Customer Reviews

Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

My husband and I bought the Bowflex Treadclimber TC 5000 in February 2006.

We love this machine for some reasons, and don't like it for other reasons. I'll explain below.

ASSEMBLY:

We assembled this machine ourselves. The assembly instructions were fairly easy to follow. Two persons must work together to lift and assemble some parts. It took us about 2 hours to put the machine together.

IMPRESSION:

We chose this machine because of its compact size. The space available in our home does not allow room for a treadmill or elliptical machine.

We feel great, invigorated, and sweaty at the end of each workout on this machine.

My husband says that this machine gives him a more vigorous workout than regular treadmills.

USAGE AND RESULTS:

Since 2006, I've been using this machine 5 days a week for 35-45 minutes, at medium speeds ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 mph.

For nearly 2 years, my husband stuck to a fast-paced (3.5 to mostly 4.0 mph), 5-days-a-week, 80-minute regimen. He now reduces the workout to 3 days a week

Before buying this machine, we were in good health. Now, we're in excellent health, God willing.

I've lost about 3 lbs. My husband has lost about 7 lbs. We've toned up visibly over the last 2 years, but not entirely because of this machine.

After each Treadclimber workout, we add 30-40 minutes of lifting weights (25-50 lbs).

When time and energy permit, I also add a 10-15 minute abdominal exercise, and about a 25 minute Taebo workout to my daily routine.

RESISTANCE LEVEL:

We started at the lower resistance levels. Within a few weeks, we quickly progressed to the maximum setting.

Since then, we leave the resistance at the maximum level. We feel no need to interrupt any workout to adjust the resistance level.

FUNNY NOISES:

We put a rug under our machine for cushion and noise reduction.

When we began to use this machine, the right hydraulic piston made squeaky noises. Terribly annoying.

We sprayed silicon oil on all the hydraulic joints we could think of. But the noise continued.

After a month or so, we sort of became tone-deaf to this squeak. Eventually, it disappeared.

Thereafter, from time to time, we hear unusual noises from the machine. Not loud, but clearly noticeable.

Out comes the silicon spray can. A squirt here. A squirt there. Silence restored.

If you own this machine, arm yourself with a lubricant spray can, and prepare for sporadic battles to vanquish weird noises.

MOTOR:

After almost 2 years of usage, our machine broke down. The odometer reading was 49,400. (This is the number that briefly flashes on the console after you insert the safety key.)

Through the phone, Bowflex customer service department walked us through different diagnostic steps to pinpoint the source of the problem.

Yes, one needs to be next to the machine (i.e. at home) while calling in for help. Calling from work is futile without the machine.

The final verdict? The motor died, within the 5-year warranty period. Thank God.

We weren't happy to learn that the warranty covers parts, not labor. Customers must replace the parts themselves. This is an important point that you need to keep in mind, if planning to buy a treadclimber.

After our machine was kaput for 5-weeks , the motor finally arrived. Without instructions. Perhaps a shipping oversight. Again, we called Bowflex. They sent the instructions by e-mail.

We're the do-it-yourself type. In spite of previous engineering degrees, we found the written instructions hard to follow. But the photos in the instructions were helpful.

It was a great challenge to replace the motor. The most difficult part was pulling the tight, new drive belt over the roller pulley and motor flywheel.

Without my husband's muscles, there's no way I can do the work myself. Together, we spent over 3 hours on this project.

BELT:

We keep the treadles and belts regularly lubricated, even more often than instructed in the manual.

Almost immediately after we installed the new motor, the belt on the treadle began to make a scraping noise.

We squirted silicon oil, and adjusted the belt tension. But the noise got worse and more annoying.

When the odometer reached 49,600 or so, the scraping sound progressed to a loud screeching noise.

The belt was tracking excessively to one side, and scrape against something under the treadle.

Again, we called Bowflex customer service. We had the number memorized and on speed dial by now.

The customer service representative told us to adjust the belt tension. Several times. No good. She could hear the screeching noise over the phone.

The final diagnosis? The belt got old, and over stretched. So, they sent new belts, under the 3-year warranty. Thank God.

A few days later, a set of new belts arrived. With instructions this time, luckily.

