Our “tween” son has recently started taking parkour classes and absolutely loves it. All of the vaulting, tumbling, and jumping also gives him some decent exercise (unlike his other favorite pastime – Xbox). So I decided to build him some DIY parkour vault boxes so he can have some dedicated equipment to practice on at home (instead of our couches or tables).

These DIY parkour vault box plans are designed to have the top at 36″, which is perfect for practicing wall climbs and some of the vaults as he advances in skill (and grows taller). They also have a side with a grab rail at 32″ high to provide some versatility as his repertoire of skills and techniques expands. I’ll also be building him a simple 24″ parkour vault box for practicing lower vaults, and some basic box jumps. Those plans will be coming soon!

Materials

• 5 – 2x4s @ 8′
• 2 – 4×8 plywood sheets @ 3/4″
• 1 – 30″ steel pipe @ 1″ outside diameter
• Exterior wood glue
• 4″ exterior wood screws
• 2 1/2″ exterior pocket hole screws
• 1 1/2″ exterior wood screws
• Wood plugs (optional)

Tools

• Saws
  • Table saw or circular saw and guide
  • Miter Saw
  • Jig saw (optional)
• Drill / Driver
  • 1″ spade bit
  • countersink bit
• Kreg jig
• Sander and sandpaper

Cutting the pieces

All of the pieces for this DIY parkour vault box are shown with their measurements in the diagram below. The colored pieces are all cut from the 2x4s, while the other pieces are cut from the 3/4″ plywood.

Please ensure to read through the notes below, and ensure that you understand the angles, before beginning your cuts.

Notes:

• All plywood pieces are cut at 20 degrees off square on the edges perpendicular to the 35 1/2″ measurements.
• All angled cuts on the plywood pieces are done parallel to each other EXCEPT for the top piece. These are cut to create the piece with the top more narrow than the bottom.
• All of the 2×4 pieces of the frame assembly are also cut at 20 degrees off square with the exception of the top corners of the 12 3/16″ piece which are cut at 50 degrees off square.
• The six pieces cut to support the steel pipe, and the two 14 3/4″ block pieces (pink color below) also have the top corners cut at 50 degrees off square.
• Drill 1″ holes in four of the six steel bar supports, ensuring the holes are all aligned.

Assembly

Follow the assembly order below, using exterior grade wood glue for all connections.

1. Start by putting together the frame assembly (green), using the 4″ wood screws or pocket hole screws depending on your preference.
2. Add in the 2×4 blocking (purple and pink) using pocket hole screws. Ensure that the outer edges of these pieces are aligned with, or slightly inset from the frame assembly.
3. Glue and screw together two steel bar supports with the hole, then add one of the supports without a hole. Repeat with the remaining three pieces, but ensure the piece without the hole is on the opposite side.
4. Insert the steel bar into the 2×4 support pieces, then attach this assembly to the corresponding piece of plywood, using 1 1/2″ wood screws from underneath.
5. Attach the five plywood face panels using 1 1/2″ wood screws. Ensure to predrill with a countersink bit to allow the screw heads to sit inset from the plywood face.
6. Add in the two side covers, again using 1 1/2″ wood screws countersunk.
7. Plug all exposed screw heads or fill with wood filler.

Now your DIY parkour vault box build is complete, and all you need to do is finish with the paint or stain of your choice after a light sanding.

As always, let us know if you have any questions with the plans. And send us a picture if you use these plans to build your own DIY parkour vault box!

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