You planned your move, rented your trailer and now it’s time to pack! Looking at all your belongings and trying to fit them into a trailer can seem overwhelming, but with a little preparation, your job will be done in no time! Although you may just want to throw everything in the trailer and hit the road, taking the time to pack your trailer correctly can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Need some help with this task? See my top tips below for how to pack a trailer.
Get your supplies
Before you begin packing your trailer, gather your supplies. You will need moving boxes, packing tape and protective packing supplies such as packing peanuts.
Label your boxes
Although this step may add a little extra time to your move, be sure to label your boxes with their contents and the room they belong in. This will not only help you when packing your trailer, it will make unloading the trailer much easier.
The 60/40 rule
Now that your boxes are labeled, it will be easy to follow the 60/40 rule. U‑Haul recommends loading 60 percent of your cargo’s weight in the front half of the trailer (near your vehicle) and 40 percent in the back half. This will help to keep your trailer stable and reduce the likelihood of swaying during your drive.
Heavier items go on the bottom
Place big furniture items, such as dressers, in the trailer first. Heavy boxed items such as books should be put in next and on the bottom of the trailer. Use this Glass Pack Kit to pack up fragile items and place them on or near the bottom of the trailer, but not in a place where they could get crushed by the heavier items. Lighter items like pillows and blankets should be placed on the top of the piles.
Pack it tightly
Fill up as much of the space as possible so items have less room to shift. Think of it as a puzzle: All the pieces have to fit together and tie them off as you go with ropes and tie downs. Trailers come in different sizes, so be sure to check out your options to ensure that you get the right size for your items.
Secure the load
Once your boxes are stacked, make sure to secure them with ropes and tie downs to prevent items from shifting in transit.
Now it is time to test it out. Drive around the block a few times after you have loaded and secured your items in the trailer. Then check to see if you items stayed in place. This will help you see what needs to be adjusted before you hit the road!
What are your tips for successfully packing a trailer? Let us know in the comments below!