Unfortunately, the belt replacement instructions is a complete enigma.

No pictures. No drawings. No idea what they're talking about.

Again. Two laborers. Two engineering degrees. Much head scratching and muttering. Many cuts, scrapes, and grunts. More than 4 hours later. Two aching backs. New right belt.

The left belt? It's worn, too. But not making any noise yet. And we had no energy left to replace the left belt.

The left belt is tougher to replace than the right. We must remove the drive belt, roller pulley, and motor flywheel to remove the left belt.

With fresh memory of our struggle with these parts, we want to leave them in peace for now.

So, we're walking very carefully on the left belt, and hope to delay its replacement as long as possible.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

If you buy this machine, guard the receipt with your life. When problems develop, to get parts under warranty, you must first fax your receipt to Bowflex.

Their customer service department is open on weekdays, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST.

This meant having to juggle our work schedules to be at home during the times that we contacted Bowflex.

You need to be next to your machine when calling Bowflex for help. Their customer service representative will walk you through certain steps.

You'll have to follow each step, and describe over the phone what your machine is doing.

It's like getting your car mechanic to figure out, over the phone, what's wrong with you car.

He'll send you the replacement parts and instructions. Although in English, some written instructions make absolutely no sense to you.

At the end, you'll have to take your machine apart and fix it yourself.

Below is our tally of contacts with Bowflex after our machine broke down.

- 13 phone calls to Bowflex - too many wasted hours to recall without pain.
- 10 days delay for Bowflex to return our 1st phone call.
- 9 Bowflex representatives - some inept, 2 helpful, 1 knowledgeable.
- 3 wrong diagnoses (replacement of speed sensor, jumper wire, and circuit board).
- 3 failed attempts to take the machine apart pursuant to wrong diagnoses.
- 1 correct diagnosis (motor replacement), finally given by the 6th representative.
- 1 shipment delay due to bad data entry - wrong shipping address.
- 4 e-mails sent to 2 representatives - no reply received.
- 3 weeks delay for new motor - part not available.
- 1 run-around attempt to get supervisor's contact information - wrong information given, still no clue who's the head honcho of customer service.

The above is the good, bad, and ugly account of our experience with our TC 5000 Bowflex Treadclimber over the last 2 years.

We hope that you find it helpful in your decision whether to purchase one for yourself.

April 23, 2008 Update:

We tried to replace the left belt, but ran into a problem. We couldn't remove some of the button head screws. They got stripped without budging. Really bad quality screws. We looked for the manufacturing label on the machine. Made in China. Didn't surprise us.

We spoke to 3 Bowflex customer service representatives. None had any idea how to deal with the problem. We ordered replacement screws. As advised by our local hardware store, we'll try a screw extractor when the replacement screws arrive.

We bought this because the Dr told my wife she needed to lose 50 pounds to ensure her diabetes could be controlled. We went with the TC5000 because it has the heart monitor display built in, and we wanted to ensure we did not over do it.

The machine arrived as scheduled; assembly took about 2 hours (1 bolt missing, but I had a one that fit so was no problem). Instructions are not that clear, but if you use the pictures and think a bit before you tighten something anyone should be able to assemble this (does take two people for a couple of steps).

We watched the DVD and read the operating manual before we ever got on it; neither of us are in too fit so the first week we just went about 20 minutes in treadmill mode every other day. We have continued the every other day routine to ensure our bodies have a day of recovery. 2nd week I started with a 3 minutes of treadmill, 18 minutes of tread climber, and finishing with 3 minutes of tread mill. Wife increased her treadmill time to 25 minutes. Week 3 I am doing 3 minutes of the tread mill, 24 minutes of the tread climber, and 3 minutes of tread mill. Wife is doing 3 minutes of tread mill 15 minutes of tread climber, and 3 minutes of tread mill.

We are both very aware of the importance of keeping our heart rate in the target zone (not too low and not too high) while excercising, the speed control and the heart rate display makes this very easy to do.

Each of us has lost several inches and has experienced modest weight loss, 5 pounds for me, and 7 pounds for her in 3 weeks. Both of us feel much better and so far we each look forward to our exercise day. We have put the Tread climber right in the middle of the living room so we can watch TV, or have a conversation with each other as a routine part of our exercise. This was a very conscious decision our part to ensure it did not become out of sight, out of mind.

