Too overweight for a treadmill?

[MzJuicyD]

OMG i was just researching Treadmills online and i'm paranoid about the weight limit. I was going for an elliptical machine but the max weight on those were 200-250. I definitely dont want to have to pay $500+ for a machine to hold my weight. So, i found a treadmill for $399 with a maximum weight of 300. I hope it works out fine lol

[BuggyBear81]

You guys totally helped me out and were quick, too!! Thanks for the help!!

[ryeb]

I bet some of the weight restrictions are to prevent you from suing them if you had an adverse health issue form from the treadmill (ie heart attack)

I am not meaning that to sound harsh either. I just know that rarely do you find a person who is a cross country runner weighing in at higher weights. I also know that anyone can suffer from health issues, heavy or light, but I would think that somethings are just to cover the company's butt.

I am pretty positive, that a walk on a 4 speed will not hurt the treadmill

[irishlad]

yeah i agree with ryeb, its probably for a legal reason not functionality limit. These equipment usually have a safety factor built in, i.e the max weight specified is not the max weight it can hold at all. 21 lbs in the context of 300 is only an extra 7% so I wouldnt worry about it.

[darius]

Yes there has been a lot of good advice given so far. I am a mechanical engineer and if I designed a treadmill to handle 400 pounds of dead weight, I would probably put a manufacturer suggestion of max weight at 300 pounds.
If you were able to get through to the manufacturer or reseller, they would just tell you to observe the original manufacturer recommendations; they are not going to suggest that you exceed those (to protect themselves).

The weigh limit is one thing but the motor is another. A cheaper treadmill (under $1000) is not going to have a powerful motor. If you are using your treadmill and the thing stops dead, and switching it on and off does not restart it, then the motor has probably tripped out on a thermal overload. Let it cool down and you can restart it later, if you're lucky. Try to walk/run along with the motor/belt speed and don't let it struggle to move against you.

(If this sounds like the voice of experience, it is).