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Insider's guide to loading a moving truck
Before you load, have padding, suitable rated restraints, filling materials and a trolley ready. Check the truck's payload, axle limits and loading instructions. Don't use bungee cords as load restraints.
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A simple loading plan
Cab on the left, rear doors on the right. Illustration only: follow the hire company's loading plan and weight limits.
Six steps to a safe load
Keep heavy items low
Place heavy appliances and furniture low, with the weight spread to meet the truck's axle limits. Don't simply put all the weight at the front.
Keep essentials accessible
Load first-night boxes near the rear doors so they come off first. Include toiletries, tools and spare clothes.
Protect fragile goods
Wrap electronics and antiques. Use an over-cab "Mum's attic" only within its load rating, with suitable padding and restraints.
Secure each tier
Build stable tiers and use suitable restraints attached to rated tie-down points. Fill gaps to help stop things shifting. Packing alone is not a restraint.
Lighter boxes on top
Put lighter cartons above stronger items, only where they're supported. Protect furniture and appliances, and keep the load's centre of gravity low.
Label and check off
Label and number your boxes and tick them off as you load. Secure the final tier, and check the load before you leave and during the trip.
Unloading at our yard
At Sunshine Self Storage you back the truck, van or trailer straight up to your container's doors. There are no lifts and no corridors, and a concrete driveway runs through the yard.
Load the truck in the order you want things in the container: what you'll need least goes in first, right to the back. Access to the yard is available from 5am until 9pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Before moving day
- Measure your big items against the truck and the container doors
- Pack boxes under about 20kg
- Keep a box of first-night things to load last
- Work through our house moving checklist
More free guides
House Moving Checklist
Everything to do, week by week, from booking movers to the keys. Tick it off as you go.
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What Can You Fit in 1 Cubic Metre?
A picture guide to how much space your things really take.
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Storage, Ventilation and the Elements
How to pack dry and leave air space so your things come out as they went in.
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