Gusts may toss your trampoline in the neighbor’s garden or blow away to a distant place. Thus gale-force winds could damage the trampoline partially or completely. So, if you live in a windy area, it’s important to secure it in the ground to stop flying the trampoline.
So, how to keep a trampoline from blowing away? Wind stakes, augers, sandbags, securing by cords, weigh down by heavy items, etc, are some of the best ways to anchor a trampoline in windy areas. Most methods are inexpensive, and you can do these without much effort. Don’t overlook anchoring the trampoline, especially if you live in a heavy-wind area.
This article will guide you secure a trampoline in powerful winds. So, read the full article to know different effective ways to tie down the trampoline in the ground.
Why is It Necessary to Anchor Your Trampoline?
Trampoline flying away is a common scenario in windy locations. Strom may lift and blow the trampoline far to the neighbor’s garden, street, or tree. So, the trampoline might be damaged partially or completely due winds strike.
So, anchoring the trampoline is a must to protect it from being blown away when wind speed exceeds the limit. But, if you live in any area where the wind isn’t very high, trampoline anchor down isn’t mandatory there.
Trampoline disassembly might be the best way to protect your trampoline against strong winds. But this isn’t the feasible solution. But, there are numerous ways to keep the trampoline in place in that adverse situation.
Before anchoring the trampoline on Earth, consider the following things-
- What is the wind speed of the area?
- What is the size and weight of your trampoline?
- Does your backyard have any wind barriers?
- What type of damage could be occurred if the trampoline is tossed away?
See Also: Repair a damaged trampoline mat
How Much Wind Will Lift a Trampoline?
How much wind can a trampoline withstand largely depends on the trampoline size. A rule of thumb is, larger trampolines can withstand more winds than smaller trampolines.
In general, most trampolines can withstand up to 40 mph winds. When the wind flow rate is more than that range there is a high chance that the trampoline will get blown away.
So, if you live in a place where the wind speed is more than 40 mph, try to set up your trampoline in a place where are plenty of natural or artificial wind barriers. Some things that can work as wind barriers are tall trees, buildings, high fences, and so on.
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How to Keep a Trampoline from Blowing Away Against Winds?
How can I secure a trampoline against powerful winds or storms? Well, there are several ways to tie down the trampoline in the ground to stop your trampoline from blowing away. Here I’ve compiled 10 most effective ways to anchor a trampoline securely in the ground.
Which trampoline tie-down method is best for you largely depend on the type and size of the trampoline, location, soil type, and your personal preference. To get the best result, you have to choose the right way to prevent the trampoline from being blown away.
Below I’ll discuss each of the above-mentioned systems so you can find the best trampoline anchorage according to your situation to hold the trampoline in gusts.
Method 1: Place the Trampoline Having Proper Wind Barriers
The first and foremost thing is to set up the trampoline in a good spot where wind strikes the trampoline at a minimum level. If you install the trampoline in any heavy wind area, the trampoline will be blown away easily.
So, while putting up the trampoline choose a place having either natural or artificial wind barriers surrounding the garden. This is the easiest and most affordable way to prevent the trampoline from getting tossed away.
Large trees and hedges are great natural wind barriers to secure the trampolines or rebounders due to heavy winds. If there is no tree surrounding the garden, plant some quick-growing trees.
Similarly, walls, buildings, and high fences are some of the best man-made wind barriers. These flanked barriers will minimize the risk of wind knocking hence lifting up the trampoline. If needed, move the trampoline a little to find a suitable spot.
Keep in mind, these wind blocks provide only the basic protection to the trampoline against winds. But you have to use wind stakes, anchoring kits, sandbags, and other anchorages to develop stability.
Method 2: Trampoline Wind Stakes
Wind stakes or pegs come in a simple design. This trampoline anchoring kit is also called U-shaped anchors, although some of them are available in T, J, and a few other shapes. They are very affordable.
Usually, their length varies from 10 to 15 inches. They are made of galvanized steel, so they can withstand any harsh weather.
Trampoline wind stakes can be easily installed with trampoline legs. They don’t need any ratchets; just insert the stakes in the earth over the legs.
Stakes are low-profile items that don’t pose any tripping hazards. But they are not good for wet and soft ground as they get loosened over time.
Pros:
- Easy and quick installation
- Inexpensive trampoline anchoring
- Can be installed without any intricate tools
- Can be used in hard clay
Cons:
- Not ideal for heavy wind location
- Maybe loosened over time
- Come out from the wet and soft ground
Recommended product: Skywalker trampoline wind stakes
How to Anchor a Trampoline Using U-Shaped Wind Stakes?
The U-shaped trampoline pegs are the easiest wind stakes to put on the ground. So, here I’ll teach you how to stake down a trampoline using U-style wind stakes. The steps are as follows-
Step 1: Take a set of U-shape trampoline pegs. Standard trampoline wind stakes pack comes with 4 pieces set. The pack prices are around $10 to $20 on average.
Step 2: Pick a hammer to drive the stakes into the ground.
