How to Load a Pickup Truck
When it comes to loading the bed of a pickup truck, you must consider many factors to ensure a safe, properly balanced and easily accessible load. Whether you're hauling a mound of dirt or a neighbor's couch, it is important to load pickups in a stable and secure manner based on the individual vehicle's weight capacities. Proper loading will keep everyone safe, protect your cargo and make the load easy to unload when you arrived at your destination.
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Instructions
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Dirt and Debris
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Determine the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and curb weight of your truck. The GVWR is the suggested maximum amount of weight and includes all the mass in or on the vehicle. The curb weight is the total weight of the vehicle without any load or passengers added. Both figures will typically be located on the inside of the driver's door near the lower hinge. Subtract the curb weight from the GVWR to calculate the load carrying capacity of your truck. Factor your weight and the weight of any other passengers into this figure.
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Load dirt and debris in the bed of the truck starting from the front of the bed directly behind the cab. Work towards the back of the bed. Double forward once you've reached the tailgate. Layering dirt and debris will balance the load over the truck's axles more evenly, allowing a smoother transport.
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Monitor the amount of dirt or debris that you're loading to ensure that its weight does not exceed 100 percent of the truck's carrying capacity. Allow room for error by only loading around 90 percent of the total capacity weight. For instance, if a truck's load carrying capacity (after subtracting the weight of passengers) is 1000 pounds, plan to load around 900 pounds to allow a margin of error in weight.
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Secure dirt and debris loads with a fitted tarp by tying the tarp's eye holes to any fittings or hooks on the bed of the truck. Make sure the tarp is big enough to stretch over the surface of the entire load to ensure the material stays inside the truck during transport but not too big that it hangs down the sides of your truck.
Furniture and Other Cargo
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Determine the truck's carrying capacity and plan to load about 90 percent of the total value in furniture or other personal cargo (after subtracting the weight of passengers). Lightweight furniture and boxes generally do not exceed GVWR capacities, although heavy pieces or large appliances should receive extra attention.
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Plan your load by determining which furniture or appliances will be loaded onto the truck bed and in which order. Start with heavy and bulky pieces that can rest against the cab. Move towards smaller cargo last. Leave any oddly-shaped or soft pieces -- such as trash bags of clothes or pillows and bedding textiles -- for last, as these objects can fill in gaps in the load.
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Start loading the truck by putting the heavy pieces in first with the broadest sides facing the cab. If the pieces are particularly heavy, secure them in the truck using bungee cords or non-nylon rope (nylon rope can stretch in transport). Continue loading by moving furniture and boxes against the first pieces so that they fit tightly against each other and will not slide during the move.
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Finish loading the truck by stuffing soft or oddly shaped items into gaps between furniture and boxes, making sure that nothing is loose enough to slide or roll freely. Interlock the legs of any chairs or end tables so that they move as a single unit and will not come apart during the move.
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Secure the load to the truck using bungees or rope and cover the load with a fitted tarp if you expect rain or if the trip is a long one where the cargo will be exposed to wind and dust. Make sure the tailgate closes properly and that the cargo to the rear of the bed is pressed firmly against it.
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Tips & Warnings
Planning your load before you begin loading will reduce the chances of missing something or overloading the truck.
Overloading a pickup truck can result in damage to the truck or load and possibly injury to those loading or driving.
References
- Photo Credit pickup truck image by Tonda from Fotolia.com
