Guide to Moving in the Winter - Inclement Weather Can Make Moving Tricky
Cold, ice and snow are not nice at all. Unless you are enjoying a ski holiday in France, or just making a snowman with the kids, the elements of winter can pose a real hazard when moving. Indeed, caution is important when loading your moving truck rental, and also, when driving a rental truck in extreme weather conditions. While everyone should stay alert avoiding potential hazards, moving in the winter time is even more dangerous for individuals who are not accustomed to the frigid temperatures. Having lived in warmer climates may make them less likely to consider ice on the walkway, and cold in the fingertips.
Regardless of whether you live in an area that experiences the winter months, or you are not at all accustomed to winter living, we have compiled nineteen useful tips to help you make your move in a safer environment and to help you adapt to the inclement weather that can make moving tricky.
1. Always wear gloves whether you feel cold or not. The gloves will keep your hands warm, plus they will protect the hands from cuts and scratches from moving and loading boxes into the rental truck. Avoid wearing mitts when carrying your boxes, as you will not be able to catch anything if it falls down. Mitts are awkward for carrying items.
2. Keep your head warm by wearing a hat, or at the very least, wear a headband across the ears, or an earmuff to keep the ears from becoming frost bitten. If you cannot put a heater in the moving rental while loading, keep your hat on to keep the warmth in.
3. Be especially careful with your children and pets. Young children and pets will be susceptible to freezing. Talk to your vet about safely transporting your pets in the winter. Remember, also, that pets cannot ride in the cargo area of the truck.
4. If it is quite slushy and sloppy with wet snow outside, line your boots with plastic bags for extra insulation against the wet on your skin. Be careful when you climb into the back of the moving truck. Your boots will be slippery and you do not want to fall and hurt your body.
5. When moving from a warmer area to a colder climate, keep a bag of essentials close by, so that you have them ready when you arrive and start unpacking the moving truck. Items that you should carry are gloves, hats, scarves, boots, socks, an extra sweater, a warm jacket, and maybe long underwear. Keep them nearby in the cab of the truck and do not pack the bag deep in the moving truck with your regular clothes.
6. Keep the back area of the moving truck clear of snow and ice. If necessary, use salt to prevent ice buildup. Ice around the tail of the rental truck can be very dangerous. One slip, and you can fall under the truck, or smash your head and face against the truck. Shovel the area where the moving truck is parked, and keep the work area down to the bare pavement or ground, if possible.
7. Shovel the walkway where you and your helpers are traveling to and from the truck. This not only aids in everyone's safety, but also, keeps the area clean, allowing everyone to walk faster than they would be able to when trodding through deep snow. Further, if the area is kept clean from snow, the snow will not be transferred into the back of the moving truck, making the floor inside the truck slippery and dangerous to walk upon.
8. In the snow and ice, wear footwear with proper traction. Summer-style shoes will be a problem.
9. Remember that your plants will not be able to survive the trip in the cold. The storage part of the truck will not be warm enough to keep them safe. If you are moving from a warmer climate to a colder climate, make sure the plants are easily accessible in the rental truck or other vehicle, so that you can get them into the new home as quickly as possible. Even in a heated rental vehicle, the plants should be covered with plastic to avoid drafts when opening and closing the doors of the truck.
10. Carry flares and reflector triangles in the truck, so that if the rental truck slides off the road, you have a way to notify others of your predicament.
11. Drive the truck slowly and cautiously. Even if you drive in the winter on a regular basis, driving a moving truck is considerably different than driving your own vehicle. Many things can factor into a potential accident. The moving truck is heavier, which means more braking distance is required. The snow and ice complicate this fact, so even more distance will be needed to properly brake on time. The rental truck is most likely longer than your vehicle, which poses a problem especially when parking near snow banks.
12. When going into the house for more boxes, watch for water on the floor from melted snow. Slipping on wet shoes will cause the feet to hydroplane knocking you off balance and giving your body a real jolt.
13. Check the rental truck before leaving the lot to ensure that the heater is in proper working order. Nothing could be worse than traveling for miles with no heat on your body, and no way to remove the frost and fog from the windshield.
14. If you are using a truck rental in an extreme temperature climate, and you are staying in that temperature overnight, make sure the moving truck rental has a block heater installed. This may be the only way you will be assured of starting the truck the next morning in the cold.
15. When unpacking your belongings after having been in the cold for sometime, it is best to let your china, crystal and any other glassware sit in the box until it comes up to room temperature. If you must unpack the items while cold, do so gingerly, as the cold will undoubtedly cause the glass to crack and break. The cold makes the glass brittle.
16. When carrying heavy items in the snow, have an extra person as a spotter if possible. The spotter can guide the others to the moving truck, while at the same time help out if someone goes down, or the box slips before reaching the truck.
17. Keep bottles of water handy so that everyone stays hydrated. Even though it is cold, the body is still working extra and needs water for replenishment.
18. When traveling in the moving truck, carry a shovel for getting out of snow banks. A bag of salt will also be useful in case you need added traction to get the truck out of an icy spot. Lastly, ask the truck rental agency about whether tire chains are required. In some areas and times of the year, chains are mandatory.
19. Finally, take your time when moving on ice and snow. Accidents happen quickly and without warning. Slow down, take precautions, and err on the safe side. And be sure to take breaks indoors where you can warm up and start again refreshed.