Let me guess, you have an elliptical and now you are moving to a new place. So, you are trying to figure out how to move an elliptical? Well, an elliptical is great workout equipment that has many benefits for your health and lifestyle. However, it is a heavyweight, clumsy-shaped exercise machine. And moving it from place to place can be a serious business. It is tricky to shift and pack than any other workout equipment. So, we won’t add up to your worries anymore. Instead, we outlined 2 simple strategies to help you out in moving an elliptical. These procedures will require you to have additional help, materials, and hardware at hand.

Alright, let’s have a closer look at them.

Strategy 1:

This strategy is basically traditionally moving the elliptical. It implies lifting the whole elliptical with the help of your friends and moving it to the truck.

Note: Here, you don’t have to disassemble the parts or bring any change to the equipment.

So, before implementing this strategy you might want to keep some materials handy. So, you don’t have to run back and forth to arrange them. They are given in the following:

1. Tie-down strap with a ratchet tie.
2. Furniture dolly.
3. Moving blankets.
4. Sanitizer.

Well, this strategy is easier and requires fewer steps. However, it is quite challenging to cut tight turns and move around with moving handles and pedals. Okay, without wasting any more time let’s get to its step-by-step guide.

Prep Talk:

It is important to sanitize and properly clean your elliptical before moving. You have used it several times. So lots of germs and sweat-causing bacteria are accumulated in your machine. And different people will touch it during the moving process. So, you don’t want to gift them some disease-causing bacteria, right?

For this, you can dust and wipe clean the frame with a homemade cleaning solution and a wet towel. With a soaked wet cloth, you can clean the console. Thoroughly clean the handrails and surfaces on your elliptical. This way, you can prep your machine before moving.

Step 1: Map out your exit.

At first, navigate your way out of the home from the room where you kept the elliptical. Also, identify the tight turns and tricky spaces in your house. You can recognize them before you move the elliptical. So, planning is important to move such a gigantic exercise machine. That way, you can tone down the chances of damages to your home and the machine.

As elliptical are huge and may take much space to move or turn around. Beforehand, remove all the obstacles in your ways such as furniture, electrical appliances, or carpets.

Step 2: Tie-Down Moving Handles and Pedals.

While shifting, the moving handles and pedals can create a disturbance. It can poke a hole or give scratches in the walls, break glass windows, or may injure someone severely. So, you need to secure them with a tie-down strap and ratchet tie. For that, you have to lift any one side of the elliptical and slide the strap underneath it. Next, drape the strap around the bottom base of the frame and the moving legs where foot pedals are connected. Then, use a ratchet tie to fasten the pedals as close as possible. So, they don’t make any movement at all.

You can follow similar steps for the moving handles. The straps will lock the handles in place. So, they can’t swing when you are moving. But try not to put too much pressure on the elliptical handles. Because they will squeeze and the tie will slip down and all your effort will go into vain.

Step 3: Ask for a Helping Hand.

You can’t even imagine handling an elliptical all by yourself. In this case, you definitely need some helping hand. Usually, the back part of the elliptical holds mechanism so it is heavier and requires a physically strong individual to lift it. Otherwise, a person with weak health can injure his arms or hip while doing the task. The lighter front part can be lifted by any one person. Again, it depends on the model of the elliptical. Different model has a different design. So, the heavier side should be lifted by a strong person. While the lighter side can be handled by any other person.

Now, here’s the thing. Most elliptical comes with moving wheels for easy transportation. So, if you want to make a small movement or move the elliptical from one place to another inside a room then one person is enough. He can lift one end and allow the wheel to move the machine. However, if you want to move it from one place to another then the moving wheels can damage your wood flooring. Because then all the weight of the elliptical will fall into the wheels and it will dig inside your hardwood floors.

Again, if there is a stair in your way, your folks need to lift it to through the way and get it to the truck.

Step 4: Keep the Furniture Dolly Nearby.

I think most of you are scratching heads and thinking what is a furniture dolly? Well, it is a flat platform consisting of 4 moving wheels to carry up the heavy loads or cargo. You need one when moving the elliptical.

