How To Move A King Size Mattress In A Pickup Truck? Step-By-Step Guide

If you need to know how to move a king size mattress in a pickup truck, you only need three steps, and you’re done! It’s possible to have something as big as a king bed in a pickup truck safely for transport once you know the dos and don’ts. However, do note that this size creates limitations because of the space in the truck bed.

The best mattress size for moving in a pickup truck would be a twin, and anything bigger will require adjustments during loading. Perhaps it’s better to rent a bigger vehicle or hire professional movers. But if you want to know more if DIY is for you, then let’s get started!

How Do You Transport A King-Size Mattress In A Pickup Truck?

Step #1. Prepare

First, you have to ensure that your mattress will be well-protected throughout the journey. Experienced movers use a tarp to cover the king bed because it is thick enough against potential debris in the road. To keep it from flying off, make sure to tie it with a rope after covering.

We are assuming that you also know the proper way of putting the mattress in its bag before covering it with the tarp. Different materials vary in the way you must bag and seal them, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions. What if you’ll also bring the box spring?

We want to share a tip to tie the box spring and king bed together with a strong rope. Both of them will weigh each other to prevent slipping during transport. Make sure that you’ll utilize the vehicle’s tie-down anchors when strapping as well.

Step #2. Position

Now that you have the mattress protected, you can position it in your truck. Remember that you’re moving a king-size bed, so you can’t lay it flat in the truck bed. You can make loading comfortable by sliding the mattress far to the left-hand side at an angle.

This way, one side can rest on the opposite bedrail. You also want to adjust the placement according to the space that your specific pickup truck offers. The main takeaway is to check if the king-size mattress doesn’t have any part that might crease.

Step #3. Secure

Finally, tie your king bed securely because its overall bulk is not enough to keep it from moving off the pickup truck. This step is quite self-explanatory on how you’ll do it, but ensure that the straps run over the mattress. Upon loading, you can run one end of each strap through the tie-down anchors until you’re ready to start tying.

Then, check the tightness before you go, and you’re done!

Can A King Size Mattress Fit In A Pickup Truck?

As we have revealed earlier, a king-size mattress can fit in a pickup truck but not flatly as smaller beds do. Only twin-size mattresses can sit flat on the truck bed because of the wheel wells. Never be tempted to fold or roll your king bed because it is too thick and large that you risk damaging the structural integrity.

Do not also place something heavy on the mattress as it can encourage dents.  For us, it’s more ideal to have it transported in a vehicle where it can lie flat, especially if the travel duration is long. Nonetheless, some manufacturers allow having their king-size models on their side for a short period.

What Size Truck Do I Need To Move A King Size Bed?

To make moving much more comfortable, it would be best to check your truck’s size and if it will be ideal for something as big as a king bed. To cut to the chase, we recommend getting a cargo van or renting a proper moving truck. It is spacious enough to transport your king-size mattress flat safely.

A 10-feet moving truck will be ideal for a king-size bed, whereas an 8-feet pickup truck only accommodates a double bed comfortably. However, you can follow our three-step guide above to ensure that your king mattress stays upright flat against the wall without any items pointing onto it. Some people even recommend having the tailgate down without any item below or above the bed.

How Do You Move A Heavy King Size Mattress?

Moving a heavy king-size mattress can become a DIY project, as long as you have someone assist you in lifting it around. It can be unsafe to go up and down the stairs, for example. And the mattress itself is too heavy to lift by yourself onto a vehicle.

If you have no one to help you, we recommend getting it shipped or hiring moving professionals to save time and effort. You can also consider a container shipping company, but you still need to load the mattress into the moving container. On the contrary, a professional moving company will do the packing and transporting for you at extra costs.

5 Benefits of A Good Mattress

1. Achieve Adequate, Quality Nighttime Sleep

Topping off this list is the key advantage of having a good mattress from a bad one–getting a tight sleep, rest, or nap every time. Depending on the mattress type you have, they can either offer pressure point relief, back support, or both, while making you feel like you’re on cloud nine.

A good mattress should support your sleep and not ruin it. If you’re feeling uncomfortable every night, having difficulty sleeping, or waking up with body pain, these may be signs that it’s time to buy a new mattress. Click here now to see the best mattress recommendations if you’re suffering from chronic back pain.

