How to Install The Swurfer Swing Between 2 Trees
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Last summer I posted a video ( • Installing a 40 foot h... ) showing a new method for attaching the Swurfer swing between 2 sturdy tree trunks. My Swurfer installation videos have been viewed over 10,000 times and I’ve installed inter-tree swurfers all across the state of North Carolina and as far away as Honduras in Central America! I’ve made some small changes to the installation process that are shown in this video. Hopefully this video will help my arborist colleagues who want to offer Swurfer swing installations for their clients.
Do you have a specific "how to do this" for people hiring their own tree cabling companies? Like "cable type/make/diameter" and "cable tension" and other specifications ?
Between your video and materials list, we completed our installation Thursday! Two poplar trees 28 feet apart, cable 25 feet high. However, we have a neighbor who loaned us a mobile lift, so no climbing needed.
Excellent! I'm so glad you have a new Swurfer to enjoy!
Anybody’s looking for some fun in their backyard in between cookouts and throwing the frisbee this is by far one of the best ways to entertain family and friends God bless my brother
Thanks for showing what hardware is needed & how to check feasibility. The spacing and size of my trees looks borderline going on your recommendations, but I'll know for sure when I measure. I'll also pay someone skilled to do the work having seen what's involved, rather than DIY and die.
Patrick,
Great video and instructions!
We successfully installed a Swurfer between two ponderosa pines, however, I believe I pushed the limits and there is way to much sag / stretching. The trees are about 42’ apart at the base, but by the time you get 35’ up, which is where the suspension cable is, the trees are about 46’ apart. The average sag is a little over 4’ when an adult gets on the swing.
The one thing we did not expect is the trees also bend a little with the stress of the swinging. So between the combination of the trees bending and the cable sag it takes some of the energy out of swing momentum and makes it a little more of a work to get going. Plus, an adult will pull the Swurfer to just inches above the ground.
It is still fun, but I’m not totally satisfied just yet and will try to fix this at a later date. Do you have any recommendations to add some strength to the system or should we start over with some closer trees?
John,
Black Forrest, Colorado
Hi John. Thanks for posting with your experience. I'm not familiar with Ponderosa pines, but I have installed many Swurfers between loblolly pines that we have in the East. The span is not as much a concern as the rigidity of the trees (or lack thereof). What is the circumference of the two Ponderosa pines at the chest height?
I find that I have to get the cable as tight as physically possible with the Maasdam rope puller. Do you think you can tension the cable a little more to minimize the sag or are the trees bending? Even when the cable is sufficiently tight I sometimes have to put the swurfer swing at 4 feet above the ground level so that when 180-200 pound person gets on it it is still 1 foot from the ground.
I wonder if in ponderosa pines it will end up being important to not install the cable above 30 feet??
Patrick, The trees are about 54" at chest level. I'm going to try to get the cable a little tighter. I did buy the Massdam rope puller, but the installer couldn't use it, because it didn't come with the cable and hook. He ended up going to harbor freight and got a regular come-a-long. I have a feeling that the ponderosa trees might have a little too much flex to go more than 35 feet up. I'll update my post after I try to tighten it.
Please let us know how it goes!
@Patrick rope runner or zigzag/wrench - if you could only have one, which would you choose. Thanks!
If I could only have 1 I would choose the ZZ/RW combo for two main reasons.
1. I love the built in swivel on the ZZ
2. The ZZ grabs reliably on any/all of my ropes. I've climbed on the ZZ with 10-13mm ropes and it never creeps. The RR is tuned to one of my 11mm ropes, but if I use it on my other 11mm rope it creeps. It's maddening!
The things I like about the RR are that you can bomb out of a tree faster since your hand is away from the metal and won't get as hot as when puling down on the links of the ZZ. Also the RR parts are replaceable when they wear. Still, those favorable RR points don't turn the tide for me.
And of course its annoying that the ZZ is not midline attachable, but that is easy to work around.
Patrick Brandt I really appreciate your feedback!! I love your content! Thanks friend.
Hi Patrick! I used to practice windsurfing. I miss it very much. Now, I want one this in our back yard! Would you come to Columbus, Ohio to install, or do you have anyone to refer to? Thank you very much for the video. I love it!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!! Awesome stuff!
Where can we find someone you can do this in our backyard?
You can search for certified arborists in your area at www.treesaregood.org. You'll probably have to make a few calls, but hopefully some persistence will pay off and you'll find someone with some tree swing know-how in your area.
Swurfer just introduced a suspension system that is basically a slackline. Other than the weight limit of 220 pounds and the aesthetics, is there any reason not to use their slackline as compared to the steel cable? Their solution certainly makes for an easier installation.
Also, is there an established way to pull a tall swing such as this up and out of the way of the yard when not in use? I assume some kind of pulley system attached to one of the trees?
swurfer.com/collections/all-swurfer/products/new-swurfer-skyline-swing-suspension-system
I’m sure they have a lot of very intelligent people creating this kit, but I wouldn’t do it. It seems like a bad design to me… or at least one that I wouldn’t want to plan on leaving up.
It’s one thing to trust a rope or strap with the weight of a person… but there’s a ton of vector force that plays in to a highline type setup. 12 times a persons weight is being transferred to the strap (so about 600% of your weight to each tree)
I’d guess that strap is rated for a lot less weight than the 5/16 cable. It’s also a lot more vulnerable to UV light, weather, and squirrel damage. I’d only buy their kit if I planned removing the system regularly.
i.pinimg.com/originals/58/64/f7/5864f72274c9c46480601f0cb9862df2.jpg
could you come install one for us in Loganville GA?
Does this installation technique injure the trees at all? Is there a chance I'd kill me try attempting this?
Where did you pickup the aluminum rod and about how much is the wire tensioned?
You can buy those aluminum rods at Home Depot or Lowes.
Have you seen how the chain on cable wears after long term use yet? I'm trying to decide on which method to use for a two tree swing. This or your Y method with a central rigging ring. What do you recommend these days?
Could you recommend a swurfer installer here in Atlanta GA?
Hi Cathy, I'm making a trip to Atlanta in September 2018 to install tree swings there. I've had so many great folks from Atlanta contact me and I hated to keep saying no to them. Let me know if you're interested.
Hi, Do you know anybody in the albany NY area that does this?
I don't. I'm sorry. Try calling your local tree care companies and ask for someone who does tree cabling. They will most likely have the gear and expertise to do this.
oh ok thanks!
@@nataliyakolodiychik7018 were you able to find someone to do your install? I'm in Saratoga and looking for someone to do ours. Thanks!
Hi Nataliya, it maybe too late, but I am an arborist local to the Albany NY area, and have installed several swings and swurfers in the traditional manner, and have found myself here because we will be doing one with Patrick's method soon. we are at www.jackmagai.com. Be in touch if you are still interested!
It seems dangerous. I used similar method for another type of swing: attached the wire to the chain, but as it contacts the same point of the wire, it will break sooner or later. I used 8mm wire, but it still broke after 2 years (it was used only one weekend in a month).
Since then I have a safe solution.
The kind of cable you use is critical. This is 5/16" diameter 7 strand Extra High Strength galvanized cable.