Moving Garage, Shed, Outdoor, and Sports Items: What to Prepare Before Move Day

The garage, shed, and backyard are where moves get complicated. These spaces accumulate years of tools, equipment, sports gear, and outdoor furniture — and they also hold some of the most hazardous items in any household. Some of it can go straight on the truck with the right preparation. Some of it absolutely cannot. And some of it needs specific steps taken before the crew arrives or it becomes a problem on move morning. Here is a complete guide to getting your outdoor and garage spaces ready for moving day in Chester County and the greater Philadelphia area.

What Cannot Go on the Truck — No Exceptions

This category is not negotiable. These items are prohibited on household goods moving trucks by federal and Pennsylvania state regulation, and for good reason — they create fire and safety risks for your belongings, the crew, and other households whose goods share the truck. If any of these are in your garage, shed, or backyard, they need to be dealt with before move day, not on it.

Gasoline and Flammable Liquids

Gasoline in any container cannot go on the truck. This includes gas cans stored in the garage, fuel remaining in lawn mowers, gas in string trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, pressure washers, generators, snowblowers, and any other gas-powered equipment. Even a small amount of residual fuel in a tank presents a fire hazard. Gasoline vapors accumulate in enclosed truck spaces and require only a small ignition source.

Run power equipment until it is out of fuel in the days before your move, or use a fuel siphon to remove gas from tanks completely. For equipment with carburetors, run the engine after emptying the tank until it stalls — this clears fuel from the carburetor bowl. Gas cans must be emptied and should be transported empty in your personal vehicle or left behind.

The same rule applies to other flammable liquids: lighter fluid, charcoal starter, kerosene, diesel, and any other petroleum product stored in the garage or shed.

Propane Tanks

Propane tanks of any size cannot go on the moving truck. Standard 20-pound grill tanks, larger 100-pound tanks, and any size in between are all prohibited. Disconnect all propane tanks from grills, heaters, and any appliance before move day. Leave them at the origin for disposal, transfer to a neighbor, or exchange at a hardware store. Arrange for a new tank at your destination.

Motor Oil, Automotive Fluids, and Paint

Motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, brake fluid, and similar automotive products stored in the garage cannot go on the truck. Paint cans — open or sealed — cannot go on the truck. A spilled can of paint causes hundreds of dollars of damage to other household goods and is not covered by standard valuation. Paint thinner, mineral spirits, and lacquer are also prohibited.

Dispose of these through your municipality’s hazardous waste collection program. Chester County and Montgomery County both hold regular household hazardous waste collection days — check their websites for dates. Do not pour paint, oil, or automotive fluids down a drain or into trash.

Pool Chemicals, Pesticides, and Fertilizers

Pool chlorine, algaecides, pH adjusters, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are all prohibited. Many of these are oxidizers or corrosives that react dangerously with other materials in an enclosed space. Dispose of them through household hazardous waste programs or leave them for the new owners if they are sealed and appropriate for the property.

Aerosol Cans and Fire Extinguishers

Aerosol cans of any kind — spray paint, lubricants, insecticides, compressed air — are pressurized containers that cannot be placed in an enclosed moving truck. Fire extinguishers are also prohibited. Both can discharge or rupture under temperature and pressure changes during transport. Transport fire extinguishers in your personal vehicle; dispose of empty aerosols and take full aerosols in your car or leave them behind.

High-Voltage Lithium Batteries

Standard cordless tool batteries — 18V and 20V packs from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and similar brands — can go on the truck in their cases or stored in toolboxes. High-voltage lithium batteries are a different matter. E-bike batteries, electric scooter batteries, large portable power stations (generally 1,000Wh and above), and similar high-capacity lithium packs should not go on the moving truck. These batteries carry a thermal runaway risk — a battery fault can produce fire that is very difficult to extinguish in an enclosed truck. Transport these in your personal vehicle on move day.

Power Equipment: How to Prepare It for the Truck

Once fuel has been completely removed, gas-powered outdoor equipment can go on the truck — but it needs a few more steps before it is ready.