Step 3: Position each peg in the trampoline legs. Usually, each leg requires two wind stakes to hold down the trampoline in the earth. So, if the trampoline has 5 legs, you need at least ten pegs to ground the trampoline in place.
Step 4: Drill the wind stakes in the ground using a hammer.
Step 5: If you want to replace or remove the pegs, use a spring-pulling tool, screwdriver, or pliers.
Method 3: Augers
Augers anchor kit is one of the best ways to secure your trampoline in winds. They come in a complex corkscrew or spiral shape that provides great protection in high wind, rain, and even for winter protection. Usually, you need a torque bar or power drill to insert the anchor into the earth.
Augers are made of rust-resistant galvanized steel. Trampoline tie-down kits’ length varies between 10 to 20 inches. They go very deep into the ground, thus providing great stability to the trampoline.
Each anchor kit consists of an anchor hook, shaft, and strap. The vertical shaft goes into the earth and the hook and trampoline frame are connected through ratchet straps.
Pros:
- Withstand strong gusts
- Provides maximum stability
- Ideal for hard, wet, and soft surfaces
- Heavy-duty trampoline anchor kit
Cons:
- Expensive than wind stakes
- Need lots of effort in grounding
Recommended product: Eurmax USA Trampoline Corkscrew Stakes
How to Tie Down a Trampoline Using Auger Anchor Kit?
Augers or corkscrew anchors provide great stability to the trampoline due to their complex shape. But they are quite hard to drive on the ground. So, know the way on how do you install the trampoline tie-down kit on the earth easily? The basic steps are as follows-
Step 1: Take a set of trampoline augers. Most of them come with 4 pack set having corkscrew shape anchor hooks and nylon straps. It will run you around $30 to $60.
Step 2: You need a hammer or torque bar or power drill, or measuring tape to tap the trampoline anchor hooks in the ground.
Step 3: Measure almost 1 to 1.5 ft distance inward from each trampoline leg using the measuring tape. Then mark the place
Step 4: Pour some water into the ground to drive the corkscrew anchors easily into the ground. As augers are quite tough to insert into the ground due to their intricate shape.
Step 5: Now insert the augers over the legs in the earth by twisting like twisting the bottle cap. Alternately, use a torque bar to twist the corkscrew anchors. Or tap the pickets in the earth using a hammer. You can also use a power drill to drive the anchors fast in the earth.
Make sure the pickets go around 60 degrees angle with the ground. This will provide better stability to the trampoline.
Step 6: After driving all the tie-down kits, fasten the straps or ratchets with augers and the trampoline frame. This will secure the trampoline on the earth.
Step 7: Check all the straps’ tension. It needed to tighten the ratchets or drive the augers a little bit to make the straps tighter.
Congratulations on securing the trampoline by anchoring kits and straps.
See Also: Trampoline and its accessories lifespan
Method 4: Trampoline Weigh Down by Sandbags
Tying down the trampoline in the earth with sandbags is one of the most effective ways to keep the trampoline in place in heavy wind. This is a very affordable way and needs less effort to hold down the trampoline.
When you don’t want to invest in trampoline pegs or a tie-down kit the sandbags will be a good option to secure the trampoline in the earth.
If you put up the trampoline in concrete, wind stakes or anchor kit grounding mightn’t work there, but the sandbags method will still work to hold the trampoline down.
Here is a good sandbags pack recommendation to hold down the trampoline in place.
ABCCANOPY 4 Pack Trampoline Sand Bags is a good quality extra-large sandbag pack. Each bag can hold up to 28 lbs of sand. The bags are made from a blend of 1680D Oxford fabric and PVC.
Every sandbag has three Velcros to attach with the trampoline. Just hook and loop with the trampoline. Fill the bags with rock, sand, dirt, gravel, and other heavy items.
These sandbags are universal and compatible with any trampoline. Besides trampolines, you can use these for tents, swing sets, canopies, gazebos, and so on. This pack is available in several colors, so you can pick your favorite color from there.
How to Weigh Down a Trampoline Using Sandbags?
Putting the sandbags in the trampoline is simple. Just fill up sand in the sandbags and keep them in trampoline legs. You may also add other heavy items in the sandbags, like rocks.
Usually, one sandbag is put on a trampoline leg. But, the more sandbags you place on the trampoline the more stable the trampoline will be. You can tie the sandbags with legs using straps for a better result.
Method 5: DIY Trampoline Anchor
If you are a DIYer, you can make a homemade trampoline anchor with some simple tricks. DIY trampoline anchors may be of several types.
5.1 Homemade Steel Anchor Kit
How to make steel trampoline anchors at home. Buy galvanized steel rods either from online or brick-and-mortar shops. Then cut them into several pieces as per the anchor you need. Then bend them as U, T, or J shapes.
After that, insert them in the ground over the trampoline legs. Instead of grounding in the earth directly, you can dig holes in the ground and pour concrete there. After that, insert the anchors in the molten concrete fastening trampoline legs.
Then let the concrete be hardened to make the trampoline secured by DIY trampoline stakes or anchors. Don’t allow kids to jump on the trampoline before drying the concrete.
