If you need to move gym equipment, especially larger pieces of machinery like treadmills, ellipticals, or other similar equipment, it can be incredibly challenging. There’s no question that having and utilizing a home gym is incredibly convenient, efficient, and practical – especially during a time when you’d rather workout in the comfort and safety of your own home, without other people around.
Having your own space to work out in, no matter how big or smaller that dedicated space is, is truly the great way to stay up to date and regular with your health and fitness routines.
However, when gearing up for a move, your feelings toward your home gym or workout area might sour a bit (temporarily) when you’re faced with the task of having to prepare these pieces of equipment for relocation. Of course, an easy way to avoid this problem is by using full service movers like Bekins Van Lines to have all of your packing and moving services professionally handled, but we get that not everybody has services like ours available to them. Don’t worry – when it comes to moving large gym equipment, we’ll discuss everything you’ll need to know to set your gym up for a successful move.
How to Move Gym Equipment
The first step in the moving process is of course to prepare your equipment for the transition itself. Before you start getting things ready for your moving truck, you’re going to want to make sure that all of your equipment is given a deep clean and is properly sanitized. Now, you obviously probably clean your equipment often – it is an area you most likely sweat often in, or that can generally get pretty gross pretty quickly. However, we’re talking about taking it a bit of a step further here.
Don’t forget that whether you’re using professional movers like Bekins, or moving yourself, you’re going to probably have things smushed into a moving truck, and might find certain items resting on top of or otherwise intermixing with your gym equipment that usually would not. This is where your deep clean comes in – you don’t want your nice, clean blankets getting gross during your move from resting on top of your treadmill’s belt during your move.
Plus, since you’re moving anyway, doing a deep clean of your large and small equipment alike is a great way to welcome them into your new home the right way, and to not bring gross gym stuff into your clean, new home!
Moving Small Gym Equipment
Even when moving small gym equipment, like yoga mats or individual weights, you need to take the time and precautions to make sure that these items are properly packed and taken care of to make sure they’re not damaged – or cause damage to other things! Additionally, weights need to have additional care taken to make sure they don’t break your boxes, or injure anybody who might be carrying them.
How to Move Yoga Mats
So what’s the best way to pack a yoga mat? If you only have one yoga mat, pack it with items, like your yoga block or foam rollers, and pack it at the top of your box to make sure that it isn’t crushed or otherwise compromised on the way to your new location. Packing or caring for yoga mats might be the last thing on your mind, but it’s definitely something to take precautions with so that your mat isn’t ripped, crushed, or otherwise damaged in some way.
If you’re packing several yoga mats, pack them together in a box ideal to their size. If you’re packing several mats in with other items for your yoga practice, again pack them on top of heavier items to ensure their safety.
Moving Weights
Whether you’re moving yoga mats or weights, it’s key to try and use several smaller boxes (or boxes more attuned to the size of the item you’re moving), than trying to pack several things into a large box that may not be able to support all of that weight.
This is an especially key point when it comes to moving weights. Using smaller boxes to move weights will make sure that they’re kept safe, and are less likely to compromise or rip through your box. The uneven weight distribution caused by using a box that can’t support your weights puts it at risk for breaking, and the person carrying them is at risk of injury.
Additionally, when packing weights yourself, if you can’t find high-quality, sturdy boxes that can support the weight of your weights, look for plastic totes or containers that can provide a sturdy temporary home for your dumbbells or hand weights.
Don’t want to deal with the stress of properly packing up your small gym items? Utilize Bekins full service moving options to have your packing taken care of for you.
Moving Large Gym Equipment
If you thought it was important to take extra care when moving yoga mats or dumbbells, this idea is only even more imperative when it comes to transporting your large gym equipment, like treadmills or ellipticals.
Having these specialized pieces of equipment at your disposal in the comfort of your home is invaluable, but unfortunately extremely inconvenient when it comes to moving. However, there are some ways to make your experience breaking down and moving large gym equipment a little easier.
How to Move a Treadmill
Odds are, your movers will probably use a furniture dolly or another piece of equipment to move your heavy treadmill, unless it’s a particularly small ones. However, prior to moving, see if you can find a locking mechanism on your treadmill to make sure it’s in place during your move. If you can’t find one on the machine, try looking in its owners manual or online. See also if your treadmill includes instructions as to whether or not it folds up, can be disassembled without the help of a specialist or professional, and for some additional information regarding its weight and specs. This will be invaluable information for your movers to have to make sure that they move your treadmill in a way that’s most beneficial to you, them, and the machine.
Once you’ve learned more about your machine, start the preparation process by unplugging the machine and fold the cord. Wrap the cord up with moving tape to make sure it’s not dangling or posing a tripping hazard to anybody. Remove your machine’s safety key and store it somewhere safe and out of the way (and don’t forget to label it!).
If you’re able to disassemble your machine, and want to do so on your own before your movers arrive, begin by folding down the front of your machine as stipulated in your owner’s manual. Depending on what kind of treadmill you have, the bottom portion could also be the part to fold up – it depends on the machine! Consult your manual for which way your treadmill should be disassembled.
If you want to reposition your treadmill in any way prior to your movers’ arrival, never do so alone. Have a friend or family member there to help and make sure all is well while positioning your treadmill in a convenient place for moving.
Moving an Elliptical
Ellipticals can prove to be a little more complicated than treadmills to move, purely because of their more bulky nature. Where treadmills can usually be folded up, ellipticals are a bit more unwieldy. Don’t lose hope though – disassembling your elliptical should be relatively simple to set you up for success.
To properly disassemble your machine, consult its user manual to make sure you’re operating in the proper way to keep your machine in its best shape. Generally speaking, however, with most machines you should be able to use just a wrench and screwdriver to detach your pedals and handlebars from your machine.
If you want to move your elliptical without taking it apart, your movers will most likely use a furniture dolly to do so, due to its large size and unwieldy nature. Make sure to consult both your manual and your movers to see what your best method of action to take might be.
Moving Stationary Bikes
Thankfully, this popular piece of home gym equipment is relatively simple to move. You’ll need to unplug it and secure its wires, but that’s pretty much it. Your movers will transport your machine either by sliding it (with protective measures taken, of course) or otherwise carry it out to your moving truck.
Stationary bikes usually aren’t disassembled for moving processes, which can make them even more convenient, or even less so depending on your love for the machine.
No matter if you’re moving heavy gym machinery like stationary bikes or treadmills, or if you’re just moving a yoga mat and some weights, keeping your home gym equipment safe is imperative to your moving journey, and needs to be done properly! Not sure you’re up to the packing challenge? Talk to Bekins Van Lines today to see what your full service packing and moving services offerings are.
