So great! I found this search for bucket zip lines after realizing a zip line was the best way to haul brush up from the slope below my house. Great inspiration here - I’m going to try to go the opposite way with the load though!
Thanks. Happy to help :) You will have to inject energy to raise your load but here is a thought: a counterweight that drops as your load rises and ultimately auto-dumps. If the counterweight is always less than the load you can pull it down using a tether attached to it, without much effort: that way your trolley won't accelerate out of control. Return#1: The counterweight can be hauled back up with a rope and pulley, where a hook on the end of the rope can anchor to something while you reload. Return#2: At the top, a helper fills the bucket with water until it happily sails back down to you. (never stand under the counterweight!!)
Thanks for the "cool" :) I've zipped 3 truckloads so far, and maybe I'm done. I do briefly show the counterweight gear reducer. The idea is the main thing. What you might build depends on what you have handy but here are some thoughts. 1. I've reduced the reduction to 7X because available height allows that. The lighter the counterweight the better...lighter counterweight is easier on the counterweight cable and the system is more responsive overall and easier to tune so the bucket stops right where I am. 2. If you have grid power then electric motor rewind is a lazy option. The weight of gantry and empty bucket might be 20lb at most. 3. One pair of bicycle brake pads has zipped 3 truckloads yet shows minimal wear. Makes sense I guess...an adult cyclist is heavier than a bucket 'o rocks.
There would have been the problem you imagine, if the rope attachment were centered on the trolley directly above the zip line travel path. This would be the ideal location to align the pull force with the path of the trolley. Instead I attach on the left side of the trolley, while the intermediate zip line supports spaced down the bluff come down on the right and then under and up to support the cable. I don't show those supports but they are what you would see on a ski lift. I made those cable supports from old chainsaw bars and scrap metal . (left & right viewpoint: standing at the top of the bluff watch the trolley down below) Where I attach the pull rope is good enough that the trolley does not twist off, and thus the rope comes close to touching the zip line, but is always on the left side of it. The bucket is below the attach point so it never interferes.
I have quite a deep slope and want to use a zip line but for myself so I can enjoy zipping up and down without having to walk up. Would that be possible with your system?
It would work in principle but would have to be over built since you are trusting your life to it. You would want to add a safety brake in case the counterweight system failed, and you would want to add a safety hook in case your gondola gantry jumped off. The cable tension due to your body weight and that of your carrier would be massive, even though it reduces as your hill angle increases. Cable tension means a major anchor requirement. Easy to calculate. When you get to the bottom you would need to hitch your gondola so it does not fire back up and smash your counterweight system. You may be mindful of that and never have a problem, but it is not “idiot proof” for others. An alternate approach is some tracks and a 12V winch. While you are scheming you could always lay down a rope with knots and keep a pair of mechanics gloves handy: you still need leg power but it makes any slope easier:)
...Or a trailer pulled by snowmobile or barge pulled by boat, but the nearest public access officially forbids motorized vehicles and nobody local trusts the ice over the shallows down there (except one unfortunate who was found in the spring). Timer & motion all come back around to this direct route being fastest, as well as not bothering anyone. Rock to wheelbarrow, rock to zip, zip-pile to destination: same rock touched 3 times. I've ordered 3 more truck loads. Wish I had more time - you can never have enough:)
So great! I found this search for bucket zip lines after realizing a zip line was the best way to haul brush up from the slope below my house. Great inspiration here - I’m going to try to go the opposite way with the load though!
Thanks. Happy to help :)
You will have to inject energy to raise your load but here is a thought: a counterweight that drops as your load rises and ultimately auto-dumps. If the counterweight is always less than the load you can pull it down using a tether attached to it, without much effort: that way your trolley won't accelerate out of control.
Return#1: The counterweight can be hauled back up with a rope and pulley, where a hook on the end of the rope can anchor to something while you reload.
Return#2: At the top, a helper fills the bucket with water until it happily sails back down to you.
(never stand under the counterweight!!)
This is genius man, thank you for posting this
That is exactly what I need to pull my kayaks up and down to the river.
This is great! i have to haul about 6 pick up truck loads of dirt. A system like this would help greatly
I would love a follow up video of the counterweight mechanism. Very cool
Thanks for the "cool" :)
I've zipped 3 truckloads so far, and maybe I'm done.
I do briefly show the counterweight gear reducer. The idea is the main thing. What you might build depends on what you have handy but here are some thoughts.
1. I've reduced the reduction to 7X because available height allows that. The lighter the counterweight the better...lighter counterweight is easier on the counterweight cable and the system is more responsive overall and easier to tune so the bucket stops right where I am.
2. If you have grid power then electric motor rewind is a lazy option. The weight of gantry and empty bucket might be 20lb at most.
3. One pair of bicycle brake pads has zipped 3 truckloads yet shows minimal wear. Makes sense I guess...an adult cyclist is heavier than a bucket 'o rocks.
Very good idea.awesome way to move material by oneself.thanks for sharing 🤘
Super! How did you make the return system? I need one of these for gold mining
BRILLIANT!!! I am dazzled!
0:32 how did you use that yellow rope to hoist the main zipline up? I can’t figure out how without it catching on the bucket and trolley.
There would have been the problem you imagine, if the rope attachment were centered on the trolley directly above the zip line travel path. This would be the ideal location to align the pull force with the path of the trolley.
Instead I attach on the left side of the trolley, while the intermediate zip line supports spaced down the bluff come down on the right and then under and up to support the cable. I don't show those supports but they are what you would see on a ski lift. I made those cable supports from old chainsaw bars and scrap metal . (left & right viewpoint: standing at the top of the bluff watch the trolley down below)
Where I attach the pull rope is good enough that the trolley does not twist off, and thus the rope comes close to touching the zip line, but is always on the left side of it. The bucket is below the attach point so it never interferes.
I have quite a deep slope and want to use a zip line but for myself so I can enjoy zipping up and down without having to walk up. Would that be possible with your system?
It would work in principle but would have to be over built since you are trusting your life to it. You would want to add a safety brake in case the counterweight system failed, and you would want to add a safety hook in case your gondola gantry jumped off.
The cable tension due to your body weight and that of your carrier would be massive, even though it reduces as your hill angle increases. Cable tension means a major anchor requirement. Easy to calculate.
When you get to the bottom you would need to hitch your gondola so it does not fire back up and smash your counterweight system. You may be mindful of that and never have a problem, but it is not “idiot proof” for others.
An alternate approach is some tracks and a 12V winch. While you are scheming you could always lay down a rope with knots and keep a pair of mechanics gloves handy: you still need leg power but it makes any slope easier:)
This guy had a lot of time.
I would have used an4 wheeler and a trailer or a mule.
...Or a trailer pulled by snowmobile or barge pulled by boat, but the nearest public access officially forbids motorized vehicles and nobody local trusts the ice over the shallows down there (except one unfortunate who was found in the spring). Timer & motion all come back around to this direct route being fastest, as well as not bothering anyone. Rock to wheelbarrow, rock to zip, zip-pile to destination: same rock touched 3 times. I've ordered 3 more truck loads. Wish I had more time - you can never have enough:)