So, place the dolly near the elliptical. Now, stand on one side of the elliptical and ask your friend to stand on the other side. Then both of you lift the machine with your legs simultaneously and put it over the furniture dolly gently. To do it single-handedly, you can raise the front side of the elliptical. And keep the moving wheels on the front side of the dolly. Then roll the rest elliptical on top of it.

Just be careful to center the machine perfectly over the dolly. Otherwise, it can fall and cause serious accidents.

Step 5: Cover with a Blanket.

An uncovered elliptical can scratch or dent your home walls when you are moving it. Besides, the elliptical will itself get a dent or mark. So, to protect your beautifully painted walls and expensive elliptical, you need to cover it with a furniture blanket. Then secure the blanket with packaging tape so it stays in place. Besides, while you are moving, the blanket will keep off dust and water away from your precious machine.

Strategy 2:

This strategy follows “Divide and Conquer”. It means you will disassemble the handles and the foot pedals from the frame. While the frame remains in one piece. So, handling and transporting the elliptical becomes easier. However, I think it is a challenging and cumbersome task. Might even require professional help and extra cost if you messed up anything.

I am not discouraging you here just telling you the fact. So, we have piled up some helpful strategies that will make the task manageable for you. Here, they are.

Step 1: Gather Supplies.

Before you break down the trainer into individual components, make sure you gather the following supplies:

1. Allen wrenches.
2. Hex keys.
3. Four head screwdriver tool.
4. Some small and big size plastic bags.
5. Scotch tapes and marker pens.

Here, Allen wrenches and hex keys are provided with the machine. However, if you lost them somehow, you have to get them again. To unscrew the console and then attach it you require four head screwdriver tools. Plastic bags are for containing some nuts, bolts, arms, and pedals of the elliptical. So, with marker pens, you can label the bags and can use them later on. And if you have some small connection wires or parts then it is to be put together with the scotch tapes.

Step 2: Read the Instruction Manual.

It is very crucial to read the instruction manual thoroughly before you proceed to dismantle the trainer. There you will get step by step guide on how to safely take off the machine’s part and store it for later assembling. You will get to know all about the pegs, nails, bolts, and cogs and how to unscrew or tighten them. Hence, don’t miss any part. If you feel the guide is tricky for you, get a professional hand.

Step 3: Snap Some Pictures.

It is considered wise to take pictures of your elliptical before you take down its parts. Seeing the picture you will know exactly which part goes where. Plus, it can make things clear for you if the manual is not so helpful. Try to get detailed pictures so later you can easily imitate and fix your machine.

Step 4: Revengers “Disassemble”.

Did you get the vibe from the wordplay? Alright, it is the section where you disassemble the elliptical handles and foot pedals. Use appropriate tools with proper sizing to unscrew the bolts, nuts, nails, or pegs. So, you don’t damage them. When you completely take off the removable parts, remove the upright support bar as it contains electrical controls and sensors.

Also, try to be handy during this process. Since the arms are made of metal and if fall can injure your feet. Follow the manual instructions step by step. Take your time if you are new. Again, if you are not feeling confident then seek help from an expert.

Step 5: Secure the Parts.

When you are done removing the parts, wrap them with protective padding. Such as a bubble wrap. This will protect the parts from getting scratched or damaged during transit. Also, store all the specific pegs, nails, and screws in a zip-lock plastic bag. Categorize them into groups according to the sequence they go. That way, these won’t get lost and comes in handy when you will assemble the trainer again.

Just like the previous strategy, here you can cover the mainframe base with a furniture blanket. Be extra careful about the electrical console and wires. Keep them in a tightly locked bag where moisture can’t get inside.

Step 6: Time to Move.

So, it is time to move your mainframe base to the truck. Load it in a furniture dolly just like you did in the strategy one. Keep it positioned in a way that it fits through any doorways. So, when you load the machine in the truck, fasten it with moving straps. So, it will stay in place and won’t go damaging other items.

The Last Words:

Moving from one place to another is not easy, I know. Over the top, if you have a bulky exercise machine like an elliptical then it’s common to scratch your head and think “How to Move an Elliptical”. So here’s our article kicks in to help you with effective strategies. It will make moving an elliptical easier than ever. So, you will sweat less and get into work after finishing the article. It will help you launch the plan and get things done within an hour or two.

So, wish you luck and success in your new home gym or fitness studio.

Related article: Best elliptical reviews.