How to Move Exercise Equipment In and Out of Your Storage Facility

The purpose of exercise equipment is to help you move—but sometimes, you have to move it. For those upgrading workout setups or re-entering the exercise game, moving exercise equipment often involves a trip to the storage unit (plus a bit of heavy lifting). If you’ve ever wondered how to move a treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike, this is the guide for you.

In a few short sections, our experts here at Stor-It cover how to move heavy exercise equipment effectively and responsibly. You may even get a bit of a workout in the process! Move your stuff successfully with our help, and reserve your storage unit with our team today.

Step #1: Recruit Some Help

Like exercise itself, one of most important parts of moving exercise equipment is knowing your limits. You may think you’re strong, but most gym equipment weighs several hundred pounds. On top of that, ellipticals, treadmills, racks, and pull machines are all large and often awkward to lift on your own. Moving them is a job for a team. Call up your friends or your family, and ask nicely. If that doesn’t work, consider hiring professionals for an hour. With two or three extra sets of hands (and muscles), moving your exercise equipment will be that much easier.

Step #2: Disassemble When and Where You Can

Most pieces of exercise equipment can be at least partially disassembled. In nearly all cases, if you can take a piece of equipment apart, please do so. This one action reduces dimensions and weight, helping you avoid biting off more than you can chew. The trick is to not go overboard. With a screwdriver and enough time, you could completely dismantle your treadmill. This isn’t necessary, as it may require significant time and head-scratching when it’s time to reassemble.

Instead, look for big pieces that easily come off. Some pieces of equipment even have foldable components designed for moving and storage. Take advantage of them whenever possible. If you’re not sure what to disassemble, always refer to the manual. Can’t find the manual? Type in your product’s name online, followed by the word “manual,” and you’ll likely find exactly what you’re looking for in the form of a PDF.

Step #3: Cushion as Many Surfaces as Possible

Collision is a major risk for both your exercise equipment and the stuff around it. Apart from carrying your equipment carefully, there’s really only one thing you can do to cancel out collision: cushioning. Once you’ve disassembled and/or folded up your equipment, cushion as much of its exterior surfaces as possible to keep everything in great shape during transit and storage.

Wondering what to use as cushioning? Bubble wrap is your best bet, but a few pieces of carefully rolled clothing will work, too. Foam is another good alternative, and you may want to consider putting it on a few tight entryways and exposed corners elsewhere in your home. This will help ensure hassle-free passage for your exercise equipment.

Step #4: For Long Trips, Put it On Wheels

Even with disassembly and few extra hands, moving home gym equipment can be difficult. One way to take the stress off the passage from Point A to Point B is to put your equipment on wheels. For this purpose, we recommend a furniture dolly. Furniture dollies are capable of carrying large pieces of furniture like sofas, dressers, and tables, so they’re sturdy enough to handle your gym equipment, too.

Do you have to carry your equipment downstairs? Don’t risk a rolled ankle or bad drop. Set a blanket (or several) under your equipment and gently slide it down your staircase.

Step #5: Set Up Your Ride

If you’re moving your exercise equipment, there’s a good chance it’s going in a car or truck. To make sure everything goes smoothly, prep your vehicle ahead of time. We recommend using tie-downs wherever possible. If you’re using a professional moving truck, see if it has an EZ track for straps. For smaller trucks and cars, bungee cords or good old-fashioned rope works well.

Our cushioning rule applies to your vehicle, too. If you have some spare pillows or boxes to put on either side of your equipment, do it. In the event that your tie-down job doesn’t hold, you’ll be glad you had them. For loading and unloading into large vehicles, confirm that you have a ramp to avoid awkward lifting positions. If you’re planning on storing your exercise equipment in a self-storage unit, try to choose one with drive-up accessibility. This will greatly shorten the distance you have to move your equipment outside of your vehicle.

Step #6: Set Up Your Space

Your equipment is going to end up somewhere. Whether that spot is a spacious living room or a tightly packed storage unit, you’ll want to prepare it for its new arrival ahead of time. No matter where you’re placing your piece of exercise equipment, the first step to preparing your space is to clear a path. Start at the front door, map out your route, and make sure there’s nothing underfoot.

For easy assembly (or disassembly), we recommend clearing a space that’s significantly larger than your equipment itself for its final resting place. If you’re putting it in a storage unit, make sure there’s nothing around that could fall on top of your equipment. Likewise, make sure your equipment isn’t crushing anything. Keep it covered with a sheet or dedicated furniture cover. In your home, it’s important to place your equipment close enough to an outlet to avoid creating a trip hazard.

Step #7: Check Your Equipment (and Your Warranty)

The last step in our guide on how to move gym equipment is something you’ll want to do at the very beginning and end of the process: turn it on.

If it’s not a powered piece of equipment, test it out by using it. This simple step will let you know if it works. If it doesn’t, your next step is to check the warranty (again, it’s a good idea to do this at the beginning of the moving process, too). Your warranty will let you know what you’re covered for. This can add extra peace of mind during a move. If you’re going to be storing your exercise equipment in a storage unit, you may want to invest in storage unit insurance in the rare event that an accident befalls your unit.

Move and Store Your Exercise Equipment With Stor-It

Still have questions about how to move an elliptical, treadmill, or other pieces of exercise equipment into and out of storage? Our team here at Stor-It has answers. Visit our Blog for helpful online moving and storage resources, or contact us directly to have your questions answered by a member of our team.

In need or storage or moving supplies? We have you covered there, too. As Idaho’s oldest and largest self-storage providers, we proudly own and operate 16 storage facilities across the Gem State—all outfitted with a wide range of units sized to fit any piece of exercise equipment. Plus, we proudly sell high-quality packing and moving supplies at each one of our facilities. Visit our Locations page to find the perfect option for your needs, and reserve your storage space here at Stor-It today!