Just installed backyard zipline...

[Scooter]

I have three boys, probably too young for a zipline, but I couldn't resist. I have a big, sloped backyard so I installed a zipline for them with some Christmas money they got from grandparents.

I have a 125' span with about an 8-foot drop. I bought 1/4" galvanized cable. I bought a 250' reel on-line for .$24/foot (local hardware stores sell the same thing for $.60/foot).

I found a mountaineering-quality trolley:

This trolley lets you use a carabiner to attach it to the cable which will stay attached even if the trolley has catastrophic failure. Costs around $70.

I also found a large turnbuckle rated for several thousand pounds. The turnbuckle is crucial for tightening. A cable puller can only get it so tight.

This website sells many of these parts, including the seat and handle. I bought the chain, thimbles and cable clamps at Lowe's.

As you can see from the videos, the problem, despite adjusting height of each end, is speed. I threaded three old scooter tires at the end of the line, but the impact is still too sudden. The solution I'm going to use is bolting two eyebolts to the last tire and attaching a heavy duty bungy cord to each eyebolt and tying the other end to two swing-set anchors. Then when the rider almost reaches the end, they hit the tires and the bungees stop them slowly.

Here are videos of my three kids on their first rides:

Boy #1

Boy #2

Boy #3

Total cost came to about $300.00 and one afternoon for installation.

 

[NCbevo]

You are an awesome Dad. Just don't forget to catch the kids at the end.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Kickass. I wanted one of those so badly as a kid.

Definitely padlock the trolley when you're not around.

 

[rage-a-holic]

 

[DCA_HORN]

I agree, you are an awesome Dad. Any pics?

 

[PacSER]

Hint: Putting videos on the web means you are no longer a protected witness.

Well done. Have you tested the weight capacity? I'm going to want a ride..

 

[007 373 5963]

you kick ******* *** as a dad

 

[Luke Duke]

My friend's kid just broke his arm/wrist in 3 places from a zip line. Next Christmas you should get them a Johnny Switchblade action figure.

 

[CBDTexas]

Makes a neat sound, and it gets pretty loud.

 

[madscientist]

i guess the store was sold out of bag-o-glass? pretty kickass though.

 

[TheFied]

I call next.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

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[next2naus]

nice hammock

 

[LAktownhorn]

wow! that is awesome. i guess keep it locked up and don't let them play on it unless you're around? i can only imagine how bad i'd F myself up if i were a kid and left alone to play on that!

 

[bluto]

would there be some way to wrap some type of teflon tape (no clue) around the end of the line there to fatten it up and slow it down some?

 

[Lonestarman]

Well done, pop. I had one of those when I was a kid. Not when I was that little though.

 

[KazooMan]

Now you need to design a water brake for the summer, just like the log rides use at amusement parks - I can see your kids hitting the water and laughing their heads off!

Great job on the design. I build one years ago for my kids, coming off of the backyard fort I built them - it was the only exit they wanted to use. They even tied a string to the trolley, so that they could pull it back to the fort after someone used it.

Just a word of caution - before you let the neighborhood kids try it, you might want to investigate what your homeowner's liability insurance looks like!

 

[PhatAtUT]

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[Macanudo]

Very cool.

 

[AustinTejasFan]

"you might want to investigate what your homeowner's liability insurance looks like!"

Investigate, but don't let the insurance company find out you have it. They won't like it, but unless their underwriting guidelines specifically say no zip lines, there's probably little they can do about it. If they try to make you get rid of it, PM me.

 

[LongIslandIceSIP]

another vote for cool dad!

 

[Perham1]

I have a feeling that this will end badly.

Probably a neighbor kid being involved. Medical bills, lawsuits, bitter acrimony, divorce, nuclear holocaust, the Rapture. That sort of thing.

 

[Perham1]

Oh, if the above scenario becomes a movie, my vote goes to Bruce Willis to get the starring role.

 

[accuratehorn]

I would make them slack off the zipline during lawn darts games.

 

[Macanudo]

But they could still use it while they hold sparklers and Roman candles, right?

 

[CleverNickname]

How much vertical drop do you need over distance? It seems pretty cheap. I might make a fun/long zip line out at the ranch.

 

[Scooter]

I have a 125' span with a drop of about 8-10' feet. It's too fast for kids. I should have the "arresting line" (brake) installed by this weekend.

 

[Longhorn_Fan68]

Haha, "I'm ok!"

You should totally build a leaf pile or something awesome at the they can just fall off into.

Pretty cool, man. Props to you for letting your kids have fun and not bubble-wrap them their whole lives so they won't get hurt.

 

[midtown]

And here I thought I was a good dad after buying my 19 mth old a new hot wheels from the auto part store.

Btw I have the perfect backyard for that. Can't wait til my son is old enough.