How to Pack Your Car for a Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Flickr

When it comes to moving, most of your belongings will be transported by truck.  However, there are a number of personal and what we movers consider perilous items that are best moved by the client.  To help you maximize your success at moving these last few items, I have taken the time to show you how to best accomplish this task.

The Trunk

When it comes to transporting anything liquid, or potentially caustic or flammable, the trunk is the best place to tote these items.  That being said, the last thing you want to do is simply cram those household cleaners, solvents and that bottle of lamp oil into the trunk helter skelter.  Hit one pothole, or heaven forbid have a fender bender enroute to your new home and you are likely going to wind up ruining everything in the trunk. 

While many people will opt to stuff all their chemicals into a box, cardboard isn’t the best way to protect these items.  One good thump is all it takes to break anything contained in a glass or plastic bottle.  My recommendation is to invest in a sturdy plastic crate that can take a licking and keep on ticking.  Available for a few dollars online or at most big box stores, these crates are sturdy enough to take a hit without buckling.  As added protection against spills, I recommend you line the inside of the crate with a plastic trash bag.  This way if there is any spillage or seepage, this will prevent the chemicals contained within from ruining any other items packed nearby.

As for more caustic substances, such as drain cleaner, oven cleaner or paint thinner, my recommendation is that you take them to your local hazardous waste recycling center.  The same goes for your lawnmower gasoline, kerosene, propane, or any other highly flammable material.  Especially if you are going to be driving cross country or across the state, the last thing you want is to be zipping down the interstate in a rolling bomb.  The few dollars it will cost you to replace these fuels at your destination isn’t worth the risk it poses to you and your family.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The trunk is also a great place to store valuables, like your best silver, jewelry, and any important papers.  If you take them in the front of the vehicle, there is a good chance they could wind up pilfered when you stop to eat or rest.  Everything in the trunk is out of sight and out of mind.  If you have a hatchback instead of a trunk, I recommend you lay a tarp or blanket over anything packed behind the seats.  You would be surprised at the number of thieves who make their living preying on families on the move.  Don’t mark yourself as an easy target.

As handy as luggage seems, this is not always the best use of the available space in the trunk.  Sure, they are built to store your belongings.  But they aren’t always a perfect fit for the available space.  Believe it or not, plastic bags are one of the best storage media that not only protects your belongings, but conform to any space.  If you need more protection for items stored in the trunk and insist on using boxes, small boxes fit better than big ones.  They are also a lot easier to tote once you reach your new home.  Big boxes are bulky and if they are made of cardboard, there is a tendency to burst at their seams when you unload them. 

Another tendency many homeowners have is to overload the trunk.  If you notice your rear shocks sagging, this is an indication that you have crammed too much junk into the trunk.  Remember, the primary purpose of a motor vehicle is to get you from Point “A” to Point “B” safely.  This can’t happen if your car’s rear suspension has been compromised by altering its center of gravity.  Hit a rain squall or a patch of ice with compressed shocks and you are in for the ride of your life. 

The Backseat

Image courtesy of Flickr

If you have a family, you probably have 2 cars.  If this is the case, then the backseat of at least one vehicle will be another area to load cargo.  That being said, most people fail to maximize the use of the backseat.  The good news is that the volume of a typical backseat can exceed that of a standup freezer, which can be nearly 19 feet.  The bad news is that you can’t use all of this space unless you want to drive around without being able to see out of the rearview mirror, which is ill advised. 

However, for around $20, you can purchase an expandable clothes hanger bar that attaches to the vehicle’s grab handles.  Using one of these provides you with 2 advantages.  They maximize the use of vertical space and they guarantee to get your Sunday best to your new home free of wrinkles.  Another plus is they give you enough space below to pack bags of clothing or bedding on the back seat, as well as on the floor space behind the front seats.

Another tip to help you maximize your use of the backseat is to employ vacuum storage bags that will reduce the footprint of any garment or linen.  You would be amazed at how much more you can pack into the backseat area if you vacuum pack anything made of cloth.   

Other Underutilized Spaces

The space under the front passenger seat is great for squirreling away small items like water bottles, reading material and prepackaged snacks.  (Avoid using the space under the driver’s seat for safety sake.) Wheel wells can be used to store shoes, children’s backpacks or purses.  If your car is rear wheel drive, the hump between the backseat is a great place to stash a small cooler with snacks for the road.

Look Up

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

If your car has a roof rack, you can procure an overhead cargo carrier that will provide even more weather-proof storage space.  Just make sure that the carrier has a stout lock on it and on the carrier as well, or you could wind up waking up to discover that it and your possessions have moved on without you.

Provided that you always keep safety in mind, with a little bit of ingenuity, you would be surprised at the amount of stuff that you can stuff into your car when you move.  If you don’t believe me, ask any college student.  They really know how to pack a car to the max.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.