How Long Does It Take To Put A Trampoline Together

Whether you already have a trampoline or you're thinking of purchasing one, you probably have questions about assembly and disassembly. Putting the trampoline together is obviously something you must do when you first get the trampoline. And, depending on where you live, you may need to take the trampoline down for the winter. So, without further ado, read on to get all your trampoline assembly and disassembly questions answered.

Assembling a Trampoline

First, let's jump into trampoline assembly questions.

How Long Does it Take to Assemble a Trampoline?

How long it takes to assemble a trampoline depends on how many helpers you have and how large the trampoline is. Most trampolines can be assembled with 2 people in 2 or 3 hours. For larger or springless trampolines, this could be more like 3 or 4 hours.

Is it Hard to Assemble a Trampoline?

Most trampoline manufacturers make it as easy as possible to assemble a trampoline. So while it's not technically hard to assemble a trampoline, it does take some effort. Getting all the springs on can be a little difficult, but as long as you have the right tools, it's pretty easy.

The more people you have to help, the easier it is to put the trampoline together. And if you have a safety enclosure net, it can be a little time-consuming to put it together. But if you don't feel like assembling the trampoline yourself, you can pay someone to put it together for you.

Can You Assemble a Trampoline By Yourself?

It's possible to put a trampoline together by yourself, but you will be better off using at least one other person. This is because putting the frame together may take one person to hold it up and another to complete the assembly. Putting it together by yourself will also take longer.

What Tools Do You Need for Trampoline Assembly?

The tools you need for trampoline assembly are pretty basic. These tools may vary slightly depending on the specific trampoline you have, but they're generally tools that either come with the trampoline or that you'll already have around the house. These include:

A Drill
A Phillips Drill Bit (Or Phillips Screwdriver)
A Rubber Mallet
Work Gloves
Spring Puller

Be sure to check your trampoline's instruction manual for specifics. You may also need a socket wrench for some trampolines, and it's always best to ensure you have these tools ready before you start assembly.

Not that you shouldn't use a regular hammer in place of a rubber mallet, as a regular hammer can damage the trampoline.

Where Should You Put a Trampoline?

Selecting where to place your trampoline is an important thing to do before you begin assembly. There are some factors to consider to help you decide where best to place the trampoline.

First of all, your trampoline needs to be placed on flat, level ground. It's also important to ensure that there's proper clearance all around the trampoline. This should be at least six to eight feet between the edge of the trampoline and any objects or anything that could potentially harm anyone who falls off the trampoline. This includes space between fences, buildings, trees, boulders, or any type of landscape architecture.

Overhead clearance is also essential. This includes clearance of at least 24 feet overhead. Watch out for tree branches, power lines, awnings, or anything else that jumpers could hit their heads on.

Should You Anchor Your Trampoline?

Not every trampoline needs to be anchored, but if you live in an area that has regular storms or high winds, you should definitely anchor your trampoline. Without anchoring it securely to the ground, it could cause damage by slamming into a house, a fence, or power lines.

If you're not sure whether you should anchor the trampoline, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution and use a kit to anchor the trampoline down. Some trampolines come with anchor kits included, but most of the time you'll have to purchase it separately.

How to Anchor Your Trampoline?

There are a couple of different options for anchoring your trampoline down to protect it from blowing away in a strong wind. These include using ratchet-style trampoline stakes or wind stakes.

Ratchet-style trampoline stakes use pickets that you drive into the ground and then attach to the legs of the trampoline. Wind stakes are a little more simple. They're usually U-shaped and designed to be hammered into the ground over each of the trampoline legs, thereby keeping them from lifting up in a strong wind.

How Do You Assemble a Trampoline?

If you can't seem to locate your trampoline's assembly manual and you can't find one online, you can still figure out how to assemble it. Most trampolines come together in similar ways, and the steps below are a broad overview that can help guide you in assembling your trampoline. Before you get started, it's important to know where you'll be putting the trampoline.

Step 1: Gather Tools and Components

Make sure you have all the tools you need before you begin assembly. Once you have the tools together, take the trampoline components and place them in a staging area, placing pieces of the frame in one place, the jumping mat in another, and the springs in another. This will help you clearly see what you have to work with as you assemble the trampoline.

Step 2: Assemble and Fasten the Frame

Put the frame together first. On most trampolines, the best way to do this is by assembling the top of the frame first and then attaching the legs. This is one step where having someone to help you makes things much easier. Once the frame is together, secure it using the hardware supplied.

Step 3: Attach the Springs and the Jumping Mat

Once you have the frame fully assembled, it's time to attach the springs and the jumping mat. If your trampoline has an enclosure net that needs to be fastened over the triangle rings on the jumping mat, make sure and do this now because if you don't, you'll have to detach the springs later to do it.

