Fitness equipment is fabulous for your health, but it can be extremely tricky to move. When setting up in a new place, you’re going to have many hard tasks like unpacking, setting up utilities and meeting the neighbors. The last thing you want is to worry about your fitness equipment.
Luckily, with a bit of planning and foresight, you can quickly unpack, assemble and use your equipment without any hassles. We have devised four key tips to help you prepare your fitness equipment the right way for your upcoming move.
- Disassemble Equipment the Right Way
If you have a home gym with large items, like a bench, squat rack or rowing machine, care must be taken in the disassembly. Make sure you read the instructions. If they have been lost, you can look online for an electronic copy. This will give you the specific information for what tools are required to efficiently dismantle your equipment.
If you are unable to obtain instructions, don’t worry. By using care and common sense as well as a little DIY ability, you can still get the job done. If you do need to disassemble without instructions, just remember to label the parts so you can easily reassemble it at your new home.
All screws, nuts, bolts and other components should be stored safely. The last thing you want is to arrive at your new home and be thwarted by a missing screw. Small plastic containers are a good option for storage. If you have multiple pieces of equipment you are taking apart, then use a separate container for each piece of equipment. This separation will prevent much confusion during reassembly.
Smaller pieces of equipment should also be disassembled. If you have dumbbells and/or barbells, make sure you take the plates off them. The last thing you want is to have heavyweights rolling around in the back of the truck.
If you are disassembling multiple pieces of equipment or machinery, it can get confusing about which parts belong to which item. An easy solution is to number them with a marker.
- Use Boxes Effectively
Cardboard boxes are an effective and inexpensive way to store many fitness items. You can roll up mats and even pack heavier items like weights. Obviously, don’t try to fit as many weights as possible in each box. Have one or two at the bottom, and then put lighter options on top. By combining heavy and light pieces of equipment, you can maximize your storage space. While fitness equipment is generally robust, any delicate items should be placed in a box with bubble wrap or wrapped in a soft item.
Boxes are also great for storing the different parts of fitness machines. For example, if you have disassembled a leg curl machine, you can efficiently store its smaller components. If you have multiple fitness machines, use separate boxes for each one. Once the boxes are full, make them as strong as possible by using heavy-duty packaging tape.
TIP: Want to save yourself some time and trouble? Search for packing and moving companies that can help transport your fitness equipment. They have the right boxes, packing material and knowledge to ensure the equipment will get there safely.
- Wrap Up Key Items
Some equipment may not need to be disassembled, especially if you have a big enough truck. However, any moving parts should be wrapped up, such as the pedals on a stationary bike.
Long barbells can cause havoc during a truck ride. They can slide around, scratching furniture and other valuables with their metal ends. Bubble wrap can easily solve this problem. Squat racks, power racks, and other fitness equipment are often made up of long metal beams and bars. The same care should be taken to wrap these up.
Don’t forget about power cables. These should be securely wrapped around the item to prevent a tripping hazard during truck loading.
- Plan
Some people take weeks to fully unpack at a new home. Generally, only the essential boxes are opened first, like the kitchen and bedrooms. You don’t want your fitness equipment to be buried in the rest of your belongings. Remember to label your boxes so you can get back to your fitness routine as soon as possible.
Also, you should try to have them loaded onto the truck first. The boxes that are first to be loaded will be unloaded last once you arrive at your new home. This means they will be at the front of the pile when they are unloaded at your new property.
Make sure your box labels are detailed with more than the words “fitness equipment,” Moving can get confusing, especially if you need to assemble multiple items like machines, benches or squat racks. By describing exactly what’s inside the box, you will save yourself a lot of time and hassle.
When it comes to setting up your fitness equipment, you don’t want to hunt around for the instructions or the bolts or screws required for their assembly. You can pack some tools with them —such as screwdrivers and Allen keys—for an easy assembly kit. Take photographs or a video of more complicated procedures so you can view them when reassembling the equipment.
With a little planning, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort in the future. Don’t cut corners because saving yourself a few seconds now—such as not labeling a box—may cost you hours in the future. You want everything to be as streamlined as possible when it comes to setting up in your new home.
Final Thoughts
Moving is a stressful time, but by following these key tips and enlisting a home moving service, you can safely and efficiently prepare your fitness equipment for transport. Then, upon arriving at your new home, you can get set up quickly and back to your fitness regimen.
