Are you about to move and wondering what is the best way to pack your moving truck? Although playing Tetris with all your furniture can seem like all fun and games when you first start, there are some wonderful tips that can help your move go super smoothly.

Maximizing space and preventing damage is the name of the game, keep reading for our list on how to pack your moving truck like a pro.

1. Finding the right size of truck rental needed

Start your move off right by choosing the right truck rental size that you will need. You might think that you are saving money and opting for the smaller moving truck, but it might end up costing you more time and money. If the truck ends up being too small you will have to deal with the hassle of either exchanging the truck for a bigger one, attempt several trips with the smaller ones, and depending on where you are moving too, it might be a complete waste of time. To find the right size of moving truck that will fit your needs, it’s important to read about each of the rental companies’ choices carefully. You can either phone or read online about the type of rental truck that you will be using. There are many moving companies in Japan, and some may be easier to access than others. For example, if a company claims that their 10ft box truck can fit a max load of up to 1200kg, and is capable of moving a one to two-bedroom home, it’s always best if you call the company and ask to speak to a representative. Lastly, don’t forget to make sure that the truck comes with a loading dock. This will make it easier to pack all of your belongings, large boxes, and appliances if you have any onto the truck.

2. Gather your supplies

It’s best to gather all necessary supplies before you begin to load your moving truck. You will need to study boxes, plastic wrap and packing tape. You will also most likely need a dolly to help load heavy items, as well as furniture or blankets to add some extra protection while going from one location to another. You could also ask a few friends to help with the move, just make sure to offer them pizza and beer for a job well done!

When getting everything onto the truck, you want to make sure every item has been packed correctly with plenty of protection. You can do this by using furniture pads or moving blankets to fill in the gaps between boxes and furniture items, This will help prevent your belongings from shifting while on the road, as well as protecting your items from scraping up against one another. You will also need a mattress bag to cover your mattress or futons and moving straps for holding the items in place. Most good rental companies will have moving straps included wit the truck, so once again its always wise to call ahead and double-check on these things. If you are in need of extra boxes you can always go to your local grocery store and ask if they have extras. They normally always do!

3. Taking apart your furniture

Now that you have everything ready and packed in boxes, it’s time to take apart your furniture. This helps you get the most out of your space on the moving truck, as well as distribute the weight of heavy items. For example, you can take the legs off of a dining room table so that you can store the table upright on the truck without having the legs stick out. This is also good for getting some big furniture through doorways. By doing this it will create more room for all your items, and you will be able to put the legs or any other items you disassembled in a different part of the truck to help distribute the weight.

 4. Load the heaviest stuff first

Everything is taken apart and ready to go? Start with the biggest and heaviest items first. This includes your mattresses, bed frames, chairs, tables, fridges, washer/dryers, shelves, couches, coffee tables and anything else that is big and heavy. With how heavy these items are its best to put them on the bottom of the truck and not placed on top of other boxes and items. When putting couches and tables onto a moving truck, make sure that you place them in an upright position. It’s best to place them closer to the front of the truck. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you use moving straps to hold the furniture and other heavy items in place.

5. Load the lightest items last

The next items that you should include are items that are medium to lightweight. Such as boxes and appliances. When putting these onto the moving truck, make sure to place them on top of the furniture and bigger appliances and not underneath them where they could be crushed. If you decide to stack some boxes its best to use moving straps to hold them into place. When you are packing fragile items on to a moving truck, such as a glass mirror or a box full of breakable items, be sure to pack them at the very top of the pile. It’s also a good idea to keep very fragile items and important documents with you. This way, you won’t lose or ruin them during the trip.

6. Enjoy your new location

After a sometimes long and stressful move, it’s always good to take time and relax. Unload everything and then just kick back and enjoy your new location. If you are moving to a new city, maybe take some time and go for a walk around your neighborhood. If you don’t feel like doing that maybe check out the local delivery options and order some food. You most likely will be drained and not wanting to have to unpack all the boxes quite yet. Remember this is a new place and it’s always fun to roam around and see what’s new that’s around you.   

Some other quick packing tips.

• Leave moving day essentials in an easy-to-reach spot on the truck.
• In addition to using mattress bags to protect your mattress, use moving blankets or plastic wrap to protect upholstered couches and chairs.
•  Pack kitchen appliances, such as coffee makers, microwaves and blenders, inside of a box before putting them on the truck.
• Recruit friends to help with the loading and unloading process – especially if moving heavy furniture.
• All rugs should be rolled up and secured in plastic wrap to save room on the truck.

And there you have it, our best list of tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your moving truck experience, hopefully with our it takes some of the stress off of figuring out what you need to do when packing your moving truck.