Trampoline transportation must first make a choice between “self-assembly transportation” (suitable for short-distance and trailer transportation) and “disassembly transportation” (suitable for high-speed and small vehicles).

If you plan to carry the whole assembly: first you must remove the safety net and surround bars to reduce wind resistance; then lift the frame onto a flatbed trailer or spacious truck bucket; finally, be sure to use at least 4 heavy ratchet straps to fix the frame to the anchor point of the trailer.

If you choose to disassemble and transport: the spring must be disassembled in a “star-shaped diagonal” order to prevent uneven deformation of the frame under force; The rods should be tied with wrapping film. Screw fittings are put into labeled bags.

Here I have to throw out a serious warning: never try to transport a complete trampoline with a safety net on the highway. Wind resistance will not only ruin your trampoline frame, but may also cause traffic accidents.

Assembly Vs. Disassembly

Before you start, the most critical step is to evaluate your shipping conditions. It all depends on how far you have to run and what car you have on hand.

• Short-distance transportation: If you are just moving a few blocks away, or driving at a low speed in town (less than 30-40 miles per hour/about 50-60 kilometers per hour), it is feasible to keep the trampoline assembled-provided Your trailer is wide enough to fit that huge round frame.
• Long-distance and high-speed (disassembly): If your route includes highways or the speed is fast, disassembly is mandatory. The wind generated by high-speed driving is unbearable for a self-contained trampoline. In addition, if you only have ordinary SUV or pickup truck, you have no choice but to dismantle it in order to fit all the parts.

Option 1: Moving Assembled

If you are sure that the distance is short enough and there is a trailer, you can carry it in full, but this does not mean that you can just throw it in the car and leave. To make sure the structure doesn’t fall apart, you have to play by the rules.

Step 1: Remove The Safety Net And Fence

Even if it is only a short distance, you must remove the safety net and the fence. Don’t tear down the net on the road, the net in the wind like a sail, the force area is huge.

• Take the safety net off the pole.
• Unscrew or unscrew the vertical fence from the main leg.
• Put these parts separately in the tractor.

Removing them can significantly reduce wind resistance-in my career, wind resistance is the number one killer of trampoline damage in transportation.

Step 2: Load Onto The Flatbed Trailer

You have to rely on manpower to carry this thing. Find 2 to 4 people to keep the force even.

• Lift the trampoline onto a flatbed trailer or wide-body truck bucket.
• Make sure the “legs” of the trampoline are snug to the trailer floor.
• Center of gravity homing: Adjust the position so that the trampoline is in the center of the trailer, which is essential to maintain the balance of the vehicle.

Step 3: Secure With Heavy Duty Ratchet Straps

Gravity alone can’t hold down a trampoline. You need active reinforcement to prevent it from jumping or shifting.

• Use ratchet straps: Never use bungee cords or ordinary ropes, which are just decorations in front of heavy objects. What you need is a heavy-duty ratchet strap that can be tightened vigorously.
• Four-point fixation: Use at least 4 straps. Anchor the strap to the metal round frame (note: do not tie the leg, the leg is relatively fragile) and connect it to the fixed point of the trailer. Tighten the straps until the trampoline creates a slight tension on the trailer floor, ensuring that it does not slip or tip over.

Option 2: Moving Disassembled

For high-speed travel or the use of small vehicles, complete disassembly is the only safe way. There is a technical difficulty in this process, and many people are easily mistaken.

Step 1: Remove The Spring According To The “Star Pattern”

When disassembling a trampoline, the most common mistake is to disassemble the springs one by one along the circle. This kind of operation will lead to extremely uneven tension distribution, directly pulling the metal frame and deforming it. When you arrive at your new home, you will find that you cannot put it back at all.

Star Disassembly Technology :

• Think of a trampoline as a clock.
• First remove the spring in the direction of 12 o’clock, and then remove the spring in the direction of 6 o’clock.
• Then remove the 3 o’clock direction and then remove the 9 o’clock direction.
• Continue in this diagonal alternating pattern until all tension is released.

This ensures that the frame always remains perfectly round.

Step 2: Bundling Rods With Wrapping Film

After the frame is disassembled, you will get 1 piles of metal tubes (leg tubes and surround rods).

• Put the poles of the same kind together.
• They were tightly wrapped using industrial wrap film.
• Wrapping film is far better than tape. Tape tearing will leave a disgusting layer of glue, and the wrapping film can prevent metal parts from hitting and scratching each other in the car.

Step 3: Put The Hardware Into The Labeled Bag

There are dozens of nuts, bolts, washers and washers on the trampoline. Even if you lose one, it will make you crazy when you reinstall it.

• Put all the small parts into a plastic Ziplock bag at once.
• Label: Take a marker and write “leg screw”, “net buckle”, etc. clearly on the bag.
• Glue these bags directly to the corresponding rod package, or put them in a box in the cab.

Danger Of Wind Resistance

It is strictly forbidden to transport a self-contained trampoline with a safety net on the highway.

Many trampoline frames use light steel and are designed to withstand vertical jumping gravity rather than horizontal winds. At high speeds (above 55 mph), the wind resistance acting on the safety net can generate hundreds of pounds of force.

The consequences are often disastrous:

• The frame is scrapped: the metal legs will bend, and the round frame will fold directly in half like a burrito .
• Traffic accident: The trampoline can be uprooted, flying off the trailer and turning into a deadly projectile for other drivers on the highway.

Safety first, please be sure to disassemble honestly before getting on the highway.

Author:Mark Stevenson

With over 15 years of experience in professional moving and logistics, I’ve helped hundreds of families relocate their backyard equipment safely. I specialize in heavy load security and proper disassembly techniques to ensure your gear arrives in perfect condition.”