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treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:49 am
by ponch37300
We just got a new treadmill and got it set up in our 16x80 trailer. There is a lot of vibration throughout the house when using it. The first time we were using it a lite bulb fell out of the dining room chandaler about 15' away from the treadmill. I believe we have 2x6 floor joists.

Just wondering if anyone has some suggestions on how to eliminate some of the vibrations? I realise there will always be some vibrations but would like to get it to a acceptable amount and not have light bulbs falling from the sky. I am looking into the treadmill mats they sell but not sure how much that will really help. Also thought about getting some 3/4" plywood to disperse the weight better, and even thought about sandwiching a peice of 2" thick ridgid foam inbetween two sheets of 3/4" plywood to absorb some of the vibrations. The treadmill is on carpet right now.

Has anyone had to deal with this before?

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:13 pm
by Greg
Other than the ideas you have, you could try building a support pier directly under it. Greg

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:37 pm
by JD
I have greatly reduced washing machine house shaking by adding 4x4s and adjustable metal piers (with wood pads) under the washer area. The pads you mentioned will reduce vibration and that will help. But piers and beams can reinforce the floor enough to eliminate the flexing that happens when you pound the treadmill.

JMO
pier.jpg

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:46 pm
by ponch37300
Thanks for the replys guys. JD, is there a place I can order those online? I am going to make the plywood/foam pads tomorrow to see how much the help. But if the price isn't to bad I will get 2 of those piers to put under the treadmill also.

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 3:49 pm
by JD
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You could get piers online at Mobile Home Parts Store at the following link.
http://mobilehomepartsstore.com/Merchan ... y_Code=PAP

But you would have to pay shipping. On a quick search, I found these two mobile home parts stores in Illinois. Don't know if they are close, but if you do a search you may find one in driving distance.

Five Star Mobile Home Supply
2100 E Clear Lake Avenue
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 544-7977

Wildwood Mobile Home Supplies
6755 Giant City Rd
Carbondale, IL 62902
(618) 529-5331

I don't know anything about these stores. Just found them with google.

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:37 pm
by Dean3
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=14&y=17

I usually look for items that fit my needs and show super saver shipping(free for orders totaling over $25). It might help to get stackable pads so if one set helps but not quite enough then you can add another set. Rarely do I buy anything online unless there are mostly good reviews.

Dean

PS- Speaking of Amazon,I still haven't used the windshield repair kit! LOL

Re: treadmill in mobile home question

Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:14 am
by ponch37300
Thanks for the links JD. There is a Mobile Home Stuff store about an hour away but I don't like dealing with them if I don't have to! Everything is marked WAY up and the employees aren't to customer friendly. Might have to call them to see what they have and how much.

Dean, I don't think those little 4x4 pads would work to well, or I would need a ton of them. Unless I built a solid plateform for the treadmill and put those inbetween the floor and the platform. But the problem with that is I would need to make it out of 2x4 or 6s and it would put my head threw the roof!

Well I got some 3/4" ply and some 2" white foam. I went with the white over pink(think they call it open cell vs. closed cell) because it had more give to it. I sandwhiched the foam with a sheet of ply on top and bottom. I'm experimenting with more screws or less, at first I thought less screws would be better because it would allow more flex. But I am going to try making it more solid by putting scews every 6" or so and see how that works. The current "pad" made a pretty good difference but still would like to get rid of a little more vibrations. My next step is to get a decent treadmill pad to put on top of my homemade plywood pad. I'm not an engineer but I would think that with my pad spreading the weight out and a good vibration pad on top of that it should do a pretty good job.

Thanks for the help guys, will post back when I have some good results hopefully!