How to Move Gym Equipment Without Breaking a Sweat
Moving your gym equipment doesn’t need to be a workout in itself
Creating a home gym was likely one of the best additions you made to your home, but now that it’s moving day, all of this heavy equipment has suddenly become a significant moving pain.
Some pieces of gym equipment are easy to transport, such as hand weights and exercise bands, but moving large machines like ellipticals and treadmills are a whole other story. If you feel wary about moving heavy gym equipment on your own, don’t hesitate to hire a professional moving team. Read through these handy tips before moving your home gym equipment.
1. Start by Cleaning the Equipment
Before you move anything, you should start with a quick cleaning of the gym equipment. This process usually entails using an all-purpose cleaner with a cloth or paper towel. Your gym equipment likely has years-worth of sweat and dust on it, so it’s essential to give each piece a thorough clean down before moving it.
2. Handle Hand Weights Carefully
Hand weights are a popular home gym accessory, and for good reason. Now that it’s time to move these weights, it’s time to put that strength to good use.
If you’re moving adjustable dumbbells, it’s best to take them apart and spread the weights out evenly in a moving box. You should make sure you’re using the right moving box to prevent the box from breaking during transport. As you place them in a heavy-duty box, layer the weights with bubble wrap, which should prevent possible damage to the weights themselves.
3. Move the Small Equipment and Accessories First
Now that your home gym equipment is nice and clean, it’s time to pack up the small gym items and accessories first. These items include yoga mats, jump ropes, and exercise bands. You should create a moving box inventory list and split up the items accordingly.
It’s best to use a large rubber band to hold your yoga mat in place. Rolling up your jump ropes and resistance bands will help save on space in the moving boxes.
4. Remove Your Gym Flooring Last
Once every piece of equipment is out of your home gym, it’s time to take the gym flooring with you. This step only applies if you have interlocking tiles that you laid down, such as foam or rubber. It’s best to take pictures of the flooring before removing it so you can recreate the same pattern in your new home.
How to Move Any Large Items
Keep in mind that even if you don’t have a full home gym, you can still hire a mover to help move one large item. Whether moving a treadmill or a multi-faceted weight machine, you’ll want to compact the larger items as much as possible. This step can be as simple as folding up a treadmill, but it also may involve completely disassembling a machine. If you have the machine’s original manuals, consult those to see whether they contain any specific moving instructions.
Always power down and unplug exercise machines before moving them. Once the equipment is as compact as possible, put small pieces in boxes and wrap the rest in moving blankets to prevent damage and avoid losing parts in the moving truck. We’ve broken down special considerations for moving specific large pieces of workout equipment below.
Moving Treadmills
To make moving a treadmill less taxing, you should plan out the best way to move it. If it weighs more than 50 pounds, get someone to help you move it. And if it weighs more than 100 pounds, use a furniture dolly. Be sure to check for a lock and unlock mechanism, which may be hidden.
Follow these guidelines for transporting a treadmill:
Fold down the standing section or fold up the belt section, depending on your model.
Lift with your legs while standing on the opposite side of the treadmill from your moving partner.
When using a furniture dolly, position the treadmill so it’s centered and able to fit through doors.
When setting up the treadmill in your new space, test it on low to ensure that it wasn’t damaged during transit.
Moving Ellipticals
While treadmills often fold up, ellipticals are bulkier and awkwardly shaped, making them unwieldy to move in one piece. So it’s often easier to disassemble the hardware to move an elliptical and maneuver through hallways, stairways, and doorways.
To do so, take the pedals and handlebars off the base with a wrench and screwdriver, collect the nuts and bolts in a plastic bag, label them, and attach them to the machine with packing tape. You should be able to carry each piece on your own or with help from another person.
If you’d rather not take your elliptical apart, move it in one piece using these tips:
Use a furniture dolly regardless of weight, plus a tie-down strap with a ratchet tie.
To tie down the machine, lift the base on one side and slip the strap underneath, then tighten your ratchet tie until the arms and legs can’t move.
With a partner, stand on opposite sides of the base and lift with your legs to place it on the furniture dolly.
If moving the elliptical up or down stairs, have a third person there to spot you.
When setting up the elliptical, test it on low to ensure that it wasn’t damaged during transit.
Moving Stationary Bikes
Stationary bikes are relatively small and light pieces of exercise equipment. When moving a stationary bike, store the cords in a secure place. Protect your floors from scratches by sliding cardboard, towels, or furniture sliders underneath the bike before sliding it. If you need to lift the bike up or down stairs or onto a moving truck, you may need a partner to help you balance the weight.
Moving Weight Machines
Home weightlifting set-ups consist of several pieces best moved when disassembled. Put nuts, bolts, and screws in plastic bags and secure them to their corresponding pieces with tape to make reassembly easier. If you can’t find the user’s manual, carefully document how each piece fits together. Secure moving parts with tape, bungee cords, rope, or zip ties for safety.
Hire a Moving Company
Moving fitness equipment can be a big task, depending on the size and amount of machines. Hiring a moving company near you can take away the stress and give you the best results in terms of safety and efficiency. Keep in mind you can also hire movers just to load your moving truck, which is a more affordable option than hiring a full-service moving company.
Movers often have special techniques for moving heavy pieces of equipment, though you should inform them in advance what they should expect to deal with when they arrive. To avoid incurring hidden moving fees, you may still want to disassemble the gym equipment you’re moving before the movers load it.