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theabortionator
April, 2025

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PVC rail design

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twinkle_toes
Posts: 815 - Karma: 9,725
Before you say it, yes - I searched through older threads before posting.
90% of the comments were about how there are already pre-existing threads.

If you can find useful ones, please feel free to link so I don't have to sift through hundreds of threads.

I'm building a PVC rail using 4" x 10' PVC. I'll be bolting it to a 10' 2x4. Pretty basic concept.
My question is about creating a stable base. What would be the best design to provide sufficient support? I'm linking a few photos below, these are the general designs I'm thinking of using. I'm pretty light but I've got some heavier/ more aggressive friends that will be hitting it, so I want it to be sturdy.

It's not a backyard rail at the moment, it'll be set up in the snow, so I can bury the base under snow to keep it in place.

I'll figure something out but mostly posting here to brainstorm ideas based on others' experience/opinions.

Thanks in advance :)
4 years ago
6 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52560 - Karma: 173,785
Go wide on the feet so it doesn't rock or flip over.


Also worth browsing build a jib cult for successes failures ideas relating to backyard rails and drop ins.

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/1453/Build-A-Jib-101
4 years ago
10 0
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Liam_hilberts
Posts: 3 - Karma: 20
Just make the strong latterly so it doesn’t fall over.
4 years ago
2 0
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SurfinCow
Posts: 372 - Karma: 3,278
id avoid the middle pics method as i had that on my backyard setup and it was kind of sketch, any fall had potential to wreck my knees
4 years ago
2 0
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 815 - Karma: 9,725
theabortionatorAlso worth browsing build a jib cult for successes failures ideas relating to backyard rails and drop ins.

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/1453/Build-A-Jib-101

Build a jib forum is super helpful ! Didnt know that existed... thanks :)
4 years ago
0 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
2nd photo or 3rd photo is optimal.

Use more screws and heavy lag bolts than you think you'll need.

One of my friends turned mine into a pancake trying a 2 on. I used the 3rd photos design btw. besides that, it worked quite well
4 years ago
2 0
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Treegrabber
Posts: 831 - Karma: 11,929
There’s so many threads on this
4 years ago
3 4
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 815 - Karma: 9,725
TreegrabberThere’s so many threads on this

No way
4 years ago
2 0
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milotv34
Posts: 231 - Karma: 1,512
I have a 20 foot by 4" diameter pvc rail in my backyard, what I did is put the pvc on the 2x4 (like you said) and then placed that onto a vertical 2x8 than ran lengthwise, and then gave it feet about 5 feet apart on the bottom. (I also put diagonal supports ataching the 2x8 more firmly to the feet to prevent it from rocking side to side or falling over.) My rail is made of 2 seperate 10 foot peices of pvc but you could definitely use the build concept to make a really sturdy 10 foot rail and it'd last alot longer and feel alot more stable to ski on than the rails in the pictures.
4 years ago
2 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
Also make triangle wedges in case the whole thing gets wobbly and screw them to the frame and legs.
4 years ago
3 1
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Tripleblacks
Posts: 120 - Karma: 599
If you can go a bit longer than 10 feet I would recommend it. I have a 10 foot rail and it feels a bit short for practicing certain tricks.
4 years ago
2 0
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 815 - Karma: 9,725





Im getting lazy lol do you guys think it's sturdy enough or should I add the A frame cross braces ( see diagram)
4 years ago
1 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
twinkle_toes





Im getting lazy lol do you guys think it's sturdy enough or should I add the A frame cross braces ( see diagram)


I've hit super sturdy rails with only 2 legs like that, I'd use more than two but 5 might get annoying when you fall off early. The A frame would make it sturdier but also heavier, you could also cut little right-angle triangles and stick them in the corners, it worked for me.
4 years ago
3 0
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jimjackchif
Posts: 2 - Karma: -20
Thank you for sharing this information with us. I remember that I saw this before. A few months ago I was looking for a company of building a house to build a house. I was lucky that one of my friends had just finished her house and suggested to me a company because she liked that they worked fast and accurately. I decided to contact them. I signed a contract, and they started the building right away. They used this kind of PVC rail design to transport the materials faster. My house is already done because of its efficiency and promptness. I recommend their services with trust.
3 years ago
0 7
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Borchmore
Posts: 49 - Karma: 115
twinkle_toes





Im getting lazy lol do you guys think it's sturdy enough or should I add the A frame cross braces ( see diagram)


Looks pretty sick as is. I'd just test it out and see if there's any issues; you can always add the cross braces later

EDIT: Wait this thread is a year old, why the fuck am I replying

**This post was edited on Mar 31st 2022 at 2:24:52pm
3 years ago
1 0
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Casey
Posts: 8015 - Karma: 26,891
twinkle_toes





Im getting lazy lol do you guys think it's sturdy enough or should I add the A frame cross braces ( see diagram)

This is how I would build it, but yeah probably some cross bracing just to be safe it may start to lean laterally over time without them. Might consider painting it or staining it too to delay rot
3 years ago
0 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
asparagusI've hit super sturdy rails with only 2 legs like that, I'd use more than two but 5 might get annoying when you fall off early. The A frame would make it sturdier but also heavier, you could also cut little right-angle triangles and stick them in the corners, it worked for me.

lol my rail finally broke this year and it was probably because I didn’t have crossbeams 💀🤦‍♂️
3 years ago
2 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6447 - Karma: 70,192
twinkle_toes





Im getting lazy lol do you guys think it's sturdy enough or should I add the A frame cross braces ( see diagram)

I know this is old but here's my design for what I want to do for Zero Zone tubes in order to be able to switch them out. Each tube will have three blocks aligned and screwed into the PVC that secure it into the wood frame. This way we can use fewer frames and haul around less weight. Also less material as wood is expensive now (yours had redundant vertical supports)



**This post was edited on Mar 31st 2022 at 4:20:49pm
3 years ago
1 0
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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806


Kinda weird, in the jib forum and in how to build drop in it had a bunch of Ukraine stuff, this thread is 4 years old. Ik the russio Ukraine conflict has been going on for a while but seems weird there’s this stuff in this thread.
3 years ago
1 1
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6447 - Karma: 70,192
ReturnToMonkeyI know this is old but here's my design for what I want to do for Zero Zone tubes in order to be able to switch them out. Each tube will have three blocks aligned and screwed into the PVC that secure it into the wood frame. This way we can use fewer frames and haul around less weight. Also less material as wood is expensive now (yours had redundant vertical supports)



**This post was edited on Mar 31st 2022 at 4:20:49pm


I forgot to add the bottom longitudinal support but it will be level with the lateral supports for maximum stability. I also made another design that is sloped
3 years ago
1 0
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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806
Can someone explain this?
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1038279/trim-C0814ABA-1A4E-4E39-9E17-B9DA6BEBC7B5-MOV
3 years ago
0 1
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