1.) Make sure the surface is suitable and measure your space
We would all love to have a giant garden we could fill with all kinds of exciting outdoor toys! The reality however is that we will have a limited space to put the trampoline in, especially if you live in a big city.
It is very important that you place your trampoline on the correct type of surface as a hard surface like concrete or asphalt could cause damage to the trampoline through repeated impact. It is important you don't put a trampoline on a hard surface as it will likely void the warranty.
Earthier surfaces are more suitable because they have more give and thus will absorb more of the kinetic energy the bounce generates.
Make a decision over where you want the trampoline to go in the garden and then get out a long tape measure. Take a measurement of the area you are want the trampoline to take up and make a note of it.
2.) Decide on size and shape
Having taken the measurement of the space in your garden in the first step of the guide you will now have a clearer idea of what you are working with in terms of the size and shape of the area.
The industry standard measurement of trampoline refers to the measurement of the frame and not the bounce mat. Therefore a 10ft round trampoline will have a metal frame diameter of 10ft and a 10ft x 14ft rectangular trampoline will have a frame with a length of 10ft on the short side and 14ft on the long. The long side measurement of an oval trampoline measures right down the middle to the longest point of the curved part of the oval.
It is important in your consideration of how you are going to take up the space that you allow roughly a foot of clearance round the trampoline. Therefore if your space was 9ft x 12ft then it would be suitable for a 7ft x 10ft rectangular trampoline.
You must also allow a sensible clearance above the trampoline as well. Tramps are often roughly 2.5m in height so be sure to not have an errant tree brand hanging down where you intend to bounce!
It is a common mistake people make to not allow enough clearance round their trampoline and thus have to send it back. 5-10 minutes of preparation measuring could save you a lot of hassle further down the line!
3.) Do some research on the specific size and shape you have chosen
Now that you have a suitable space for the trampoline and have narrowed down the rough size and shape you are in the market for you need to get online and pick out the right trampoline for you.
We have looked into some of the most popular round and rectangular trampolines in detail in guides but broadly you need to look for three things in a trampoline:
1.) A good bounce
2.) The best safety features
3.) Build quality for longevity
One of the key indicators of bounce performance is the number of springs the trampoline has. Generally speaking the more springs the better the bounce. Be sure to look at the technical specifications when comparing models and look for the trampoline with the most springs. If the company don't detail anything to do with the springs then they are likely avoiding the issue as the trampoline is underspeced to save on cost!It is then a good idea to look at the enclosure, make sure it has sturdy looking poles. You will then have to decide if you want a trampoline where the net tucks in on the inside or outside of the surround pads. Both have different advantages and an ""inney"" offers better safety as the bouncer will never even come into contact with the pads of the trampoline when the trampoline is in use. An ""outey"" offers a larger bounce area.
Either way you need to make sure the pads are nice and thick with a minimum foam thickness of 20mm. This will ensure getting on and off the trampoline is comfortable as well as preventing the user coming into contact with the springs or frame.
Finally you need to make an assessment on the longevity of the trampoline. PVC is a great, soft to the touch material for the pads to be covered with. It is especially good if the enclosure uprights have a PVC covering rather than just bare foam. This means the enclosure will stay looking great in winter.
Another important consideration in the longevity of the trampoline is the thickness of the frame. A thicker frame will ensure the trampoline doesn't buckle under normal day to day use. Make sure this is listed on the specifications.
4.) Assembly
Now that you have ordered the perfect trampoline you will need to give some consideration the assembly of it. We strongly recommend you use two adults to construct any size or shape of trampoline. It makes it so much easier to have one person pass parts to another or holds them in place.
Alot of the time you will have all the tools you need provided with the trampoline such as the spring tool to attach the springs to the bed and frame and a spanner. However it is also a good idea to have a socket set on hand. This will make tightening the bolts easier and more efficient.
Get the instructions and read all the warnings and basic steps. You can then begin to open the boxes of the trampoline. Double check the parts you have in the boxes against the parts list to make sure everything is there.
Follow the steps in a logical order and don't skip ahead as this could hinder you later on.
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