Lawn mowers. Remove the battery if it is a battery-powered model. For gas models, after draining fuel, remove the spark plug or tape the pull cord so the engine cannot accidentally engage. Clean grass and debris from the deck and undercarriage — wet grass and debris create moisture and odor problems in the truck. If the mower has a bag, remove and pack it separately.

Riding mowers and tractors. Drain fuel completely. Disconnect the battery. Lower the deck. These are large, heavy pieces that require a ramp and proper equipment to load. Mention your riding mower at the estimate — not on move day — so the crew arrives prepared.

Snowblowers. Drain all fuel. Disconnect the spark plug wire. Clean out any ice melt or salt residue from the auger housing — salt is corrosive and will damage metal surfaces on other equipment stored nearby in the truck.

Generators. Drain all fuel including from the carburetor. Generators are heavy and awkward — mention them at the estimate so crew and equipment are appropriate.

Pressure washers. Drain the pump and hose completely — residual water in a pressure washer pump can freeze and crack the housing in cold weather transport. Drain fuel from gas-powered models. Coil the hose and pack the wand and accessories together.

Chainsaws and string trimmers. Drain all fuel and bar oil. Bar oil is petroleum-based and cannot go on the truck in a container. Clean the bar and chain, and store the saw with the bar covered or removed. Pack in the original case if available.

Sports Equipment and Recreational Items

Basketball Hoops with Water-Filled Bases

Portable basketball hoops with fillable bases are one of the most consistently overlooked items on move day. A standard base holds 35 to 50 gallons of water — that is 290 to 415 pounds of weight sitting in a plastic base that is not structurally designed to be carried or loaded while full. Drain the base completely before move day. Locate the drain plug at the bottom of the base, remove it, and allow the base to drain fully. Tip the base to remove remaining water. If your base is filled with sand rather than water, the sand also needs to come out — a sand-filled base is even heavier and is not designed to be moved loaded.

Once drained, disassemble the pole sections if the hoop is multi-section, and lay the pole and backboard flat for transport. Wrap the backboard in moving blankets to protect the surface.

Bicycles

Standard bicycles move well on the truck. Remove the front wheel to reduce length and wrap the frame in moving blankets to protect the finish. If the bike has a water bottle cage with a bottle, remove it. For e-bikes, remove the battery and transport it in your personal vehicle. If the e-bike battery is a high-voltage integrated unit that cannot be easily removed, contact us in advance to discuss handling.

Kayaks, Paddleboards, and Canoes

Drain all water from kayak cockpits and storage hatches before move day — kayaks hold more water than they appear to. Flip and shake to remove water from cockpit areas. Paddleboards should be dry on all surfaces. Long watercraft require adequate truck space and may need to be strapped to the top of the load or transported on a roof rack in your vehicle depending on length. Mention kayaks or canoes at the estimate so truck space and loading plan account for them.

Trampolines

Trampolines must be fully disassembled before the crew arrives. Remove the safety net and enclosure poles. Remove the mat and spring pad. Disassemble the frame into its individual sections. A trampoline that arrives on move day fully assembled is a significant problem — the frame cannot be loaded without disassembly and disassembly on move morning adds an hour or more to the day. This is one of the clearest examples of a job that needs to happen the day before, not the morning of.

Swing Sets and Play Structures

Wooden and metal swing sets and play structures are large, heavy, and almost always require full disassembly before moving. Most are not designed to be transported in one piece. If you plan to take a swing set to your new home, discuss it at the estimate — this is a specialty disassembly and reassembly job that requires tools, time, and planning. Many homeowners choose to leave swing sets for the new owners or donate them rather than move them, which is often the more practical decision.

Golf Clubs and Bags

Golf bags move as-is if the bag is in good condition with a rain cover on. Remove loose items from bag pockets — tees, balls, gloves, and electronics should be packed separately. Hard travel cases for golf clubs are excellent for moving and can be used as-is. Do not pack heavy items on top of golf bags in the truck.

Pool Equipment and Inflatables

Drain and deflate all inflatable pools, floats, and pool toys before move day — no exceptions. A partially inflated pool float takes up disproportionate space in the truck and is easily damaged. Pool equipment — pumps, filters, hoses, chemical feeders — should be drained of water completely. Above-ground pool frames must be disassembled. Pool chemicals, as noted above, cannot go on the truck.

