What is a Mobile Climbing Wall?

A mobile climbing wall is a type of rock climbing surface that can be transported to different locations, either by breaking the mobile climbing wall into sections and transporting it in boxes, or by mounting the one-piece unit to a hydraulic lift that is in turn mounted to a large truck. This latter design allows the user to set the mobile climbing wall up anywhere with sufficient space for the truck and the wall, and the set-up and tear-down processes are both quick and easy. Such walls are popular at parties or large events such as carnivals and festivals.

Certain walls designed for home use can be built in such a way that the entire structure can be broken down easily for transport to a new location if necessary, essentially making this type of wall a mobile climbing wall. The wall in this case is usually built from prefabricated panels that can be attached or removed quickly and easily with the correct tools; this design is not as quick and easy as other designs, but it allows for transport of a wall should a homeowner move to a different home and desire to take the wall with him or her to the new location.

The more common mobile climbing wall is the truck-mounted version. These walls are usually built on a steel frame that is mounted to a hydraulic lift, which is in turn mounted to the back of a flatbed truck or similar vehicle. Some mobile climbing wall versions are instead built onto a trailer that can be towed by a large pickup truck or similar vehicle, and the trailer can be released from the truck once the wall is set up. This cuts down on the amount of space taken up by the wall and the truck, as the truck can be parked off site instead of supporting the wall on-site.

All mobile climbing wall units feature holes through which the climbing holds can be secured. The pattern of the climbing route can be altered easily by moving holds to different holds on the wall, which allows the owner or user of the wall to customize different routes for climbers of differing ability levels. The top of the wall features climbing anchors through which ropes can be run; this allows a person to belay the climber on the wall, or support the other end of the rope in case the climber falls.