The most feared scenario for most of the home gym-owners – a move. Of course there are two options: hire someone to do it for you or do it yourself.
If you’re like most home gym-owners, you probably pick the second one and just assume that when the time comes to move your gym equipment, you’ll just pick it up and carry it out and into the new place. Unfortunately, there are a lot more things to think about. In this article I want to share with you how I recently moved my gym, what experiences I made and what I would do different the next time.
1. Get some help
This might sound obvious, but you should really consider the people you ask. This is not going to be an ordinary move. Things are going to be really heavy and bulky. Your helpers should be on the stronger side. Ask some guys you trust from the gym, your teammates or just some jacked friends or family 😉
2. Make a plan
This move starts a lot earlier than a normal move and there’re a couple more things to consider to prevent some major problems. Here are some things you should really think about in advance when moving your home gym:
Transportation: Not just the size of the van/truck/trailor is important. Also check the weight limitations.
Building access: Messure out the bigger and bulkier pieces of equipment and disassemble them before loading them on the van/truck/trailor.
Flooring: Messure out your new place and figure out if you need additional flooring to the one you already own. Order your mats or tiles in advance – you need to lay them out before the equipment arrives. Also: check if the room is even-shaped. Otherwise you need to plan some extra time to cut the flooring properly (pain in the a**).
Make a layout plan: Layout where you want to have each piece before the move. There’re going to be minor changes but the stuff is still heavy af. Avoid rearranging and starting over from scratch.
Protection: Protect your equipment but protect the building/vehicle even harder. Your things are really heavy and usually made of steel. Take care of softer and fragile materials around you. My tip: pack some old blankets and towels and wrap them around the edges of your equipment or the surfaces you want to spare.
3. Wall mounting
New place, new walls. If you have equipment that needs wall mounting, make sure to check the specifications of the walls you chose. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How thick is the wall?
- What material is the wall made of?
- What kind of bolts/screws do I need and how long do they have to be?
Most of the time, the internet will have the answers you need but don’t hesitate to double check at your local hardware store. My tip: If there is a cheaper version and a more expensive oner – never go with the cheap version. It’s about your safety and the safety of your house, building and equipment. Buy nice, or buy twice.
4. Clean, Maintain and repair
While you’re at it, re-assembling your gym-equipment – take some extra time to take a look at some of your equipment wich might need some maintenance along the way. Look at movable parts, like the ones in your cardio machines. Also look out for damaged equipment, loose screws/bolts or anything else what might cause problems or safety hazards. While you’re at it cleaning up the mess that was produced – clean your equipment along with it (and thank me later).
5. Take care of the people who helped you
Your helpers probably ended up spending an entire day with you. Take care of your people and prep some snacks, drinks or even a meal at the end. There is nothing better than some good food after a productive day of work. Cheers!