The Anti-Gravity Jumper

Remember those great baby contraptions, your parents would hook up to the door frame, and you'd bounce around for hours? Johnny jumpers! Well I made the big boy version today...it's johnny jumpers--all grown up. Ever want the feeling of being nearly weightless...or be able to have an extra long hang time? Read on...

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Step 1: What you'll need

-two five gallon buckets (edit:was using five gallon buckets and found they aren't strong enough, a bucket like the red one we used is better)
-about 100 feet of rope
-a trampoline (optional)
-a harness of some sort (we have a deer stand harness we used)
-weights (like weightlifting weights)
-chain, or a little extra rope
-two pulleys

We had this rigged up in the barn before, both are fun, the barn you get more vertical action and less floaty feeling, over the trampoline it's more of a floaty feel. Both are plenty of fun you'l just have to see what works best for you.

ventifact says: May 3, 2012. 7:57 AM

Sorry to be a Grinch but I worry that a bucket handle will yank off and jerk the jumper sideways off the trampoline.

machoturtle (author) in reply to ventifactMay 4, 2012. 4:22 AM

very good thought...actually that happened to the five gallon bucket, it didn't hurt anybody just gave em a good tug.

Pfarmkid in reply to machoturtleJun 29, 2012. 6:06 AM

you could pour quick-crete in the bucket then once it sets drill an i-hook into the top so you don't have to worry about the handle

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noahw in reply to ventifactMay 3, 2012. 4:17 PM

This project is awesome!

ventifact - I share your concern, but it can be solved with a simple modification of the system - positioning the pulleys directly above the jumper would be safer so that at worst, you simply fall back down to the trampoline.

machoturtle - great idea and execution on this project. I used to love to Jolly Jumper as a kid, I will now make this as an adult. If only I was small enough to still do this in a doorway.

machoturtle (author) in reply to noahwMay 4, 2012. 4:23 AM

great post a pic if you get it made! i did realize the more vertical the ropes the better it helps the jumper go higher, just make sure the weighted buckets are far enough away from your head.

codongolev in reply to noahwMay 3, 2012. 1:21 PM

I believe that our system at work (I work for an inflatables company that has one of these) has a single cable that attaches through pulleys to create a triangle that the rider is hanging at the bottom of. this might be better because if something breaks you'd fall straight down instead of to the side.

codongolev in reply to codongolevMay 3, 2012. 1:23 PM

I just noticed the use of weights. (I need to read more carefully instead of just looking at pictures!) regardless, I think it could be implemented so that if one part breaks the whole thing goes instead of yanking the rider somewhere. perhaps have the triangle with another pulley pulling the top bit? I don't know anymore, I'm confusing myself.

omalachowski in reply to ventifactMay 3, 2012. 11:16 AM

How 'bout just a duffel bag or other strong bag holding rocks? It's only 45-100 pounds, should be able to find something to hold it.

machoturtle (author) in reply to omalachowskiMay 4, 2012. 4:25 AM

yep thats how i made my first version and it worked good!

Kayoken says: May 4, 2012. 6:15 AM

Better yet, buy the trampoline and dont add every spring to it allowing it to have a bit more give. Safer and less likely to throw you into a death spiral

Exocetid says: May 3, 2012. 5:24 PM

I hate to be the old fart who throws cold water, but...

...use helmets.

...think of a better, possibly commercial harness. The kid in the picture probably has nothing to worry about at his age, but later that same harness may give a nasty pinch in a place that you do not want pinched.

...consider strengthening the bucket bail or adding a safety rope just in case it seperates.

machoturtle (author) in reply to ExocetidMay 4, 2012. 4:21 AM

yep good point

hammer9876 says: May 3, 2012. 6:10 PM

Makes me want to go get a trampoline. I'd have to use lead weights in the buckets, though. Congratulations on be Featured!

machoturtle (author) in reply to hammer9876May 4, 2012. 4:20 AM

yeah lead weight is a good idea

professor sparky says: May 3, 2012. 11:54 PM

I love the the anti-gravity jumper!! bigger the better I think. Surely the point is to have fun and excitement, if you enter a death spiral or the handle drops off, it would be even more exciting!!!!!!
keep up the good work!!

codongolev says: May 3, 2012. 1:17 PM

this looks fantastic. I work for an inflatables company, and we have one of the commercial versions of this and it's a huge hit all the time. (granted, it's awful to run, because for safety reasons we have to adjust the bungee cord strength according to every individual's weight, which takes tons of time.)

BtheBike says: May 3, 2012. 12:38 PM

i might add a helmet jic . very cool

omalachowski says: May 3, 2012. 11:14 AM

Love it! We did something like this when we were kids, but to do it with the trampoline is inspired!

The simple version we did as kids is like a see-saw. One pulley, two kids of roughly the same size, each holds an end. Jump to catch the rope and send the other kid up. Watch your fingers near the pulley!

sitearm says: May 3, 2012. 7:29 AM

@Machoturtle; Hi! Wanna wanna wanna see a video! Cheers : ) Site

TSC says: May 2, 2012. 4:40 AM

This is cool!

diyer8 says: Apr 30, 2012. 12:02 PM

I'd love to try that :-)

3ddementor says: Apr 27, 2012. 1:07 AM

wow, how high can you jump?

machoturtle (author) in reply to 3ddementorApr 27, 2012. 6:20 AM

you can jump about 3' but you feel weightless...with the one pulley/one bucket system you can jump about 5' to 6' high (i'm gonna post how to make that one later one, so if your interested you can follow me)