[hi452]

I was thinking of creating a new rail that would be easier to transport. Do you think this is an issue that actually needs to be solved or am I wasting my time?

Any other issues with rails you guys notice?

Thanks!

 

[slyder]

I only see this as an issue if u build a rail so big that you don't have the means to transport it

 

[Banjo]

perhaps make a rail that retracts into itself (like an old car antenna)...you could only slide one way, but it may help.

A rail within a rail within a rail....RAILCEPTION!

 

[sheepstealer]

I'm no engineer but aren't rails usually pretty heavy for a reason? And when you say "easily transportable" do you mean by what - a pickup?

I figure a decent rail (at least for me, that I would want to session over and over again and actually progress on) is what - minimum 8 feet? I've had friends build rails that were shorter and they were fun for a short time but there wasn't enough "rail" to really lock in a press or front lip.

 

[hi452]

perhaps make a rail that retracts into itself (like an old car antenna)...you could only slide one way, but it may help.

A rail within a rail within a rail....RAILCEPTION!

Brilliant Idea! Ill look into this. :bowdown: But you do agree this is a problem right?

I only see this as an issue if u build a rail so big that you don't have the means to transport it

Well you see some of us have cars so rails aint very easy to transport. I know with a pickup truck it might be easier.

I'm no engineer but aren't rails usually pretty heavy for a reason? And when you say "easily transportable" do you mean by what - a pickup?

I figure a decent rail (at least for me, that I would want to session over and over again and actually progress on) is what - minimum 8 feet? I've had friends build rails that were shorter and they were fun for a short time but there wasn't enough "rail" to really lock in a press or front lip.

Well i'm no engineer either. This is an engineering project for school. I was thinking just by hand. They are heavy yes, but to get the 8 feet you talk about they get awkward to handle just due to size right?

 

[sheepstealer]

Brilliant Idea! Ill look into this. :bowdown: But you do agree this is a problem right?



Well you see some of us have cars so rails aint very easy to transport. I know with a pickup truck it might be easier.



Well i'm no engineer either. This is an engineering project for school. I was thinking just by hand. They are heavy yes, but to get the 8 feet you talk about they get awkward to handle just due to size right?

I would think so - again, don't have much experience building them. Not trying to keep you a hard time either ! :thumbsup: I would maybe re-phrase your thread to rail building - I think there's some folks on here who have done it.

I sometimes help out my local park crew moves rails and they're goddawfully awkward most of the time. Minimum two people needed to move around a mid-sized rail, and that's not even to pick it up, its sliding it across the snow AND downhill usually.

Does it have to be a metal rail? Or could you use wood to create a frame and then top it with laminate (like the skinny planet boxes you see at a lot of parks nowadays)? The thing is it has to stand up to repeated abuse from human weight, so I would imagine creating a solid foundation to hold it in place is key. And that's done through ballast, be it through a heavy base material or packing the base deep in snow...

 

[BurtonAvenger]

Sounds like you're trying to do what Jibs for Cribs has done for years.

 

[hi452]

I would think so - again, don't have much experience building them. Not trying to keep you a hard time either ! :thumbsup: I would maybe re-phrase your thread to rail building - I think there's some folks on here who have done it.

I sometimes help out my local park crew moves rails and they're goddawfully awkward most of the time. Minimum two people needed to move around a mid-sized rail, and that's not even to pick it up, its sliding it across the snow AND downhill usually.

Does it have to be a metal rail? Or could you use wood to create a frame and then top it with laminate (like the skinny planet boxes you see at a lot of parks nowadays)? The thing is it has to stand up to repeated abuse from human weight, so I would imagine creating a solid foundation to hold it in place is key. And that's done through ballast, be it through a heavy base material or packing the base deep in snow...

I also have no experience building them. I want to know what to build at this point, then look how to build them. You have given me many paths to venture down. I shall look into them. Thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot.:thumbsup:

Sounds like you're trying to do what Jibs for Cribs has done for years.

To a point, yes. But you see in every design on the planet, there is room for improvement. I am going with the same principle that they should be available to everyday people, and be able to be used by them. I mean a commercial style rail from what I hear is a pain to handle, not making it very user friendly. Would I be correct saying that?

 

[Rookie09]

Did you ask this question on yahoo answers? I saw a question almost exactly like this like a day or two ago as I was browsing but since there were no details I just skipped it.

 

[BurtonAvenger]

Have fun getting around their patents to be on a level to compete with what they have.

 

[Deacon]

I would think so - again, don't have much experience building them. Not trying to keep you a hard time either ! :thumbsup: I would maybe re-phrase your thread to rail building - I think there's some folks on here who have done it.

I sometimes help out my local park crew moves rails and they're goddawfully awkward most of the time. Minimum two people needed to move around a mid-sized rail, and that's not even to pick it up, its sliding it across the snow AND downhill usually.

Does it have to be a metal rail? Or could you use wood to create a frame and then top it with laminate (like the skinny planet boxes you see at a lot of parks nowadays)? The thing is it has to stand up to repeated abuse from human weight, so I would imagine creating a solid foundation to hold it in place is key. And that's done through ballast, be it through a heavy base material or packing the base deep in snow...

To make it out of wood, and yet sturdy and stable enough to support repeated uses, it would likely not be any lighter than a well made metal rail. Something with a relatively thin wall steel tube with a welded-on mounting flange than would attach with wingnuts or something similar to a collapsible aluminum frame would probably yield your best results. The steel rail then could nest (two 5' sections to give an eight foot rail) and have either a through-bolt or one of those spring loaded buttons. :dunno:

 

[hi452]

Have fun getting around their patents to be on a level to compete with what they have.

Where there is a will there is a way.