Tools and Hardware

Tools move well when they are organized and boxed. Loose tools thrown in the back of a truck damage each other and damage other items. The weight of a box of tools packed without thought also creates a hazard — an overloaded box of hand tools can exceed 60 or 70 pounds and break at the bottom.

Hand tools. Pack in small boxes by category — a box of wrenches and sockets, a box of screwdrivers and pliers, a box of hammers and mallets. Keep boxes under 40 pounds. Wrap sharp tools — chisels, utility knives, scrapers — in paper or secure the blades before packing. Never pack loose sharp tools in a box where hands will reach in without looking.

Power tools. Remove batteries from all cordless tools before packing. Pack tools in their original cases when available — a drill in its case with its bit set is organized, protected, and easy to identify. For tools without cases, wrap in moving blankets or paper and pack in sturdy boxes. Coil cords neatly and secure with a velcro wrap or zip tie.

Tool chests and rolling cabinets. Empty the top drawers of a heavy rolling tool chest — the drawers add weight that shifts during loading and can cause the chest to tip. Lower drawers with heavy tools can remain if the chest is heavy enough to be stable. Lock or tape drawers shut so they do not slide open during transport. Tool chests are among the heaviest items in any garage — mention them at the estimate.

Hardware and fasteners. Jars and bins of screws, nails, bolts, and hardware should be packed with lids on and secured. Group related hardware in labeled zip-lock bags if you want to keep sets together. A jar of screws that opens in the truck creates a significant cleanup problem and a safety hazard for bare feet on the floor of the truck.

Outdoor Furniture

Everything must be dry before it goes on the truck. This is the single most important rule for outdoor furniture. Wet or damp furniture — from rain, morning dew, a recent hose-down, or furniture that has been sitting outside overnight — transfers moisture to everything it contacts in the truck. Upholstered furniture, mattresses, cardboard boxes, and wood furniture all absorb moisture from a wet piece stored next to them for hours in transit. Check every outdoor item on move morning and dry any damp surfaces before loading.

Cushions. Remove all outdoor cushions and pack them separately in bags or large plastic bins. Outdoor cushion fabric is designed to shed water but not to protect adjacent items from transferred moisture. Pack them dry and separate from other fabric items.

Umbrellas and umbrella bases. Close and secure patio umbrellas. Remove the umbrella from the base and transport separately — an umbrella left in an open base is a sail in the wind during loading. Umbrella bases are often concrete or resin-filled and heavy; mention them at the estimate if they are large.

Metal furniture. Wrap in moving blankets to prevent finish scratching. Disassemble tables where legs detach easily. Nest chairs if they are stackable — stacked and strapped is far more efficient in the truck than individual chairs.

Wicker and resin furniture. Lightweight but bulky. Nest and stack where possible. Wrap to protect surface finish. Check for moisture in woven surfaces — water sits in wicker weave longer than it appears to from the outside.

Outdoor rugs. Roll tightly, secure with a strap or tape, and make sure they are completely dry. A wet outdoor rug rolled up and placed in the truck will mildew during transport. If an outdoor rug is wet on move morning, leave it out to dry or leave it behind.

The Shed and Garage: Pack It Like a Room

The garage and shed get packed last in most households — and they get packed worst. They are treated as a catch-all space where things get thrown rather than organized, and that approach on move morning turns into an hour of sorting that was not in the estimate.

Pack the garage and shed like a room of your house. Take everything off the walls and shelves. Box small items by category. Identify what is going and what is not — anything left in these spaces gets moved or it gets left. Do not leave sorting decisions for the crew. Sort first, pack second, load third.

Wall-mounted items — pegboard tool organizers, bike hooks, shelving brackets — need to come down before the crew arrives if they are going to the new home. If they are staying with the house, leave them. Do not expect the crew to make that call on your behalf.

Anything you are not taking should be removed from the space before move day. Items left in the garage that are not moving create confusion and slow the crew. If you have items to donate or discard, our junk removal and donation services can help clear those items before the move.

For more on preparing your full home for move day, see our room-by-room packing guide, our post on what people forget when moving, and our guide on why moves go over estimate. For ceramic grills specifically, see our dedicated guide on moving a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe.