I plan on building a campus board/system wall and would like to get some ideas and suggestions on some key factors. I plan on putting this up in my backyard(non-covered). I'd like to get some info on the materials, how to go about making them/planning, dimensions, tools needed, cost of materials, and any cutting-edge design ideas?

I'm thinking of an A-Frame design and wood materials only. I don't have any welding tools and steel structure/frame is expensive.

Any help is gladly appreciated! Also, I live in Broomfield, CO and if anyone lives nearby and would like to help out and has experience of making them, I could sure use your expertise and trade you with food/booze/friendship!

the training forum is the place to go for great advice...

but as I am planning to build one myself I will give you my ideas. Standard thickness for the ply wood is 3/4inch. The easiest freestanding structure to build is a right triangle frame with your climbing surface connecting the two frames. adding a 1-2ft footer section will help a lot with getting the most out of you space. the angle that you climb on/campus on is the difficult thing. I do a little welding so I am going to make my frame adjustable with collapsible uprights I can adjust height wall angle and make the setup slightly more portable. to do this I am going to bolt/weld hinges from the frame for the wall to the tubing of the footer. it should not add too mush extra cost or time to construct but provide a big pay off in a variable angle. I think most campus walls are at around 30 degrees. system workout angles are more dependent on your level of fitness and the type of hold or brand. I have seen a lot of system walls that are roughly 15 degrees. hope that helps, for the record I planing on getting the DRCC system holds with some extra slopers and pinches thrown in and fashioning my own campus rungs and an adjustable bolt on crack.