Do you need to rent a moving truck, but don't know much about safely packing fragile goods? Bubble wrap isn't enough for some objects, but even if it was, properly wrapping objects without wasting bubble wrap or leaving some areas exposed is more complicated than covering the whole thing in plastic. If you have sensitive electronics such as computers, printers, stereos, or televisions, here are a few things to consider before tossing everything into a bubble-wrapped crate.

What Won't Bubble Wrap Protect?

Bubble Wrap and the many protective, air-filled cushion materials are designed to absorb shock while staying secure against the outside of an object. This means that when a moving truck hits a bump or if a person drops a box of fragile goods, there's a better chance that your belongings won't break.

At least, the outside won't break.

When impact occurs, there's more to it than the force of an edge hitting a surface. Dropping a glass on the ground leads to breaking because the glass gives away to the ground, but bubble wrap takes the hit. The force is still happening and the speed is nearly the same, but the danger to the glass is mitigated.

What if there was something inside the glass? If there were marbles inside the glass, they would still move around from the impact. There may be a slight decrease in impact speed, but it isn't enough to change the energy change happening to everything that was dropped. Those marbles might shatter the glass from the inside. At the very least, they'll move.

The same concept puts electronics at risk. Many electronics either have internal moving parts or components that are attached with screws and a mount or some sort. Especially with desktop computers and notebook computers, some components are wafer thin and will bounce like a diving board when dropped.

If you're lucky, you'll be like many computer owners who simply have a dislodged hard drive that needs to be pushed back in place. The same thing can happen with harder to reach components, and the worst case scenario is that something inside the computer makes a huge, internal impact.

Solving The Moving Part Problem

There are two solutions to the internal movement issue: remove the internal components or reduce the risk of impact and shock.

If you plan on removing components, leave it to a tech professional. Someone who is certified with the devices needs to perform the removal, since incorrect removal can lead to damage at worst, or not being able to put the device back together at the least severe side of the spectrum.

To reduce shock, you need a vehicle that can handle bumpy roads. A moving truck with a sturdy set of shocks, an isolated storage area and moving equipment that shifts with pressure can reduce the energy transferred to the packed objects.

Contact a moving vehicle professional to discuss the easiest way to make your move while transporting sensitive electronics.

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