Ziplining is one of the most adrenaline-packed activities that you can engage in to get yourself in a good mood. Catering to all ages, the zip line can be enjoyed by any adult or child, depending on the build. A good number of people seem to be getting a thrill from zip-lining and this is making it gain popularity. In as much as zip-lining may be fun a lot of care should be taken when engaging in the activity. A good percentage of the precautionary measures must do with how the zipline is engineered. Basically, ziplines operate through the force of gravity so no propulsion mechanism is needed during its construction. But still, it has moving parts such as the pulley which must be in the top class condition to have safe rides. If you are thinking of making a zipline business in Victoria, here are some highlights on how you can go about it.
Identify two Locations with Different Elevations
Ziplines connect two places using a cable so the first thing that you should do is to identify the two points that you would like to use as anchor points. When choosing locations, ensure that the two points are opposite one another. Another thing is that the distance between the two points should be large enough to give you long rides. But most importantly the two points should not be on level ground. The starting and ending point should be strategically placed in such a way that the starting station is on a higher altitude compared to the other station. The higher the elevation the faster the ride. This is because the angle of elevation is directly proportional to the force of gravity acting on the rider.
When choosing locations, you must also consider the strength of the two anchor points. The anchor points used should be strong enough to support large weights. This will allow people with different weights to take rides without worrying about their safety. Also, if you will be installing the anchor points yourself (instead of using the ones that are already available such as trees). depending on where you dig, you must take care not to damage underground drainage lines to avoid having to repair the drains, which can be costly.
Attach the Cable
After locating your two stations the next step is to attach the zipline cable. A lot of care should be taken when choosing a cable. Depending on the type of zipline you are making there is a wide variety of cables that you can choose from. When choosing a cable you must check on the breaking strength. This will help you determine how much weight the cable can take. The commonly used cable size is the 1/4″ Cable but this can vary depending on the weight of people who will use the zipline.
When attaching the cable to the stations you must have all the needed tools. A cable fastener will help you in tightening the cable around the anchor points. A turnbuckle may also be needed to adjust the tension on the cable. The rope should be fastened until it reaches a height that can support a safe ride from one station to the next. The recommended cable connection should give room for a 5% space when a rider is on the zip line. This means that a longer cable may be needed to get the correct connection measurements.

Connect the Pulley
The pulley is one of the most important components of a zip line. Since it has moving parts proper installation measures must be taken to avoid hiccups during a ride. Connecting the pulley may be a complex process when dealing with large scale zip lines. It is therefore advisable to use the services of professional zip-lining or engineering companies in Australia. A large pulley should be used to prevent wear and tear.
Fix the Carriage
The last step to ensuring you have a comfortable ride involves attaching the carriage to the pulley system. This can be done using fastening nylon and a strong wooden plank which will act as a link between the carriage and the pulley. Ones safely secured you can go for your first ride.
Step-By-Step Guide
To help you get a better understanding of what we have mentioned, below are the step-by-step process of building and anchoring a zipline in point format. These are the notes of our construction contractors during a construction a year ago.
- Excavation, Together with Attentive supervision, can make short work on difficult terrain.
- Attachments for pouring concrete in remote locations make this gear invaluable.
- Eco tours, by definition, dictate minimum site disturbance. Well-executed digging and backfilling attempts will be rewarded with minimal fine-grading work.
- Steel pipe is used for industrial power applications like zipline construction. A one-time cost that will last over 25 years–with appropriate concrete foundation systems–steel poles are heavy and require specialized accredited welding detailing.
- Planting the zip line poles in inaccessible places and minimizing eco-site disturbance demands hand grinding, forming and pouring concrete. All materials need to be delivered into the pole locations by individuals or donkeys!
- Over 400 pounds of redi-mix concrete extends into every hole. The rods need bracing and the concrete needs to cure for 3 weeks prior to any cable strain is applied.
- Rock bolts and stone anchors are drilled at least 24 inches to solid rock and tested for pullout resistance with a dynamometer. Adjacent trees and flora should be preserved and protected from harm.
- Accredited welders don’t come cheaply! Welding zip line poles in distant locations necessitates long welding leads and 4WD capabilities.
- Zipline Tour infrastructure comprises storage for gear and a”manual shack” for weather protection and staging areas. Camouflage these structures to optimize aesthetics along the zip line tour.
Anchoring
- The 1/2″ galvanized cable is thicker than a ton of bricks in multi-thousand-foot spans. Get these fellas a forklift and be careful not to kink nick or mutilate the zipline cable. Breaking strength 23,000 lbs.
- Anchoring zip line poles takes time, machines and men, and money. The anchor rods and bolts must be secured, buried in ground or stone. And don’t forget lightning rod systems. Also, be careful not to damage any underground structures such as drain lines in order to avoid calling in a drainage professional to fix the drains.
- Anchors have to be 7-8 feet in compacted, undisturbed terra firma. It’s a dusty, difficult job with a pneumatic tamper man.
- Employing a dynamometer to measure anchor stability at 6,000 lbs. Or more pullout resistance is essential.
- Cable tensioning to necessary cable tension requires fine-tuning to a grand scale. This happens using a “zipline cable team” of several workers and equipment. Annual inspections of cable strain and guy cable condition are conducted utilizing a”tensiometer.”