I would recommend this to anyone who is serious about increasing their fitness and/or losing weight.

This piece of equipment arrived later than it was supposed to and the let's just say the delivery personnel looked or acted like they get paid 5.15/hr. Not impressed. But that was the least of my worries as it would turn out. I used this machine for two weeks. It would periodically make weird noises, but it would go away after awhile. I was motivated - who isn't if you have 2500 dollars to spend on getting in shape? It turns out this is the most expensive piece of junk on the market. I made the mistake of ignoring the negative comments myself. I wanted something that was good quality and usually price reflects this. Granted it did give me a helluva workout, it also ruined my motivation when it broke after only two weeks :( I got on the thing at my normal time, turned it on, turned up the speed to 2.5. It immediately started running at 4.0 with no warning nearly throwing me off the back and into a dresser. With the unusual behavior was a loud screeching noise. I turned it off and took the side plate off. The noise was from the motor that was obviously taxed more than it should be. I adjusted the spring tension (essentially, it moves the drive pulley closer to the treadle pulley. This stopped the noise. Now it's obvious some how it has gotten out of alignment so apparently its fixed?. Nope. Now the stupid thing requires that it be re-calibrated - but it fails every time. When this thing breaks down, if it doesn't calibrate, it will not come back on to allow you to workout. I called the company who was nice on the phone, but at the same time, you have to troubleshoot it over the phone. Doesn't work too well if you are a working man like myself. What this equates to is if you buy a new car, rather than the company doing the leg work to fix the problem, they assume you are going to take it all back apart, fix it yourself, and be happy. New parts = you install. I'm sorry, but for 2500 dollars, they literally should send a tech to your house as far as I'm concerned. There is no excuse for putting this piece of crap on the market. All of the reviews show that people across the board experience these type of problems and that means it is defective. My war of getting my money back is just beginning. Save yourself from this!!! Look elsewhere for better equipment or get a high quality treadmill. This is flat out over-priced non-working junk!

We bought our treadclimber in October of 2009. We paid extra to have one of their techs put it together. It had problems with it's engine while it was being set up!.The tech said to get a hold of Bowflex to let them know there was a problem so we did. Bowflex was no help. We wanted to send it back but they said we would have to pay for shipping it back even though it came broken. We would also have to pay for the shipping of the new treadclimber that would replace it. Returning it was not in their vocabulary.

We ended up paying out of pocket to have it fixed. It worked for a few months and then started to have problems again. It took a long time to get one of their approved techs to fix it again. He was not able to the first time because the company sent the wrong part. It needed an engine. We had to wait for the engine and to schedule the repair again. When the tech came he was unable to fit the engine in the machine. More money and more time waiting. Finally the company did send one of their men to fix it after I spent hours and hours talking to them. It worked for a couple of months and then broke down again!

My husband is a small man and I am small. We are the only ones that use it. We kept it lubricated and did everything per requirements. We wasted a lot of money and time on the machine and are going to have to pay to have it sent to the dump after a little over a year of owning it. Nautilus does not stand behind their products. We will not buy any products from them in the future

This is the consumer version of the Nautilus Treadclimber. It's smaller than the Nautilus machine but otherwise very similar.

24 Hour Fitness gyms bought a bunch of these a few years back and introduced them with great fanfare.

The good news - excellent workout. Far better than treadmills or ellipticals in my experience.

The bad news - they were all recalled after most wore out.

Nautilus introduced a new improved version. Again - excellent workout. Sadly, again, most wore out.

Hopefully someday Nautilus/Bowflex will solve all the problems and release a version 3 that lasts. Till then, given the "no labor" and the short hydraulic warranty I'd be very cautious about purchasing one.

This treadclimber has not worked for me 50% of the time in the last year. I call customer service and you spend two to three hours taking the machine apart and unplugging wiring harnesses. Then it will work and the next time you want to use it the tread will not move and the machine says error. The technical support people will tell you this is uncommon and it must be something I did, but eventually you realize they are liars and their product is a piece of junk. Then they will send you some new parts, I didn't pay over 2,000 dollar to waist my time fixing this machine. I would love to send it back, but I am stuck with a 2,000 dollar piece of junk. I work in a hospital and will tell everyone what a waist of money this product is.