2. Promote Good Form and Posture

People sleep in different sleeping positions and might not even be aware of it. By having not just a good mattress but also the right one, you can maintain or improve your form and posture. If you have a consistent sleeping position every night, you must have the right mattress that promotes proper form and posture.

For instance, side sleepers are more prone to back pain as their fetal sleeping position puts strain on the back and neck. It can also apply pressure to the arms and shoulders since it’ll be pressed onto the mattress, restricting blood flow. If you tend to sleep on your right side, this position can also add stress to your organs.

Thankfully, memory foam mattresses got side sleepers covered. The material’s responsiveness can maintain spine alignment and provide cushion to pressure points. However, if you opt for other mattress types that aren’t side sleeper-friendly, your joints and spine can be compromised. Thus, take your sleeping position into account when choosing a mattress.

3. Keep Your Mental and Emotional Health in Check

Having a bad mattress can indeed mess up your sleep. At first, this could only lead to sleepless nights, but sleeping every night on a bad mattress can eventually lead to sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep is known to be linked to various short- and long-term consequences, and it can take a heavy toll on your mental and emotional health.

Here are some of the most common effects of poor, inadequate sleep on your mental and emotional health:

• Lack of sharpness and mindfulness.
• Causes daytime grogginess and frequent yawning.
• Promotes mood swings and irritability.
• Exacerbates mental conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Induces poor cognitive functioning and performance.

By sleeping on a good mattress, your chances of enjoying a sound sleep increase, and you’ll less likely experience these health consequences mentioned above. However, take note that a good bed won’t be enough to achieve the best sleep, which will lead you to the next point.

4. Develop an Inclination to Your Sleeping

Unfortunately, some people dislike sleeping due to many personal reasons, which can include a bad mattress. Also, some people are too focused on hustling at work, school, and other activities that they forget to sleep. With a good mattress, you might finally be back to square one with sleeping!

If you’re someone who doesn’t get fulfilled after a night’s sleep, your mattress may be the culprit. Also, curating an inviting sleeping environment can encourage you to sleep more.

Don’t forget to treat yourself to a perfect night’s sleep. Check out some tips to make your bedroom sleep-friendly:

• Reserve your bed for sleep or intimate moments
• Reduce noise and distractions in the surroundings
• Cool the room down, ideally to 65 ℉ or 18.3 ℃
• Keep all electronics away from reach
• Minimize visual clutter
• Use softer, warmer colors in your bedroom

5. Get the Most Out of Your Purchase

Mattress prices in the market today are no joke. Even the budget mattress options are quite difficult to save up for, especially if you’re shouldering more household and personal expenses.

Therefore, having a good mattress is a buy-it-for-life purchase. Since high-quality mattresses last for a couple of years, especially when it’s well-maintained, you can get the most value from your purchase.

Take a look at the average lifespan of mattress types:

• Innerspring:5 to 6.5 years
• Foam: 6 to 7 years
• Latex:5 to 8.5 years
• Hybrid:5 to 7.5 years

How to Keep Your Mattress in Good Shape Longer

We’ve put together ten of the best ways to protect your investment by caring for the mattress and preventing disasters before they occur.

1. Make sure your mattress is properly supported.

While you may not always need to purchase the matching box spring or foundation with a new mattress, it is essential to make sure your mattress does have the right kind of support. This helps preserve the integrity of materials and prevent early wear.

Check with the manufacturer or look at the warranty policy for recommendations. Box springs are generally used only with spring mattresses, while memory foam mattresses and other specialty mattresses usually require firm, solid support.

Beds that use a frame should be designed to support the weight of sleepers and the mattress, and queen and king beds should have center support bars. Platform beds with wide slats may need extra support depending on mattress type and weight.

It’s a smart idea to check on your bed’s support every year or so to make sure there are no broken slats or springs that could affect your mattress.

2. Use a mattress protector from the beginning.

We’ve covered the benefits of mattress protectors before, and they are one of the best and simplest ways to protect your bed’s longevity.

A good, quality mattress protector offers waterproof protection to guard against spills and accidents, and they also reduce the amount of dust, debris and dirt that make it into your bed.