5.2 DIY Concrete Anchor
Dig one or two holes (almost 20 inches deep) near each trampoline leg. Then pour the necessary amount of concrete there and leave them until they get hardened.
After that, mount the trampoline legs with the concrete posts using durable straps or steel rods. This will almost fix the trampoline permanently.
See Also: DIY trampoline swing
Method 6: Flip the Trampoline Upside Down
The trampoline mat acts as a large sail that may fly away with the heavy-speed wind. If you don’t have enough time to anchor the trampoline using the above-mention ways, then flip the trampoline before heavy winds strike the trampoline.
So, the trampoline legs will go up, and the mat in the ground. After placing the trampoline in the ground, put some heavy items like rocks and bricks on the trampoline to avoid moving during winds.
Method 7: Anchoring Trampoline by Heavy Items
Similarly to weigh sandbags method, you can hold down the trampoline using rocks, bricks, trash bags, or any other heavy items. If you don’t manage the anchor kit, stakes, or sandbags for trampoline anchorage then this process will help you to do the job done.
Place a giant tire in the middle of the trampoline mat and secure the legs with rocks, bricks, or other heavy items near you. This will give you a temporary solution to stop blowing the trampoline away.
Method 8: Securing Trampoline with Bungee Ropes
Sometimes, stakes or anchor kits mightn’t hold the trampoline in the earth in the right way, especially in heavy winds. In this case, you can secure the trampoline by tying the trampoline with durable bungee cords in several places of the legs and frame of the trampoline.
Then tie another end of straps with large trees or with the staked-down wooden rods in the ground. Thus the trampoline will be held in place perfectly.
Method 9: Building Fence Around the Trampoline
This is another good way to protect the trampoline from the winds. A tall fence acts as a windbreaker. So it’s recommended to make a fence surrounding the trampoline or at least on the high wind sides.
Still, the trampoline might be blown away during the storm, but the fence will reduce the damage to a great extent. So, build a durable fence before the wind strikes your trampoline.
Method 10: Securing Trampoline During Hurricane
If the weather forecast says that a storm or hurricane is near the door, it’s necessary to take immediate action to protect your trampoline before the hurricane hits the trampoline. Otherwise, the tropical storm will damage the trampoline severely.
So, how to secure a trampoline during hurricanes and extreme situations? Follow the guidelines below to avoid breaking the trampoline in hurricanes or powerful gusts.
- Detach the trampoline springs, mat, and safety enclosure. Store them indoors safely until the storm has over.
- Secure the frame and legs using anchor kits and sandbags to avoid being tossed away. Wide arch anchorages provide great stability to the trampoline during storm and gale-force winds.
- If possible, disassemble the whole trampoline parts to eliminate damage.
See Also: How to reuse an old or broken trampoline?
People Also Ask
1. Is wind stakes easier to install than corkscrew anchor kits?
Ans: Wind stakes and anchor kits are actually the same things that are used to ground down the trampoline during heavy winds. But there is a basic difference between their constructions.
Wind stakes can be mounted on a trampoline directly in the ground without any strap. But corkscrew anchor kits (augers) are quite hard to drive in the earth, and they need straps to tie the anchor kits to the trampoline frame.
See Also: Round vs oval vs rectangle vs square trampoline
2. Which one provides better anchoring between U-shaped vs augers anchors?
Ans: U-shape trampoline anchors are the right choice for average windy areas. On the other hand, corkscrews or augers trampoline anchor hooks are perfect for low to high winds. In short, augers provide better stability for the trampoline than U-shaped anchors.
3. Can I use my trampoline without anchoring?
Ans: Yes, you can use the trampoline without any anchoring. But it’s recommended to anchor down it before you jump in a trampoline setting in the windy area. Otherwise, the trampoline could be fly away and might be a reason for serious injury.
4. Are in-ground trampolines safe from blowing away?
Ans: Yes, in-ground trampolines are almost free from flying away in strong winds. But, there is a chance of falling the tree branches due to winds.
Final Words
Proper anchoring secures the trampoline in the ground for better strength. This also prevents the breakage of the trampoline hence saving your penny for investing in a new trampoline.
So, as a trampoline owner, it’s recommended to learn how to keep a trampoline from blowing away. It’s simple, just buy the best trampoline wind stakes or ground anchor kits and secure the trampoline in the earth.
Hopefully, after reading this trampoline anchoring instruction, you can now secure your trampoline against gale-force gusts. So, follow these aforementioned tips to protect your trampoline in the right way!
Robert is a trampoline and rebounder trainer with a passion for blogging. He discovered his love for trampolining at a young age, when his father gifted him his first trampoline at the age of 9. Over the years, Robert has honed his skills and knowledge in the field, and now uses his expertise to train others.
Besides, helping fitness enthusiasts in the gym, Robert is very eager to share his knowledge and experience regarding trampolines and rebounder exercises with the readers of picktrampoline.com. He will share all you need to know about trampolines and rebounders in this blog. Get his tips on trampoline and rebounder!