Can You Move with a Pickup Truck? What Fits & What Doesn't

What Actually Fits in a Pickup Truck Bed

A standard full-size pickup (Ford F-150, RAM 1500) has a 5.5- to 6.5-foot bed. You can fit a mattress (queen-size sticks out but works with the tailgate down), a disassembled bed frame, 10-15 medium moving boxes, a small desk, and a couple of chairs per load. A compact pickup like a Toyota Tacoma handles even less.

What doesn't fit: a full-size couch, a fridge, a washer/dryer set, or a large dining table. You could technically squeeze a loveseat in, but it'll hang over the tailgate and needs serious strapping. If you own more than a studio's worth of furniture, a pickup means 4-6 trips — and in Montreal traffic, that adds up fast.

Making Multiple Trips Efficient in Montreal

If you're set on using a pickup, plan your loads strategically. Trip one: heavy items like boxes of books and kitchen gear. Trip two: furniture. Trip three: fragile and odd-shaped items. Try to keep both addresses within a 15-minute drive — a Rosemont-to-Villeray move works; a Plateau-to-Brossard move becomes an all-day affair.

Consider timing. Each round trip through Montreal takes longer than you think once you factor in loading, driving, parking, and unloading. Budget 45-90 minutes per trip. Start at 7 a.m. to beat traffic and give yourself a cushion before nightfall.

Protecting Your Stuff in an Open Truck Bed

An open truck bed exposes everything to weather and road debris. Use a tarp or tonneau cover secured with bungee cords. Wrap furniture in moving blankets and strap everything down with ratchet straps anchored to the truck's tie-down hooks.

Montrealers know the weather can flip fast — a sunny September morning can become a rainstorm by noon. Double-bag anything that can't get wet and keep electronics and documents in the cab. If you're moving between October and April, be extra cautious: snow, slush, and salt will damage exposed wood and fabric.