More Articles

• Denver Apartments
• Denver Attractions
• Denver Economy
• Denver Neighborhoods
• Denver Real Estate
• Denver Schools
• Denver Annual Events
• Decorating on a Budget
• Finding the Right Roommate
• Getting Out of Debt
• Loading a Rental Truck

How to Load a Rental Truck

Taking time and caution in loading your rental moving truck can make the process much easier and less frustrating than if you simply just begin shoving boxes inside the van.

When choosing a rental truck, plan to rent a truck that will accommodate around 10% more than what you actually plan to move. Keep in mind you would rather have a bit more room than not enough.

The first step in efficiently loading your rental truck is to do a walk-through of your current home and think about which boxes should be loaded first. An alternate way to do this is to think about which boxes you want to come off the truck first when you arrive at your new location. These items should be loaded on the truck last.

Generally, it is a good idea to group boxes of similar sizes together on the truck. When it is time to both load and unload, this can make the process go much faster.

In most cases it is best to pack the items that are the largest and heaviest first. Such items might include appliances and any items or pieces of furniture that require more than two people to actually move. Before you move anything else, these items should be placed on the truck first and ideally situated against the wall that is nearest the cab of the truck. Remember that you will need to provide balance so plan to place heavy or large objects on opposite sides of the truck as well.

When loading items which have wood surfaces, take extra precaution to pad those items. Old towels and quilts or bedding work well for this purpose. You can also rent furniture padding from the truck rental agency as well.

After loading the heavier items, plan to load items that are long such as long mirrors, sofas, mattresses, box springs and table tops. These items should be placed along the longest walls of the truck to help them remain upright during the move. This will also help to save space inside the truck. When packing bed frames, make sure you dissemble them before loading them on the truck. You may also wish to tape them together so they do no shift during transportation; especially bed rails.

Following this, you should plan to load the heaviest and largest of your boxes. Lighter boxes can be stacked on top of heavier boxes. Avoid the reverse as heavier boxes will likely crush the lighter boxes. Any items which are fragile should be the last to be loaded.

Taking the time to plan your move in advance can make the process of moving more efficient and help to ensure that your belongings remain safe and secure during the move to your new home.