How to hang a swing rope

Randy Dandy · #1 08/20/08, 05:28 PM

I hope this fall / winter to rent a four wheeled cherry picker<name? to safely elevate me so I can cut back some trees branches and while I have this machine I wish to hang a rope from an oak tree branch for swinging out over the swimming hole and "kerplopping" in the water. This oak tree branch is about 6 to 7 inches in diameter. The spot on this branch where the rope will be anchored will be about 1-1/2 to 2 foot out from the base of the main tree. The branch itself is about 40 feet up from the ground.
My question is how should I attach the rope ? I was concerned that if I just loop the rope around loosely and attach it to itself then someone could shake it from its anchored position. I also was thinking that the rope being too tight might kill the branch prematurely. Also with the rope loose I was thinking it might slip (slightly?) from swinging back and fourth thus cut into the top side of the branch. Should I use a swivel of some kind ?...
C'mon there has to be a "swimming hole swing rope engineer" out there.
Truth is I just want the rope to be safe for the next several years.

vicker · #2 08/20/08, 06:29 PM

Ok, this may stir some controversy lol. From my experience, it is best to tie-in with a slip knot so it stays tight against the branch. This is the traditional way of tieing a "Tarzan" rope. If it does not stay tight, the act of swinging on it will wear down the rope as is rubs agains the branch. Eventually someone will have a very bad swing experience. I made my kids a swing by hanging two ropes 30 foot up on a pine branch 20 some years ago. It is still there and I can still swing on it. (A magnificent swing, kinda like flying

It sounds like you have a winner of a tree/water combination

Let me know when its ready, as I would love to give'er a go. When I was a kid, we had one thirty or fourty feet up on a tree that was on a 35 foot bluff.....Weeeeeeeeeeee

Old Vet · #3 08/20/08, 08:08 PM

Why rent a cherry picker? The best way is to toss a rope over the limb then tie it into a slip not then pull it tight. If you don't have enough rope just tie a piece of twine to the rope and tie the knot a little loose and then pull it tight against the limb. just be sure that you leave enough rope on the outside of the tie so that it can't pull through.

DQ · #4 08/20/08, 08:17 PM

eventually if you just tie or use a slip knot the rope will break after it rots and wears and it likely will break when you are at the peak of your swing as I have found out a few times

you could use a synthetic rope to alleviate this problem but they are almost impossible to get a good grip on and will burn your hands really bad. if you really want to do it right you can greatly extend the rope life and save your tree by using a wide nylon strap with two heavy duty D rings on the ends used as a slip knot around your branch and then tie your rope to the hanging D ring. I am a huge fan of rope swings.

tamsam · #5 08/20/08, 08:28 PM

Have you ever used a 4 wheel lift? They work great on perfectly level ground. At 40 feet up they can get top heavy really quick if not level. Please be very careful as I don't think they are recomended for outdoor use. good luck trimmig and getting the swing up. Sam

EDDIE BUCK · #6 08/20/08, 09:50 PM

I made one a few years ago and I was wondering what I could do about the rope cutting the limb or wearing into or the limb growing around the rope. Heres what I did, I took a piece of heavy chain (logging chain) and cut it 12 inches longer than the limbs circumference. Then placed it over the limb with equal lengths on each side of limb and screw in a lag bolt on top of limb going through a link and leave about 6 inches of bolt above chain.The limb will not grow over chain till it out grows the slack. The bolt keeps chain from moving on limb and gives many, many years before the limb grows over the bolt. Next run heavy nylon rope through each end of chain, loop then tie knot and pull tight. Fixed this way the rope will have no wear, only the chain wears.No one me or you either one, know anybody young enough to live long enough to see that chain wear into. You can do the rest. If the tree don't die or get struck by lightning the swing will be in working order till the Lord comes back. After that it ain't guna matter no how. LOL ,Now Enjoy, Kinda makes me wish, I was still that boy that I used to be. Forget the kinda, IT DOES Eddie

Randy Dandy · #7 08/21/08, 06:46 AM

Thanks for all the really great and helpful ideas. I will be careful with the 4 wheel lift. I have to rent one anyway to cut some trees back and its very hard level ground in that area. The different area where the rope will be hung is not quite as level so thanks for the warning...I will use a safety rope or something. I like all the suggestions and they should all work just fine but I think I like EDDIE BUCK's idea the best and I also believe I can implement his idea fairly easy. Thanks again for the help. I hope to be posting pictures of the results as soon as possible.

Beeman · #8 08/21/08, 08:01 AM

Instead of a 4 wheel lift I rented a 21yo guy that knows how to climb and cut. Better for both of us as he needed money and I needed to stay on the ground.

EDDIE BUCK · #9 08/21/08, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

Instead of a 4 wheel lift I rented a 21yo guy that knows how to climb and cut. Better for both of us as he needed money and I needed to stay on the ground.

Beeman,I agree,but you know,them young tree climbers are getting scarcer an scarcer. recond these computers are taking up too much time for our young folks to learn tree climbing. Im with you,my feet stays on the ground lol. Eddie