Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Backyard swingset/slide/playgrounds. Whatcha got? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Otis
- Start date
Wooderson
Fight The Power
Got this one last year. It was a bear to build but it's been great.
http://m.costco.ca/Cedar-Summit-â%C2%84¢-Mount-Forest-Lodge-Play-Set-.product.100107986.html
http://m.costco.ca/Cedar-Summit-â%C2%84¢-Mount-Forest-Lodge-Play-Set-.product.100107986.html
Otis
Footballguy
That ain't cheap, but looks nice. Also looks like a nightmare to put together. How long did that take you?
How's it holding up so far in the elements? Look like it'll last a while?
Last edited by a moderator:
bostonfred
Footballguy
Fyi, you need to get help putting this together. If you finish building this alone in one day it will be a miracle.
Wooderson
Fight The Power
It took my old man and myself 3 days about 6 hours a day. Didn't want to work in the hot part of the day.
It's been good so far but my kids are only 1.5 so they havent been that tough on it yet. We use it almost everyday.
bostonfred
Footballguy
Wat? You bought that and put it together for one year olds?
Wooderson
Fight The Power
Yeah I know I know. But it was on sale at Costco. My dad was going to be in town to help. And we wanted to have s swing set for them. All these factors made me decide to go for it. It's been great they use the swings and play in the bottom part. When they turn two I'll put the slide snd ladder on. I just didn't want to get a cheaper swing set only to get this in a few years.
Last edited by a moderator:
Otis
Footballguy
bostonfred
Footballguy
For what it's worth, no matter how much you pay or how fun it looks in the store, once they've played with it and cycled from swings to ladder to playhouse to slide and back around the horn a few times, it will boggle your ####### mind that they aren't bored with it. Every single time. After experiencing this, I don't feel nearly as bad about leaving goldfish in a bowl with nothing but a toy sunken ship their whole lives.
Otis
Footballguy
Surprised by this. One of my reservations has been that the thing will be old and boring in a month and never get use and I'll be annoyed we have this expensive monstrosity of an eyesore that nobody uses taking up half the yard.
whiskey7
Footballguy
We have the Gorilla Chateau II with wood top on the clubhouse. Took my stepdad, BIL, and I about 7 hours last summer. Instructions were good and each piece is labelled. Easy assembly, IMO. Just takes a while. Very solid and my son loves it.
Last edited by a moderator:
NutterButter
Footballguy
My kids hardly use our costco model. The tire swing has been a big hit though and that only cost me like 20 bucks.
bostonfred
Footballguy
How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.
lumpy19
Footballguy
We bought ours at Sam's Club for 1800 bucks. Took me about 3 weeks to assemble myself mostly at night in the garage. Best investment we've made for the kids....they use the crap out of it.
We got it when my daughter was 2.5 and used it as incentive for potty training.
I power washed it and restained it last year(it was only 2 years old but the factory stain was garbage) looks brand new again.
We got it when my daughter was 2.5 and used it as incentive for potty training.
I power washed it and restained it last year(it was only 2 years old but the factory stain was garbage) looks brand new again.
Otis
Footballguy
Wooderson
Fight The Power
I figured I'll have to restain mine after a couple years as well. But that's not that hard.
Wooderson
Fight The Power
Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.
whiskey7
Footballguy
+1
We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.
NutterButter
Footballguy
I think the whole swingset concept is a bigger hit if you have boys. And make sure you buy a socket adapter for you drill. Using a drill to tighten all the bolts saves a lot of time.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
I bought this a few years ago. My dad and BIL helped one day, and then it took me parts of two additional days for assembly.
Problem with these cedar sets is that cedar is pretty soft. I've hit that outrigger piece a few times with the mower and it just takes a chunk right out of it.
Kids love this thing, especially with "3 levels". Doubles as a fort where they hang out. Problem is that I had to build a floor for it, because it would have been impossible to keep the grass cut down at the bottom.
Problem with these cedar sets is that cedar is pretty soft. I've hit that outrigger piece a few times with the mower and it just takes a chunk right out of it.
Kids love this thing, especially with "3 levels". Doubles as a fort where they hang out. Problem is that I had to build a floor for it, because it would have been impossible to keep the grass cut down at the bottom.
Hawks64
Footballguy
We bought the Costco one when our kids were 5 and 3, sold it on CL last summer for about half what we paid and was in great shape. It was a ##### to put up though, not sure it's in your wheelhouse though. May need to drop a bunch of cash for someone to put it together for you.
