03 Aug How to Pack a Moving Truck using Plastic Boxes
Thanks to nickthegreekmover for sharing these great pictures on how to Pack a Moving Truck. He’s based in Toronto. His client used plastic bins provided by Frog Boxes, which rents plastic bins and wardrobes just like the ones we rent at Lend A Box®. The green plastic boxes in the pictures are 27″ x 17″ x 12″. Scroll down and you’ll see some wardrobes in use also.
by nickthegreekthemover · 2 days ago
When you are loading a truck you need to build what are called tiers. These people didn’t have much square, strong furniture (called base) but that should be your first target. Luckily for us, Frog Boxes stack nicely and are tough. This is a completed tier.
Notice how I didn’t take those boxes to the ceiling. Life would be very difficult for me later if I did. That’s the easiest mistake to make, doing the easiest stuff first. From my very first tier, I’m putting a ton of awkward stuff on the makeshift shelf I made. Here you can see the base for my next tier.
Once you have your base set up you need to decide how much room you want for awkward things. Even something as big as a settee could go up there cause it can be hard to stack onto something like that. After a few rows of boxes I’m looking to get my hands on awkward stuff again.
You don’t want a stroller, 8 chairs and a bunch of shovels at the end of your load, so I’m spreading that sort of stuff to the top as I go along.
Frog Boxes as base again for lack of dressers, and lots of cushions, chairs, bags.
Found me another dresser for base, and purposely put it on the right to block in as many of the bins as I could.
Heighten it a little with some boxes, it’s just a big cycle you repeat over and over.
Add my light stuff that could never be used as base, steadily chipping away. Wardrobes as base for my next tier. Client was not truly packed, I’ve seen way way worse but lots of items that could have been boxed but weren’t. The more unboxed stuff you have, the more trips carrying armfuls of loose stuff you need to make.
Bins, baskets, pillows, get it up there!
Jump ahead to another finished tier, nothing new here… Just the cycle. Was lucky to get some Expedit shelves in this time. Normally like using all mattresses and box springs for tying it all back, but I had to fill the gap on the left. It’s jutting out a bit which is something you want to avoid when you can, you want to build on a clean line each time.
Did another box spring, but notice I put it on the right this tier. It’s nice to stagger things… Like bricks in a house, kinda. If you had sheet glass, between the wall and the box spring would be ideal, cant twist or be hit by anything there.
Like Isaid about tying back with mats, here you go. That last tier could really use it. I made a base of boxes to get the mattress up high against those loose items that need it most.
This carpet came out and I realized it was too long to be stood up. Often I’ll choose a side to leave empty on top so i can lay a carpet in.. Cleared a couple feet up there to start with, and tied up the end temporarily until I can build up to meet it.
Another thing you can use to tie back, headboards. Notice how I’m not struggling with loads of useless odd items as my pack is winding down. Again, that’s the biggest mistake people will make. A pile of stuff at the end. Top right is a settee, top left a glider chair.’
The end, there is a sofa on the left and another hidden on the right. You want to stand those tall if you’re trying to maximize your space. Stand it up, see if it has what I usually call “influence”. If its leaning make a judgment call and have it lean towards the wall or your previous tier. Push the very bottom tight so its fully upright. Its never a bad idea to remove the feet from your sofa. Strapped in a heavy dining table and this baby is done. Client didn’t think it’d fit in the truck. Lots of room to spare. Hope this was helpful in some way. /u/Nickthegreekthemover