blue water barrel shower.. need tower ideas

[Traci Ann]

I have a blue water barrel all set up to supply shower water. I now need a tower that will support the weight of a full barrel. I can build it but need you alls help with design. Please make it simple, but sturdy...with 5 boys I am almost sure it will be scaled at some point.

Thanks for all and any help...

[jenofthewoods]

im thinking maybe some stacked pallets for a cheap secure "tower"

[iwannabeafarmer]

When i was in scouts we made 4 - 30' tripods together to make a square tower (40+ 11 - 17 year olds climbed all over it for a month straight). to build lay 3 equal length poles on the ground side by side (if you want the square make one of each 3 about a foot longer and you need 12 poles). tie a clove hitch around one to anchor the lash then over under each pole at least 6 times then wrap around the rope in between each pole to tighten the lash then anchor the end with another clove hitch or 2. now pick the left pole up and pull over the center and left pole then pick up the right pole and pull over the center. then lift up (you might want to attach a pulley and rope to the center pole above the lash before lifting)anchoring the center pole where it is and pulling on left and right until it stands on its own. on each pole pound at least 2 tbars or pieces of rebar about 4-6 inches out and wrap rope around the base to help anchor it in place. for added stability you can lash other tripods to it (when you stand up the others you want to form a basic square with the center poles at the corners and the left-right bars cross for the lash) or the easier way lash horizontal poles about half way up crossing center bar and left bar, left bar and right bar, and right bar and center bar. then you can pull and lower the barrel with the pulley(we never used our tower for this purpose but it should work test it when no one is under it and let the barrel hand for a while before use and don't leave the barrel up cause wind will push it around and a good hit on any of the 3 poles could destabilize the whole rig

this might need tightening periodically but it is fun to climb and they are very sturdy. you can use any rope or any poles (stripped cedar trunks and hemp rope are the best cedar is tall and straight and synthetic ropes and some cotton ropes slip easier than hemp and will need tightening more often)

sorry it ended up being such a long post