USING Moving EquipmenT

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A) Using an appliance Trolley/Dolly

Moving heavy items such as boxes, furniture or appliances can add to the stress and strain of a move. It can also be dangerous to lift a heavy item incorrectly. You, someone else or the item itself could be hurt in the process.

How to use an appliance Trolley/Dolly

Step 1. ALWAYS MAKE SURE there’s a clear obstacle-free path between the heavy items you’re about to load onto the appliance dolly and the final point – usually the moving truck.
Step 2. GET the teammate (driver or the jockey) – loading and using a moving dolly is not a job for a single person.
Step 3. CREATE well-balanced stacks when using the moving dolly for moving boxes. Those cardboard boxes will need to be perfectly aligned so that they don’t topple over once you start rolling them.
Step 4. ARRANGE the boxes in such a way so that the top box ends up resting against the vertical frame of the appliance dolly – if not completely, then at least partially. Also, don’t place a very big box on the very top – you need to be able to see where you’re going at all times.
Step 5. MOVE the appliance you intend to move – a fridge, a washer, a dryer, or a stove – away from the wall using the right type of furniture sliders to protect your floors as well. Then, TURN the appliance around because household appliances should be loaded onto the moving dolly with their rear parts facing you.
Step 6. TIE or TAPE electrical cords to the back of the appliance to avoid accidents during the haul.
Step 7. GET the hand truck to the back edge of the appliance, then have your temmate (driver or jocker) tilt the big and heavy item away from the dolly, then slide the dolly’s metal ledge underneath the load.
Step 8. TILT back, slowly and carefully, the appliance until it rests upright onto the bottom place of the moving dolly as well as onto the floor itself. The upright steel frame of the hand truck should be touching the back of the appliance.
Step 9. SECURE the large appliance onto the appliance dolly using the dolly’s own straps. Aim the straps roughly to the central part of the appliance, then tighten them around the load. If necessary, you can use extra pieces of rope for additional support.
Step 10. TILT back the appliance dolly until the load is balanced onto its rubber wheels. Now you’re ready to start pushing the moving dolly in the direction you want to go. How to use a dolly going downstairs? Have your teammate (driver or jockey) hold the appliance from the opposite end to keep it stable enough while you roll the moving dolly very slowly and extra cautiously down each step, tilting the hand truck even lower at times to keep the balance intact.

Using a dolly to move furniture, appliances, boxes, and other large and heavy items in the home is not only hard work but can be plain dangerous as well. Here we consider how to use a moving trolley in various circumstances, to simplify a move and protect your back.

Using a trolley to move boxes

A moving trolley – also called a dolly – is ideal for moving boxes. It saves time by letting you move multiple, stacked boxes in one go, without taking their weight yourself. Tips for using a moving trolley to move boxes are to:

Stack the boxes from largest up to smallest
Ensure that the top box rests against the back of the trolley so it won’t fall once you tilt the trolley
If the load is unstable or could topple, use moving straps to secure the boxes
Apply downward force on the top box to keep any of the boxes from sliding out
Tilt the trolley and place a foot on the bar at the back to keep it at the appropriate angle
Ensure that the top of the stack won’t obstruct your line of vision.

Using a trolley to move furniture

A moving trolley is designed to move items within a certain size range. Before moving any large or heavy item, make sure you have the right equipment.

A standard moving trolley generally has a maximum weight capacity of 150 kilograms. It’s useful for moving smaller items of furniture, such as bookshelves, bedside tables, and smaller chests of drawers. It’s also excellent for moving a steel safe.

Tips on how to use a moving trolley to move furniture:

wrap wooden furniture with furniture pads to protect it from scratches
items such as desks are easier to move if you stand them on end
turn items of furniture with legs upside down, to protect the legs
use moving straps to secure the furniture to the trolley’s upright support
as for boxes, make sure you can see ahead properly before moving the trolley.

Using a trolley to move appliances

A moving trolley is especially useful for moving large appliances. However, make sure you have your teammate to help you lift any large appliance onto a trolley.

