Tyre Climb

Material
  • Treated pine pole 75 mm x 3
  • Tyre x 3 (matching size - the bigger the better)
  • Rapid set concrete bag x 3
  • Treated pine bolt 100 mm length, washer, and nut x 3
Procedure
  • Prepare the poles
  1. Lightly sand over the three poles.  This is to help prevent the children from getting splinters.  I also made the top end of each pole smooth with the electric sander.  The poles could be painted to help seal in the chemicals.
  • Prepare the tyres
  1. Run a length of string around a tyre so that the two ends meet up exactly.  Fold the length of string into three and mark the folds on the string with a marker pen.  Now run the string back around the tyre and mark the two fold points and end point so that the tyre now has three drill holes marked at evenly spaced points around the tread of the tyre.  Use white paint or something that will stand out on the black rubber.
  2. Drill a hole the same diameter as the bolts at the three marked spots.
  3. Repeat the process for all three tyres.
  • Assemble the tower
  1. Assemble the tower lying on the side on the ground.
  2. Feed the bolts through the holes in each pole and then through a tyre hole so that the thread of the bolts ends up inside the tyre.
  3. Place washers on the end of each bolt, then screw on a nut.
Bolt-head on the outside of the pole.
Looking down through the three tyres.
Washer and nut attached inside the tyre.
Top of the tyre climb.
  • Plant the poles
  1. Stand the tower up in the position wanted.
  2. Mark where the poles sit.
  3. Move the tower out of the way.
  4. Dig the three holes, making the width of the hole three times the width of the pole.
  5. I dug the holes 30 cm deep but I would suggest 60 cm would make the tower more stable. 
  6. Place the tower poles into the holes.
  7. Level the tower adjusting position by placing small amounts of dirt into the holes and lifting the leg that requires adjusting. (Use a level.)
  8. Pour in the dry concrete mix; one bag per hole.
  9. Add ample water into each hole.
  • Water drainage and maintenance
  1. Drill three holes in the underside of each tyre to allow free-drainage of water that would otherwise build up inside.
  2. Spray surface spray inside each tyre every now and then to stop spiders.  Though frequent use of the tyre climb should keep them at bay.
  3. The tyres get hot in the sun.  Install the climb in a shady spot, paint with a light colour, or water down before use.
Play Time