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Wooden runway construction
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:49 pm
by 1yeldud1
I am considering building a wooden elevated runway to p/v on. Does anyone have experience on the construction and material selection for building this setup. Treated, non-treated, plywood, paint or seal any information would be very much appreciated
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:54 pm
by Lord of the Poles
I've ran on some, if that counts
I wouldn't be able to tell you what they made it out of though...looked like 2x4's for support...hell, I don't even know what 2x4s are, so don't listen to me
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:23 pm
by rainbowgirl28
Rick Baggett has a great model for a runway. You should email him at
baggettpv@aol.com and ask him about it.
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:53 pm
by lonestar
PVJUNKIE is the kingdaddy of runway construction, but his plans are top secret! Unless of course you have the Benjamins and a few Coors Lights to coax his superfast runway secrets out of him!?!
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:59 am
by zack
All you gotta do is get some nice blue U of I mondo and glue it down real good.
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:14 am
by PVJunkie
3/4" plywood, 2x4 crossers on side spaced 12" on center with the very first one (on one end only) extending out 1/2 its width to allow the next section to be attached. NO YOU DO NOT NEED ANY MORE SUPPORT THAN THAT - I PROMISE. I used 2x8 rails (could be done lighter w "I" beam floor joists or trusses. I used untreated lumber (saved a ton of $$) and treated each section w/thompsons water seal (took a 5 gal bucket but still way cheaper than treated lumber). THEN comes the important part..........WHATEVER surface you put down needs to be secure (not necc glued). If you watch the rubber shift under your feet on a board runway you will know what I mean. Contact cement is KING.......I have tried tons of adhesives and at $13 a gallon, apply with a roller, contact cement will take care of all the problems I had with all the other adhesives. THEN once its glued run a bead of chalk down the side of the rubber to help prevent it from rolling.
Have fun campers................it took me one complete weekend and less than $800 to bulid this (of course i got the rollout/mondo for free).
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:10 pm
by smokinvaulter1
Papa Smurfs runway is smokin fast and its easy to move and very quick to set up, Its not very heavy but its really strong there are no soft spots and it looks good too.. $800 is hard to beat for a rumway as good as that one.
anyone know?
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:54 am
by skyshark177
Anyone know where to buy I-joist's for making a wooden runway?
Re: anyone know?
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:33 am
by achtungpv
skyshark177 wrote:Anyone know where to buy I-joist's for making a wooden runway?
Home Depot. I believe they call it manufactured lumber.
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:01 pm
by rainbowgirl28
^bump
Great thread
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:40 pm
by 1yeldud1
Have seen PVJunkies runnways and they are fast - had an opportunity to travel to Arkansas to vault and got to see AVC Coach's runnway that he had in Hot Springs. That Morry is a fanatic as far as the construction of his runnways every cut and screw were PERFECT. Both of these runnways were GREAT examples of what to build into a runnway. As far as the "mondo" - is there a "used" sorce for this material or is it an item that will need to be purchased "new".
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:28 am
by 2-15-46
MINE IS MADE OF 2X4, 16" CENTERS, 4X8 PLYWOOD 3/4 INCH, CDX, PAINTED WITH OIL BASE DECK PAINT WITH NOT SKID COMPOSITION MIXED IN, CONTRUCTED WITH GLUE AND 3 INCH SCREWS, CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH PLYWOOD 4"X12"3/4" PEICES AT THE JOINT OF EACH PANEL , SHIMMED WHERE NEEDED FOR LEVEL.......WORKS GREAT AND IS PORTABLE. PUT THE BOX IN THE FRON PANEL 3 INCHES FROM THE FRON WITH A DOUBLE 2X4 AND 2X4 SUROUNDING THE BOX UNDER NEATH....
WOULD RECOMMEND WOLMANIZED 2X4S.