Also ensure that the appliance doesn’t exceed the maximum size or weight that the trolley is designed to bear.

Load a washing machine, dryer or a refrigerator with the back facing you to maintain safe weight distribution and avoid scratching visible surfaces.

Also, keep wires, plugs and hoses off the floor to prevent tripping. For example, tape electrical cords to the rear of the appliance and snake hoses into the machine.

Basic guidelines for using a moving trolley safely

No matter what you use a trolley to move, it’s important to follow certain safety guidelines.

These are mostly a matter of common sense. For example:

ensure any load is balanced
if there’s a danger of toppling, secure the load – for example, using straps
don’t exceed the trolley’s maximum weight capacity
before moving a trolley, check the path ahead and remove any obstacles, like cables or clutter
make sure your vision isn’t obstructed
walk slowly
approach small bumps head on, with the wheels straight (not at an angle).

Also, when lifting an item onto or off a trolley, use proper lifting technique. Keep your back straight, your feet apart, your elbows close to your body and your knees bent.

Finally, get help with heavier items. It’s not worth pulling a muscle (or worse)!

How to use a moving trolley on stairs

When going up stairs, walk backwards. Holding the trolley handles firmly, tilt the trolley slightly towards you. Then pull the trolley up one stair at a time.

When going downstairs, walk forwards, lowering the trolley down one stair at a time. Don’t tip the trolley too far back, or you may create too much forward momentum. Approach each step head on, rather than at an angle, to prevent sideways tipping of the load. Slow and steady is best. Keep your back straight and your knees slightly bent. And when necessary, rest between steps.

B) Using a Furniture Dolly

The furniture dolly is a flat dolly with four swivel wheels and a wide base made of wood or steel. It looks quite simple – without any handles or straps – but can handle up to a thousand kgs, allowing you to easily move and manoeuver any large furniture pieces or other bulky items. All you need to do is load the piece on and give it a push.

A furniture dolly is primarily used to move around large and heavy pieces of furniture (hence the name) such dressers, shelving units, armoires, bookcases, china cabinets, desks, large couches, chairs, etc. A good quality furniture dolly can handle weights of up to a thousand pounds, sometimes even more. A less expensive and more ordinary furniture dolly can support loads of a few hundred pounds without a problem.

The dolly for moving heavy furniture can be partly covered in carpet or other soft material to cushion the load on it and thus prevent scratching or scuffing along the furniture surface. Also, the extra padding improves the overall grip of the moving dolly and ensures that the furniture pieces are more stable while being transported on it and won’t slip off easily.

The major advantages of the furniture dolly are:

It features a durable solid wood construction so it can have an impressive load rating – 250-400 kgs
It has a well-balanced support thanks to the swivel 4-wheel design.
It has a high degree of manoeuvring so that you can navigate the heavy loads around tight places.
It can be used for moving other heavy and bulky objects besides furniture – appliances (though the appliance dolly is the better option), stacked boxes, a piano, and so on. In reality, it will help you move almost anything you put on it.

The major disadvantages of the furniture dolly are:

It has no lever or lifting mechanism, so you will need plenty of manpower to lift the heavy household pieces onto the moving dolly.
It has no handle and no straps, so you will need to guide the dolly by pushing gently the loaded item in the direction you want it to go.
It is not designed to move heavy items up or down staircases, only to move heavyweight objects along flat surfaces.

How to use a dolly to move furniture

Now that you know more about furniture dollies than you ever hoped to know, let’s get down to the main course: how to use a dolly to move furniture.

