Moving is never easy but adding a trailer can give you more options. If you need to move a king sized mattress, be aware that the structure of the mattress will matter. A foam mattress with no inner springs may be folded for a better fit.
Many new innerspring mattresses come rolled up tight, but getting them back into their original small package may be challenging.
Will A King Size Mattress Fit In A 6×12 Uhaul Trailer?
Yes, a king size mattress will fit in a 6×12 Uhaul trailer providing you can place the mattress inside the trailer on an angle. A king size mattress is too large to fit straight in flat or stand up once inside. Unless you have a larger trailer, plan to transport a king size mattress either on an angle or placed on top of other items if you can bend the mattress enough to lay flat.
King Size Mattress Dimensions
A king sized mattress is 76 inches by 80 inches, or 6’4″ by 6’8″. Thickness is variable, but as a general rule you will have some options for either squishing your mattress into the trailer or laying it at a slight diagonal.
Because mattresses are generally designed to breathe and are made with a porous fabric, it’s a good idea to be prepared to wrap your mattress to avoid tearing up the cover.
6×12 U-Haul Trailer Dimensions
The inside of a 6×12 U-Haul trailer is 11’7 feet long x 6 feet wide x 5.5 feet tall. It’s a little narrow for your 6’4″ wide mattress, but as mentioned above, if you can angle it slightly you should be able to get the mattress into the trailer if you store it flat on top of other belongings.
Protecting Your Mattress
The first step is to wrap your mattress in a protective fabric. If you can put a king-sized sheet on it, both from the top and the bottom, you will have a better chance of keeping the mattress clean.
If you don’t have 2 fitted sheets to sacrifice as moving blankets, use an old flat sheet and pin it to itself, not the mattress, so both flat surfaces and all sides of the mattress are covered.
The next step is to wrap your mattress in plastic. If the mattress you’re moving is entirely foam and you have some help, you can fold it or even roll it up before you wrap it in plastic.
Do at least two layers of plastic, just in case the top layer get hooked on something and is torn.
Plastic will also help by making your mattress slippery. To that end, consider wrapping ratchet straps or webbing around the bundle so you have a handle.
King-sized mattresses can be incredibly heavy.
If you fold it and wrap a couple of ratchet straps around the bundle, you’ll have an easier time of managing the bulk and the weight.
Securing Your Mattress
Load your mattress last. As possible, create a nice flat spot for it to ride in the trailer. For example, you may have a dining room table with removable legs. Load the truck tightly, marrying chairs seat to seat, for example, and stashing small boxes under desks and occasional tables.
Place your flat item, such as your tabletop, over this dense packing job. Thanks to the sturdy walls of your trailer, it’s unlikely that the load will shift much if you pack it nice and tight.
If you have delicates or items that are especially spindly, strap them in place before you add the next rank of boxes or furniture.
Put the mattress on top of this flat surface. If it takes some squashing, try to get someone inside the trailer to listen and look for any tearing of the plastic. Go slowly in case you hook the plastic on something.
Because a 6×12 U-Haul trailer is only 5.5 feet high, it’s not possible to transport a king-sized mattress tipped on the side. Additionally, this is often how mattresses are damaged and made dirty, either because the mattress coils are crushed in the move, or because the plastic fails and the side of the mattress is torn or soiled.
Safe Unloading
A tight packing job with regular strapping down of your possessions is the best way to prevent a shifting load. If the load shifts to the side, you’ll be facing a tangle of wreckage and broken possessions.
If the load shifts to the back, you’ll have a tough time opening the door without being drowned in your stuff.
Once the mattress is in place, consider adding a final barrier at the back of the trailer. If your trailer didn’t come with a ramp, adding a short ladder to the back of your packing job can allow you to secure many items.
Even if you can’t strap it in place, the ladder will create a barrier and a void at the back of the trailer that will make it easier to unload your stuff in an orderly fashion.
Last in, first out is critical. Move the mattress immediately, using the straps you added before you loaded it. Even if you don’t get the beds set up, you’ll have a place to sleep at the end of a long day of moving.