The Pickup Move
A pickup truck (or a cargo van) is often the smartest vehicle for a small NYC move — a studio or a one-bedroom with a few large items. It's cheaper than a box truck and easier to park. The catch is the open bed.
Tie Everything Down
An open bed means wind, rain, and bumps. Ratchet-strap every item to the bed's anchor points, and lay a tarp over the load, bungeed at the corners. A loose box on the BQE is gone.
Load Heavy and Low
Put the heaviest items — dresser, bookcase, appliances — against the cab wall, low in the bed. Light boxes and soft items go on top. A top-heavy load shifts in turns.
Pad Between Items
Even strapped, items rub. Tuck a moving blanket between every pair of furniture pieces. The corners that touch are the corners that get scratched.
Mind the Bed Length
A standard pickup bed is 6.5 feet. A couch or a queen mattress overhangs — strap a red flag to the overhang and drive carefully. A long-bed pickup (8 feet) fits most couches flat.
Lock the Tailgate
A locking tailgate is the only theft deterrent on an open bed. If yours doesn't lock, drive straight to the destination and unload immediately — don't stop.
The Van Alternative
For anything that shouldn't get wet or be seen, a cargo van is the better choice for the same small move — enclosed, lockable, and the same parking footprint.
Two People, One Trip
A pickup move is a two-person job: one loads, one stabilizes, both unload. Book two movers and a small move finishes in the two-hour minimum.
Ready to get your weekend back?
Skip the heavy lifting. Book local moving help by the hour in NYC today.