The definitive guide how to transport a sofa in a car
Moving on your own always seems like a great idea until comes to lifting all the heavy furniture. Or, with the demand for refurbished & sustainable furniture soaring, you may have also purchased a sofa from eBay, Gumtree or Facebook. and need to liaise with the seller with regards to getting it to your home. So, how to transport a sofa in a car?
How to move a couch with a car: what you’ll need
- Plastic wraps
- Moving blankets
- Oversized furniture sliders or a flat furniture dolly
- Furniture straps
If you don’t think you’ll be able to move a sofa with your car with this equipment, then it’s time to consider hiring a removal company or man and van to help with the move. It’s important to make sure that you are confident you can move the sofa in your car. If not, you will likely end up damaging the sofa, your car or be a danger on the road.
Your options
You have a couple of options when moving a sofa on your own. You can either hire a van or move the sofa by car. Both methods for how to transport a couch with a car have their pros and cons – let’s have a look.
Hiring a van
This is the safest option as you know the sofa will definitely fit into the van. The only thing you need to do is to ask if they provide a ramp or tail lift as you will need this to load and unload the sofa in and out of the van.
Using your own car
This option is not always feasible. It is possible to move a sofa using a car, however, make sure to check the sofa dimensions and car dimensions to make sure it fits. Also, check that the sofa is detachable and measure the separate sections. Be aware you may have to do multiple trips so if you are moving the sofa far – this is unlikely to be a good choice.
How to transport a sofa in a car
1. Break it down into all parts
The first thing you need to do is prepare the sofa for moving and transport. This includes taking the couch apart as much as possible. Each sofa is different, some you may only be able to remove the legs, others may split into sections and the armrests may be removable.
Look for a zip
You’ll be able to find out if the armrests can be removed by looking underneath the sofa, if there is a zip to this underlining then unzip it and unscrew the nets connecting the arm rests to the sofa. When breaking the sofa down don’t force anything as you don’t want to remove anything that isn’t designed to detach. Any nails, screws, or washers that you remove, put them into a bag to keep them safe.
2. Wrap it up
Now that your couch has been broken down you can begin prepping each part. Wrap all cushions in plastic wrap or put them in a large bin bag. If you were able to remove the legs, put them in a plastic bag along with any screws.
Regarding wrapping the large sections of the couch, you have a few choices. If you are worried about damaging the sofa, then you can wrap the whole sofa in plastic wrap and then cover it with moving blankets. You may also want to consider providing extra protection for armrests as these can easily get dented. A good way of doing this is by putting cardboard on them, extra plastic wrap or a soft material and then securing it with packing tape.
3. Get to sliding
Using sliders
Sliders are great for moving sofas and other heavy furniture as they protect your floors, the furniture and make it easy to guide furniture through a house.
Depending on the size and shape of your sofa it may be easier to tip your sofa so it’s standing vertically, and put the sliders under one end that way. This distributes the weight evenly in your favour. However, only do this if you feel confident and comfortable doing it.
Using a flat furniture dolly
Flat furniture dollies are short, wide and designed to help move heavy pieces of furniture. Ensure you use a flat furniture dolly as other dollies are not designed to move sofas; they are for moving luggage and smaller appliances. If you don’t have a furniture dolly, a utility dolly could work too.
To move a sofa with a furniture dolly, tip it onto its end and slowly guide it onto the platform. Then use furniture straps to secure it into place and next you’ll just have to push it whilst carefully guiding it into place.
4. Getting your sofa into your car
Your sofa is now outside although you still need to get it loaded. Wheel the couch up to the edge of the vehicle and stand it vertically next to it. Then carefully lift it from the bottom so it tilts onto the floor. Then push the sofa to where you want it. If the sofa feels too heavy don’t do this on your own and get someone to help you.
Rented a van?
If you have rented a van, then you’ll likely be provided with a ramp or tail lift. If there is a ramp just wheel the sofa onto the van. If there is a tail lift, wheel the sofa onto the tail lift, ensure it’s securely on the platform and raise the tail lift to the van floor level and then push it onto the van. When you call to hire a van be sure to ask if a tail lift or ramp is provided.
Heavy lifting tips
- Whenever you are lifting something heavy you need to take extra care to ensure you do not injure yourself.
- Know your limits. Don’t push yourself too hard. If something feels too heavy to lift, then it probably is and you should get someone to give you a hand.
- Make sure to squat and not bend. Don’t bend down to pick up something like your sofa for example, squat at your knees instead of bending over at your waist. This helps to protect your back when lifting.
- Lift using your legs and abs. Your back should not be taking any of the brunt of the weight. Focus on the legs and your core, if you start to feel strain in your back then put the item down, change your stance or find someone to help lift it.
What if you have stairs?
Don’t lift a sofa up or down stairs on your own, you will need help. It’s too dangerous to do this on your own and sliders and dollies won’t work on stairs. You risk injuring yourself, damaging the sofa and damaging the property. If you have no friends and family available, you’re best-off hiring someone to assist with the move.
Key takeaway
Saving some money on moving a sofa is not worth the risk of serious injury. Assess the situation and be realistic about what you can and can’t do. As we’ve explained, there are many things to consider with regard to how to transport a sofa in a car safely, and these shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re unsure or need to hire someone, a man and van service can offer a safe and more cost-effective option than a traditional removals firm.