Step 1. ALWAYS MAP your exit route in your head before loading a big and heavy item on the furniture dolly and wheeling it away. If measurements show that you won’t be able to fit through the doorway your armoire standing up, then you shouldn’t move it the dolly in an upright position. Similarly, positioning a large furniture piece on its side (horizontally) won’t make much sense if you know it won’t fit through the narrow hallway.
Step 2. DECIDE which side of the furniture piece you’ll place in the center of the moving dolly. As a rule of thumb, tall furniture pieces will need to be positioned on their sides – otherwise, they will have trouble clearing the doorways due to their height. If a piece has legs, then it won’t rest properly in an upright position. For some furniture items, you may need to wheel them out while they are positioned upside down onto the 4-wheeler. Either way, use your best judgment in such tricky furniture moving situations.
Step 3. CONSIDER emptying the large and heavy furniture pieces before attempting to move them on the furniture dolly. Unless they only contain lightweight clothes, emptying them will make them lighter and easier and safer to move.
Step 4. SECURE all furniture drawers and doors before loading up the pieces onto the moving dolly. Use pieces of string or plastic wrap to keep those drawers and doors from opening during transport.
Step 5. GET your teammate to help you load the furniture piece onto the dolly – NEVER try to complete that precarious task entirely on your own.
Step 6. SET the furniture dolly on the ground and position it close to the furniture piece you wish to move.
Step 7. TILT the furniture item and slide the moving dolly underneath the piece. KEEP the dolly in place with yours and your friend’s foot because the weight of the load may kick out the dolly as it comes down on it.
Step 8. LOWER, slowly and carefully, the large furniture piece onto the moving dolly and slide it into the center of the 4-wheeler. The furniture piece should end up well-balanced and perfectly square on the dolly.
Professional advice: If the furniture piece you’re trying to move is not too heavy, the better option is to raise it slightly into the air and place it directly onto the dolly. Make sure you and your helper can handle safely the weight of the furniture item.
Step 9. START rolling the big furniture item across the floor and out of your home. Do this slowly while keeping it all under control: the person in front should hold the furniture piece with their hands, steer it slightly and watch out for potential obstacles. The person in the back should also keep their hands onto the furniture while pushing heavy load gently forward.
Step 10. KEEP an eye on the ceiling so that you don’t smash any light fixtures when you’re moving a tall piece standing up. Also, KEEP an eye on the floor as you don’t want the moving dolly to run into something no matter how small that thing may seem. Remember that you need to have the furniture dolly moving smoothly and steadily in the direction you want it to go.

C) Using a Piano Dolly to move an Upright Piano

Step 1: Gather Equipment

So you’ve decided to go for it, great. Let’s talk about the equipment you need:

Heavy duty work gloves (for grip)
Dolly (that can bear 250+ kgs)
Moving straps (that secure over the movers shoulders and underneath the piano)
Blankets
Duct tape
Piano skid board (if you move a grand)

Step 2: Plan a Path and Take Measurements

It may be obvious the path you should take, but if not, you can decide by considering the dimensions of the obstacles. The most challenging obstacles are stairs, turns, and doorways. Take measurements of all these obstacles and compare them to the width of the piano or height of the piano + dolly as appropriate.

Turns can be hard to measure. If you are struggling, ask for help from customer. Have one person hold one end of the measuring tape on one wall, another on the perpendicular wall, and a third on the obtruding corner. Have the two people on the perpendicular walls adjust their positions until the tape measure reads its shortest mark. That shortest mark should be larger than the width of the piano to successfully complete the turn. Note: if the turn happens at a 3- or 4-way hallway intersection, you may be able to finagle your piano between rooms to achieve the turn more effectively.
Stairs are treacherous. If its very heavy, please do not lift the Piano up the stairs. Inform customer that you will not be able to move it upstairs.

Step 3: Clear the Path

This is a self-explanatory step, but worth mentioning. You will have at least 3 people on the piano, so the path should be as wide as possible. Additionally, note any bumps in the path; you will need to navigate these with particular care.

Step 4: Take Precautions

Some of the precautions the movers should all be aware of are:

To lift with their thighs by bending their knees, not their back.
If the piano goes down, don’t try to save it. It is too heavy and could cause serious injuries.
Don’t lift by the legs or pedals.
Don’t use the piano’s wheels if it has them. These are for small adjustments not large movements.

Step 5: Wrap the Piano

Close and tape the lid shut. Place the blankets and padding around the piano. Cover the pedals with a cloth or plastic covering. Secure all padding with straps, or duct tape. If you use tape, be careful not to apply it directly to the exterior of the piano.