This helps protect the materials inside your bed from damage, keeps skin oils and sweat off the bed and reduces build up of allergens like mold and dust mites. A protector also makes cleanups a snap when accidents do happen, and many newer types feel just as comfortable as a fitted sheet.

3. Wash bed linens regularly.

When you sleep, you shed sweat, oils, hair and skin cells. Eating in bed also leaves behind crumbs, and pets can track in all sorts of things. In addition to getting yucky, all of this can get into mattress layers, breeding bacteria and encouraging dust mites.

Bed sheets and blankets should ideally be washed every week to every two weeks according to most cleaning experts. Even when using a mattress protector, it’s still important to keep linens clean. The mattress protector should also be washed occasionally according to a manufacturer’s directions.

4. Get pets separate beds to snuggle in.

Speaking of stuff in your sheets, it is better to give pets their own designated beds rather than letting them cuddle up on your mattress.

Even well groomed pets walk outside, drool and shed hair and cells just like people, and all that winds up in your bed. Pets also can have the occasional accident, which can all but ruin an otherwise good mattress.

5. Rotate the mattress regularly.

Every type of mattress benefits from being rotated regularly, no matter the material or the size. Some manufacturers say it is not necessary, but rotating helps promote more even wear, while not rotating makes depressions and softening more likely.

Every two to six months rotate the mattress 180 degrees from head to foot. This is particularly important the first couple of years as you are breaking in the mattress.

6. No jumping on the bed!

Your mother always told you not to jump on the bed, and she wasn’t wrong. Spring, water and air beds may be most prone to damage with rough wear, but foundations, frames and even foams can all wear down more quickly if you are hard on the mattress.

7. Take care when moving your mattress.

When you move, protect your mattress from damage by encasing it in plastic and avoiding bending or folding. Moving and box stores often carry heavy-duty mattress bags that can be secured with tape to keep dirt and water off the bed, and these also prevent scuffs and scratches.

Generally when moving a mattress, it’s also best to keep them upright on their sides so they don’t crease or sag in transit.  For covers with handles, manufacturers typically suggest not using them to move or drag the mattress.

8. Don’t bring home unwanted hitchhikers.

Bedbugs are one of the fastest ways to ruin a mattress, as they can be difficult to get rid of once they infiltrate.

When sleeping away from home, always inspect the bed from signs of bed bugs and try to keep luggage off the floor. If you suspect bedbugs, Texas A&M University has a few tips for preventing bringing them back home.

In apartments or areas of the country where these critters are common, consider using a bedbug-proof mattress encasement. These differ from mattress protectors as they have impenetrable zippers and cover the bed on all sides to prevent bugs from making their home in your mattress.

9. Let the light in occasionally.

Every month or two when you have a sunny and dry day, strip your mattress and let the sunlight in to air out the bed for several hours (though if bedbugs are possible, leave the cover on).

This helps prevent excess moisture both from sleepers and humidity, and may also help keep dust mite populations in check according to Kingston University study.

10. Follow manufacturer cleaning directions.

Every type of mattress should be cleaned regularly to keep your sleep environment clean and keep your mattress healthy.

Many manufacturers will include directions for stain removal and general cleaning, but most beds should be vacuumed with a hose attachment to remove surface dust.

Stains can be spot treated with a mild water and soap solution, but allow them to completely dry before making the bed. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners on foams as they can break down foam integrity.

Depending on dust levels, allergies, or personal preference, vacuuming should be done every 1 to 3 months and stains spot-treated as necessary.

Although different types and brands of mattresses can differ somewhat in care and maintenance, the basics are the same. Essentially, keep the bed clean, protect it from accidents and damage, ensure it’s supported, and rotate for even wear.

Mattress lifespan depends on many factors, but following these best practices can help ensure that you enjoy years of healthy sleep and that your investment lasts as long as possible. Whether you are looking at more traditional brick-and-mortar stores, or a new bed in a box mattress companies, know that a 10-year warranty on your mattress is considered an industry standard.

Conclusion

Before you proceed in transporting your king bed in your pickup, you should learn the proper techniques. This article has discussed the best way on how to move a king size mattress in a pickup truck, which is essentially protecting, positioning, and securing it in place. However, do note that you won’t be able to lay it flat because of the wheel wells.