Any ideas for an exterior mounted pull up bar?

[Tjat]

I'm looking to build/buy a pull up bar to mount outside on an exterior wall off my house. I'm 6'3 with a wide wind span, so my 8' ceilings aren't going to cut it and I've injured myself in the past trying to squeeze into the ones that hang on a door frame. So, my thoughts are

- must be durable for leaving outside in all 4 seasons (some maintenance is acceptable...replacing grip tape if needed etc)
- primarily interested in straight bar, but ideally would have flexibility to do neutral grip as well (hands facing one another)
- not hideous/massive (per my wife)

Anyone ever do anything like this or have ideas? I'd think some type of bracket and a bar wouldnt be too complex, but google seems to be failing me.

[Choices]

Is there any way you could build something like this? Do you have a playground with one nearby? Monkey bars would work for neutral grips.

http://www.rehabmart.com/product/triple-horizontal-bar-playground-equipment-24443.html

[Bracken_Joy]

We have found gymnastics rings as a good pullup bar alternative, and gives a lot more play in height/placement/anchoring, IME. Just a consideration =)

[gggggg]

When I was at our state's highway patrol school, they had home built some pullup bars out of two 8x8x* posts. Hole drilled in each post at top, steel bar put between the posts, similar idea to what Julie posted. It was left outside for years. The wife could hang some plants on it when not in use maybe? lol

[Tjat]

Is there any way you could build something like this? Do you have a playground with one nearby? Monkey bars would work for neutral grips.

http://www.rehabmart.com/product/triple-horizontal-bar-playground-equipment-24443.html

I've been told this idea would qualify as "hideous." However, that discussion did result in us deciding to utilize somewhat of a nook in our kid's playroom that has a really high ceiling (cape style house). So I can now get a normal wall mounted bar INSIDE the house. :)

[BudgetSlasher]

What is outside like? Is there a deck with joists you can mount to? Or maybe in a spot in the garage (if you have one and it has higher ceilings)?

I would look at fitting together something out of iron pipe (black or galvanized), but you still need a place to anchor it.

[WranglerBowman]

I strapped a iron bar between 2 trees with ratchet straps.  It's been there for 2 years and I use it just about every other day.  The ratchet straps will start to UV rot so they should probably be replaced every 2-3 years and ratchet straps should be adjusted at the end of each year as the trees grow.  Sounds like the 2 posts and a bar is a good idea too.  Any post 4x4 and up should more than work for the application.

[GuitarStv]

I've DIY'd three pull up bars over the years:

- Three foot length of galvanized steel pipe, thread a length of rope through it and tie either end of the rope securely to rafters/tree branches outside.  Disadvantage: when you're doing pullups it kinda sways back and forth a bit, which I found quite annoying (especially for weighted pullups).

- Cut two lengths of 2x4 about two foot long.  Drill a hole in each piece of 2x4 that's the same size as the length of pipe.  Stick the pipe in between the pieces of wood, and then screw everything to basement rafters.  Worked pretty well, but eventually it developed a little wobble.

- Same setup as #2, but I added several additional pieces of scrap lumber to better stabilize the bar.



A pull-up bar is pretty simple and cheap to make, you just need to look at the area you've got and figure out a way to hang it.

[sandmaninator]

I wanted my chin-up bar to be handy / easy to access before or after I get out of the shower. So I mounted it in the bedroom closet which has just enough room.
It is two really big angle iron/brackets screwed to the closet door frame studs. Then, a wooden hand railing secured to the brackets.
Almost two years in, I've probably done a total of ....maybe 70 pull ups (4 at a time is about my limit) . Seems to be holding up pretty well.
But I need to use it more!

[Cromacster]

http://www.roguefitness.com/p3-pullup-system

Not the cheapest option, but you could also build something similar.

[Syonyk]

Posting to follow.

I'm considering adding a pullup bar to my office outside wall as well, for similar reasons.  I've got a set of cinderblocks I do pushups on, and pullups would be good for me as well.

I've looked at those bar supports (you can get them on eBay for less, though not as nice), but I hadn't thought about just going with some shelf hangers... there are heavy duty ones that are rated for a few hundred pounds each.  Anchor those well into a sheet of plywood, then secure the plywood to my exterior wall... hm...

[Clean Shaven]

Google "threaded pipe pullup bar" and check out the images.  Should give some ideas; easy to build with Home Depot parts.  Galvanized pipe should hold up well outdoors.