How to move a trampoline to a new house

If you own a large backyard trampoline, then you know how much fun that contraption can be for everyone – kids and adults alike.

However, the mere thought of having to move that trampoline to another house can be rather daunting. And if you haven’t been the one to assemble the trampoline after the purchase, then it’s quite possible that you won’t have the slightest idea where to start in order to disassemble the trampoline for moving.

No worries, this guide will give you the detailed steps you have to follow to take apart your trampoline safely, to pack it well, and to move it to another house altogether.

So, how to move a trampoline to a new house? Read on to find out.

Moving a trampoline short distance

No, we’re not talking about moving a trampoline around the garden so that you can mow the grass. We’re actually talking about moving a trampoline to a new house and the first case we’ll cover is when the new home is just a short distance away.

Let’s just say you wish to move the trampoline to a neighboring house or to a house just down the road. To do it safely, the best way to tackle the problem is to use the so-called old-school method where you just pick the trampoline up and move it to the desired location.

Only, it’s never that easy, is it? The main problem is that you can’t do it alone even if it’s a fairly small trampoline. That’s right – you’re going to need between 2 and 4 people to lift and carry the heavy object safely. If your trampoline is heavy, then secure at least 4 or more helpers to give you a hand with the heavy task.

Each person will have to grab the trampoline a similar distance from the other one, thus achieving good and more importantly – equal weight distribution that will enable you to move your trampoline short distance to another house that’s not far from your current one.

When moving a heavy trampoline a short distance away, the more helpers you have at your disposal, the easier and safer the move will be.

Useful info: 5 Ways children can help during a move

Moving a trampoline long distance

When you’re moving a trampoline to a new house that’s located a long way away – for example, in a new city in the same state or in another state altogether, then there’s only one good way to haul the trampoline and that’s to disassemble it first. The other two ways to transport a trampoline long distance all have serious flaws to start with.

• Moving a trampoline in a trailer. Moving a trampoline without taking it apart is only cost-effective when you’re moving short distance – let’s say as far as to a neighboring town or city. Renting a large trailer to transport your trampoline across the country will be very expensive and you won’t be able to fit anything else on the trailer too.
  Also, you’ll have to be driving at a moderate speed for fear of damaging the trampoline if you go too fast.
• Moving a trampoline in a truck. Renting an entire truck to transport your trampoline can’t possibly be worth it. Yes, you may be able to fit in a few other possessions around the trampoline, but that’s about it. Thus said, you should never strap a large backyard trampoline to the back of a truck or worse – sideways on a trailer. If you do, you’re very likely to damage the frame of the trampoline, or even damage someone else’s car in the relocation process.

We’ll only describe how to move a trampoline to another house by disassembling it first since it’s the safest and most logical way to transport the large and heavy item across the country.

See also: How to pack a house with children around

How to disassemble a trampoline

Now that you know that the best way to move a trampoline across the country is to disassemble it first, let’s go over the trampoline disassembly steps, one by one.

Step 1. Prepare the necessary tools

The very first step is to gather the tools you’ll need to take apart your trampoline. After all, you can’t disassemble that large contraption using your bare hands.

So, before you begin the disassembly process, make sure you’ve got

• a Phillips head screwdriver,
• a 10 mm wrench, and
• a spring tool (aka a spring puller). A spring puller is a special tool that’s used for releasing the springs from your trampoline.

If you have purchased your trampoline brand new, then you must have got a spring tool in the assembly kit. However, if you’ve got the trampoline second hand, then you may not have a spring puller at your disposal. The good news is that you can still get by without one – just read on to find out how.

Step 2. Take photos of the assembled trampoline

A picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case, this may well be true.

Take photos of the way your trampoline before you start taking it apart to its major pieces. This way, you’ll have a good visual guide to help you put it back together after the move is over.

Step 3. Remove the safety net

The exact way to remove the safety net will depend on the specific design of your safety net.

