How to Anchor Down a Trampoline

When is a trampoline not a trampoline?  When it’s caught by a wind and sent hurtling across the lawn and onto a neighbor’s property; then it’s something of an unguided missile.  In a case in Texas, a thunderstorm blew a trampoline over the backyard fence, across a street, where it hit a neighbor’s car, causing somewhere between $1500 and $2000 dollars worth of damage.  The inevitable wrangling over responsibility occurred next; the car didn’t have coverage, the neighbor’s home insurance company called it an act of nature and no fault or negligence of the neighbors.  While refusing to accept responsibility, the insurance company, as a “good will” gesture, offered to pay out $500.  There were two simple solutions to the problem: The trampoline could have been removed from the backyard when the weather became windy (an impractical suggestion for most people) or it could have been anchored down.  Anchoring down a trampoline is a fairly easy and inexpensive process, and clearly it could avoid the messiness of the situation above.  To anchor down your trampoline, you’ll first need a trampoline anchor down kit.

An anchor down kit usually includes four heavy-duty and large “cork-screw” skewers or anchors.  Each of these poles include a strong strap with a hook.  Simply attach the four hooks evenly to the frame of the trampoline in order to allow the tension to be distributed equally around the device, then screw the four anchors into the ground, holding the trampoline firmly in place.  This should prevent any high winds from tossing your trampoline about your yard, and certainly prevent it from traveling across the street into your neighbor’s car.  You might note that wind damage to a flying trampoline is not usually covered, so you’re also protecting your initial investment as well as circumventing any damage to others.

The cost of an anchor down kit for trampolines is relatively inexpensive — in most cases, about twenty-five to thirty dollars.  Considering the hassles one might face in a thunderstorm or strong wind without an anchor down kit, and the peace of mind you might achieve with one, it’s well worth the price.