-jb-
Footballguy
Bought a house with a Rainbow already in the yard. We have a lot of guests over so it gets used a pretty good amount. For my kids, the younger one really likes it (he's two) and the other doesn't give two ####s. He just wants to play sports so I'm cool with it.
If you entertain, it's well worth the dough. Otherwise, meh.
I'm looking forward to tearing it out to make room for my hot tub. Then we'll rip that out in seven years for some other passing phase.
If you entertain, it's well worth the dough. Otherwise, meh.
I'm looking forward to tearing it out to make room for my hot tub. Then we'll rip that out in seven years for some other passing phase.
Otis
Footballguy
gianmarco
Footballguy
Last edited by a moderator:
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
We have a pretty sizeable Amish community north of us. Quite a few of them have their stuff marketed through third parties in the area, which is where we bought ours. Had it assembled in our yard -- they did a great job. Very well-built stuff. Can easily hold adults on the ladder and in the clubhouse area. All we've done is seal it. i have no worries about it outlasting my kids' interest in it. I strongly recommend looking for something similar.
As far as useage, the kids use the crap out of it. I agree with the posters above about parks. We have a couple really close to us and one has some amazing playground equipment. We wear it out on the weekends. But during the week or on the weekends when we don't have time to pack-up and head to the park? Having it right out back can't be beat. The kids can run around and play while I'm grilling or washing the cars. It's great. They absolutely love it. Well worth the investment, IMO.
As far as useage, the kids use the crap out of it. I agree with the posters above about parks. We have a couple really close to us and one has some amazing playground equipment. We wear it out on the weekends. But during the week or on the weekends when we don't have time to pack-up and head to the park? Having it right out back can't be beat. The kids can run around and play while I'm grilling or washing the cars. It's great. They absolutely love it. Well worth the investment, IMO.
TheGooRoo
Footballguy
Bought this one 1.5 years ago at BJ's.
http://www.bjs.com/gorilla-playsets-savannah-ii-swing-set.product.230602?cm_vc=Featured_Homepage&intv_id=71021&catalogId=10001&cm_cr=Featured_Homepage-_-Web+Activity-_-Homepage+Featured+Products+Section-_-HomePageESpot_13-_-230602&mpe_id=10051&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10201&ddkey=http:ClickInfo
Budget was around 2k, was on sale for 1699 and paid 400 to have it professionally installed. Installation took 3 guys (pros) approximately 8 hours. Pay for the install imo, it's absolutely not worth the headache and time (would have taken me weeks probably). As far as bang for your buck, it was the best I could find. 2 sandboxes, picnic table, tower, climb net, rock wall, twisty slide, regular slide, swings, clatter bridge, tic tac toe thing...can't find a set with all that #### for under 2k.
http://www.bjs.com/gorilla-playsets-savannah-ii-swing-set.product.230602?cm_vc=Featured_Homepage&intv_id=71021&catalogId=10001&cm_cr=Featured_Homepage-_-Web+Activity-_-Homepage+Featured+Products+Section-_-HomePageESpot_13-_-230602&mpe_id=10051&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10201&ddkey=http:ClickInfo
Budget was around 2k, was on sale for 1699 and paid 400 to have it professionally installed. Installation took 3 guys (pros) approximately 8 hours. Pay for the install imo, it's absolutely not worth the headache and time (would have taken me weeks probably). As far as bang for your buck, it was the best I could find. 2 sandboxes, picnic table, tower, climb net, rock wall, twisty slide, regular slide, swings, clatter bridge, tic tac toe thing...can't find a set with all that #### for under 2k.
Last edited by a moderator:
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
My girls are both 8-10 and they still use our play set every single time they're outside. Of the countless thousands we've spent on them, $ for $, the play set might be the best money we've ever spent.
Otis
Footballguy
The Big Guy
Fear the Blitz
The only thing that I can add is that while mine does use the heck out of the one that we bought too, is to get much bigger and better anchor stakes to go into the ground then what comes with the kit. Ours laughed at Hurricane Sandy and I live very near the big damage areas in NJ.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
waste of money
and annoying when the neighbor kids come over and either get hurt on it or break your stuff.
it will never get used anyway
and annoying when the neighbor kids come over and either get hurt on it or break your stuff.
it will never get used anyway
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Quit trying to make your kids childhood magical
Fat Nick
Footballguy
I just gave away a HUGE swingset, and we have a 9-month old. My logic? The old swingset was here from the previous owner. I took it down 4 years ago and stored it under the deck, and now I'm redoing the deck. The old swing was in decent shape, but I just didn't feel like storing it or putting it up. The next one I get will be MUCH smaller. The kid has 2+ acres of yard. I'll buy him a simple one, and he can go play in the yard. Plenty to do, and it won't take forever to get rid of the next one.
