How to transport a mattress and tips to avoid damage

Although it may not seem simple, transporting the mattress is not as complicated as it may seem the first time it is proposed to you. For example, you may want to take a good-condition mattress to your second residence because you have bought a better one or need to transport the mattress and box spring due to a move. 

There are indeed companies that take care of everything, but, as we said, transporting a mattress is relatively simple; you can even carry a mattress on the roof of the car, tied with straps, as long as the mattress does not exceed the dimensions of the vehicle.

Why you need to move your mattress: is it worth it?

You may need to move a mattress for a move, in which case, if you are going to hire a company, you ask them to move everything, mattress and box spring included. But you may buy a mattress and want to take it home because it is outside the delivery radius or for any other reason.

It is also possible that, due to recovery, you change your bed base for an articulated one. These hospital bed bases require special memory foam mattresses, but if your usual mattress is in good condition and quality, it might be a shame to throw it away, right?

Whatever the reason, when you consider transporting a mattress, the first thing you should consider is how to do it without damaging it and without running the risk of being fined. For this, cars are not usually the best option, although carrying a mattress on a roof rack is possible as long as it is not very large. When tourism does not have a roof rack, things get complicated.

How to take a mattress in the car without a roof rack? If the mattress is new, since now they are usually delivered rolled up, you can make calculations and see if it is possible to carry it inside the car without compromising the driver's visibility by folding down one of the seats. However, the ideal would be to carry it in the trunk or the rear area for passengers.

If you want to move your mattress on top of the roof of your car, it is mandatory to hold it on a roof rack that must be fixed to the roof of your car. The roof racks approved by the brand of your car for your model are adequate, although any standard roof rack that is marketed would be legal and could be used, although they will not fit equally firmly.

The General Directorate of Traffic says, regarding transporting loads in a private vehicle, that the loads may not protrude from the rear more than 10% of the length of the car. Nor, on each side, the load must protrude more than half a meter. Also, if the load (which would be valid for bed frames and upholstered bases...) protrudes in length or width, it must be sufficiently marked and protected at its ends so that it does not pose a danger to other vehicles.

However, our advice is that when you buy a new mattress, ask if the delivery is included or if you can hire the same seller. Also, remember that any object that does not have space inside a car must be attached to the roof rack or some exterior bars and not exceed a certain percentage of the vehicle's dimensions.

Ideas to move your mattress easily

If you have already assessed the pros and cons and want to take charge of transporting a new or used mattress, write down the following tips:

• Pack the mattress with plastic bags or a special mattress moving cover to protect it from moisture.
• If possible, the ends that you are going to support on the floor or on which you drag the mattress -something that you should avoid-, protect them in an extraordinary way with cardboard or plastic.
• If we are talking about a move, you can place the mattress between two pieces of furniture in an upright position —for example, between two cabinets— so that it cannot fall and transport is safer.
• If you are going to attach it to the inside bars of the truck, don't over-tighten it. The mattress is not imprisoned, nor is it going to run away. That it does not fall is enough.
• You can use blankets to help slide the mattress into the moving van or truck.
• You should not fold a mattress already used and aired for transport. Nor try to fold a new mattress that comes rolled in a different way than the manufacturer or seller gave it to you. However, in case of need, take into account the characteristics of the mattress:

• A mattress without springs or foam can be folded for a few hours to fit inside a vehicle.
• Traditional spring mattresses would support positions that reach 90º for a few minutes.
• Pocket sprung (or culled) mattress: the maximum angle it can withstand without damage and for a limited time is only 30º to prevent it from damaging its tissues.

We recommend you to get in touch with protective packaging company like Britwrap, as it is the best protective packaging company all over the UK.