Small pedestrian suspension bridge plans

YotaOnRocks

YotaOnRocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Location
Madison
Wanting to build a small suspension bridge over a creek at the house. It will need to be about 100' long and safe for my wife and kids and I to use. Would like something like in the picture below. Who would I contact to get a set of plans for something like this?
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I think a safe 100ft long bridge is gonna be a lot more than you want to spend, but I dont know your budget. Seems like it would be a $10-20k project if done right. Maybe a lot more depending on how much you do yourself and what materials you use.
 
Well I wasn't looking to spend anywhere near that. Is the length whats driving the cost so high. I could put it lower and shorten it to 40' if it makes it affordable. Have no idea what size cables or anchor points would be required so I just assumed it would be affordable
 
I've done a few of these, and tree house supplies has all you need or can afford to buy. The kids current tree house has a 50' suspension bridge. I used an old winch cable for the "structure" made a loop around the trunk so I had two cables then ran a pair of 2x4's down each side of both cables. Then planked accross the 2x4's. My son salvage all the wood out of the sound, I had the winch cable already, and had 300' of 3/4" anchor line I used for "railing". So I had about $20 worth of deck screws in the entire project.
 
Clubbs said:
I've done a few of these, and tree house supplies has all you need or can afford to buy. The kids current tree house has a 50' suspension bridge. I used an old winch cable for the "structure" made a loop around the trunk so I had two cables then ran a pair of 2x4's down each side of both cables. Then planked accross the 2x4's. My son salvage all the wood out of the sound, I had the winch cable already, and had 300' of 3/4" anchor line I used for "railing". So I had about $20 worth of deck screws in the entire project.
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Pretty sure we're gonna need a picture of this bridge. I feel sorry for my kids, I suck :lol:
 
My 13 year old and I built this last year. Only pics I have are during construction. We had a rule that everything had to be built from scrap and no tape measures. Ran out of scrap for siding so we bought fence boards for the siding and the roof metal. I ended up with a few new boards for some added structure ,but everything else was wood he scavenged from the sound and river around the house and general stuff we had laying around. Definitely has the huck finn look to it...
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Clubbs said:
So I had about $20 worth of deck screws in the entire project.
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You're also an engineer, somewhat of a pack rat, and a bittt of a cheap ass :D It definitely helps! Btw, I was out in Blounts Creek today at my buddy Eric's house. Same one that bought the 360 from you a while back. I'll have to gice you a holler and come check out the new digs! He's out on Flat Swamp Road. Can't be too awfully far from you. He's also got 40 acres if you ever need a spot to try out your rig before an actual wheeling trip!
 
YotaOnRocks said:
Well I wasn't looking to spend anywhere near that. Is the length whats driving the cost so high. I could put it lower and shorten it to 40' if it makes it affordable. Have no idea what size cables or anchor points would be required so I just assumed it would be affordable
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I'm just spitballing numbers on the internet so don't let it hold you back. But yes, the length is what will make it expensive. Higher loads, bigger cables, plus more weight as a result which also increases the load. You need a good enough foundation on both ends to handle the forces. Sizeable trees in the right places will save you a lot of money. And the more sag it has, the lower the tensile forces will be. If it has to be high and tight, it will be like a guitar string.
 
Have you thought about a zipline instead of a bridge? Might be cheaper & definitely more fun, but probably a bit more dangerous...
 
Lurch830 said:
Have you thought about a zipline instead of a bridge? Might be cheaper & definitely more fun, but probably a bit more dangerous...
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The creek I want to build it over is about 12' wide with a solid rock bottom and tons of small waterfalls, the bridges main purpose is to easily cross to the other side of the ravine but it will offer a beautiful view from the bridge of the creek so I'd rather not go flying past it.
 
Sounds like an awesome idea. If you want it to be made by professionals and 100% safe, i would definitely try find one of those companies that makes treehouses or kids playgrounds. They should have the knowledge and resources to price it up and build it for you on site.
 
YotaOnRocks said:
The creek I want to build it over is about 12' wide with a solid rock bottom and tons of small waterfalls, the bridges main purpose is to easily cross to the other side of the ravine but it will offer a beautiful view from the bridge of the creek so I'd rather not go flying past it.
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could build a cable car like the Rayney's did at their new place.
 
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