Brony
Footballguy
Same year, just a year younger though. The house we bought had a well worn playset in the backyard and I've been too cheap to buy a new one and I secretly want this one to go away so that we can expand the patio. The thing is tilted about 5 to 10 degrees (well anchored though), but the kids have used it consistently for 7 years straight, probably just to spite me.
We got something similar to this http://www.bergfeldrecreation.com/playset.asp?ID=3312 Not sure if there is a Bergfeld Recreation company in NY but this place was great. They did the assembly. My 2 boys used the heck out of this thing. Loved that we could sit on the deck and watch them run around and play. My youngest probably used it more. He is way more creative than my olders on.
Also, my wife is not so sure of my ability to assemble things that involve our kid climbig and swinging on them
Which is why we got the assembly from the company.
Rainbow is another well known playground maker. Look there as well.
Also, my wife is not so sure of my ability to assemble things that involve our kid climbig and swinging on them
Which is why we got the assembly from the company.Rainbow is another well known playground maker. Look there as well.
Lehigh98
Footballguy
Check Craigslist for people moving who are trying to get a couple extra bucks for their swing sets. We got a set that retailed for over $5000 and was about 2-3 years old for $1000. They also threw in some long rubber retaining blocks that we used to enclose the swingset area and put down playground mulch. I had to go to their house, disassemble, move to my house, and put it back together (after I powerwashed as well) but it was totally worth it. Borrowed my FIL's truck and trailer and was able to move in fairly large pieces so wasn't too much trouble to put back together. Took us a couple days though.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Otis
Footballguy
Hawks64
Footballguy
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
I agree -- cedar is better than the vinyl, but get redwood if you can afford it. We snagged a display model and knocked 10% off the purchase price and got the installation thrown in for free, but we purchased in the off season (December) when moving inventory was much more important to the reseller.
Random
Footballguy
We got this set at Sams club about 5 years ago. Its held up exceptionally well. We refinished it last spring and it looks like new. Our kids (and neighbor kids) use it pretty much every time they are outside.
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/rainbow-all-american-kingdom-swing-set/190179.ip
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/rainbow-all-american-kingdom-swing-set/190179.ip
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
I imagine it will wear/fade in the sun and look like crap. With the wood ones, you at least have the option to stain it, which you will have to do every few years.
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
This. Cedar and redwood hold-up really well to bugs and the elements without having chemicals injected into them, significantly longer than treated pine, but you still have to maintain them to realize the life expectancy of the set. I think most people that gripe about their wood decks, fencing, playsets, etc. deteriorating too fast have failed to maintain them properly. Wood is great, but it definitely isn't a zero-maintenance product.
James Daulton
Footballguy
We put one together when my kids were young and they used it for several years. Felt like we got our moneys worth out of it. It helps if you're wiling to climb around and play and swing with them.
One thing we did that was a huge hit for a long time was put a really awesome tree swing in our yard. I attached the swing to a branch like 40ft up so the roap was really long and had a massive swing radius. The kids and their friends spent tons of hours on that thing.
On the downside, if one of kids had fallen off at the highest point of the arc, they probably would have been killed (or at least had their back broken). But they managed to escape serious injury and it really developed their grip strength!
One thing we did that was a huge hit for a long time was put a really awesome tree swing in our yard. I attached the swing to a branch like 40ft up so the roap was really long and had a massive swing radius. The kids and their friends spent tons of hours on that thing.
On the downside, if one of kids had fallen off at the highest point of the arc, they probably would have been killed (or at least had their back broken). But they managed to escape serious injury and it really developed their grip strength!
The Big Guy
Fear the Blitz
Even if this wasn't Otis,I would be so against this that it isn't funny. The weather beating and general wear and tear that kids put on these is not for reuse.These things are like that put together computer desk. You build it once and leave it in one spot and it is fine. Try to disassemble it and move it and it is junk.Otis said:
Similar threads