Step 6: Place the Piano on a Dolly or Skid Board

If you are working with an upright you’ll want to place moving straps beneath the piano with straps secured on the two peoples shoulders. Then have everybody lift the piano carefully onto the dolly.

If you are moving a grand piano you first need to remove the legs with a screwdriver. To do so have as many people as you can hold the frame of the piano, while another person unscrews the legs. The person who unscrews should position themselves away from the piano frame, so that if it falls they won’t get crushed. Place the piano on its side on the dolly or skid board.

Step 7: Wheel the Piano to the Moving Truck

One person can push in the back, one can guide in the front, and one or two can stabilize on either side. Watch out for any bumps along the way. If you run into a set of up to four steps, you can transition back to using the moving straps with as many other hands supporting the instrument over the steps.

If the piano is in a moving truck with other furniture, place it against the front wall where it won’t bounce as much as towards the rear. Secure it to the truck walls with straps.

If you are taking the piano far, or it is a particularly hot/cold day, the truck should have temperature control.

Remove the piano and place it in its new home!

D) The process for moving the Piano upstairs

Step 1: Plan Your Route

You will want some measurements before planning your route.

Height and width of the piano
Height of doorways
Length of the stairs
Height between stairs and ceiling. Measure at a slant – ie perpendicular to the grade of the stairs instead of of perpendicular to the flat tops of the stairs.
Turn measurements. It is difficult to predict whether something will fit through a turn. If you have a 90 degree turn measure from one wall to the perpendicular wall with the middle of the tape resting on the obtruding corner. This should be the tightest part of the turn. Alternatively, if the turn is at a 4 way intersection, you can sometimes navigate the piano between different rooms before finally moving the piano to the correct hallway.
Now compare the piano + dolly height with door heights, and the distance between stairs and ceiling. Also compare the piano width with turn measurements.

Step 2: Create a Ramp on the Stairs

You will need a ramp that is as long as the stairs. You can use plywood because it can be sturdy enough to maintain the weight of the piano and movers.

Next you need to create a ramp by placing the plywood on the stairs and securing it with duct tape and nails if available. Remember, there could be up to a 500+ kgs on the plywood, so be very diligent as you secure it.

Step 3: Prepare and Move the Piano

To prepare the piano for moving:

Step 4: Take Precautions

Some of the precautions the movers should all be aware of are:

Tape the lid shut. You may want to use something less strong than duct tape if you are concerned about damaging the lid.
Cover the piano with blankets and use duct tape to secure them. You don’t want to nick the piano in the process.
Place the piano on a dolly. You may need to put moving straps beneath the piano. Secure the shoulder straps over the shoulders of the two strongest people in the crew.

o An upright is more straightforward to move. While you can place a grand on a dolly, it is awkward to do, and frankly you probably shouldn’t put the fate of a precious grand in your inexperienced hands anyways.

Finally you can start moving the piano:

Its worth mentioning the risk involved in this process.

E) How to Use Moving Blankets

Moving blanket basics

These heavy-duty, quilted coverings protect furniture, appliances and other large items from scratches and damage during a move. Similarly, they can protect a home’s doors and walls from gouges and dents when hung inside the house at strategic points.

Furniture blankets typically measure 6 to 7 feet each side and consist of multiple layers of filler—cotton, polyester, nylon and similar materials—stitched together like a quilt. Often, they have a lighter-coloured side and a darker or contrasting side. The light side is considered the “clean” side while the dark side is the “dirty” side. When you move, place the light or “clean” side facing the piece as you wrap it. The dark or “dirty” side should face out.

Whether your furniture blankets are a combination of light blue and dark blue, light brown and dark brown or another combination, they will absorb the bumps and jostling of the road and prevent your furniture from getting scratched, nicked or damaged along the way. They can also help keep your future and appliances clean when they are packed next to lawn equipment or the sides of the van.

On the other hand, moving blankets are not waterproof. They will absorb any liquid, including rain. If the moving blankets around your couch get wet from rain and sit inside a moving van for several days on a cross-country move, your couches could develop mildew or mold. To prevent this, cover moving blankets with a layer of plastic, especially on rainy days.

