The Abs Company assembly
A core machine that goes together in minutes. Just get the base pieces the right way round.
The Ab Coaster is a dedicated core machine: you kneel on a swivel carriage that glides up a curved rail for a smooth, bottom-up ab motion that spares your neck and back. Assembly takes minutes, and the one thing to watch is orienting the base pieces correctly.
A single-purpose core machine
The Abs Company makes the Ab Coaster, a patented and hugely popular dedicated core machine. Unlike a crunch, you kneel on a padded, free-swivel carriage and pull your knees up, and the carriage glides along a curved stainless-steel rail that works your abs from the bottom up, lower abs first, then the middle and upper, while limiting strain on your neck, back and shoulders. The home models, the PS500 and Ab Coaster Max, sit alongside heavier commercial versions.
It is a simple, single-purpose machine, and the assembly reflects that: it is all-steel and sturdy, and it goes together in minutes with clear instructions. The only common trip-up is enthusiasm, more than one owner has admitted fitting the bottom pieces the wrong way round before checking the diagram.
So the things to get right are the base orientation, the plates it uses for resistance, and a level spot for a smooth glide. Sort those and it is a compact, neck-friendly way to train your core at home.
The build
Minutes, not hours. Clear instructions, all-steel.
| Model | Time | People |
|---|---|---|
| Check the partsAgainst the list; all-steel, sturdy. | 5 min | 1 |
| Base and railOrient the base pieces correctly. See below. | 10 min | 1 |
| Carriage and handlesSwivel knee carriage, handles, rep counter. | 5 to 10 min | 1 |
| Position itLevel floor for a smooth glide. See below. | 5 min | 1 |
| Add plates (optional)Standard 1-inch plates; not included. See below. | 5 min | 1 |
It is compact with transport wheels, so one person can build and move it, and store it against a wall between sessions.
What an Ab Coaster needs
Orient the base pieces correctly
The one genuine trap in an otherwise minutes-long build: getting the bottom, base pieces the right way round. It is easy to fit them mirrored or reversed in excitement and only notice later, so slow down at the base stage, check each bottom piece against the diagram before tightening, and confirm the rail and carriage will sit and glide the right way. Getting the base right first time saves an annoying partial teardown, and everything above it goes together quickly and cleanly.
Know your plate size, standard 1-inch, and buy them separately
Resistance comes from adding weight plates to the machine, and weights are not included, so plan to buy them. The important detail is the size: the home models, the PS500 and Max, take standard one-inch plates, not Olympic two-inch plates, so buy the right ones. Beginners genuinely do not need plates at first, bodyweight is plenty to start, so you can add them later as you get stronger. The commercial models use Olympic plates, so check your specific model before buying weights.
Set it on a level floor so the carriage glides true
The whole feel of the machine comes from the carriage gliding smoothly along the curved rail, so set it on a level floor and it will move cleanly and quietly. An uneven surface can make the glide feel off. The machine has transport wheels, so it is easy to roll into position and to move against a wall for storage between sessions, just return it to a level spot to use. Keep the rail clean for a consistently smooth motion.
It is built to be easy on the neck and back
The reason many people choose an Ab Coaster is that its bottom-up, kneeling motion works the core without the neck and back strain of traditional crunches, which makes it a good fit for people who find floor ab work uncomfortable. Use the free-swivel seat to angle left and right for your obliques, and use the rep counter to track your sets. As owners joke, the only hard part is actually using it, the machine itself is simple, supportive and quiet.
Before you build
Clear a level patch of floor where the carriage can glide smoothly.
Have the diagram to hand so you orient the base pieces correctly first time.
Decide whether you want plates now, and buy the right size (standard 1-inch on home models).
Plan where it rolls to for storage between sessions.
And no special tools are usually needed beyond what is included.
Where an installer helps
Honestly, it is a minutes-long build, so most people will not need help with the assembly itself.
Where a hand is useful is getting the base pieces oriented correctly first time and confirming the carriage glides smoothly and squarely.
And positioning it level, and advising on the right plates if you want to add resistance.
So help here is mainly for anyone who would simply rather have it built, positioned and checked, ready to use, rather than for any difficulty in the build.
What an installer does
- Assembles the machine with the base pieces correctly oriented.
- Confirms the carriage glides smoothly along the rail.
- Positions it level and rolls it to its spot.
- Advises on the correct plate size if you want added resistance.
- Checks all fasteners are tight and the rep counter works.
- Shows the swivel-seat oblique motion and safe use.
Get it built by someone who has built one before.
Tell us your ZIP and what you bought. Installers near you will quote you directly, and you deal with them, not with us.
Questions people ask
Is it hard to assemble?
No, it is a minutes-long, all-steel build with clear instructions. The one common trip-up is orienting the base, bottom pieces correctly, it is easy to fit them the wrong way round in excitement, so check each against the diagram before tightening. Get the base right first time and everything above it goes together quickly.
Does it come with weights?
No, weights are not included, resistance comes from adding plates, and beginners do not need them at first since bodyweight is plenty to start. The key detail is size: the home models like the PS500 and Max take standard one-inch plates, not Olympic two-inch, so buy the right ones. Commercial models use Olympic plates, so check your specific model before buying weights.
Where should I put it?
On a level floor, the machine’s whole feel comes from the carriage gliding smoothly along the curved rail, so a level surface keeps that motion clean and quiet, while an uneven floor can make it feel off. It has transport wheels, so you can roll it into position and move it against a wall for storage, just return it to a level spot to use.
Is it easier on the back than crunches?
That is the idea, the bottom-up, kneeling motion works your core while limiting the neck, back and shoulder strain of traditional crunches, so many people who find floor ab work uncomfortable prefer it. Use the free-swivel seat to target your obliques and the rep counter to track sets. The machine is simple and supportive, the effort is in the exercise itself.
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