UKC

I can get a high tension Lorry/truck tie-down for a fraction of the price of a Slackline kit, but would it be able to stand the tension required. Thinking about doing a bit of slacklining with the family, probably under 10 Meters, Dont want my daughters getting smacked in the shins by a ratchet!

Thing is broad webbing on its own, to make a primitive set up, is still actually pretty expensive, by the time you add some Karabiners (want to have a dedicated set separate from my rack) Its almost worth buying a £40 Slackline Kit.

Any advice welcome. Cheers

In reply to Murray Walker:

For someone who started rock climbing in 1964 and stopped climbing regularly around 1990, can you explain what a slackline is for? Is it an extended belay?

In reply to Rigid Raider:

Imagine a tightrope - minus the tight part

In reply to Rigid Raider:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=slackline&client=firefox-a&hs=1EO...

In reply to Murray Walker:

I've got a mate who uses one (like you - family/basic use, no fancy tricks!), and haven't come across any problems.

I've also seen them set up for group use with the ratchet round the back of the tree, rather than in free space - assuming you can (1) protect the tree adequately and (2) tighten it OK that seems to take out a lot of the risk of kids being whacked by the ratchet.

In reply to Murray Walker:

I used one on the weekend (not very well) and it worked fine. The tie down ratchet looked a bit like this:

http://www.civiquip.com.au/sites/default/files/23-48RTD_ratchet-tie-down.jp...

and seemed to maintain a decent amount of tension.

In reply to Murray Walker:

I can't see there being any problem. I've seen the exact same bits of ratchet/strap used in a variety of creative ways before, including tensioning guy lines for a swinging trapeze in the circus, with no issues.

In reply to Murray Walker:

A branded slackline is probably made in the same factory as a lot of the ratchet straps, just with some logo printed on the webbing, aside from that they are identical. I got mine on ebay, they come advertised with various tension ratings, mine is something silly like 10 tonnes and is more than adequate. Cost about £20 delivered I think and that was with a 1m web on the ratchet with a loop at the end and a 15m web with a loop on one end so I didn't even need to cobble together any extra bits to mount it.

In reply to Murray Walker:

Oh, so it's a tightrope? Why slackline then not tightline?

In reply to Rigid Raider:

Have a guess

In reply to Murray Walker:

dont forget beads,dreadlocks and a pair of prana trousers

In reply to Murray Walker:
Wow this hobby has really been commercialised in the last 5 or so years!

No ratchet needed, all you need is 5 old krabs and some 1 inch webbing. It's easy to set up a friction lock, some links below.

With regards to the broad webbing, it's a little nicer on the feet/toes when you slip off, but it's no easier to balance on (you still need to find the centre of balance), and it looks lame.

Good luck!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/step6/Set-it-Up-Slacklin...
http://www.nwslackline.org/96/howto-setting-up-a-basic-primitive-slackline

In reply to Rigid Raider:

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume that you're taking the piss - if not...

JW

In reply to Murray Walker:

Tiedowns generally have hooks at the end. When they slip, you get smacked by a piece of steel flying by. Slacklines has a sewn loop at the end, so you can girth hitch them around a tree.

If you only use the ratchet and the straps and not the hooks, you might as well buy a cheap slackline kit. I noticed some tiedown stores now even sale slacklines...

In reply to Jon_Warner:

I assumed there was good reason for wide webbing, and finding wide webbing (50mm) is expensive. Webbing on truck tie downs is cheap though.

Can you suggest a good source of affordable webbing please? Appropriate width?

In reply to Murray Walker:

I thought the lorry webbing is low tension in comparision to slack line webbing and as such, you won't get the same bounce as proper slack webbing

In reply to Murray Walker:

I've got the exact set-up and it is perfect! Perfectly strong, very strong in fact. The ratchet is rates to 5 tonnes! 20m line for £16 on ebay 2'' though. I use to 3m lengths of static rope to tie to whatever anchors you have with a double fig8. It never has or will unhook. The hook is bent through nearly 180-degrees so is well secured. Total set-up can be <£20

In reply to Murray Walker:
ebay.co.uk/itm/20meter-x-50mm-RATCHET-TIE-DOWN-STRAPS-5-ton-/110566238968?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item19be42eaf8

(Put www. on the front of the link)

£20 now but still cheap. Static rope at GoOutdoors is cheap/m