When to use moving blankets

You should use moving blankets on all large, bulky items, including refrigerators, tables, dressers and headboards. In addition to protecting these pieces from damage and filth in the moving van, furniture blankets reduce the risk of them shifting during transport. In essence, moving blankets serve as padding within the van.

Another good time to use furniture pads is when you want to protect heavily-trafficked hallways and doorways from getting damaged. Do this by securing the blankets in these areas to walls and door frames with packing tape. You can leave the moving blankets in place for the entire move or just for as you maneuver a particularly large or difficult piece through the area.

Furniture blankets can also come in handy when moving a bulky item, like a large area rug. Slip the moving blanket under the rolled rug and use the blanket as a sling to walk the rug to the moving van.

Or, they can be used to slide a heavy item, like a freezer, when you don’t have furniture sliders readily available. To use a moving blanket, tilt one side of the empty freezer back just enough to get the blanket underneath that side. Then, repeat on the other side, and pull the blanket forward.

Determining how many you need

The number of moving blankets you need depends on the number of appliances and furnishings you have and their size. Before you start packing, go from room to room, listing the items that will need moving blankets, then determine how blankets you’ll need for each based on the guidelines below.

Items small enough for one blanket

Items needing two blankets

Items needing three blankets

How to use moving blankets

On moving day, start by gathering your furniture pads and whatever you plan to use to secure them with, such as tape, ratchet straps or mover rubber bands. For larger items, have a dolly on hand.

One-blanket items

Wrapping small items is a slightly different process than larger one. Follow these steps to ensure smaller items are properly covered.

Clear enough floor space to spread a moving blanket out flat.
Make sure the blanket’s light (clean) side faces up.
Place the item in the center of the furniture pad.
Position it at a diagonal so its top faces one corner and its bottom the other.
Fold the bottom corner up over the item and secure with tape.
Fold the sides in and tape.
Finish by folding the top over the item.
Secure the moving blanket with tape or a rubber band.

Larger items

Depending on its size and location, take help from your teammate to position and secure moving blankets on a large, heavy or bulky item. These steps will make the process easier.

Pull the item away from the wall.
If it has a cord, secure the cord with tape or plastic wrap.
Secure or remove any appliance doors or furniture drawers.
Unfold a blanket and hold its light (clean) side facing the item.
Wrap the front first, making sure the blanket covers all the way to the floor.
Secure with tape or rubber band.
Continue wrapping the sides and back with additional blankets.
Drape a pad over the top.
Secure all pads with tape, rubber bands or ratchet straps.

Plastic wrap and moving blankets

You can use plastic wrap to secure moving blankets to an item you’re moving instead of tape or rubber bands. Simply, wrap it around the item’s width to hold the furniture blanket in place.

Plastic wrap also offers protection from any water the blanket absorbs. Apply the plastic wrap to the item first. Then, follow the instructions above to add the moving blankets. If it begins to rain on moving day and you haven’t already used plastic wrap under the moving blankets, you can use it over them for last-minute water protection.

Other options

You can substitute old bedspreads, blankets, towels and sheets in a pinch, but these alternatives do not offer the padding and protection needed to prevent damage during a move.

F) How to use Ratchet straps

Ratchet straps are fasteners used to secure cargo during transport. When used correctly, these straps can support many different weights and cargo sizes. In order to properly use your ratchet straps, thread the strap through the mandrel and then crank the ratchet to tighten it. To release the strap, press the release tab and open the ratchet.

Threading a Ratchet Strap

The release catch, also known as the release lever, is a smaller handle that disengages the ratcheting handle. It’s located in the center of the top movable piece of the ratchet. Pull up the release catch and flip the ratchet fully open. Set the open ratchet on a table before you so that the spiked wheels (cogs) are facing upwards.

The slot at the bottom of the ratchet, known as the “mandrel,” holds the length of the strap. To thread the strap, start from underneath the ratchet and push it up through the mandrel. The threaded strap should then lay straight, the length of it overlapping with the second strap on the other side of the ratchet.

