Will A Full-Size Mattress Fit In A Pickup Truck? A 4-Step Guide
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The last thing you want is your full-size mattress to be damaged when moving it. So find a vehicle that can fit a full size mattress. Knowing the measurements of your pickup truck will allow you to determine in advance if a full-size mattress will fit. There are so many brands of pickup trucks that the overall dimensions vary by manufacturer and model. While a full-size mattress is 75 inches long and 54 inches wide, a typical pickup truck is 235 inches long, 80 inches wide, and 75 inches tall. So, will a full size mattress fit in a pickup truck?
Table of Contents
- Will a full-size mattress fit in the back of a pickup truck?
- How Big Is a Full Size Mattress?
- Essentials When Moving With A Mattress in A Truck
- Step By Step Guide On How To Secure Your Full-Size Mattress To Your Pick-up Truck
- Driving with a Full-Size Mattress in Your Pick-up Truck: Safety Tips
Will a full-size mattress fit in the back of a pickup truck?
A full size mattress will fit in a pickup truck. However, while the width is typically adequate to accommodate the mattress, the length may be an issue depending on the make and model of your pickup. Nonetheless, a full-size mattress will most likely fit in a pickup truck.
Even though a full-size mattress will often fit in a pickup truck, you must take precautions to ensure that it does not fly away or become damaged during the journey. Damage can occur if you don’t take the necessary precautions, such as using a proper vehicle to accommodate it.
While loading a mattress into your truck may appear to be a simple task, there are important considerations to keep in mind, such as how to tie the mattress to the truck and safety while driving.
How Big Is a Full Size Mattress?
A full-size mattress measures 75 inches in length and 54 inches in width, making it ideal to fit in a pickup truck.
However, while the width is typically sufficient, the length may be an issue depending on the make and model of your pickup, but in most cases, the mattress will fit perfectly.
Essentials When Moving With A Mattress in A Truck
Investing in additional materials when moving with a mattress in your pickup truck will help keep the mattress safe.
Cardboard
If your mattress is more flexible, securing it with a large, flat piece of cardboard will make it easier to keep it in place.
Mattress Bag
Having a mattress bag is more of a necessity than a want. If you do not utilize a mattress bag, your mattress may get dirty, torn, or damaged.
The mattress bag also reduces the growth of allergens and dust mites by preventing the accumulation of dirt and debris while on the road.
If you cover your mattress with a mattress bag, you will not need to worry about getting sick after moving your mattress into the open air. Most mattress bags are also lightweight, making them easy to clean.
Tie-down Strap
Ratchet straps or tie-down straps are polyester webbing straps used for securing loads during a move. The tie-down straps pass through a buckle that allows you to tighten or loosen the straps as needed until the load is secured properly.
A ratchet or tie-down strap is perfect for securing a mattress in a truck bed. Make sure you have a tie-down strap if you don’t want your full-size mattress to fly away while driving.
Nylon Rope
Instead of a ratchet strap, a length of sturdy rope also works perfectly. A nylon rope will secure your mattress and prevent it from being blown away.
Tape
Make sure to use sturdy, long-lasting shipping or packing tape to wrap your mattress after placing it inside the mattress bag. Shipping or packing tape is best as opposed to regular tape because it’s water-resistant.
It’s also strong enough to keep the mattress bag sealed to prevent moisture from entering the bag, which could damage the mattress.
Step By Step Guide On How To Secure Your Full-Size Mattress To Your Pick-up Truck
Any mattress on your truck can be hazardous and result in accidents if the mattress is not safely tied to your vehicle. When transporting a mattress using an open truck, you need to ensure that the mattress does not get damaged and doesn’t fly away.
Do not be duped into believing that a full-size mattress’s massive weight and size would help keep it put without additional assistance. While this is far from the truth, you may be surprised by the number of people who believe securing a mattress is not a must.
In fact, the full-size mattress’s immense size and lightweight characteristics make it highly susceptible to the strong gusts of wind generated by fast-moving vehicles on the road.
Using straps and tie-downs together with solid brackets will help ensure that your full-size mattress is secured to your pickup truck. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to safely tie the mattress:
STEP 1: Protect the Mattress with A Mattress Bag
It is imperative to protect the mattress with a mattress bag to prevent the mattress from being blown away and from getting damaged and dirty.
Step 2: Position the Mattress Properly
Position the full-size mattress on one side of the pickup truck to decrease the airlift that could cause the mattress to be dragged off the truck. Read on to learn a few tips for positioning your mattress when moving on a pickup truck.
Step 3: Tie the Mattress Tarp to the Pick-Up’s Tie-Downs
Utilizing the tie-downs in the pickup truck’s bed, tightly tie the mattress tarp’s ropes to the truck. Each side of the mattress should have at least one of these straps attached. If need be, attach a rope to the mattress and run it down the vehicle’s exterior to a piece of the truck’s structure beneath it.
Step 4: Close the Tailgate
Ensure you close the tailgate of the pickup. However, if the mattress is long and extends outside the truck, use the ratchet straps to secure the mattress to the truck and leave the tailgate open.
Avoid folding the mattress to be able to close the tailgate.
Driving with a Full-Size Mattress in Your Pick-up Truck: Safety Tips
On the road, it is essential to be mindful of your safety and that of other motorists. Follow these rules to keep yourself and other drivers on the road safe.
Conduct A Test Drive Before the Actual Journey
Drive around the neighborhood with your full-size mattress secured to the back of your pickup truck to test the mattress’s stability. If you observe any movement in the ropes or mattress, make the necessary adjustment until everything is perfect and safe.
Do this until the mattress is stable and not going anywhere.
Take the Back Roads Rather Than the Highway
If you have a mattress in the back of an open car, you may want to drive on the backroads. Stick as much as possible to the back roads, even if it means getting to your destination a few hours later than you usually would.
Your mattress is considerably more likely to remain in place and not cause accidents if you are on a road with fewer vehicles.
Make Random Stops To Ensure Your Mattress Is In Place
Wind and other conditions may unravel the rope or straps used to tie your mattress to the truck. Frequently inspect your mattress while driving to verify that it remains in place.
While this may seem quite the task, it is better safe than sorry.
Properly Position the Mattress
While the best position to place your mattress in your pickup is laying it flat on the truck bed, depending on your mattress size, you may need to reposition it in your pickup truck. This scenario is most prevalent in full-size and king-size mattresses because these mattresses may not always fit flat in the truck bed due to the tire wells.
However, all you have to do to ensure that your mattress is in the proper position is move your full-size mattress into the truck bed as far to the left as possible. The mattress should be positioned so that one side rests on the bed and the opposite side rests on the bed rail.
Contrary to popular belief, folding a mattress is generally not a good idea, as it might damage the structure of the mattress. However, if you must, here are a few instances that you can fold your mattress:
- A mattress that does not have solid or metallic structural components
- A foam mattress with a thickness of fewer than 6 inches
However, if you believe that it’s easier to fold your mattress when moving, here is how to fold your mattress safely:
- Fold the mattress along breadth rather than the height
- Ensure that the side on which you sleep is on the inner side of the fold
- Ensure that the mattress base’s top and bottom are in contact
- Once the mattress has been folded, fasten it shut using straps or ratchet ties
Finally, leaving the tailgate open may be necessary if your mattress is longer than the truck bed. However, to prevent the mattress from shifting, bind it with rope to keep it in place.
Use A Slow Speed
You may want to use relatively slower speeds when traveling with a full-size mattress in your pickup. Also, maintain a constant speed to prevent the mattress from shifting during turns, rapid braking, and acceleration.