How to Pack an Elliptical

You bought your elliptical trainer to help you get in shape, so whether or not you use it often, you're probably going to want to bring it with you when you shifted to your new home. Elliptical machines can vary in size, usually depending on several factors such as the variety of elliptical you own and the make and model of the equipment. Usually, elliptical machines purchased for use in a home gym will be smaller and more portable ones in your local gym.

Either way, elliptical machines have a unique shape and design that may make it difficult to pack. In order to pack your elliptical properly, you may require some prior planning to pack it safely. Here are a few steps and tips on how to pack and wrap your elliptical machine efficiently so you can make sure that it arrives at your new home intact and ready to be placed in your new personal gym.

Preparing your elliptical machine for packing

Packing your elliptical will be a lot easier if it's broken down into several pieces, rather than if you packed it all in one piece. Furthermore, it will also be much easier to move it when it's in separate pieces, so you'll need to disassemble it. In order to do so, gather the necessary tools like wrenches and screwdrivers in order to take the elliptical apart.

Disassemble the elliptical

Before you start dissembling your elliptical machine, power it down and unplug it. Then you can start breaking it down into individual parts. The easiest way to pack the elliptical will be to disassemble it by separating its body from the moving legs and pedals that may move back and forth while you're attempting to carry it.

• Unscrew the pedals, handlebars, and base - There are three main parts to most elliptical machines: the moving legs or the pedals where you place your feet, the elliptical base, and the two moving handlebars. Find where these sections connect to one another and loosen the bolts with a wrench. Then, unscrew them using a screwdriver and separate each individual piece of the elliptical.
  

  PACKING TIP: Take pictures or videos as you disassemble your elliptical machine to make it easier to reassemble at your new home.

• Place all nuts, bolts and screws into carefully labeled plastic bags - Make sure all the nuts, bolts, screws and other small parts of the elliptical are safe after you've removed them so that you'll know exactly how to reassemble it when you get to your new home. The best way to do this is by placing them in labeled plastic bags that correspond to the part of the elliptical that they belong to. Tape them to their designated part of the machine using packing tape.
• Obtain the necessary packing and wrapping supplies - To properly wrap and pack your elliptical, you should get some bubble wrap or plastic wrap, and some moving blankets and pads.

Packing and wrapping your elliptical

Now that you have the packing supplies and materials that you need, and you've disassembled it, here's what you'll need to know about packing the elliptical for the move:

• Organize each part - When you disassemble the elliptical, you should have three or four main parts: the handlebars, the pedals, the base of the machine and the trunk where the main console is located. Take each of these parts and organize them by using a piece of masking tape to label that part of the machine. This will make it easier for you to properly assemble it after the move.
• Protect it with padding - After unscrewing the machine, wrap each part in a layer of bubble wrap or plastic wrap and then follow that up with an additional layer moving blankets or moving pads to add extra cushioning that will keep them protected during the move.
• Secure each box with packing tape - After each individual part has been wrapped in bubble or plastic wrap and moving blankets to protect it on the moving truck, secure the wrapping with a few layers of packing tape on each end of the piece to make sure that it doesn't come unwrapped while in transit.

Large, heavy items like ellipticals are difficult to pack your own. If you can't disassemble your elliptical prior to moving it, or if you haven't gathered enough helping hands to get the elliptical from your house to the moving truck, it's always a smart idea to hire professionals to handle it for you.