Whether it hangs from a weeping willow, a backyard swing set, or over a river, classic tire swings have always been a summertime essential. Now that the weather is getting warmer nothing sounds better than unwinding in the backyard and for the kids, that means enjoying their backyard playground.
A perfect swing seat hanging from a tree branch, though hard to come by, can lend itself to hours of entertaining outdoor play and relaxation. If your backyard is a bit barren at the moment and you aren't sure where to start in terms of building a DIY tire swing, fear not. Building your own outdoor swing is also way more affordable than buying a full playset. A traditional tire swing is like a right of passage for kids outdoor fun, kind of like building a treehouse. You don't need a tire swing kit or any complicated playground equipment to put it together either. Mom and dad can unwind in a hammock with the kids get endless fun from this simple DIY.
One handy YouTuber has shared the secret to crafting the perfect tree swing that you can make yourself with a heavy-duty old tire (or new tire if you want). His video is so helpful that it has garnered over 600k views.
Read More: 6 DIY Swing Set Kits for Your Little Ones
Necessary materials for your own rubber tire swing include the tire, hanging rope (make sure the nylon rope has good weight capacity), an old bicycle tube as a tree strap to help protect the tree, a drill to feel the rope through the tire, metal washers that will fit around the rope, a rope clamp, and nuts to block the end of the clamp. The video does a great job of explaining the process of putting together the swing hardware. You can make your swing extra long if you have a tall tree just make sure you invest in adjustable ropes if you want to move it to a different area of the yard.
The builder made an effort to keep this swing safe for kids; there are no chains used and all of the metal parts are hidden inside the tire. That means no pinched fingers for the kiddos because they'll just be swinging around with tire and rope. The video is extremely easy to follow and includes a step-by-step demonstration. Check it out below and give it a try in your own backyard for some guaranteed summer fun.
As the builder points out at the end of the video, the swing is very safe because there are no "pinch points" for fingers to get stuck in like you'd get with swing chains. Even coated chains could hurt little fingers. The swing is also easy to inspect. It's important to check for worn parts and make any necessary repairs and adjustments to the swing on a regular basis. Happy swinging!
This post was originally published on June 7, 2016.
