How do I stop my trampoline from blowing over? How to prevent a trampoline from blowing away? Are you seriously looking for a workable solution to this question? Well, jumping on trampolines is a favorite fun activity time for kids and adults alike. So you want to take care of your investment during windy days that threaten to blow it away. Smaller trampolines are especially prone to being picked up by the wind. If you fail to secure your equipment with anchors or tie-downs, it might behave like a kite and fly above, ending up hitting you or your property. Here are some tips and tricks that might come to your rescue when you are pondering how to secure a trampoline in high winds.
How To Prevent A Trampoline From Blowing Away
First things first, the placement of your trampoline matters. So you may want to place it in that part of the backyard where bad weather does not affect the trampoline. It is important to keep the trampoline secured to the ground. This is where you want to focus on the trampoline tie-downs and anchors.
Anchoring the Trampoline
Anchoring is one of the easiest ways to secure a trampoline firmly in the ground. This ensures that the equipment does not budge an inch in stormy conditions. You may choose the anchor depending on the trampoline model. Anchors are designed to dive deep into the ground. Properly installed anchors remain secure in the ground without the risk of becoming loose despite the regular use of a trampoline. Additionally, anchors do not come out of the wet ground and remain secure in their place.
Anchor Kits
You will need anchor kits to secure the trampoline so the wind does not blow it away. Look for one with corkscrew-like stakes. Anchors with top-grade galvanized steel don’t rust. In fact, there is less risk of corrosion. You may choose between U-shaped anchors and augers, depending on the type of trampoline.
U-Shaped Anchors
You can easily secure a trampoline with U-shaped anchors made of stainless steel. This type of anchoring is cheap and easy to install around the main poles.
Augers
An auger is a garden-friendly way to anchor a trampoline. Easy to set up, augers twist into the soil and can be attached to the straps. This is one of the most reliable ways to secure a trampoline but it is the most expensive option. But once it is done, it’s done forever as it comprises galvanized ground screws that prolong the lifespan of the anchor and reduce the chances of rusting.
The kit comes complete with metal buckles to keep the trampoline safe in stormy conditions and prevent it from flying. There are also rigid nylon straps to secure the equipment.
How do you use an anchor kit?
Start with testing the ground or location where you plan to fix the trampoline. The idea is to test the area to see whether the grass and soil will support the anchor kit. In order to do that, grab a spare screwdriver and push it into the soil. If there are no stones or loose soil, you should be able to push the screwdriver into the ground easily. In that case, it is the perfect site for an anchor kit. But if you find it difficult to push the screwdriver into the ground due to stones, it is in your best interest to move the trampoline to another location. Or you might have to look for another method to secure the trampoline.
Trampoline Wind Stakes
Trampoline wind stakes come cheaper than anchor kits. When you are pondering how to secure a trampoline in high winds without spending too much, wind stakes can come in handy. Easy to install, they are less complicated than anchor kits and do not pose any risk or tripping hazards. They are available in different shapes and vary in length. You may find wind stakes that go 10-14 inches deep into the ground to safely secure the trampoline. However, the stakes might become loose over time. In some extremely windy conditions or wet ground, stakes might get loose.
Strings
If you are unsure as to how to prevent a trampoline from blowing away, here’s one easy method to do so. Use a string to tie weights to each of the legs of the trampoline. It does not take long to tie the strings to the trampoline. Tying some kind of weight on each leg will help anchor the trampoline in place. You want to make sure that the strings are strong enough to stand against the conditions outside. Better still, look for weather-resistant strings.
Straps
Another less costly way to secure a trampoline is to place some standard nylon webbing around its legs. The next step is to tie it off to a sturdy object, which may be a tree or post. Now the most important point of consideration here is to ensure that straps are strong enough to be tightly anchored.
Stakes and rope
One hassle-free way to keep the wind from blowing away the trampoline is to place some stakes around it and tie it to a sturdy object with rope. You can anchor it in place easily and prevent wind from playing a spoilsport. Look for strong stakes that can hold up against adverse weather conditions.
A fence
A fence can safeguard your trampoline against stormy winds and act as a windbreak. Secure the trampoline tightly around the fence so it stays in place. It is a good idea to build a tall fence, which is sturdy enough to keep the trampoline secure.
Bungee cords
Bungee cords are very useful in securing a trampoline in stormy conditions. Placing bungee cords around the legs of the trampoline will help keep the equipment from blowing away in a storm.
Tie-down kit
You may consider using a tie-down kit to secure your trampoline. Fastening the tie-down kit around the legs of the trampoline is a great way to keep it from flying away.
Weighing Down the Trampoline
How to prevent a trampoline from blowing away if you are yet to invest in wind stakes? You have not yet invested in anchor kits either? Well, to be on the safer side, it is always better to weigh it down underweight. This step will help secure the equipment to the ground.
Sandbags
If you have no wind stakes or anchor kits, you can still secure your trampoline. Put some weight on the trampoline. Here sandbags can come in handy. All you need to do is place a good number of sandbags on the legs of the trampoline. This will hold it down and keep it in place, ensuring the trampoline does not fly during stormy winds.
This idea can come to your rescue if your trampoline is set on concrete. Such surfaces make it tough to use wind stakes or anchor kits.
Other Options
Besides sandbags, you may use any old car tire to secure a trampoline and prevent the wind from blowing it away.
How Much Wind Can Blow Away Trampoline?
The speed of the wind is not that important. In some cases, winds blowing at 40mph have been reported to lift a trampoline for a few feet. In fact, it is the location of the trampoline that matters more than the wind speed. Trampolines secured in the yard have the advantage of being surrounded by natural barriers, such as trees and hedges, which keep the equipment in place. These natural and manmade barriers in a garden can keep the trampoline secure in a gust of wind and prevent the storm from lifting it off the ground.
If your trampoline is set in a location surrounded by high fences and walls, there is less risk of it flying in a storm. These manmade constructions can act as a barrier and prevent a trampoline from flying like a kit.
Contrarily, if the trampoline is set in a wide-open space, without any barriers, there is a high risk of it blowing away during a storm. Experts recommend tying or anchoring as the best way to secure a trampoline against the wind.
Bottom Line
If you have invested in the best trampoline recently or plan to buy one, it is important to consider trampoline safety and risks before going ahead with the investment. The most important fact to consider is to prevent the trampoline from flying in windy conditions.
It is in your best interest to first secure the equipment on the ground in order to prevent winds from blowing it away. There is a high risk of the trampoline flying and hitting the neighbor’s property or even causing injury to someone. No, that does not mean you should not invest in a trampoline. Rather, you should explore ways to prevent it from becoming a kite in stormy conditions. The aforementioned tips should come in handy when you are seriously wondering how to secure a trampoline in high winds. Your exercise trampoline is your best investment for a workout.
Make the right choice and invest in safety first. Make your investment safe for yourself as well as your neighbors.