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Large item packing tips

Shipping Giant Equipment Cross Country

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Shipping giant equipment such as exercise machines, metal armoire, dining tables, etc, can be quite expensive. People usually opt for freight delivery via land, sea or air. Depending on which category your equipment falls into, the delivery can take a minimum of 7 days to maximum 30 days.

Most people, when choosing the freight option for cross-country delivery, either pick air or sea shipping options. Following is a guide that will help you understand how to pack and ship giant equipment cross country:

Shipping Tips

  • Find a company that has its price range based on weight, as well as size. This way, if you pack the equipment tight enough, you will save money on the size.

  • Instead of loading the equipment on your car’s roof, hire a truck, so that it arrives safely to the pickup spot.

  • If the exercise equipment can be broken down into parts, take apart those parts and carry them with you instead of giving it to the shipping company. The lighter the equipment becomes, the easier it will move. Moreover, you will save on the weight.

Protecting the Equipment

You don’t need any plastic wraps or packing peanuts for packing. Large equipment should always be packed light unless it’s an LCD screen or something more delicate.

Before you start packing, tie the machine with bungee cords so that it does not open up accidentally. This will keep the machine secure in its place. Find a box as large as the equipment. Place a wood slate at the bottom to make it hard and secure it with tape. Wrap the equipment in a thin sheet of bubble wrap and then wrap it again in a blanket. Slide the equipment inside the box. Make sure that it’s a perfect fit and not too tight.

Taxes, Tariffs, and Duties

Shipping large equipment cross country such as a treadmill usually costs around $275. In some cases, this amount includes the delivery charges, as well as the tariffs, which are mentioned in the brochure or leaflet provided by the shipping company. The amount is usually charged by the customs when shipping internationally.

Insurance

There are various types of insurance that either covers the entire or part of the cost of the shipment. Whether your shipment is going by air or sea, the insurance policy remains the same, only the circumstances change. Some of these insurance policies include:

  • Basic Liability

  • Carrier Liability

  • Cargo Insurance

The insurance policies offer the following coverage:

  • Free of Particular Average Coverage

  • General Average Coverage

  • Warehouse Coverage

Insurance gives you the ease of mind that in case your equipment is damaged or lost, you will be covered on the cost.

When shipping cross country, it’s important to pick a reliable company that has done such deliveries. When choosing a shipping company, make sure you read their reviews. This will give you a good insight into how they treat their customers and whether their shipments arrive in the right condition and on time or not.

Packing Large Items Such as Couches, Tables and Armoires Slot

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Moving? Well then . . . Prepare yourself because you are about to have some difficult situations on your hand when deciding on how to move the big stuff. By big stuff we mean, the dreaded furniture. When moving, there comes a time when we think to ourselves, “Do I really need to take all this stuff? I can always buy new furniture”. A fleeting thought that must be discarded quickly! Think about all the money you would be wasting.

Moving furniture that is heavy such as armories, tables, and couches are no child’s play. Our old furniture, which we have lots and lots of memories associated with, puts life and essence to our rooms. The only way to ensure that the furniture survives the moving van’s arduous journey is to pack it securely with adequate packaging supplies. Here’s the secret:

Supplies You Will Need for the Packaging Furniture

  • Styrofoam Sheets 16″

  • Corrugated Sheets

  • Polypropylene Strapping

  • Wire Buckles

  • Pliers

  • Box Cutter

  • Packing Tape

  • Wooden Palette

*You can buy all of these items from The Home Depot.

Forming a Box

Since you won’t find such large cardboard boxes in which you can fit an armoire or a couch, the first step is to customize a box according to the furniture’s size. Let’s take the armoire as an example – if the armoire has drawers, remove and empty them.

Securing it with Styrofoam and Corrugated Sheet

Lay down a Styrofoam sheet and put the armoire on it horizontally, with only ¼ of the armoire lying on the Styrofoam. If the armoire has legs, then when moving it, make sure its carried out and placed upside down. This will protect the legs and stop the armoire from falling.

Tip: If possible, take a wood palette and tie it to the bottom of the armoire, so that you have a solid base. You can also use folds of Styrofoam to create a spongy base and to fill gaps.

Form a box around the top and bottom of the armoire and tape the Styrofoam together. Do not tape it to the armoire or you will ruin its finish. Now cover the middle area with the sheets and avoid leaving any gaps in between. Since an armoire is a huge item, it’s better to double wrap the Styrofoam for added safety.

Now measure the opening of the box and cut a piece of Styrofoam in the exact same size. Press it on both sides and secure with tape.

Note: When packing a sofa, you can use plastic sheets instead of Styrofoam to protect the leather or cloth from wear and tear.

Now repeat this process with the corrugated sheet, but cover the sides with one sheet per side. When the four sides are covered, start with the lid.