Installing a 35 foot high 'Y' style custom tree swing

A "Y" style tree swing is suspended between two sturdy tree trunks such that the swings arc is perpendicular to the line between the trunks. It is an excellent choice when there are not open grown trees with spreading branches to hang a swing from. These particular trees were 23 feet apart.

The trees are not permanently damaged by the small holes drilled through the trunk because only a tiny fraction of the living tissue is disrupted. The tree will quickly seal off the small wound and can continue to grow around the hardware making the swing and even stronger.

An 11/16 inch diameter hole is drilled through each trunk and a 5/8 inch diameter forged shoulder eye bolt is inserted all the way through the trunk. It is held in place with heavy duty dock washers and 2 nuts with a lock washer between them. The threads of the second nut are cold welded with JB Weld to ensure that they cannot loosen.

The rope I use has a breaking strength of 18,000 pounds and the 3 arms of the “Y” are spliced to exact specifications based on the height of the swing and the distance between the trees. The rope is spliced around a metal thimble and attached to the eye bolt with an bolt-style anchor shackle that has a working load limit of 2 tons. All the metal components are either galvanized or stainless steel so they will not rust.

The heart of the "Y" swing is a forged stainless steel rigging ring with a breaking strength of 33,000 pounds! Stainless steel pear shaped quick links hold the spliced ropes to the rigging ring.

[mistyblue]

Imagining myself up there, way up high, with that heavy big power tool gives me the willie's.

[MtnXfreeride]

Where are the moving points of contact? Is it the thimble that moves inside the anchor shackle as the swing goes back and forth?

[bucketman]

I've been thinking that an 8" or 12" WIDE flat webbing sling could be pretty gentle on the tree....then link the loops to a length of chain that runs between the trees.  Thoughts?  I don't know, I just hate to drill the tree.  I REALLY don't want to hurt my trees...we don't have a forest, just a backyard.  I know these industrial slings are EXPENSIVE...$100-$150 each, but it'd be worth it if it was ok for the tree...I would put an even wider band of carpet under the sling??

[nateb]

With the jb weld I'm assuming this isnt designed to be adjusted as the tree grows?
Initially I was thinking a cable around the tree, with some sort of protective sleeve. Making an adjustment every 2 years or so. Itll be on massive fir trees that I don't want to put a 4' bolt all the way through. Any suggestions?

[dezlansdowne]

Is there anywhere I can buy or order a custom y strap like this

[sarahpetrosky]

do you have any concern about the tree growing around the bolts or pushing them to the point of stress? has this hurt the tree at all where you drilled thru it?

[jordanpearcey]

Is it necessary to go all the way through the tree trunk? Some of the trees I want use are fairly wide (2 ft). Is there risk in just having the bolt cranked into the tree about 12”?

[ellisstuart]

Where do you get your eyebolts from? I can't seem to find ones long enough, I'm from the UK

[tdalej]

On the BoltDepot site, there are no 5/8 galvanized forged eye bolts with shoulder that are recommended for angular loads. Please explain if the angular loads are safe.

[marybrown]

How can I get you to come to my house?

[crazylegs]

I'm in the very beginning stages of wanting to do this. I cleared the path between two big trees. Just need to get the materials and figure out how I'm going to get my ass 30-40 feet up in a tree lol. Other than online where would one get eye bolts? Home Depot is a no go.

[rwildman]

what's the narrowest gap between trees that this would work for? 10' ok? would install on a hill between two redwoods

[jasoncampbell]

How does this effect the tree? Why not just use straps?

[layla]

No wonder Deforestation started, making a swing