How to Install a Tubular Playground Slide

Collect all the tools that will be required to complete the installation. Lay all the components on the ground about 15 feet from the actual installation site. Identify all components to avoid errors during installation. Choose your installation site as well as the direction the slide will face when it has been fully assembled. Consider the terrain, as well as other factors such as power lines, driveways and other child-related concerns before installing the tube slide.

Assemble the the entrance way of your tube slide by connecting both entrance halves together. The tube is made up of two half-tube sections. Make sure the flanged lip is mated neatly against the flat lip. At each alignment hole (mounting hole), attach a 5/16-inch by 3/4-inch hex head bolt, then two 5/16-inch flat washers followed by a 5/16-inch lock nut. Hand-tighten the nuts only.Once the tube halves are connected, repeat the process with the middle and exit sections of the slide.

Attach the slide mounting plate to the entrance section by inserting the mounting bolts through the alignment holes. Use four 5/16-inch by 1-inch hex head bolts, then four 5/16-inch flat washers followed by four 5/16-inch lock nuts. Hand-tighten the nuts.

Attach a 90-degree bend tube section to the downstream entrance section of your slide. Rotate the 90-degree section sideways (so that the tube curves to the right), then secure into place at each alignment hole with a 5/16-inch hex bolt, two 5/16-inch washers, plus a 5/16-inch lock nut. Hand-tighten the nuts.

Connect the remaining tubing sections by rotating each subsequent section 90 degrees from the previous section (to create a continuous curve). Mount the slide runoff (slide exit) to the last section of the tube. Use a hex bolt, washer and lock nut on each alignment hole. Firmly tighten all nuts previously attached.

Position the tube to the entrance of the playground activity center with help from an assistant. Hold the tube in place. Use the mounting plate as a guide and mark all the mounting hole locations with permanent marker onto the activity center. Remove the slide. Drill through the activity center frame to create two 3/8-inch mounting holes at the top two hole locations marked. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes in all the remaining marked locations.

Attach the slide to the activity center by securing the mounting plate corners with a 5/16-inch by 2 1/2-inch lag bolt and a 5/16-inch washer. Secure the slide at the top two holes using 5/16-inch by 2 1/2-inch hex bolts with washers and locking nuts. Secure the remaining eight holes using 5/16-inch by 1 1/2-inch lag bolts and washers.

Built a slide support using 2-inch by 4-inch boards. Three will be 20 inches long, two will be 91/4-inches long, and one will be 7-inch long. Use one 20-inch board at the bottom of the support, with the two remaining 20-inch boards lying on each side of the middle board. Place the two 7-inch boards standing upright on end in the exact middle of the bottom board. Lay both 91/4-inch boards on either side of the upright middle board. Using galvanized nails 10-D in size, nail all boards together tightly.

Attach the support bracket to the wooden slide support by using two 5/16-inch by 1 1/2-inch lag bolts, Place the wooden support beneath the slide, determine its final position and attach it to the flat lip by unscrewing the corresponding nut and bolt, then re-screwing it through the bracket and lip. Tighten all bolts on the slide. Level the ground around the slide.