Bottom line is, if someone asked me if I would 'recommend', I would pause and struggle. Well...I wouldn't NOT recommend..afterall, I do sweat in a hurry; it does get your heart going; it doesn't take up much space; it is built well; it does give you a few variations of usage. Unfortunately, I can't comment on what results I get because I don't USE IT enough to really know. By the same token, I cannot comment on anything mechanical either, for the same reason.

We all have our own reasons for NOT using something and certainly most can relate to having fitness equipment that collects dust, or clothes! So when friends or family members ask me why I don't use mine, other than all the personal excuses, the reasons are this:

I find that I have to be so careful how I walk and how I place each and every step I make on this machine, or it occasionally twists my knee around. I cannot explain it in writing, but it's so frequent that it does this that I spend all my time concentrating on walking so that I'm unaffected! If I don't, I have had it jerk my knee, my ankles and it of course affects everything on up - back, hips, etc.
It doesn't seem to make any difference whether I use the treadles, or lock them together to use as treadmill. In fact, when I use the treadles, I find that i have to walk with somewhat of a straddle to give equal weight proportion to the motion otherwise your motion is something equivalent to walking with one high heel shoe on and one off. So, the very way that you step manipulates the treadles.
All this completely takes away from enjoying the use of the machine and it becomes a chore for me. I have other things I want to concentrate on than each and every step I make, and being so cautious! I mean, who wants that?!

Funny, I have read every review and every comment and don't see anyone else mentioning these things and I'm not sure why not. My sister and a friend jumped on my machine and they could completely see what I was talking about. Is it just my machine? I don't know. I purchased mine directly from Bowflex and paid a bundle more than this price showing on Amazon, btw!

Again, it isn't that I DON'T recommend this item, but for me, anyway, I would probably get more enjoyment, more usage, and therefore greater results, for FAR LESS money using something else.

You should note that the product arrives in 3 separate boxes and must be assembled. The individual sections are heavy so the instructions recommend two people to do this.

I feel the ad for this should say Assembly required (there was no such warning when I ordered this product).

Once assembled its worked fine and provides a good workout with minimal stress on joints. I'm happy to have it.

We have had our tread climber 5000 for about 6 months now.
I cant say to the assembly as we bought ours used on craigslist. It has served us well and gave us a great start to our workout.
I don't know about the review that says working out on it they only lost 3 lbs thats impossible. Unless they used it once a month or something.

My wife and i use this all the time we even have a gym membership now but on days we don't go to the gym we use this.
It gives a great workout especially your legs and glutes. The speed does not go as high as a treadmill but you don't need it to. With the stair action you cant run like a treadmill. But you will get just as much of a workout. It is easier in your knees then a treadmill. It comes with a polar heart rate monitor so you don't have to hold on like most treadmills.

The resistance level goes from 1-12 and you can put the dial in between numbers as well for more options.
The grype i have is with bowflwx. The commerciAls lead to you believe you will burn so much more but they compRe it with a treadmill going slow and no incline to this going faster at 12 resistance. Still i believe you burn more on here vs. Treadmill even if you have it at a low resistAnce. It's a great workout and its more then cardio it's a strength training workout along with cardio.

I have enjoyed working out on it and so does my wife. It does require starting slow at first to get the hang of the separated treads vs a full tread path like a treadmill.

Overall it has been a great machine and it small and compact to fit in places other machines won't. The only reason it does not get 5 stars is because you have to step off to change the resistance. But I work around it by just setting the resistance and leaving it for the workout.

It will work your legs and glutes the first time you get on it unless you are already in great shape. It still gives me a good workout even though I go to the gym.

I purchased a Bowflex TC5000 from Amazon, as it was the best price, saving me several hundred dollars from bowflex's price. After I received the product and called Boxflex to register it, I was told the warranty wouldn't apply as I didn't buy it through Bowflex. I called Amazon and they straightened it out by advocating on my behalf, now it is under the same warranty as if purchased from Boxflex. Thanks Amazon for smoothing out the bumps for my treadclimber purchase.