have you ever sunk a trampoline?

[Lucy the Valiant]

Did you line the walls of the hole first? I don't want them to cave in, but - if that's not a huge possibility, I'd rather save the expense of lining a monster hole.

 

http://littlegreenfingers.typepad.com/little_green_fingers/2009/02/how-to-create-a-sunken-trampoline.html

 

We live in New England, and the ground does freeze and thaw every year.

[MamaAkins]

I saw this same post on FB yesterday and asked my husband to do it for us since our net on the trampoline has succumbed to the effects of mother nature and too many kids! However, my husband was concerned with the hole having standing water in it and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos.

[Purpledaizy]

I've never seen one before, but I am SO going to do that next year.

 

My crew will :party: when they find out :D

[KatieJ]

I saw this same post on FB yesterday and asked my husband to do it for us since our net on the trampoline has succumbed to the effects of mother nature and too many kids! However, my husband was concerned with the hole having standing water in it and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos.

 

Not only that, but somewhere near us, this summer a child drowned in the standing water. He slipped under the tramp and it was difficult to get at him. It was just awful.

[Samiam]

Hmm, with as high as my children tend to jump on the trampoline, I would fear that they would not land right and end up on the grass, and thus broken bones. Many times that netting is the only thing that keeps them in the trampoline here at my house.

[Julie in CA]

Not only that, but somewhere near us, this summer a child drowned in the standing water. He slipped under the tramp and it was difficult to get at him. It was just awful.

I believe that the people where I live who sink their trampolines line the bottom of the hole with gravel so that there isn't open standing water (?).

[Desert Rat]

My dh and I were just talking about doing this. We live in the desert where standing water isn't an issue (EVER!) so that doesn't concern me. We're redoing our back yard this winter. While the digger is here, I think we're going to do this!

Thanks for posting.

[KatieJ]

I believe that the people where I live who sink their trampolines line the bottom of the hole with gravel so that there isn't open standing water (?).

 

I think this family had taken all precautions. Tehre was just too much rain and flooding this spring.

[Desert Rat]

Ths instructions in the link say to put pea gravel in the bottom to properly drain.

[Julie in CA]

I think this family had taken all precautions. Tehre was just too much rain and flooding this spring.

Oh wow, that's terrible!

[Lucy the Valiant]

Hmmm, well it would be right next to a pond (also in our yard), so - the water concerns are already there, to be honest (and not to lightly dismiss that poor little boy and his family).

 

And I googled pictures and saw that the safety netting can still be put up.

 

My main concerns are (1) that if we put it level to the ground, the lack of air flow will kill the bounce, and (2) how we would cover it in winter.

[Stacie Leigh]

Hmmm, well it would be right next to a pond (also in our yard), so - the water concerns are already there, to be honest (and not to lightly dismiss that poor little boy and his family).

 

And I googled pictures and saw that the safety netting can still be put up.

 

My main concerns are (1) that if we put it level to the ground, the lack of air flow will kill the bounce, and (2) how we would cover it in winter.

 

I didn't think you could put them right against the ground. I've always seen them at least 6in up??

[Lucy the Valiant]

I didn't think you could put them right against the ground. I've always seen them at least 6in up??

 

Well, my initial link says to put it flush to prevent a stumbling hazard and to make mowing easier. (makes sense - I'm just looking for other people who have done it who can give some tips)

 

Maybe I just need a fortune-teller to tell me if the walls are going to collapse or if the poles of the frame are enough to keep the ground solid.

[Koerarmoca]

I would think if the net was used and all safety precautions are taken it would be safe & fun. I would so do it but my dh is very anti-trampoline :glare:

[SonshineLearner]

The article recommend a sump pump, which would take that safety issue away; I'd still want a net around it.

[mom4him]

Hmm, with as high as my children tend to jump on the trampoline, I would fear that they would not land right and end up on the grass, and thus broken bones. Many times that netting is the only thing that keeps them in the trampoline here at my house.

Yup, I would still want the net around. I would also be concerned with the standing water under the thing.

[laundrycrisis]

I have had a kid get stuck under a trampoline before, that was installed into the floor of a gymnastics gym. It was not easy to get him out. I would be afraid of young kids or pets getting stuck in the hole.

[Mom-2-7]

My dh and I were just talking about doing this. We live in the desert where standing water isn't an issue (EVER!) so that doesn't concern me. We're redoing our back yard this winter. While the digger is here, I think we're going to do this!

Thanks for posting.

 

If you live in the southern part of Nevada, don't forget about the caliche. My friend had a pool installed a few years back and the machine to break up that caliche cost $725 / hour. Crazy!!

[Tap]

Hmmm, well it would be right next to a pond (also in our yard), so - the water concerns are already there, to be honest (and not to lightly dismiss that poor little boy and his family).

 

And I googled pictures and saw that the safety netting can still be put up.

 

My main concerns are (1) that if we put it level to the ground, the lack of air flow will kill the bounce, and (2) how we would cover it in winter.

 

Is it a man made pond or a natural one? If natural, I would wonder what the water table is?

[Lucy the Valiant]

Is it a man made pond or a natural one? If natural, I would wonder what the water table is?

 

It's man-made (probably 70 years ago, but - excavated, not natural).

 

I wish I were even remotely capable of understanding kinetics and things like this.