As you start packing up your house to move, you’ll quickly realize that not everything fits into cardboard boxes. Many items require special care and ways of packing and moving to ensure arrival without a scratch. This includes your home gym setup, which likely has a mix of weights and cardio machines.
Here’s how to move gym equipment from one home to the next as easily as possible.
Gym Equipment Needs Special Care
During the move, external bumps and shocks can easily damage sensitive internal mechanisms and components of your home gym equipment. This damage can cause your equipment to malfunction later on, so protecting it properly before the move is essential.
Additionally, gym equipment is heavy and bulky, and moving it without proper protection can easily cause injuries. Proper care ensures everyone involved in the move stays safe and sound.
Some equipment is easier to pack and move, such as free weights, exercise bands, and stability balls. Other pieces of equipment, such as weight or cardio machines, may have cables, motors, and components that must be disassembled to move and then reassembled upon arrival.
Pre-Move Prep and Measurements
Before moving a home gym, clean your equipment thoroughly to get it ready to pack. Wipe everything down carefully with a rag and multi-purpose cleaner to remove any dust, sweat, or grime that can cause stains or marks on transportation material or your new home.
Next, sort your equipment into groups. You can pack small items, like bands, clamps, and accessories, into boxes. Medium-sized equipment, like weights and kettlebells, will need a little extra protection, like newspaper. Large machines, like bikes, ellipticals, or weight machines, require more work, like assembly and disassembly (we go into detail about how to do this below).
Measure the items to see whether you can move them without complete disassembly. If they are too large, you will have to take them apart to get them through the door and onto the truck.
Moving Cardio Machines
Here are a few steps for moving your cardio equipment:
Unplug all your machines.
Check the manual or the brand’s website for disassembly instructions.
Start by removing items like pedals, handlebars, or cup holders, and wrap them in paper.
Store small wrapped parts in boxes.
Determine how to take the machine apart in as few sections as possible. You want to move everything without spending a lot of time taking things apart and putting them back together.
Wrap these sections in blankets and load them onto a dolly.
On the dolly, navigate sections of equipment down a clear path to the moving truck. You might need an extra set of hands for this.
Moving Weight Benches and Free Weights
Here’s how to move a home gym with free weights:
Small gym items and lighter-weight free weights can be packed in boxes. Wrap them in paper for protection and ensure each box isn’t heavier than about 30 pounds.
Box up accessories like clamps and locks so they don’t get lost.
Heavy weights and bars can be placed directly on the bed of the moving truck and secured with ropes, straps, or bungee cords. You can cover them with a blanket for safekeeping.
If you’re moving a bench, disassemble it and use the wheels to move it to the van.
When to Hire Professionals
If you have a lot of equipment, are short on time, or don’t have all the necessary tools for disassembly, hire professional movers in Austin for an effortless and quick move. Moving companies in Austin, TX, like MASH Movers, are pros at moving gyms and know all the tricks for moving all kinds of exercise equipment.
Hiring a professional lowers the risk of injuries when moving bulky or unwieldy objects. Pro movers also have all the equipment needed to disassemble and reassemble all kinds of machines, all while keeping them safe during the move.
Call MASH Movers for Full Service Moving in Austin, TX
MASH Movers is your local moving company in Austin that can get the job done right in no time. As locals, we love everything about our city, including helping our neighbors move in and out with no extra stress. Reach out today to learn more about us and get your free quote!