Remember that you can always tighten it with the ratchet later, so don’t worry too much about the length

Securing Your Cargo

Ratchet straps can easily secure cargo in a truck bed or moving van. Move your cargo where you want it to stay, then place the ratchet strap across your cargo. Hook the ends over the side of the truck bed or in grooves in the van wall.

If you’re using the ratchet strap to hold several objects together, such as 2 large frames, wrap the strap around those objects and simply hook the 2 ends together. This will create a large, secure loop.

Keep in mind that this technique will hold objects together but will not keep them in place.
To hold multiple objects together andkeep them in place, you’ll need two ratchet straps. Use one strap to secure the objects together and the other strap to wrap around them and strap them into place.

Pull the ratchet back and forth to pull the length of the strap through and tighten it. Once it feels taut and secure around your cargo, stop ratcheting. Tug at the strap and check for give–it should feel tight and secure.

Be careful not to over-tighten. Too much pressure could damage your ratchet strap or your cargo.
If you can’t fit a finger between the strap and the object, you probably overtightened. Loosen the strap and ratchet it closed again.

Flip the ratchet back into the closed position. Press it closed until you hear it latch. This means that the strap is locked into place and should hold your cargo securely.

If you don’t hear the click, tug on the strap and buckle to make sure it’s secure. If it comes loose, you may have a faulty ratchet strap.

Releasing the Strap

This will override the ratcheting function and release the lock. The release tab should be easy to access and located on the top of the ratchet.

If you can’t locate the release tab, check your operation instruction manual.

Flip the ratchet completely open so it lays flat, then pull on the non-fixed side of the strap. This will release the strap from the ratchet’s hold and allow you to completely remove the strap.

Wrapping small items is a slightly different process than larger one. Follow these steps to ensure smaller items are properly covered.

G) How to use Bungee straps

Bungee straps are perfect tie downs for your trucking tarps, but these flexible bungee cords also have flexible uses!

While bungee straps aren’t recommended for heavy loads, they’re perfect for tying down lightweight cargo. You can safely secure light cargo by anchoring one end of your strap to the inside side or back of your rig and bringing the bungee around your cargo to pull it tight and anchor the other end around your item(s)!

How Do You Use Bungee Straps?

As with all your trucking equipment, ensuring that your bungee cords are up to your standard and retain a long-life span is dependent on proper use and storage. The basic steps when using our adjustable bungee cords are as follows:

Inspect each bungee cord before use for signs of wear and tear.
Thread each bungee strap through D-Rings or other tie-down points in your tarp, cargo, or trailer rig.
Do not overstretch your bungee cords, and do not exceed their recommended working load limit.
Pull the bungee AWAY from your body when hooking and unhooking them.
Wear eye protection, like safety glasses, in the event of recoil from the bungee straps.
Engage in proper and safe bungee cord storage – away from natural/weather elements and in a dry setting.
Ensure you do not pull your bungee straps too tight. A benefit of working with elastic bungee cords is the natural slack they provide when unexpected stress occurs – like a harsh wind or sudden cargo shift. If your cords are pulled to taunt, you risk either snapping the D-rings or grommets they’re attached to or damaging the bungee cord hooks.

Tarping

When it comes to truck tarping, bungee straps can take some time when tarping or securing your loads. Here’s a helpful guide:

Pin each corner of your tarp with a single heavy-duty bungee cord, as well as an elastic cord wherever you see a D-ring or grommet. The amount is dependent on how you want to fasten your tarp. Do not secure this first round of bungee tie downs to your trailer or rig, just to your D-rings and/or grommets.
Go around the tarp again and secure every other bungee strap.
Do the third round in the opposite direction to wrap up any remaining cords.

This process allows tension to be evenly distributed between your adjustable bungee cords and eliminates the need to undo and readjust bungee straps or your tarp!

Load Securement

When comparing bungee straps to traditional chains or winch straps, it’s important to note that bungee cords are not DOT regulated to be used for cargo securement. You should not be using bungee cords for heavy equipment – like vehicles or farm equipment.

