Whether you’re moving to a new apartment or just changing apartments, renting a truck can save you a lot of time and money. Many moving companies have online trucks size calculators that let you select actual items to get a more accurate estimate of what size truck you’ll need.
이사When loading a moving truck, begin with heavy items and large furniture. Stack these pieces vertically and against the walls of the truck to save space.
Packing
When packing and loading your moving truck, it’s important to plan ahead. Creating a game plan will ensure that all of your boxes and furniture pieces make it to the correct rooms in your new home. This will also save you time and money in the long run. The first step in planning your packing is to determine which truck size will work best for you. There are many online calculators that can help you determine the volume of your belongings. Using these tools will help you reserve the right-sized truck.
Once you’ve determined the right truck size, it’s time to begin packing your belongings. Start by loading the largest and heaviest items first. This includes large appliances, disassembled bed frames, TV cabinets and coffee tables. Ideally, you should place these at the back of the truck (against the cab where the driver sits).
Next, load medium to lightweight items. This includes any moving boxes, as well as smaller furniture items like dressers and chests of drawers. During this stage, you may want to purchase mattress bags for your mattresses and wrap any upholstered furniture in plastic. Also, roll up area rugs and secure them with movers tape. Finally, don’t forget to pack kitchen items in their original boxes and clearly label them. It’s also a good idea to use padded protection for wood surfaces and corners of your furniture pieces.
Loading
Loading your truck is one of the most important steps in your move. Getting it done quickly and efficiently can make all the difference on moving day. It can also help prevent injuries, especially when lifting heavy items. If you aren’t comfortable with loading a truck by yourself, consider hiring movers or asking for help from friends.
Start by placing the heaviest and largest items into your truck first, such as appliances, large furniture, or packed boxes that contain heavy belongings. This will create a sturdy base and distribute the weight evenly throughout the truck. It will also protect other more fragile or lighter items from damage during transit.
Next, load furniture like sofas and beds. Try to keep them upright and use padded protection for any wood surfaces and corners to prevent damage. This type of padded protection can be rented from your rental truck company.
It’s a good idea to load smaller boxes last. This will help keep the heavier boxes from crushing them, and it will also allow you to pack more items in each box. Remember to always use proper packing techniques when loading your boxes, and make sure you have plenty of tape, paper, bubble wrap, furniture padding, and tie-downs on hand. It’s a good idea to keep your most valuable items with you in the cab of the truck so that they won’t get lost or damaged during transit.
Driving
Driving a rental truck requires special skills that not everyone has, especially when it comes to reversing and backing up. Practice in a safe location before you take on the big challenge of backing up your moving truck to get a feel for how it works and what it looks like behind you. You’ll also want to be sure that the reversing mirrors are adjusted properly and that you can see over your shoulder while going backwards.
Keep in mind that you should always drive slower than normal when you’re driving a truck. This is even more important when you’re driving in inclement weather conditions. Generally, it’s recommended that you leave a car-sized distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to give yourself plenty of time to stop. This is because it takes longer to slow down a moving truck than it does a standard vehicle.
When you’re driving your moving truck in winter, make sure to be extra careful. You can’t control other drivers on the road, and they could kick up snow or ice that will fly up and hit your windshield. It’s best to avoid traveling by truck during the winter if you can! If you’re forced to, make sure that your moving insurance policy covers you. You should also be aware that the height of your rental truck may limit it from being able to clear certain bridges or underpasses.
Insurance
Many truck rental companies offer different insurance packages for their customers. For example, U-Haul offers Safemove and Safemove Plus for a few dollars more per day. Both packages include damage waivers and supplemental liability coverage for the truck, cargo and the renter up to policy limits. Other companies, including Penske and Budget, offer similar policies for a small additional fee.
While your auto insurance or credit card may cover rental cars, they often exclude trucks and trailers due to size or weight restrictions. This is why it’s important to check with your provider before renting a truck. According to NerdWallet, the majority of personal auto policies have exclusions for rental trucks and trailers over 9,000 pounds.
It’s also important to note that driving a truck is very different from operating a regular vehicle. For example, drivers aren’t used to the height of a truck and may crash into awnings or carports when parking or turning. Additionally, the brakes are different, with more pedal pressure and longer stopping distance than a typical sedan.
Generally, it’s best to accept the damage waiver and supplemental liability coverage but decline cargo protection and medical coverage. While these extras are typically available at a cost, they’re not worth the risk if you are involved in a collision with another vehicle or an object.