If the prospect of having to pack and drive a moving truck makes you nervous, we’ve got some tips for you to help soothe your jangled nerves. With every new lease, The Lock Up provides a free move in truck at all of our facilities.* If you’re used to driving a little sports car, switching to a large moving truck can take some getting used to. Here are some tips on how to pack the move in truck and how to drive it.
Driving
When you get the keys to your moving truck, take time to familiarize yourself with the vehicle’s controls. Find the headlights, windshield wipers, horn, emergency brake, etc. Next, set your rearview and sideview mirrors to that you can easily see what’s behind you. A large truck needs a wider area to make turns than a regular vehicle and you need to be able to see and be aware of everything around you to ensure that you don’t damage the truck or worse, other people or vehicles around you.
A moving truck, especially a fully packed one, has much more mass than a regular vehicle which means that it takes more time to brake. For this reason, be mindful of keeping a good distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
When you park, set the emergency brake. If you park on a hill or incline, turn the wheels toward the curb when parked facing downhill, away from the curb if facing uphill.
Packing
When packing a moving truck, follow a few simple concepts and you’ll set yourself up for safety and success. You may have driven the empty truck to your home to pack up, but having a truck that’s packed correctly will make the trip to The Lock Up much easier.
Load in the heaviest items first, close to the cab. This will provide stability for items like refrigerators, ovens, etc. You also want to evenly distribute the weight across the width of the truck so that you avoid having all the weight on one side.
Next in would be longer items like sofas, bookcases and mattresses. Place these along the walls of the truck on their sides. Big heavy boxes would be next, and then your lighter items like small boxes and houseplants.
If you find that you don’t have enough stuff to fill the truck, be sure to evenly distribute your across the bed of the truck with the heavier items on the bottom. Remember, you want items to be in the most secure position possible so as to avoid the risk of them falling over and breaking. Also keep in mind that as you accelerate, your items will naturally shift toward the back door so limiting the amount your items can shift will protect them.
If you need a self storage unit (and a free move in truck!), visit www.thelockup.com and secure yours online now!
* No move-in truck at the Branford and Cape Cod Locations
