Building a half pipe ?

Question

i was planning n building a half pipe. ive got easily enough space but i need to save money first. does anybody know how much it would cost and any good places to get free or cheap wood? if anybody has ever built a half pipe before do you have any tips?

Answer 1

Half pipes are not cheap.  I built one in my back yard when I was in high school and here's some tips.  First off consider size.  It will get waaaaaay more expensive the larger you build it.  Mine was only an 8 foot wide, 4.5 foot tall mini ramp and it was still about 400 dollars.  Also, it was tiny.  Anything taller than probably 5 feet is going to need to be at least 12 feet wide (three sheets of plywood) or itll just be too cramped.  And if you want to even try to get air, its gonna have to be probably 6-8 feet tall.  Also, don't skimp on the riding surface.  I used 3/4 inch high quality ply wood that was like 30 bucks a sheet.  I had to buy six sheets of that stuff so that was almost 200 dollars right there!  And keep in mind that was for an 8 foot wide, 4.5 foot tall mini ramp!  But if you don't go all out on the riding surface, it won't be fun to ride.  Also, you should try to get your friends to pitch some money.  Just hype the c**p out of the thing and make it sound like its gonna be the coolest spot, you just need like 100 more dollars to get the ball rolling...

As for actually building it though, it isn't too tough.  Just make sure you have it completely planned out before you buy even a single piece of wood.  Also, don't get greedy with the tranny.  A buddy of mine tried to build a four foot tall ramp that went completely vertical and it was absolutely unrideable, just a waste of money.  Like I said, you'll need AT LEAST six feet of height if you want it to go vertical and even that will feel pretty steep.  Oh and make the coping out of PVC.  It doesn't feel as satisfying to grind but its a lot cheaper than heavy steel pipe.  One more thing, spend time waterproofing it at least once a year and keep it covered at all times when you aren't riding it.  No matter how many corners you cut, this thing is still going to be expensive.  So take care of it and make it last!