Empty it and understand the runner
Remove the contents, especially heavy, loose and fragile items. A full drawer increases the weight of a chest and makes its runner mechanism harder to inspect. Photograph each drawer's position and number them from top to bottom. On used furniture, similar-looking runners may work best in their original positions.
Check the instructions for release catches, stops or special restraints. Do not force a drawer past resistance. Ball-bearing runners, concealed tracks and simple wooden runners release differently. If removal is not specified, complete dismantling is not automatically the better approach.
Protect removed drawers
Cushion the front, particularly projecting handles. A drawer handle is not a carrying handle for a loaded drawer. Put loose runner components and small stops in a labelled bag. Stack drawers only when they have proper support and no front panel or rail carries the weight of the pieces above.
Avoid turning empty drawers into improvised open moving boxes. Objects can fall out during handling or slide across delicate internal surfaces. A labelled carton usually keeps the original contents better organised. Add the drawer number to the carton so you can refill it later without another sorting session.
If the drawers stay inside
Where drawers may remain fitted, prevent opening with an external restraint suitable for the finish and construction. Blankets and straps over them may form part of a planned protective arrangement, but must not distort thin fronts. Do not apply tape directly to varnish, veneer or other delicate surfaces. Securing drawers does not replace securing the whole item inside the vehicle.
After transport, inspect the runners and refit removed drawers individually. Install any specified anti-tip restraint before using the chest. Test smooth opening only when the furniture is fully assembled and secured, then replace its contents. Keep all packing material clear of the rails so it cannot catch during the first few openings.
