by Taylor Gomes
Moving straps makes lifting heavy things easier, safer, and less painful. This article covers the types of moving straps, their benefits, and how to use them.
Quick Summary
Moving straps reduce physical strain and injury risk when lifting heavy objects by spreading the weight.
Different types of moving straps (Forearm Forklift, Shoulder Dolly, Appliance Rollers) for different lifting challenges for safe and easy moves. Don’t forget the versatile ratchet strap tie-downs to secure your moving loads.
Proper lifting techniques (using leg strength and team coordination) are key to getting the most out of moving straps.
Best Moving Straps for Heavy Things
Moving straps, or Forearm Forklifts, are a clever tool for moving big and heavy things. They spread the load across your body and reduce the strain on your back muscles. This uses your muscle power to make the job easier and safer.
There are moving straps for different sizes and types of objects, so there’s one for every situation. From straps to harness forearm power to those to spread weight across your shoulders and back—or even appliance lifting straps for awkward household items—there’s a choice for every moving challenge.
Let’s get into each type.
Forearm Forklift Straps
Movers use Forearm Forklift Straps because they make objects feel up to two-thirds lighter and reduce the effort when lifting. These straps use your arm power and promote good lifting technique, reduce physical strain, and prevent injury.
These straps can handle 600 lbs and come with simple instructions to use safely. When used right they spread the weight of an object across your arms, which gives you more stability and control when moving big items like appliances or furniture.
Shoulder Moving Straps
The design of shoulder-moving straps is to balance the weight of heavy objects by using the strength in your shoulders and back. This reduces the weight on both arms and lower back and makes the lift more manageable when moving bulky items like dressers or big furniture.
To get the most out of it, you need to work with someone else and use proper lifting technique. Clear communication and moving in sync are key to good handling and minimizing injuries when moving heavy things.
Appliance Lifting Straps
Using appliance lifting straps is essential when moving big household items like washers and refrigerators. These straps are designed to lift heavy appliances securely and safely and balance the load during movement.
Appliance lifting straps have ergonomic handles that increase grip strength and movement control when handling heavy loads. Stability from these features helps with a smoother lift and reduces damage to floors or walls during the move.
These straps promote good lifting technique and reduce accidental damage like bumps and scratches to your belongings. With these support systems in place, moving big items becomes a more controlled move.
Ratchet Strap Tie Downs
My favorite and most-used straps are the ratchet strap tie-downs. They are incredibly versatile, and you can secure a variety of loads to your truck. Anything from small to large items, these straps can leverage whatever items you have and easily cinch down to your truck.
Simply connect the strap hook to an anchor hook in your truck. Then wrap the strap around the item or load and stretch it across the bed of the truck to another anchor point. Connect the ratchet system to the strap, and pull slack out of the strap; begin to ratchet back and forth until the desired tightness is achieved.
To release these straps, simply lift the release lever and transfer the handle to the opposite end, and it will quickly loosen.
Moving with Straps Accessories
Adding accessories to your moving straps can make them even more effective and useful during your local move, turning big moving jobs into easy work for movers.
Other tools like moving dollies, protective covers, and bungee cords have their own roles to play in the move.
Moving Dollies
Dollies are key to moving big furniture, so you can move big items with ease and minimal effort and reduce the risk of injury.
I use a dolly on almost every move that I make. And for those especially difficult moves when you need to go around corners…going down stairs, get the appliance dolly with a strap to tighten the load down. It makes a world of difference in helping you out.
Check out my article on Best Moving Dolly Options for more detailed info on dolly’s.
Protective Covers and Wraps
When moving, it’s important to cover your valuables with protective covers and wraps. Moving blankets provide the padding to prevent scratches and damage. Shrink wrap is good for wrapping multiple items together so they don’t move around.
Furniture and electronics are especially in need of protection as they are prone to damage during moves. Wrapping them thoroughly will reduce the chance of damage during the move.
Bungee Cords
Bungee cords and straps are helpful when securing cargo in moving trucks, as they prevent the contents from moving around while in motion. Heavy-duty bungee cords are good for securing big and heavy items and are a lot easier to use than standard rope.
Proper Lifting Techniques with Moving Straps
Proper lifting technique is key to protecting yourself and maximizing the use of moving straps. Keeping a solid base of support and an upright posture during the lift will prevent injury. Straps for moving, like Forearm Forklift or Teamstrap Shoulder Dolly will shift the load to bigger muscles, reducing back strain in the process.
Following proper procedure when using these straps will reduce physical effort and increase the effectiveness of your lift. Here are the guidelines on secure lifting techniques to follow.
Using Leg Strength
You must engage your leg muscles when lifting heavy objects, as it increases your lifting power and protects your lower back from strain. Always squat by bending your knees so you use the strength in your legs to lift the weight instead of putting pressure on your back muscles. This will make lifting easier and reduce the risk of injury.
Using leg muscle force instead of back muscle strength is a fundamental principle in proper lifting techniques when moving heavy weights. This method uses some of our strongest muscles, which reduces injury risk when handling heavy items.
Balance and Posture
When lifting heavy objects, you must maintain balance and posture to avoid injury. Using straps for lifting furniture will help stabilize and support the weight of heavy items, so it’s safer and more efficient during the lift. Keep your back straight and engage your core muscles for more stability.
Clear communication and teamwork among movers is key. Both should use clear signals and coordinate their actions so they move in sync, which will prevent accidents by working together when moving heavy items.
Conclusion
In summary, using moving straps is essential when moving heavy items smoothly and safely. There are many options to choose from: Forearm Forklift Straps, shoulder moving straps and specific appliance lifting straps, all with unique features for different moving needs. Add to these with other accessories like protective covers, bungee cords, and moving dollies to make the process easier.
Remember to always use proper lifting techniques and team coordination when moving objects. By buying quality moving straps from trusted suppliers, you can make future moves easier. Using these tools and methods will turn a daunting task into a breeze.
