So I want to build a zip line between our two trees (about 40ft apart, good height differential). I've got the cable and the pulley system but I'm totally winging the engineering part. Has anyone successfully done this without having their kid careen into a fence? What weight limits are we actually talking about? My boys are 10 and 12. This feels ambitious but also amazing if I can pull it off.
Built one of these years ago and the problem I didn't anticipate was that my kids were way more scared than I thought they'd be. Looked fun but the actual execution was less thrilling for them. Curious if yours will be braver.
The engineering part you're winging is actually the important part lol. Cable friction, anchor points, the brake mechanism—that's not where you cut corners. Have you looked at any existing designs or just going from gut?
40ft zip line with kids sounds fun until someone's terrified halfway across. What's your safety setup? Like how are you planning to slow them down at the landing end?
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Get someone who actually knows rigging to check your setup before anyone tries it. I'm not trying to be a downer but this is the one project where winging it is actually a bad idea. Cable can handle it but the anchors matter.