<p>I am getting ready to move into a house I am renting with friends about 75 miles away from home, and am wondering about the logistics of moving a queen size mattress this distance. My parents have graciously offered to donate an old mattress of theirs that is currently sitting in our garage, but I know that our mini van is not big enough to hold it.</p>
<p>My dad has mentioned tying the mattress to the roof, but this idea makes me nervous. Even if he were to drive the car, I can just imagine the wind resistance the mattress might add would make the van very difficult to drive.</p>
<p>I looked at U-haul cargo vans and trucks, and while the flat rate is cheep, the price they add for mile makes the 150 mile round trip a little bit pricey. Unfortunately, our car doesn’t have a hitch, so renting a trailer also doesn’t seem like a feasible option.</p>
<p>According to my research, renting a pick up truck looks like the best option, but I’m still weary about whether or not the mattress could fit in the bed. The website I am looking at lists the Chevy Silverado King Cab, Ford F150 “or similar” as the trucks that are available for rent.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with these trucks, or have you been in a similar situation? Also if you think there any options I have overlooked I would really appreciate it. </p>
<p>I strongly suggest NOT tying the mattress to the roof for a trip of 75 miles. They’re difficult to secure to a roof since once 65mph air gets under the large surface area of the mattress it can easily break the twine, rope, etc. or just come flying out from under it. Mattresses frequently come flying off of the roofs and can cause a fatal accident behind you. </p>
<p>Moving a mattress in a pickup truck isn’t as much of a problem but it still needs to be secured very well with strong straps or strong rope - not twine. The cab of the pickup usually can act as a windbreak to prevent the planing effect that happens when it’s on a roof and a pickup truck usually has tie-down points built-in. </p>
<p>Are you sure the mattress won’t fit inside the minivan cater-corner? Mattresses usually give a little so it might fit. If it does then maybe you could just make a couple of trips - one for the mattress and one for the box springs (assuming you also have the latter and they don’t both fit).</p>
<p>We’ve moved a queen mattress in the minivan - just try to fold it in half enough so that the center depresses, then jam it in there. It’ll cost you more to rent a pickup truck and drive it up there than it will to buy a new one through IKEA or someplace like that. The ikea mattresses come rolled up and vacuum-packed. Heavy as heck, but easy to move…</p>
<p>Ratchet straps. Buy at Walmart or Big Lots, need about 4 or 6. Truckers use these to attach to their tractor trailers and movers use them.</p>
<p>We did!</p>
<p>Moved a queen size mattress AND foundation this weekend with a pick up truck. But have attached to the roof of a car as well. All ratchet straps. </p>
<p>I would be concerned with the rain, wet mattresses are a pain to deal with. You can buy plastic mattress bags at a storage facility for $2-$3 per bag. Tape up with packing tape and cut open with scissors so you can re-use the bag.</p>
<p>Bag will also hold a sofa or loveseat. Easy fix instead of using a tarp. If using a tarp make sure to get the ones with metal grommets and ratchet straps will also fit through the grommet holes. Have that at Home Depot.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to drive with a matress on the roof. We once had to go three miles with a well-secured piece of paneling on the roof, and it was a near disaster. </p>
<p>Note to all - be very careful when moving matresses (or furniture) in a pickup, even just a few miles. Never let anybody ride in back to watch the stuff. A grandmother in our town was killed this way trying to help her daughter and grandson do a move across town.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great advice. I will definitely look into getting ratchet straps for the truck.</p>
<p>I have proposed both buying a new mattress and kind of squishing it into the van but the powers that be (re: Dad) has vetoed both of them. Even though I would probably pay for the new mattress, why buy a new one when we have a perfectly good one already?</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience transporting a mattress in a pick up? Will it lie flat in the bed of a standard truck, or should we spring for the larger models? Will we have to lie it diagonally and strap it in?</p>
<p>Sorry if these questions are redundant, I just want to make sure we’re prepared.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to rent a king cab pickup to help me move. 9 times out of 10, extra size cabs mean extra short bed. If you’re renting to help move, wouldn’t you want the biggest pickup bed possible? No a Q size mattress will not lie flat on a pickup bed.</p>
<p>As far as renting a big truck goes… how many trips/or cars will you need if you travel by car? 1? 2? Rent a pickup, but follow it by car? If you need 2 vehicles or 2 trips, then you are likely better off renting one full size truck and moving everything in one trip.</p>
<p>P.S. moving the mattress is often easier than the Q size box spring. Mattress heavy but flexible.</p>
<p>The queen mattress will probably fit in the van…it can bend. The queen box spring, however, will not. Enterprise rents a cargo van that can old a queen mattress. I forget which one is the right size…one is and one isn’t…so measure first. If you are moving a bunch of things the 75 miles (other furniture, etc), this might be something to consider. A round trip rental is less expensive than one way in most cases…for 75 miles, it could be a day trip and might be worth it.</p>
There are usually a couple of ways - lay it in diagonally as necessary with one side in the bed and the other side on the side of the truck (since it likely wouldn’t fit laying completely flat) and strap it in well, or stand it up in the bed on edge if you have other large things you’re moving (like a desk, dresser, etc.) sandwiching it, and strap it well - at least 3 good straps. Make sure the tailgate is left closed if at all possible.</p>
<p>In both cases the cab of the truck will act as a windbreak so it should travel okay as long as you strap it in well. As you’re driving down the freeway make sure you or a passenger checks on how well it’s traveling every now and then but especially at the beginning.</p>
<p>LOL to the Car Talk clip. I love listening to them on weekend mornings.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all of the great advice. It seems for the time being maybe the tide has shifted toward buying a new mattress after all, but if we revert back to Plan A, I’m sure we all of your expertise will come in handy.</p>