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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Advice for a pvc down rail set up

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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
I'm in the process of building a backyard jib. I have all the snow so I'm going big with it at the start. First set up is an uprail to butter pad to down rail. Uprail and butter pad I've got sorted. My issue is the down rail.

I'm working with pvc pipe and have all the snow to work with. Without drilling holes into the pipe to add wood supports, what is the best way to set up the down rail so that it:
A) doesn't slide out of its placement, and
B) I don't end up with a 'clump' of snow at the end of the rail to catch.

I'll reply to the thread with photos.
3 years ago
5 0
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Drail
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3 years ago
2 0
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
Build the snow up and let it settle there nicely, once settled. Dig out the pvc sized spot and plop it in there, make sure shes tight. build snow up on the sides way more then needed and pack it in. Once settled again remove some so its slidable.

Sources: I've done this maybe 70 times.

**This post was edited on Jan 6th 2022 at 9:11:17am
3 years ago
5 1
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bertBertson
Posts: 290 - Karma: 4,680
What diameter of pvc are you working with? If it's a bigger one you could build a little 'cage' for it that could hold it in place without actually drilling into the pipe:

3 years ago
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
bertBertsonWhat diameter of pvc are you working with? If it's a bigger one you could build a little 'cage' for it that could hold it in place without actually drilling into the pipe:



Way too much trouble, no point. It's not rocket science slap that bitch in the ground.
I guess if you want it a bit higher off the ground this is a good point tho

**This post was edited on Jan 6th 2022 at 9:21:19am
3 years ago
6 2
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bertBertson
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DeadBWay too much trouble, no point. It's not rocket science slap that bitch in the ground.
I guess if you want it a bit higher off the ground this is a good point tho

**This post was edited on Jan 6th 2022 at 9:21:19am


You must be a smoother rail skier than I am lol. with the naked pvc on pure snow, unless it's a nice heavy 16"+ pipe, I find I always knock the thing loose every time I botch a swap or 2 on.

The up-pvc should be fine but looking at OP's sketch the down-pvc seems like it will be really susceptible to being knocked forwards since it's just resting on a pile of snow and not touching the ground.

Well, it's a sick setup so OP will just have to build it and prove one of us wrong, if I lose I will have to forfeit my skis and become a snowboarder out of shame.
3 years ago
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
bertBertsonYou must be a smoother rail skier than I am lol. with the naked pvc on pure snow, unless it's a nice heavy 16"+ pipe, I find I always knock the thing loose every time I botch a swap or 2 on.

The up-pvc should be fine but looking at OP's sketch the down-pvc seems like it will be really susceptible to being knocked forwards since it's just resting on a pile of snow and not touching the ground.

Well, it's a sick setup so OP will just have to build it and prove one of us wrong, if I lose I will have to forfeit my skis and become a snowboarder out of shame.


Usually that happens when you don't let the snow settle in or pack it enough. AKA putting it in the ground and just hitting it immediately.
And no probably not when the tube is really close to the ground I catch the snow alot, but imagine it more like a mound with the tube settled into the mound packed in nicely. Either way the cage will always be better but more work.
3 years ago
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1025482/trim-208D5756-9722-4913-8CFE-85A872D79659-MOV

I’m assuming you mean something like this? The tube doesn’t slide because of a flexible stick dug into the snow at the end of it the is propped against the lower half of the pvc. The snow around it can either be frozen by sprinkling water onto it but for me it was just -20C regularly.
3 years ago
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
asparagushttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1025482/trim-208D5756-9722-4913-8CFE-85A872D79659-MOV

I’m assuming you mean something like this? The tube doesn’t slide because of a flexible stick dug into the snow at the end of it the is propped against the lower half of the pvc. The snow around it can either be frozen by sprinkling water onto it but for me it was just -20C regularly.


Yeah but that rail is too thin, I'm thinkin of a thick boy.
3 years ago
1 0
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Dan-Man
Posts: 7488 - Karma: 3,630
go to harbor freight. buy a welder.

go home. throw away all PVC.

go steal some STEEL

Create rollercoaster poles.
3 years ago
5 1
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
DeadBYeah but that rail is too thin, I'm thinkin of a thick boy.


In that case it’ll be easier to hold in place and you could even pack snow at the end of it to prevent sliding
3 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
So here is where I'm at.

- We got a shit ton of snow at the end of the holidays so there was no need to farm.
- today we got a big temp spike today (so skiing has gone to shit till at least Monday).

So I built it with just snow and hopefully it'll work. It sits right beside one of my garden beds so salt isn't an option - I'm just gonna have to wait till Temps drop below freezing again.

Keep in mind that I haven't a) put the landing in yet, and b) haven't finished trimming the sides, so just focus on whether you think the pipe is anchored enough with just snow.

The bottom of the pipe is elevated about 3ft above ground and will have the landing going down to ground from there.

The pile is compact enough so I can walk on it almost no compaction so it's set and solid.

IF it doesn't work I drew up an idea for using a wood 'base' that I will insert into the end of the pipe, thunk it could work?











3 years ago
2 0
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
asparagushttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1025482/trim-208D5756-9722-4913-8CFE-85A872D79659-MOV

I’m assuming you mean something like this? The tube doesn’t slide because of a flexible stick dug into the snow at the end of it the is propped against the lower half of the pvc. The snow around it can either be frozen by sprinkling water onto it but for me it was just -20C regularly.


Yeah, if you see my latest post in the thread I have a similar idea as far as wood on the end. Unfortunately I live near valley bottom in the west kootenays, BC so temperatures swing like crazy so it's not an option to set it and let it ice up, hence my drawing that adds more to keep it in place.
3 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
drilling into the pvc will make it so much easier, is there a reason you don’t want to?
3 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
KCoCMdrilling into the pvc will make it so much easier, is there a reason you don’t want to?

Yes.
3 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52563 - Karma: 173,868
I wouldn't be afraid to drill into it. But if you're that worried about it can make a frame and put some ply or 2x4s across the end so that its capped and cant slide. Prolly worth doing both ends. Then you could still set it on whatever frame you want
3 years ago
1 0
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KCoCM
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theabortionatorI wouldn't be afraid to drill into it. But if you're that worried about it can make a frame and put some ply or 2x4s across the end so that its capped and cant slide. Prolly worth doing both ends. Then you could still set it on whatever frame you want

sounds like OP took the pvc out of his wall so he can’t drill into it or he’ll have to get a new one when he puts it back in at the end of the winter
3 years ago
2 0
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
KCoCMsounds like OP took the pvc out of his wall so he can’t drill into it or he’ll have to get a new one when he puts it back in at the end of the winter


Not far from the truth. Gray water pipe for a trailer I'm selling.
3 years ago
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6447 - Karma: 70,192
DrailNot far from the truth. Gray water pipe for a trailer I'm selling.


Bruh a pvc tube for that is like 20 bucks max. By having a defunct pipe (aka you skied on it whether or not you drilled into it) you will lose far more than 20 dollars off the selling price. Unless you're a lying piece of shit and don't tell the customer
3 years ago
2 0
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
ReturnToMonkeyBruh a pvc tube for that is like 20 bucks max. By having a defunct pipe (aka you skied on it whether or not you drilled into it) you will lose far more than 20 dollars off the selling price. Unless you're a lying piece of shit and don't tell the customer


Oh calm down.
3 years ago
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
Yo forget what I said earlier that rails way to skinny to be in the ground like tht its just gunna suck to slide. Make a cage, I was expecting a wider boi.
3 years ago
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