To make things easier on yourself, attach every other spring around the mat. This first round will be easier, as there won't be too much tension on the springs and the mat. When you go around and begin attaching the other springs, you'll notice that they get harder the more springs you put on. Use the spring puller and the rubber mallet to attach the springs. If you don't have a spring puller, you can use a spring instead to the same effect.

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Step 4: Spring Pad and Enclosure

Once you have the springs attached, place the spring pad on and attach it. You'll also want to attach the enclosure net at this time. Each enclosure net is designed a little differently, so it's important to follow the instructions for your specific design for the best results.

Disassembling a Trampoline

Now let's look at the common trampoline disassembly questions.

How Long Does it Take to Disassemble a Trampoline?

Taking your trampoline apart usually takes anywhere between 2 and 4 hours. It really depends on the type of trampoline, how large it is, whether you have the tools for the job, and if you have another adult to help you.

What Tools Do You Need to Disassemble a Trampoline?

The tools you need to disassemble a trampoline are the same as the tools for assembling one. These are:

A Drill
A Phillips Drill Bit (Or Phillips Screwdriver)
A Rubber Mallet
Work Gloves
Spring Puller

You may need a socket wrench or crescent wrench as well, depending on the type of hardware on your trampoline.

Can You Disassemble a Trampoline By Yourself?

You can disassemble a trampoline by yourself, but it's not ideal. The best way to take a trampoline apart is with two people. Doing it by yourself will simply take longer and require more work on your part.

Is it Hard to Take a Trampoline Apart?

Taking a trampoline apart isn't hard. It's a bit labor-intensive, but it's not hard. In fact, once you do it one time, you won't have much trouble doing it again. Unless the trampoline has been sitting without proper care for a long time, it should be easy to take apart.

Can You Move a Trampoline Without Taking it Apart?

You can absolutely move a trampoline without taking it apart. Provided you don't have to move it very far, this should be no problem. There are several ways to move a trampoline without taking it apart and several reasons why you may want to.

The most common reason to move a trampoline is for yard work. Periodically moving the equipment to keep the lawn lush and green is a good idea. But you don't want to be taking it apart every time you want to move it. Luckily, you don't have to.

Lifting the Trampoline
- Gather three or four strong helpers, spaced out equally around the trampoline. Have everyone lift at once and carry the trampoline to an out-of-the-way, nearby location.
Use Wheels
- You can attach temporary wheels to the trampoline in order to help move it. If you don't have anyone to help you move the trampoline, this could be your best bet.
Sliding the Trampoline
- You may be able to slide the trampoline a few feet if the grass is slick enough. This still takes some muscle, so be careful!
Rolling the Trampoline
- If all else fails, you could try rolling the trampoline on its side. This only works on round trampolines, requires several strong helpers, and should only be used as a last resort. It's the riskiest and most dangerous way to move a trampoline without disassembling it. And it could damage the frame.

Reasons Why You May Need to Disassemble a Trampoline

Trampolines are made to stand up to all kinds of typical weather conditions. However, if you live in a place that gets lots of snow, extremely cold winters, or high winter winds, you may want to disassemble the trampoline before winter hits and then put it back up when spring brings warm weather.

You'll also need to disassemble the trampoline if you need to move it any further than a short distance. Most often, this is necessary when you're moving from one home to another. Trying to transport your trampoline long distances without taking it apart can be dangerous, so it's best to disassemble it first.

How Do You Disassemble a Trampoline?

Here's a broad overview of how to disassemble a trampoline. Your specific trampoline may be slightly different, but with a little bit of critical thinking, you should be able to use these steps as a guide.

Step 1: Start With the Enclosure Poles and Net

Just as the enclosure net is the last thing you put up when assembling a trampoline, it's the first thing that comes down when disassembling one. It's best to start with the poles, removing them from their positions and laying them down on the trampoline as you work your way around. Once that's done, you can separate the poles from the net or keep them together — whichever makes things easier on you.

Step 2: Remove the Spring Pad

Once you have the enclosure net off, you can easily take the spring pad off. Fold it up and set it aside before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Remove Springs and the Jumping Mat

Next comes the fun part: removing the springs. You'll need a spring puller tool to do this. If you don't have one, you can also use a number of other tools you have around the house. Check out this article on trampoline spring puller alternatives for more information.

Keep all the springs together and fold up the trampoline mat for storage once you're done with this step.

Step 4: Disassemble Frame

Now all that's left is the trampoline frame. Simply remove the hardware keeping the frame together, then take the frame apart. Store all the hardware together so you don't lose it. Keeping the frame parts together is also a good idea for when you need to assemble the trampoline.

Conclusion

Assembling and disassembling a trampoline may seem like a lot of hard work if you've never done it before. And while both activities can take a few hours to complete, neither are very hard to do. With the right tools, a little help, and a clear plan of action, you can have your trampoline assembled or disassembled in no time! I hope this article has answered any questions you have about putting together or taking apart your trampoline!