Anyone ever build a zip line for your kids?

[Mike]

Hey all....I was at a party at a friend's house on Saturday and they had a zip line for their kids in the backyard. It was about 15 feet long about 6' off the ground when not being ridden. A steel cable and a zip carrier for the kids to hold on it with a little 2 stair unit at one end. I have to build one now. Anyone ever try this? Surely the hardest part is getting the zip line itself tight enough, yeah. Any tips? I have lots of trees and am thinking about doing a really long one, maybe 70-80 feet.

Thanks for any info....

Mike

P.S. Expensive kits these -

[Charlie]

When the kids were small we had a commercially bought rig. It came with a big turnbuckle for tightening.

Charlie

[Stormin Mormon]

Years ago, a friend of mine built one. I don't have any photos. Not even sure it's there any more. He was quite concerned about safety. Had to go up a ladder to get to the top of the zipline.

[HeyBub]

Did as a kid. Forget the fancy "kit." You need:

• Some length of wire rope

• Someway to secure the ends.

• A turnbuckle to increase the tension

• A hunk of pipe that fits over the cable.

• A lot of axle grease.

• A bamboo fishing pole to scoot the pipe back to the starting station (if it can't be slung that far) OR a string attached to the pipe to reel it in.

These are lots of fun, especially if you: a) Have to climb a tree to get to the starting point, and b) The path takes you over a stream.

[The Daring Dufas]

If I had kids, I'd probably be a bit crazier and build something like this:

TDD

[Oren]

Scenic ride offers Boulder City [NV] chance to keep it that way

"The so-called "Greenheart Flightline" would operate like a ski lift in reverse. Those brave enough to try it would strap themselves into a harness suspended from a metal cable and slide downhill at speeds approaching 50 mph."

Oh, the ride crosses a ravine...

[gfretwell]

A friend has one about 70 feet long from a tree fort to a light pole. He has a golf cart tire to stop the trolley before you hit the pole. It is 1/4" galvanized steel cable with a commercial trolley he bought online. He pulled it as tight as he could get it with a come along and used a shackle into chain to hold what he had, then snug it up with a turnbuckle.

[evodawg]

Built many, but I always had the material. CAVT Construction 1/4 strand for the line. Preforms to attach, Chain Hoist to tighten with a strand grip or preform in opposite direction.

[KC]

On May 11, 9:35=A0pm, The Daring Dufas

Damn! Imagine that setup on the lip of the Grand Canyon. A real ride for the thrill seekers!

[Mike]

Thanks Bub and others who responded. I'm gonna start gathering up what I need to do this project. I'm sure my neighbor (a fantastic shadetree mechanic) has a turnbuckle or something I can use to get the tension up where it needs to be. When you're not super handy yourself, It's good to have a handy neighbor!

Mike

[Malcolm Hoar]

I seem to recall seeing turnbuckles in stock at my local Borg. Also the wire rope, pulleys and more. Take a look -- you may get some other ideas browsing that aisle.

[dpb]

If using turnbuckles be sure they're forged loops, not those that are simply turned ends that can unroll...

[Mike]

When I was a kid, we used a rope from the treehouse to the pool fence when the parents weren't home, and an old pair of bicycle handlebars turned upside down to slide with. I'm amazed all of us survived, but it sure was fun.

[evodawg]

Yeah me to, specially because the government wasn't meddling in our business forcing us to wear helmets while climbing trees, riding bikes, skating, skate boarding, and riding horses. Geeeez, here its against the law to have a tree house!!! Were producing a bunch of fairies thanks to our government.

[Caesar Romano]

On Tue, 12 May 2009 14:29:47 -0700, evodawg wrote Re Re: Anyone ever build a zip line for your kids?:

Which is one of the reasons that the Muslims are kicking our ass.

[The Daring Dufas]

It's amazing how many of us who were born in the middle of the last century have survived into adulthood, except me, I've never grown up. *snicker*

TDD

[jeff_wisnia]

This one's a lot cheaper:

We've used one of these for about ten years in one of our our sensory integrative therapy rooms. We only have about a 15 foot run there located over gym pads on the floor. It's held up fine all that time.

Jeff

[aemeijers]

Be cautious using any rigging from the Borg for anything that could get somebody killed if it snaps or shatters. Their stuff is not man-rated. If the rig you use has a single fitting holding the rider's weight, best to buy those parts at a sporting goods or safety equipment store. (no idea if lineman equipment is better or more expensive than mountain climber stuff.)

-- aem sends...

[evodawg]

I was a lineman and I wouldn't trust anything anyone has suggested here. I would only support this line with the proper strand tension hardware and equipment. Turn buckles and snap rings just don't cut it. Specially crap made in China!

[gfretwell]

Since these people are just hanging from a handle they could easily let go of, I think you should plan on what happens if they fall. This is far from "OSHA Harness" safe. If I make one it will be over water deep enough to dive in