How To Set Up An In Ground Trampoline

Ever since I was a child I've loved inground trampolines. We had them at my grandparent's business firm and at their cabin. They were so piece of cake to run on and off of, take turns on, and were super convenient for us equally kids.

When I was a teenager, we had an above-ground trampoline at our business firm. I was in charge of mowing our home lawn for years. It was tedious and annoying having to recruit one or two family members to help me move the trampoline halfway through my lawn mow then I could mow under it.

My brother had an in a higher place ground trampoline with a net. His kids sometimes play with information technology. Then he had it installed inground and now the kids never stop playing with it. They don't need help getting on or off, and at that place are fewer injuries and less fighting.

For these reasons, I decided we would have our trampoline installed inground.

I got two quotes for it and was shocked when it came to $1,500.00 for one and $two,000.00 for the other. Because nosotros were already paying for new sod we didn't take enough saved to likewise pay an boosted 2k for an inground trampoline install.

I did some Google searching and came across this great tutorial on AllThingsThrifty-awesome site by the mode- and followed it (for the most role). Nosotros had to utilise some different materials and fabricated a error along the fashion—our fault. I'll tell yous the mistake we made and how nosotros concluded up fixing it in the steps below.

It toll us about $375 to install our in-ground trampoline. So by doing it ourselves, we saved $i,125!

Plus, I got a great deal on the trampoline itself. I saved $117.00 (got it for $150.00) at Walmart the 24-hour interval later on Thanksgiving!

It is the BouncePro xiv′ trampoline. Information technology has almost 500 reviews which I read very carefully and almost 5 stars. Information technology is really a quality trampoline for a very reasonable price—fifty-fifty at its retail toll. You tin can discover it at Walmart here, or Amazon here.

The supplies nosotros used are listed beneath.

IMPORTANT- Earlier starting a digging project you'll want to call your city service 'telephone call earlier yous dig' (ordinarily it is costless in most cities). Google yours. They usually require 48 hours discover and will mark major things that you don't desire to hit and break while digging. Most backyards do not contain major pipes like h2o, sewer, etc. just to be sure just call them, it volition bring yous peace of listen and prevent a potential effect.

Here'south how we installed our inground trampoline.

Instructions

First, nosotros rented a little excavator from HomeDepot. We rented the largest one they had but it was still pretty small… which worked dandy considering nosotros didn't take to take downward our fence to get it into the backyard. My brother-in-law who is a heavy equipment commuter said he'd dig the pigsty for us. It was so funny seeing him on this tiny motorcar. Since he is used to much larger machines he said he felt similar he was excavation out a teaspoon of clay at a time. Nosotros had a skilful laugh nigh that.

Before he began nosotros laid the trampoline down where we wanted it and spray painted on the footing around information technology; so he worked his magic. In about three-iii.five hours nosotros had a perfectly sized hole. If you lot don't have a gate to worry about, I'd recommend renting from another heavy equipment rental place then you can get a bigger machine and the digging goes faster.

While he was digging the hole we set the entire trampoline up. Nosotros made sure to put the trampoline mat and springs on it (so that it would brand information technology sturdy and the correct shape).

Later on the excavation, my son had a super fun time sliding down the sand mound.

Completed hole. It is deeper than information technology looks. My son is over 3′ tall. For those worried about drainage. We have sandy soil and the water drains very well. It has rained 45 times in the last threescore days and we have not had any water pool. IF yous have clay or other tough soil I have read to dig a bit deeper and fill in a few inches deep with gravel and rocks for drainage. But if you have normal or sandy soil it will drain only fine without.

So, we cut pressure level treated 2×4's to size (two for each section) This is a xiv′ tramp with twelve sections and then we had to accept 24 cuts of wood.

And so nosotros predrilled the forest so that drilling into the legs of the trampoline would get more than quickly. Pre-drilling saved fourth dimension, but drilling at an angle was tricky. Be sure to do this part carefully so you don't waste material the semi-expensive forest.

As nosotros went forth drilling holes into the trampoline nosotros put the bolts, washers, and nuts on. We knew that jumping on a tramp is likely to rattle the frame and then nosotros got self-locking nuts and washers. We installed the bolts in the following formula:

Commodities-washer-woods-trampoline leg-washer-nut

Then nosotros measured and cut the sheet metal appropriately. We screwed the metal onto the woods. The mistake we made was not post-obit the advice from the allthingsthrifty tutorial to fold the metal over… Later the tramp was installed, we institute out why the metallic should exist folded over… the sheet metal could cut someone's human foot if they hit it just right.

So nosotros took off the trampoline mat off so that we could hands lift and place the tramp in the ground.

Nosotros did shovel/trench out the clay a little deeper for the legs and bricks.

We used bricks, dirt, a long 1×ii and a level to get it just correct.

Once it was right nosotros filled the dirt upwards to the sides of the outside walls and installed the trampoline mat. I had my landscapers who were installing the sod motility the sprinklers so that they wouldn't spray the tramp and waste product h2o.

Then the sod was installed. You can do this even if you have existing sod. My brother did it and it worked out great.

Like the tutorial we used, we installed the tramp so that in that location was a bit of a gap between the frame and the grass (about 2 inches). In the first few days, we had several birds get trapped nether it. We had to undo the springs, crawl under, catch them and let them loose!

After that happening twice nosotros got pool noodles and stuck them under each side. This prevents the birds and other animals getting in, my kids and their friends from putting stuff down into the pigsty, and prevents anyone from stepping on the canvas metal that sticks up a tad. With just a few bucks spent on puddle noodles, both issues have been solved.

A Saturday projection, a few trips to HomeDepot, and my brother-in-police force's earthworks skills saved u.s.a. $1,125!

My son LOVES the trampoline. He runs on and off it without any problem. I don't have to worry most him falling off. Information technology entertains him for hours. I don't have to aid him or his friends who come to play on and off it either. I too don't have to movement the tramp when we mow. It has been a huge blessing and so much fun!

Nosotros have trampoline sword fights with these astonishing and durable—yet cheap foam swords pretty much every day the weather is good. I actually love to leap on it too. I am still a kid at center I estimate.

Supplies:

Twelve 2X4X8 of pressure treated wood– in gild to summate this we measured the distance between the two legs on each section which was simply over 3.5′ for one edge and almost four′ for every other edge. We wanted 2 pieces of forest on each section so we went with an eight′ long 2×4. In that location were 12 sections on our tramp so nosotros bought 12 of them.
Six 24″x8′ Roof panel galvanized metal sheeting- We cut these down to the correct length (getting 2 walls for each piece).
Covering screws (to screw the metallic onto the woods). 8-12 per section.
Bricks or cinder blocks (a few for each leg/section). We used bricks.
Bolts (iv for each section) We used bolts that were 5″ long with well-nigh i.5 of thread (and then the bolt could get through the two×4 and trampoline leg)
Cocky-Locking Nuts- so they don't come loose with the jumping on the tramp (1 for each bolt)
Cocky-Locking Washers– and then they don't jerk loose (2 for each commodities)
Optional- pool noodles (see to a higher place for the reason why)