepare your items and boxes, it is time to load the truck. You should start with the largest and heaviest boxes first. This, of course, includes household appliances as well such as refrigerators, washing machines, oven, then all large pieces of furniture. You should put them first so they would not crush other smaller boxes during the transit. In addition to this, you should place those heavy pieces of furniture towards the front of the truck. Couches, headboards, and tables should be put in an upright position in order to save space. Everything else should be neatly organized and protected. These are important interstate moving tips. 

When equipping your moving truck, distribute weight evenly 

One of the most important things is to distribute weight evenly. Make sure to put heavy items first, next to the walls and cab. Next, you should put the medium-heavy items on top of heavy ones. Lastly, the lightest items should be the last to go. This way, you will have an easier time loading and unloading your truck. In addition to this, your items will not get damaged during transit. 

Use moving straps for better protection 

The moving strap will be your new best friend. If you use the moving strap, you will prevent your items from shifting during the drive. However, you should strap the heaviest items first, then medium-heavy ones, and lastly the lightest items all separately. This way, you will know your belongings are safe and protected. 

Driving checklist 

If you are planning to drive the truck yourself, here are some important points. 

• Get yourself familiar with the moving truck 
• Adjust everything before you start your drive, e.g. mirrors 
• Make sure you closed and latched all the doors 
• Drive slower than usual 
• Plan regular stops 
• Wear your seatbelt 
• Check the weather forecast in order to prepare yourself accordingly and on time, for example, to prepare for the move during rainstorms

If you do not feel confident about driving a truck, especially if it is big, then you can have someone from the moving company to do it. 

Equipping your moving truck 

As you can see, it is not that difficult to equip your moving truck. If you follow this guide, you will not have any problems relocation your items.