However, if you’ve ever been in a situation where you’re transporting oversized items in a vehicle that has a small bed/trunk, you can use bungee cords to hold the trunk or bed closed!

There are many ways you can apply bungee cords: hook the bungee straps through bags or buckets to prevent spillage during transport, custom and lightweight cord wraps, and make-shift shelves or organizers.

Different Uses of Bungee Straps

Our adjustable bungee cords are designed around stretch, strength, and having durable adjustment points. Because of this design, they are extremely versatile in their usage!

These adjustable bungee cords have a hook on each end so they can easily stretch over small objects or secure lightweight cargo and tarps before transporting them.
They can secure specialized gear such as toolboxes and equipment used for working on vehicles or boats. The bungee cord elastic is also wonderful for bundling items like lumber, kindling, and equipment for easier storage or carrying.
Secure tools and equipment to the walls of your garage, sheds, or enclosed trailers to keep tripping hazards off the floor and keep your equipment organized and easily accessible!
The elasticity of our bungee straps is perfect for keeping lids on cans or boxes and holding open doors or gates!
These bungee tie downs can also be used as custom wraps to bundle cords, straps, and cargo chains so they can be easily stored, organized, and avoid being knotted or frayed; proper storage of these items improves their longevity!

Tips for Using Bungee Tie-Down Straps

While the bungee cords can be used in a variety of applications, here are five tips that are useful no matter where or how you plan to use bungee straps:

While we have been using the terms interchangeably in the industry and this article, there are some minor differences between them. Bungee straps are a solid piece of rubber with eyes on either end for the insertion of crimped hooks. Bungee cords consist of one or more elastic strands encased in a cotton or polypropylene sheath. This difference is important depending on what you need for hauling or storing supplies. Bungee straps offer more strength, while Bungee cords are better suited in elasticity.

If cargo control and shock absorption are important and necessary, bungee straps are perfect. The rubber bungee straps are made of is extremely energy absorbent and recommended as replacements for chain or winch strap. Use heavy-duty bungee straps for flatbed truckers or haulers that travel through environments that have added travel stress, like rough weather conditions and uneven roads.

Bungee straps have been used in a range of odd and creative tools, including furniture! Lightweight bungee straps can take the place of older, broken, or uncomfortable vinyl to create or fix furniture and chairs that are just as strong. You can also hook a bungee cord across an open shelf to prevent items from falling and crashing to the floor below.

What’s more frustrating than having a variety of small items or cargo you need to transport? Lacking any feasible way to keep them stable and prevent these smaller items from rolling around the back of your truck or trailer. Bungee cords can help bundle these items together AND tie down these bundles to the floor or walls of your garage, trailer, or trunk/bed.

Securing items like microwaves, coffee pots, crock pots, and trash cans to ensure that sudden slam on your brakes or hit a nasty pot-hole protects these items rom damages.!

How Many Bungee Straps Are Needed to Secure Flatbed Cargo Shipment?

Securing your cargo properly is a matter of safety and maintaining a reputation. Losing or damaging cargo if it shifts or falls will result in a financial loss at least and bodily harm at worst. To ensure you’re keeping your loads firmly in place during transportation it’s best to follow Part 393 of Federal Regulations, which govern how items are to be blocked, braced, or tied down on flatbeds and enclosed trailers or vans.

However, these laws only apply to straps and chains that have working load limits. According to law, it’s recommended you use at least FOUR tie-down straps or an amount of tie-down straps that equal at least HALF of the cargo’s weight.

Since bungee cords and straps lack working load limits and are not DOT regulated for cargo securement, the number of bungee cords you need depends on how secure you want your tarp to be while covering your cargo. It is not recommended to use bungee cords for large equipment securement.

Most of the movers tend to use bungee cord elastic for tying down tarps. However, as demonstrated it’s incredibly useful to have an assortment of bungee cords handy to ensure you always have the right one for the job! With their versatile uses, you can apply a bungee strap to just about any situation, both in and outside the truck!

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