Moving Tips: How to Pack Efficiently When Using a Trailer

Moving is never easy, especially when you have a lot of different belongings. One of the biggest problems during the move is inefficient packing when using a trailer. Items can get damaged or broken, and you may end up making unnecessary trips, and improper weight distribution can lead to dangerous situations on the road. However, all of this can be avoided with a little preparation. At Hetman Rental, we offer trailer rental for moving, as well as Hauling Services and help with loading and unloading. Over time, we’ve gathered plenty of useful moving tips. So, it’s worth listening to our tips to make moving easier, which will help with organization and transportation.

Want a move without chaos? Start with thoughtful packing. These tips for moving are based on practice and will help you plan everything down to the smallest detail—without stress and unnecessary trips.

The first step is always sorting your belongings into categories: maybe you won’t be packing everything into boxes and transporting it in the trailer. Here are three categories to create:

• Personal items of first importance — passports, medications, laptop, jewelry, prescriptions, and money.
• Fragile items — for these, you’ll need to order special packing materials, and you need to understand how much.
• Large furniture — you’ll base the trailer size on these.

And possibly the most important piece of advice from moving packing tips: the less unnecessary stuff you drag along, the easier and more pleasant the new phase of life will be.

To safely transport your belongings, you need to pack everything. Even furniture that seems solid and stable should be wrapped in plastic or textile, as well as tied down and secured. Without this, it may not break, but it can get scratched or damage other items, no matter how carefully you drive. So, it’s important to know how to pack for a move so that each item is protected from impact and vibration. You will definitely need:

• Bubble wrap — for multi-layer wrapping of literally all fragile items, and possibly some large furniture with polished surfaces.
• Thin packing film — for wrapping boxes or furniture items, pillows, mattresses, and anything that needs protection from dust.
• Packing paper — to fill the empty space in boxes, especially with kitchenware.
• Boxes of various sizes — large ones can be used for light items, while smaller ones should be used for heavy items.

To secure items in the trailer, you may need tie-downs, ropes, strong straps, and similar equipment.

The heaviest items are packed first — appliances, sofas, tables. Try to place them above the axle of the trailer, with 60% of the weight ideally moved to the front half. Between them, you can place smaller items. You can place mattresses or plywood sheets on top of the furniture to create a kind of extra layer for placing boxes. This way, the boxes will be on a level surface, regardless of the uneven heights of furniture or appliances, and they will stay stable and organized during transport. If this is your first time moving, it might be worth using at least the loading service when ordering trailer rental for moving. Specialists will definitely place everything correctly and securely. You can unload it yourself later.

The correct answer to the question of how to pack furniture for moving is to disassemble everything that can be disassembled and keep all small elements in separate bags with labels. Remove drawers, unscrew doors, and separately pack shelves or soft cushions. Carefully wrap all facades and side parts of structures, paying special attention to corners and edges — these areas are prone to chips. Mirrors and glass shelves should be wrapped in several layers of soft fabric, each item separately.

Each plate you want to transport safely should be wrapped in bubble wrap. Place something soft at the bottom of the box, and arrange the dishes vertically so there’s no free space in the box, and the plates are secured and don’t move. You can fill the space along the walls with plastic wrap or towels. Mugs and glasses should also be wrapped individually and stacked with the openings facing down. On top of this row, add another layer of plastic wrap, or better, a towel, and then stack a second row. Metal kitchenware and utensils can be wrapped in a towel and placed in the box. Pots and pans should also be wrapped in towels. It’s often said that the most important advice, how to pack plates for moving, concerns choosing the right boxes: always take small ones. It’s better to have several small individual boxes than one large box — it’s more convenient to carry, and the risk of damaging a large portion of the dishes is much higher.

Here are a few tips on packing for moving that relate to various items around the house:

• Try stacking chairs, placing towels or bubble wrap between them, and wrapping the entire structure in stretch film.
• It’s better to disassemble tables, and you can pack the legs separately. Put screws in a small bag and attach them with tape to the package with the legs.
• Don’t stack shelves on top of each other, as even conventional surfaces can get scratched. Use a layer of plastic wrap.
• All doors that open should be secured with special straps, as tape may leave marks.
• Seal all bottles from the first aid kit, bathroom, and kitchen with masking tape and pack them in large plastic containers.
• Small household appliances and devices can be wrapped in bags and placed inside boxes with textiles.
• Blankets, thin rugs, and even bed linens can be used as additional packing material for furniture or to fill boxes. Personal small items can be carefully placed in boxes in layers, and your own clothing can be used as a filler and divider between layers.

Modern solutions for securing and transporting items in trailers go beyond simply loading boxes and wardrobes. Look at how to pack a shipping container with household goods to see how many interesting tools exist, and most of them can also be used for moving.

• Special fasteners: E-Track / X-Track systems for straps and hooks, ratchet straps, and Cam-buckle straps for large items.
• D-rings and hooks: for securing straps, cables, or nets.
• Organizers and shelves: plastic or metal baskets, bin containers on rails.
• Hooks, loops, wall panels: for bags, nets, and straps.

Shelving arrangement — it’s always good because you can use the full height of the trailer, but remember the rule: the heavier the item, the lower it should be placed.