Truck Articles
How to Load a Pickup Truck for Moving
Jan
One of the biggest benefits of owning a pickup is the ability use your truck bed to haul things. Chances are if you own a truck, at some point, you’ll need to use it to move. Whether it’s just across town or all the way across the country, moving can present its own unique challenges. So we put together a few considerations a truck owner should make in order to properly load a pickup truck for moving.
1. Check your truck’s payload limits.
Because moving often requires hauling very heavy loads, it is important to know the amount of weight your truck can carry. Also known as its payload capacity. Start with your truck’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Your vehicle’s manufacturer calculates this and it can be found in your owner’s manual or on the vehicle’s door frame. You can also look online to find your vehicle’s GVWR. By subtracting your trucks curb weight (also printed in the owners manual) from the GVWR you are left with the maximum weight your truck can safely carry. See our blog article on determining payload capacity for more helpful information.
2. Pressurize your Tires
In order to compensate for the extra weight during moving, add air pressure to your tires.With too much weight tires can begin to bulge. This leads to decreased steering capacity and handling at higher speeds. Check your owner’s manual for the appropriate amount of air pressure to add, dependant on the weight load you expect to be carrying.
3. Pack your cargo bed properly
When it comes time to load a pickup truck for moving, there are as many ways to load the bed as there are items to put in it. And, while there is no one “right way” to load a truck bed, there are some general guidelines you should follow. These will help keep your belongings safe and secure, as well as make things as convenient as possible for you, the driver. Keep the following in mind when it comes time to load up for the long haul.
- Load heaviest items first and position them nearest the truck’s cab.
- Stack lighter boxes on top of heavier ones to avoid crushing and don’t stack boxes too high.
- Make sure weight is evenly distributed from left to right.
- Don’t throw loose or unsecured items directly into the truck bed. They run the risk of flying out at high speeds.
- Tape all boxes and plastic containers shut to avoid anything flying open during transport.
4. Cover your Belongings
An important, but often overlooked step when you load a pickup truck for moving is covering your belongings once they are loaded into your truck. Use a sturdy weatherproof tarp. This will help protect your items from inclement weather and flying road debris. It also helps prevent any objects from flying out on the highway if a box were to come open or an item was to come untied.
5. Strap Everything Down Tight
First off, you need to make sure you have the right components to correctly secure cargo in your truck bed. It can be beneficial to invest in some quality truck anchor points and heavy-duty ratchet straps. Tie-down straps and anchor points are an important part of a secure cargo restraint system and come with a rated capacity so you know exactly how much weight they are capable of handling. Although some trucks come with built-in anchors, they are often at the bottom of the truck bed and can be difficult to access if your bed is full. An anchor point mounted in the rail stake pocket, on the other hand, provides a strong tie in a convenient working height. If you have a tall load, you can even save the extra 4-6 feet of strap required to go all the way to the floor on both sides.
Use your ratchet straps or a cargo net to safely fasten down your cargo load and you’re all set to go.
We hope this article is helpful next time you have to load a pickup truck for moving. If you’d like more useful info from Bullring USA, check out some of our other blog articles here
5 Must-Have Interior Truck Accessories
Tips for Installing Your BullRing Truck Tie-Downs
