It is vital to note that transporting your mattress out on the open road can be quite dangerous. Also, it can result in accidents if it is not carried out properly. To prevent this you need to tie down mattress in truck bed.
When using moving trucks to move your mattress, you must do it with care so that the mattress is both secure and protected. For example, if you do not tie the mattress well enough, wind can blow it off your vehicle.
And the mattress will end up getting damaged by debris. More so, if your mattress is not secure, it can lose free and hit the other vehicles driving on the road.
Nevertheless, people have asked how to tie down the mattress in the truck bed, and our article will dutifully help you get it right.
Table of Contents
Steps to tie down mattress in truck bed
As you try to tie down mattress in truck bed you will first need to identify which type of truck you are driving and its size. Once that is done the rest of the process is rather simple such as laying the mattress flat on the truck. Afterward, you will have to tie down the mattress using ropes or a similar product.
For the closed truck, the steps are:
Step one: Cover the mattress
Ensure that you cover your mattress using a tarp or mattress cover before placing it in the truck. Whenever I use moving trucks or trucks with huge enclosed storage space, my major concern is to ensure the mattress is heavily protected.
Step two: Lay the mattress
Position the mattress flat on your truck bed. Make sure the tarp covers the whole mattress inside. If you have to stand the mattress up, position it in a way that it leans on one side of your truck.
Step three: Use ropes to secure
Use ropes to secure the mattress to the storage area side of the truck. Although, many of these trucks for moving have wooden rails on their side to enable tie-downs.
You will have to knot tie one end of the ropes you are using to a rail towards the top of your mattress.
Then, you are to embark on running the rope over and under your mattress, then tie the other end to any lower rail. I always make sure that I use enough rope to avoid mattress damage.
For the pickup truck, the steps include:
Step one: Cover the mattress
You are to cover your mattress using a tarp or mattress bags. In securing the tarp, you will need to tie the rope around the mattress from side to side and from top to bottom. This means that you will wrap around the whole mattress.
This will prevent the tarp from getting blown off. This is an important step in how to tie down mattress in truck bed.
Step two: Position the mattress
Position the mattress on its side on one side of your pickup truck. Doing this will decrease the air life that can pull the mattress off pickup trucks.
For those like me who have another mattress or box spring, position it on one side to balance the entire load.
Step three: Secure the mattress
Make use of the tie downs in the pickup bed. You are to link the rope to the ropes that are already wrapped around the tarp of the mattress. Some of these trucks have tie-downs on the floor and the sides.
Ensure that you link at least one on each side of your mattress. If possible, you are to run the rope around the mattress and link it to a part of the truck’s frame. It should be connected under the truck that is going down the outside area of the truck.
Step four: Close tailgates
Now, you are to close up your pickup truck tailgate. You are not to leave the tailgate open. Do this if your mattress does not get to protrude past the back edge of most pickup beds. If it is impossible to close your tailgate, you must tie two ropes across the opening area to stop the mattress from sliding out of the pickup truck.
Ways to tie down mattress in truck bed and transport it
Best believe that I use my pickup truck to transport cargo across the country. And, one of the hardest items to transport through a truck bed is none other but a mattress.
However, you can follow the next few steps below to tie down mattress in truck bed and successfully transport your mattress. The steps are:
Cover it all up
The first thing I do is cover the mattress with a tarp or mattress bag before I load it. I typically do this to prevent mattress damage. Next, you are to wrap your covered mattress using a cord or rope in a bid to secure the tarp from flying off.
Also, you can buy a mattress bag from a mattress store. When transporting a box spring, ensure you tie them together as a single unit with a strong cord or rope. Doing this will help to add weight and even rigidity to your mattress.
With the box spring, any piece slipping during the transportation is decreased. You are to prepare your ratchet strap as you run one end of each side through the truck tie-down points.
Positioning of your mattress
The positioning of your mattress will be dependent on the size. The likely problems that I have faced are the wheel wells not allowing a full size, queen size, or king-size mattress to sit flat in pickup beds.
However, I normally slide the mattress and box spring into the pickup bed to the far left-hand side. It is advisable to angle the mattress to enable one side to sit within your bed and the other side to rest on the opposite bed rails.
Meanwhile, some mattresses have been transported by standing across the two-bed rails.
It should be tied down tightly
When tying down your mattress tightly, avoid being fooled by its large size. The large size and heavy nature will certainly not keep it in place.
Its huge surface area and lightweight make it highly vulnerable to the heavy gusts of wind made by a truck moving on the highway.
You are to take your already prepared ratchet straps, then run the other end up around the mattress. This is done to secure the anchor points at the other side. Tighten them, and all should be ready to move.
Furthermore, people have asked if you can transport your mattress without using a truck. Well, it can work out pretty fine if you will not be moving a king-sized mattress using a Volkswagen beetle.
You just need to wrap the mattress in plastic, or you can use a special-sized mattress bag. I always make sure I purchase a strong rope. Ensure you purchase enough rope to secure the mattress across the middle and lengthwise.
Finally, simply secure it to the top of your car. For example, if you use an SUV, you just need to open its windows and tie the smaller mattress flat down using your ratchet straps.
The straps should be positioned through the windows of the car. Then, use rope, plus it should be the type with a tight clinching knot if you do not have ratchet straps. Tighten it very well.
Meanwhile, the Queen size mattress will not fit into an SUV. But also, the queen size will fit into a compact van. And, it should be a compact van that does not have a passenger side.
Bear in mind that if the mattress is on the roof of your car, you will need a mattress bag or plastic. Also, to tie down mattress in truck bed is better than to tie it to the roof.
Size of your mattress
Irrespective of whether you are going to sleep underneath the stars or just want to move the mattress, the fact remains that the twin-size mattress can lie flat between the wheel wells.
It will lay flat in both full-size and mid-size truck beds. For those interested in checking the bed dimensions for their truck, it goes thus:
- For your king-sized mattress, the dimension is 76 inches by 80 inches
- For the Queen size mattress, the dimension is 60 inches by 80 inches
- For the full bed, the dimension is 54 inches by 75 inches, and;
- For the twin-sized bed, the dimension is 38 inches by 75 inches
If you seek a mattress size that will suitably fit your truck, you just need to embark on measuring the distance between the wheel wells. Then, you will compare it to the measurements above.
I have clearly noted that most truck beds roughly measure 48 inches between wheel wells. And, this is regarded as the width of the standard sheet of plywood or drywall. So when you tie down mattress in truck bed make sure to select the best size mattress.
Moreover, since people may not be comfortable on a twin-size mattress, there are other options I have tried out and am willing to share. They include:
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
How many sizes of bed mattresses are there?
There are the King, Queen, Full, and Twin size mattresses. To tie down mattresses in truck bed you will need to know the mattress size and your truck bed size.
How to tie down mattress in truck bed and transport it?
First of all, before you tie down mattress in truck bed you will need to position it properly so that it sits perfectly. Afterward, you will need to anchor it and tie down mattress in truck bed tightly.
Is there a difference between a closed truck and a pick-up truck?
Closed trucks are mainly for transporting large quantities of goods across long distances. Pickup or pickup trucks are smaller light-duty trucks with enclosed cabins and open cargo spaces.
What are the benefits of using a truck camping bed?
You won’t have to sleep on the floor and stay above some of the critters on the ground.
Conclusion
As you drive with the mattress on the roof of your car, ensure that you drive slowly and even pass through back streets or roads. In all, moving a mattress. You just need to follow the easy-to-follow steps we have provided above to tie down mattress in truck bed.
