The Best Ways to Move a Treadmill

The Best Ways to Move a Treadmill

Treadmills lined up with other workout equipment

Are you counting down the days until your move? As your anticipated move date approaches, you’re probably considering the logistics. Moving is exciting, but packing up all of your stuff can be a daunting task. 

Perhaps your heavy furniture is starting to haunt you, and you’re wondering how you will ever manage to move it. Fear no more, you’re in the right place to learn how to move a treadmill.

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Preparation

It is important to prepare when moving large furniture pieces, to avoid hiccups along the way. It will be helpful to have your treadmill manual on hand, as well as to measure the size of your doorways, to ensure you won’t have trouble fitting your treadmill through it.

How To Fold Your Treadmill

After unplugging your treadmill you should check to see if it folds down.

Typically there is a bar underneath the belt that you can pull up on the treadmill until it locks in place. When it is locked, it will make a clicking sound. If you’re more of a visual person, this video helps show how to fold your treadmill. Some treadmills have wheels, and some do not.

If your treadmill has wheels, you will want to ensure you have a path cleared for it, and once it is folded you can roll it outside to your vehicle.

If Your Treadmill Won’t Fold Or Doesn’t Have Wheels…

A furniture dolly can be helpful for treadmills that do not fold or have wheels. You can rent one from companies like U-Haul or Home Depot.

Be sure to secure your treadmill with bungee cords or straps if you decide to use a dolly. You may also want to wrap the edges in something soft, such as a blanket, so it doesn’t damage your walls if you bump into them.

You will likely need more than one person, as treadmills usually weigh a couple hundred pounds. Remember to lift with your legs, not your back!

How To Move A Treadmill Down the Stairs

If your treadmill is on the upper floor of your house or apartment, it will make things a little more difficult, but not impossible. You will most likely want to disassemble your treadmill if you are moving it down the stairs. Your manual should have instructions on this, or, if you don’t have your manual, you can look it up online using the treadmill’s serial number. 

Remember to wrap each part of the disassembled treadmill in something soft to avoid damage. Make sure to label any small pieces or screws, so you know how to reassemble it later.

If Your Treadmill Can’t Be Disassembled…

If you can’t disassemble your treadmill, you can use a dolly to move it down the stairs. Since dollies are designed for moving, they are easy to use on stairs. 

When the treadmill is secured on the dolly, have whoever is deemed the stronger person go down the steps first. The person on the upper side will need a good grip, but the person on the lower side will be carrying most of the weight. 

The person on the upper side will move the treadmill forward, as the person on the lower side guides it down the stairs. You will want to go slowly, one step at a time. 

Instead of pushing the treadmill, the upper person will pull the dolly back toward them, and then release a little bit at a time, as the lower person stabilizes it. This will help with control so that the treadmill does not move too fast.

How to Load a Treadmill into a Truck

Getting the treadmill into the truck, while difficult, doesn’t require much technical finesse, but loading and packing it into the truck sure does. Because they are bulky, awkward, and heavy it’s best to just strap this item to the wall of the moving truck. With two ratchet straps you should be able to get the job done. Simply strap the lower part of the treadmill and strap the upper part and you should be good to go. Be sure to use moving blankets or boxes, if possible, to protect the item from getting scratched.

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Alternative Options

So far we’ve covered the steps for moving a treadmill on your own, regardless of whether it has wheels, folds, comes apart, or needs to move downstairs. These DIY methods, though effective, can be physically demanding and stressful. An alternative option to moving a treadmill by yourself is to hire professional movers.

Hiring Movers

Moving is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task and can be a stressful experience. While it is certainly possible to move on your own, moving companies can help lighten the load if you choose to utilize their services. 

You can hire a labor-only moving company if your main concern is heavy furniture, such as a treadmill. These moving services are cheaper than full-service moving companies. You do all of the packing yourself, and they simply load and unload your truck.

It can be a helpful service if you are struggling to do heavy lifting but do not want to hire full-service movers. Hiring movers can save a lot of time and alleviate stress.

If you’re considering hiring movers, check out our post, Why Should I Hire Movers? Everything you Need to Consider, as well as the list of services UniMovers provides!

DIY or Pros?

As your moving day approaches, it’s important to think ahead so you aren’t caught off guard. With careful planning, it is possible to move completely by yourself. However, if you are short on time or if these DIY methods seem physically demanding, remember that hiring professional movers can be a stress-relieving alternative.

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Hannah Boland is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is studying writing and criminology with plans to go into a Journalism career. In her free time she enjoys surfing, kayaking, and being out in nature.