DIY MTB Jump

This instructable is on an easy to build mountain bike jump that doesn't need a lot of plywood. You will need experience to use power tools. I made the jump to put on a trail or just move around on the driveway and in the backyard. It doesn't require long of pieces of wood so you can use shorter scrap pieces to build it.

1. One 12 foot 2x6 or scraps
2. two 12 feet 2x4s or scraps
3. Miter or skill saw
4. impact driver with red Robertson bit
5. Jig saw
6. sawzall
7. Two sawhorses
8. scrap pieces of wood for top
9. Tape measurer
10. Flat work surface
11. deck screws. (2-2.5 inch works best)
12. All of these tools and materials can be-

found in Home Depot or any hardware store.

Cut the 12 foot 2x6 in half so you have two six foot lengths. You can also screw two shorter scrap pieces together like I did.

For this jump we will have a 16 foot radius on the runners. To do that screw a short screw into a heavy piece of wood and hook the end of the tape measurer on it, and align both corners to 16 feet. Keep the pencil at 16 feet on the tape and draw a line to the other corner. You should have a nice radius to cut with the jigsaw.

Once you have cut out the radius on the first 2x6, mark with a pencil on the other one to make it equal and cut that one out.

To get the perfect angle for you, hold up one radiused 2x6 to where you feel comfortable jumping off, you can make it steeper or shallower as you like. When you have it where you like it, mark a level line on the bottom to the corner and cut that out. Then using the cut one line that up with the uncut one, trace it and cut that one out the same.

If you want your jump to be three feet wide cut out one piece of 2x4 3 inches short of 3 feet, because both 2x6s add up to three inches. Cut 5 of them out on the miter saw. Using one 2x4, mark roughly where you want the pieces to hold it together (exact placement doesn't matter). Then screw the two together with the 2x4 in the middle keeping both runners square to each other.

To make the legs just measure from the ground to the high corner of one runner at your perfect angle. Then cut a piece or 2x4 that length plus enough to screw into the runners. I would use as many screws that fit for the legs.

To make supports mark out an angle that looks right on both ends of another 2x4 to go to the runner from the bottom of the leg. To do this hold it behind the leg and runner and trace the pencil in between the leg and the runner. Then cut it out. Trace the cut one on another piece so you have two. Finally screw it all together.

To add the top pieces, measure 3 feet on a scrap thin piece and cut that out. Then do it to some more till you have enough to cover the runners. I used a piece of plywood for the bottom because it was thinner and can bend a bit.

The jump was a success and was easy to jump on, the geometry was perfect. But, if I were to make this jump again, I would make the legs stronger and use pressure treated wood so it would last longer outside. If you don't have to much experience jumping mtbs take it easy and get faster and better over time. A tip is to pre run (stop at the top of the lip) rerun (jump off it kind of slow) and then free run (send it). You can jump off the side of the jump to get comfortable at first. Happy trails.