If the safety net poles fit directly into the frame of the trampoline, then lift them up slightly until they pop out without much effort. Go round the trampoline and lay the popped-out poles down and away from you in the direction of the trampoline’s center. This way, the safety net and its poles will end up in one place and, as a bonus, you won’t get tangled up in the net during the disassembly process.

The safety nets of some trampoline models are attached at the bottom for extra security, so you may have to detach the net from your trampoline as well.  

To remove the safety net from the enclosure poles, you may need to either slide the net off the poles or remove the safety pins at the top of each pole. If the latter is true in your case, then secure those pins back into each pole after you’ve removed the net in order to keep them safe.

Fold the net carefully and pack the poles together in a furniture blanket.

Step 4. Remove the trampoline’s safety pad

Most large backyard trampolines come with single donut-shaped safety pads that cover the metal springs and the circular metal frame of the device. Those pads ensure that you won’t get hurt on the trampoline springs that can turn out to be quite dangerous if one is not careful enough.

To remove the safety padding of your trampoline, all you have to do is untie all the ties that attach the padding to the base. Start from a given point and work your way around the trampoline, untying those straps as you go along. When finished, fold the pad carefully (fold it longways a few times depending on the length of the pad) and place it inside a plastic bag to keep it protected against dust and moisture.

Step 5. Remove the springs from the trampoline

The next step when moving a trampoline to another house is to remove the springs that keep the trampoline mat taut across the main frame.

First of all, check whether all springs are good and working as they should be. Be extra cautious with broken or rusty springs because they can be problematic and even dangerous when taking off from the main frame of the trampoline.

• Position the spring tool under the spring’s hook-end that’s attached to the D-ring or V-ring of the mat,
• Pull the spring in the direction of the center of the trampoline until you feel that it’s extended enough to loosen from the d-ring or v-ring,
• Slip off the spring and remove it from the frame of the trampoline.

If you don’t have a spring puller tool, then you can use a pair of pliers but instead of pulling the spring toward the center of the trampoline, you want to hold with the pliers the other end of the springs (the ones that are a bit more open and go into the trampoline frame) and pull them slightly toward you until the spring release, one by one.

Caution: Don’t use cutting pliers to remove the springs for obvious reasons. Instead, use needle nose pliers, slip joint pliers, or linesman pliers to get the job done.

Be careful when removing rusty or broken springs and remember to replace those when you assemble the trampoline after the move. When you’re done, pack all springs in a small cardboard box.

Step 6. Fold the trampoline mat

Lay the trampoline mat on the ground and try to straighten it out as best as you can. Then, fold it in half, and taking the round end of the map, fold it in half again (back into the middle).

If your mat is too big, you can do it again until you get a nice long strip. Once you do, fold the trampoline mat longways several times until you get a nice stack of mat. Finally, pack it inside a large cardboard box for easy transportation.

Step 7. Disassemble the trampoline frame

The final step to disassembling a trampoline when moving house is to take apart its frame. Ideally, you’ll have a helper to give you a hand with this tricky step.

Here’s what you have to do:

• Unscrew the screws from the top of the poles, going around the trampoline, and placing the removed screws in a small bag to keep them safe;
• Stand next to the legs, then pull up to release the trampoline ring from the poles;
• Remove every second leg from the frame when you’re working alone so that the trampoline frame can continue to be standing as you go around. When working with a friend, you can remove each leg in succession;
• Remove all legs, bunch them together, and pack them up using a thick furniture blanket;
• Pull apart the outer rings of the trampoline frame to take it apart. Gather the outer ring components in one place and wrap them up in a padded furniture blanket to keep them safe.

Packing a trampoline for moving (a disassembled trampoline, of course) is pretty straightforward. In the end, you should have three piles of long components packed in furniture pads (safety net poles, frame leg, and frame outer rings), one plastic bag with the folded safety net, one big cardboard box with the folded trampoline mat, and one small box with the detached springs.

If you feel nervous about moving your trampoline long distance, then it’s better to trust professional movers than to damage your expensive possession. After all, you may have never had to assemble or disassemble a trampoline until that moment of time.

Read also: Why should you hire professional movers?