Van packing guide: how to maximise your cargo space

If you're thinking about renting a van for business or for that long-awaited house move, you may not have considered the fine art of van packing. Loading your van correctly could be the difference between a nightmare and a dream. 

Our van-packing guide is (literally) packed full of essential advice to make the job that much easier – and maybe, just maybe, strangely enjoyable. 

What and why are you moving? 

There could be any number of reasons you're looking to rent a van – they're just that useful! Vans can prove to be essential for your business, moving house or even hitting the road with a rock'n'roll band. 

But before you decide on a type of van, you need to be clear on what it's being used for as that will determine which van is best suited to your needs. 

What type of van do you need?

There are several types of vans – more than you might imagine – and each come with upsides and downsides. Before choosing, consider:

• How much space you need.
• The largest item you need to move.
• Whether you need room for more than one passenger.
• The cost of renting and running the vehicle. 

For example, if you're moving house, you might choose a high-capacity box van and get the whole move done in one or two trips. Or you may opt for a smaller, cheaper, SWB (short wheelbase) van and make the move over multiple trips.

Alternatively, if you have extra helping hands, a crew van would allow for up to seven passengers. Yes, the load space would be compromised, but many hands make light work, right? 

Organise and label

Keeping an inventory of all of your items before you start packing will avoid complications further down the road (pun intended). 

Start by categorising everything (kitchen, books, jewellery, tools and so on) using boxes and label as you go. Separate precious and fragile items from the pack and consider holding back your towels, pillows and bedding as they can be useful cushioning for transporting those priceless family heirlooms.

If you're on the job, make sure you have everything you need, making a separate inventory for the things you'll be using that day and earmarking them for when you come to load the van.

What should you pack first?

As a general rule, heavy items, boxes and similarly shaped objects should go first. Keep awkwardly shaped objects to the end – or until you find that perfect sweet spot where they slot in. (Ah yes… the stuff of dreams.)

Collect all of your heaviest items together and take a few minutes to think about their size and shape and how they could be arranged. For example, a large, heavy table could be disassembled or upturned and put in first as a platform on which to stack boxes. 

Placing heavy items in first is good practice, but remember to use them as bookends or barriers to prevent lighter (and more delicate) items from being tossed around when you're on the move. Furniture can be good for this, so maybe leave that chaise longue until last.

What should you pack last?

You should always put aside some moving-day essentials and load them last so they're easily accessible.

Similarly, if you're a tradesperson out on business, make sure everything you need is packed in order of priority. This will avoid unnecessary time and work as you won't have to sift through the contents of the van. If you know for sure you're going to need that spanner, or that wrench, pack it last. 

Even distribution

If you're renting a van for the first time, you may be surprised by the behaviour of the vehicle as compared with a car. A loaded van can feel quite unwieldy and slow to respond, so distributing the weight evenly is important for your van's performance and your safety. 

Organise your boxes into rows at the back (driver's end) and along the sides of the van. Consider centralising large furniture or lining it against the walls of the van and make sure that you horizontally orient top-heavy items. Dismantle chests of drawers and store things inside them. The drawers will stack comfortably on top of boxes and help with even distribution.

Strap things down as much as you can and make sure heavy items aren't liable to move around. as this could cause damage to your possessions and affect the drive. A quick nudge of your cargo will tell you how stable it is. 

Make sure not to overload your van. Every van has a maximum load, which you can find printed on the chassis. You're unlikely to be able to weigh your van but low suspension and unusually poor performance are some indications your van is overloaded.

Tetris time!

This is the fun part. (No, really!)

Once all the boxes and square-shaped things are packed, you can begin loading the awkward and the odd. There will always be obstinate items that refuse to be put in a box. But there will be a nook, a cranny, or a niche that will readily conform to their shape. 

Chairs will sometimes stack together and make for useful recesses to pack loose objects. Utilise the cushioned surfaces of soft furnishings for fragile items and pack tightly all around the furniture to keep it secure on the journey.

Mattresses can be loaded along the side of the van and can provide protection for mirrors or flat-screen TVs. Due to their cushioned weight, they will create a secure environment for things around them – given they're also securely loaded. 

So, you know all there is to know about packing a van. If you're in the North East and want to start packing, then head over and browse our fleet of vans for rental. We have a range of vehicles suited to your requirements and our staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Give us a go and get your life moving.