True assembly
Commercial-grade, with a deck you can soften and a workout that holds your heart-rate zone.
A True treadmill stands out for two patented systems: a Soft Select deck whose firmness you dial to your joints, and HRC Cruise Control that auto-adjusts the workout to keep you in your target heart-rate zone. The build is easy, but it is heavy and most models do not fold.
A commercial-grade treadmill with two signatures
True Fitness makes commercial-grade treadmills for the home, the M, Performance and Z series, built with heavy-gauge welded steel, big rollers and strong motors, and backed by lifetime frame and very long motor warranties. Reviewers often note that even True’s entry models are built to a higher standard than most brands’ flagships.
Two patented features define the experience. The Soft Select deck lets you adjust the cushioning from soft, easy on the joints and knees, to firmer for a stronger push-off, so you tune the feel to your body. And HRC Cruise Control lets you lock in a target heart rate, after which the treadmill automatically adjusts the workout to hold you in that zone, with a Polar strap included.
The build itself is straightforward, the deck comes pre-assembled and you add the console masts, but the machine is heavy and, unlike a fold-away treadmill, most True models do not fold, so the main planning is around weight and a permanent spot.
The build
Easy build, but heavy. Two people.
| Model | Time | People |
|---|---|---|
| Move it in300+ lb; two people and care. | 20 min | 2 |
| Console mastsThe deck is pre-assembled; add the uprights. | 15 to 20 min | 1 to 2 |
| Console + wiringFit and connect the console. | 10 min | 1 |
| Level + clearanceLevel surface; run-off room behind. See below. | 10 min | 1 |
| Pair HR + appsPolar strap; set up HRC and Bluetooth. See below. | 10 min | 1 |
Most models do not fold, so choose a permanent spot. Front transport wheels engage when you lift the rear to reposition it.
What setting up a True involves
Easy to build, but heavy, use two people
The good news is the assembly is simple: the deck, with the rollers, belt and motor, arrives pre-assembled, so you mainly attach the console masts and the console and connect the wiring, around twenty to thirty minutes. The catch is weight, a True treadmill runs over three hundred pounds, so moving it into the room and holding the masts while you bolt them really wants two people. So the build is quick, but treat the lifting as a two-person job for safety.
Most models do not fold, so pick a permanent spot
Unlike a fold-away treadmill, most True models are non-folding, commercial-grade machines meant to stay in place, so plan a permanent footprint for it rather than expecting to tuck it away. It can be moved when needed, the front transport wheels engage when you lift the rear, but it is not a daily fold-and-store machine. Some True decks are lower-profile and suit rooms with lower ceilings, worth checking if headroom is tight, but in all cases choose the location as a lasting one.
Set the Soft Select deck to your joints
One of True’s signatures is that you can adjust the deck firmness. The Soft Select system, with an orthopedic belt on the higher models, lets you dial the cushioning softer for gentler impact on the joints and knees, or firmer for a more responsive push-off when running. So take a moment to set it to what suits your body and how you train, softer for recovery and joint comfort, firmer for faster running, and readjust it as your needs change. It is a genuine comfort advantage worth using.
Set up heart-rate cruise control
True’s other signature is HRC Cruise Control, its patented heart-rate feature. Strap on the included Polar heart-rate monitor, set your target heart rate, and the treadmill automatically adjusts the speed to keep you in that zone for the duration, which is excellent for steady-state and zone training. So pair the strap and try it during setup. One quirk to know: the preset programs cap speed around six miles per hour, so for faster running you use the manual speed control rather than a program.
It is built to be low-fuss
Part of paying for commercial-grade is how little the machine asks of you. The orthopedic belt needs attention far less often than a basic one, and the oversized motor and robotically-welded frame are engineered for years of daily running, which is what the lifetime frame and long motor warranties reflect. So follow True’s simple upkeep schedule, give it a firm level floor with sensible run-off room, and it largely looks after itself, letting you focus on the Soft Select feel and your heart-rate training rather than fussing over the machine.
Before you build
Line up two people to move the 300-plus-pound machine in.
Choose a permanent spot, most models do not fold, with run-off room behind.
Check your ceiling and headroom if you are tall or the room is low.
Have the included Polar heart-rate strap ready for HRC Cruise Control.
And appreciate its low upkeep, thanks to the orthopedic belt and commercial-grade build.
Where an installer helps
By moving a heavy, non-folding treadmill in and assembling the console masts square and solid, a genuine two-person job.
By siting it with proper run-off clearance and getting it level.
By setting up the Soft Select deck, pairing the heart-rate strap for HRC, and connecting Bluetooth.
The build is easy, so help is most valuable for handling the weight safely, placing a permanent machine well, and getting its signature features working from day one.
What an installer does
- Moves the heavy treadmill in and assembles the console masts.
- Connects and tests the console, speed and incline.
- Sites it level with proper run-off clearance behind.
- Sets the Soft Select deck firmness and pairs the heart-rate strap.
- Sets up HRC Cruise Control and Bluetooth apps.
- Shows you the deck lubrication and belt-tracking upkeep.
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?
The assembly is straightforward, the deck with the rollers, belt and motor comes pre-assembled, so you mainly attach the console masts and console and connect the wiring, around twenty to thirty minutes. The main consideration is weight: a True treadmill is over three hundred pounds, so moving it in and holding the masts really wants two people for a safe, solid build.
Does it fold up for storage?
Most True models do not, they are non-folding, commercial-grade machines meant to stay in place, so plan a permanent spot rather than expecting to fold it away. It can be repositioned when needed, the front transport wheels engage when you lift the rear, but it is not a daily fold-and-store treadmill. Some decks are lower-profile for rooms with lower ceilings if headroom is a concern.
What is the Soft Select deck?
It is True’s adjustable-cushioning system, you can dial the deck firmness softer for gentler impact on your joints and knees, or firmer for a more responsive push-off when running, with an orthopedic belt on the higher models. So you tune the feel to your body and training, softer for recovery and comfort, firmer for faster running, and can readjust it over time. It is a real comfort advantage of the brand.
How does the heart-rate control work?
True’s patented HRC Cruise Control lets you lock in a target heart rate using the included Polar strap, after which the treadmill automatically adjusts the speed to keep you in that zone, ideal for steady-state and zone training. Pair the strap and set your zone during setup. Note the preset programs cap around six miles per hour, so for faster running you use the manual speed control.
Is it worth the higher price?
That depends on your priorities, but True’s appeal is commercial-grade construction, heavy welded steel, big rollers, an oversized motor, and lifetime frame and long motor warranties, that reviewers often rate above other brands’ flagship models. Add the two signatures, the adjustable Soft Select deck and HRC heart-rate cruise control, and you are paying for a machine built to run comfortably for decades. For serious, regular runners it is often the last treadmill they buy.
Installers.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by True Fitness. True is a trademark of its owner, referred to here only to describe the assembly services that independent installers on this directory provide.