Packing your Trünk

Trunkmoves is a DIY solution for shipping your essentials.

Often, our essentials are made up of special items that are used for our normal living and work lives.

Our team found some really useful videos for you to watch and get ideas on some really good practices when protecting your essentials. As you view these videos, keep in mind that your trunk will transport much like luggage on an airline.  The top where you packed most definitely will be the bottom or side at some point during shipping. Below you'll see videos on How Packages are Handled, Using Vacuum Bags to pack more densely, Packing Fragile Items, Larger Item Packing, Smaller Item Packing, Packing a Computer, and Packing a Monitor. 

What we know and you should know too: Forces greater than 3G are typical in parcel shipping. What this means is a package that weighs 100lbs will have forces 3x (300lbs) or more during the handling. The trunk is designed to withstand these forces but without the proper packaging inside, a user is at a higher risk for damages.

Before you start to pack

You have to THINK about each item to determine if special care is needed. If an item would not survive being dropped from three feet, it needs extra care. If in doubt, treat it as fragile. Bubble wrap or foam are cheaper than replace an item. Segregate these fragile items from other items being packed and make sure you that you have more than enough cushioning material - bubble wrap and foam.

Rule of Thumb: If you'd be upset if it is broken - pack it as a fragile item.

Here are some additional guidelines for determining when extraordinary care is needs to be taken in a packing an item:

Material test:

• Fragile: Glass, ceramics, porcelain, china, crystal, thin plastics, electronics, stoneware,
  and some decorative items.
• Less fragile but still sensitive: Wood with delicate finishes, certain metals that dent, or
  items with intricate parts.

Shake/pressure test:

• If you gently tap or shake it and it makes a clinking, rattling, or cracking sound, it’s
  fragile.
• If pressing lightly on the surface could chip, bend, or snap it, it needs protection.

Replacement value & sentiment test:

• Even if something isn’t “technically fragile,” if it would be expensive or impossible to
  replace (art, heirlooms, collectibles), pack it as if it is fragile.

Functionality test:

• Electronics, appliances, and instruments may not “look” fragile, but their internal
  components are sensitive to shock or pressure.

Kübox Certified Packing Protocol

(How to Pack Safely for Parcel Shipping)

Kübox Parcel Crates are ISTA 1A, 3A, 3E, and ISTA 6-FEDEX-A Certified, tested for stacking strength (3,500+ lbs), compression (5,300 lbs), and vibration at gross weights up to 1,000 lbs.

Your crate is strong — but items inside still need proper protection. Follow these steps to ensure safe transport:

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1. Cushion Every Item

• Wrap each item with at least 2 inches of bubble wrap or foam on all sides.
• Fragile items (glass, ceramics, electronics) should be double-wrapped for added protection.
• Never use paper wrapping as a cushion — it offers no impact protection.

2. Prevent Contact

• Items must not touch the crate walls directly.
• Use bubble wrap, foam, or other cushioning so items “float” in the center of the crate.
• Each item should be wrapped individually to prevent item-to-item damage.

3. Fill All Empty Space

• No empty spaces. Fill voids with cushioning (bubble wrap, foam, or air pillows).
• Clothing, bedding, or soft goods may be used only as secondary filler — never as a substitute for proper wrapping.

4. Understand Parcel Handling

• Parcels are handled like airline luggage — crates may be placed on any side.
• Do not assume “this side up.” Pack as if the crate will be flipped, stacked, and dropped.
• There is no safe orientation — every side must be cushioned equally.
• Carrier assumes all packages are fragile in some nature, adding a fragile or this side up sticker will not change or guide the carrier to handle your crate in a special way.

5. Weight & Balance

• Do not exceed 100 lbs. per crate (parcel service standard). 
• Distribute weight evenly to avoid pressure points.
• Crate lid must close flush, without bulging.

6. Final Check

Before closing the lid:

• Shake the crate gently — nothing should rattle.
• Confirm all items are cushioned on every side.
• Lid must lock securely.

7. Red Flags (Do Not Ship)

• Items touching crate walls.
• Crate not fully filled (loose contents).
• Rattling when crate is moved. Lid not closing properly.

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✅ Following this protocol ensures your items travel safely under parcel shipping conditions and keeps you compliant with Kübox’s certified standards.

How Packages are Handled

You already have the best parcel crate to protect your essential items during transit for large and heavy goods. To underscore the need for the best packing possible take a few moments to view this video on how packages move through parcel. We hope that by viewing you will see the needs for cushion inside your trunks. With insufficient packing, padding, wrapping, and filling of each small bit of space, you jeopardize the safety of your items. 

Using Vacuum Bags

Clothing, especially bulky clothing can use a great deal of room inside your Trünk. Some users of Trünk will use vacuum bags as a way to consolidate and condense what they are packing. 

 

Packing Your Fragile Items

Using a Trünk to ship what is essential to you often includes something fragile. We thought this video captures the best ways to pack fragile items to ship via parcel. Bubble wrap and packing tape are items commonly available in many retail stores as well as online. 

Larger Item Packing

Smaller Item Packing

Packing your Dishware in a Trünk

Dishware packing can be challenging but that challenge and risk of damage is always countered by good packing and appropriate packing materials. In this video the presenter uses foam sheets, foam disposable plates, small bubble wrap, large bubble wrap and void filling. 

 

Packing your Computer in a Trünk

Often a desktop or an extra laptop computer is part of the essentials that Trünk users want to ship. We believe that the following video is a best practice in packing a desktop for shipping. 

Packing your Computer Monitor in a Trünk

Computer monitors are pretty sensitive and special care in protecting your monitor when shipping is up to you. The following video is a great source for how best to protect your monitor when making a Trunkmove.

 

Packing your Laptop Computer in a Trünk

Laptop computers require special care in protecting your equipment when shipping is up to you. The following video is a great source for how best to protect your laptop when making a Trunkmove. The demonstrator uses both large bubble wrap and a sperate box to keep their shipment safe.