A uhaul truck is a large vehicle that can transport items such as furniture, bikes and cars from one location to another. It is important to put your items in the correct location. If you load up all of your heavy furniture on one side, it could result in the truck tipping over. Loading the truck correctly will save you money, because it is more fuel efficient when properly loaded.
Load your U-Haul truck the right way with these easy to follow instructions. This how-to guide will show you how to load a uhaul truck in 10 simple steps.
Get a Uhaul truck:
you can reserve a Uhaul truck online for a date and time that works best.
- You can call Uhaul center to set up your reservation over the phone.
- Or, reserve a Uhaul truck online using Uhaul mobile app available on both Android and IOS
- Or, by visiting nearest Uhaul center physically.
there are many different types of uhaul trucks. make sure you get the right one for your needs.
Choose the right size bed:
there are many different sizes of U-Haul trucks. make sure you get the right size for what you need it for.
Make sure truck is clean:
no matter what kind of uhaul truck you get, just make sure it’s clean. this step is optional but highly recommended.
Tips and tricks to make truck loading easier:
- Use a dolly: you can rent a uhaul dolly for an additional cost. these are very helpful when loading and unloading your truck.
- Use smaller boxes: don’t try to fit a whole house into one box. use smaller boxes and load them first
- Secure heavy items: make sure you secure all the heavy items on the bottom of your load
- Load lighter items: this is a good time to break out all those smaller boxes and start loading them up.
- Make sure you have a helper with you when loading and unloading your items. This can make the process much easier on both of you.
Steps to load Uhaul truck:
Step 1:
Place the heaviest items in the center of your truck. This will give you stability and support while driving, ensuring that everything stays put during transport. Be mindful of the weight distribution in your truck. Heavy items placed too close to the front or back can cause instability during transport, which may result in damage to your items or yourself.
Step 2:
Place smaller, lighter items in the back of the truck. Load lighter items on the outside of a larger item. For example, if you have a large couch, load lighter items on the outside of it. This will help you leave enough space for larger items to fit comfortably in your truck with room to spare.
Also, you should consider using blankets to protect your items. Don’t just throw the blanket over them, but wrap it around each item. This will prevent scratches and other damage to your items while transporting them. Put boxes with heavier contents at either end to prevent tipping from side to side. Stack lighter items on top of heavy ones for a more secure load.
Step 3:
Put the smallest and most fragile items on top of boxes. This will prevent them from breaking or getting scratched by other items in your truck bed. Use ratchet straps to secure items in the truck bed. This will keep them from moving around while you drive, and it will protect them from damage.
Step 4:
Place large, odd-shaped objects across the width of your uhaul truck to keep them secure for transport. Tie down any loose pieces, such as tarps or blankets, to prevent them from flying out during transport.
Step 5:
Keep items in the center of your truck bed near the cab to keep them safe and secure. This is also where you will most likely be sitting during driving, ensuring that everything stays put while traveling from location A to location B.
Bring a small step ladder if you need to access the roof rack or other hard to reach places on your uhaul truck. Fold down the rear seats to create more room for storage inside your uhaul truck. Make sure it is completely flat, there should not be any gaps between the seats and the floor.
Step 6:
Load any last minute items in your truck bed. These items should be sturdy enough to remain stacked even when the vehicle is moving over bumps or turning corners. Make sure to secure them with ratchet straps and ropes.
Step 7:
Place furniture pads on top of any objects you are worried might shift during transit. This will help keep large, bulky pieces from moving around too much during transport and ensure that they arrive at your destination in one piece. Also, it is important to cover any floors or carpets with protective padding.
Step 8:
Completely secure your load with rope and tie-down straps. This will prevent items from moving around while you drive to keep everything safe for transit. You will want to carefully load your truck. Make sure that you do not overload the vehicle and secure all of your items in the uhaul truck.
Step 9:
Cover any exposed furniture pads or objects that might shift during transport by using a blanket, tarp, or other thick material. This will help prevent scratches and other damage to your objects while in transit.
Step 10:
Lower the tailgate, get into the driver’s seat, and enjoy your trip! Make sure you have a passenger with you who can assist you if needed during transport. However, if you are loading your items on the ground first before putting it into the truck, make sure that they are not blocking any of the truck’s tires.
Things to make sure before starting your trip after loading your Uhaul truck:
- Check the back of your truck to make sure that you have all the equipment and that it is in working order.
- You should also check out your truck for any damages that may have occured during the loading process.
- Don’t forget to put your tailgate down before you start driving.
- After you are done with this, take a look at your fuel gauge and make sure your truck is not running on empty.
- It would be a good idea to fill up the tank before you start driving too.