tjangi

i really need help here. my kids 7 and 4 yr old want a swing set. After many searches i found one for usd 3 incl tax, del and set up. its a very good quality.

is this too expensive? are the kids going to use it enough? how many of you have swing sets? i am so undecided on this purchase.

any feedback on pros and cons are welcome... tks everyone

slvr993

I assume you mean $3K. I spent $4K in 2001 - I have an inner child issue. At the time my kids were 8, 6, and 4. They got a lot of use out of it. It had a fort on top and thats really what got the use, followed by the swings. It was the Porsche of swing sets I must say. We just got rid of it last month so we got 8 years out of it. Along the way I had a 4th child so that helped extend the use. We replaced it with a trampoline and I can say that so far they use that a whole lot more.

Enjoy
Jeff

RallyJon

Creative Playthings are traditional, but quite nice.

Rainbow has more avant-garde designs, but also great quality.

And go here if you're insane: http://www.danielswoodland.com/

$3k should get you a very good, four swing, playhouse, slide, climbing wall, etc. setup made from cedar or redwood.

AOW162435

We spent around $4,500 on a nice Rainbow setup. I cleared and leveled an area in the 'woods' for it. Don't forget mulch - I easily spent more than $1,000 for 'clean' rubber mulch.


Andreas

rich c4s

When our kids where 6 & 4 we got a TP set. They loved it! They are very big in England, where its too wet for wood. After 10 years we sent it to friends with younger children.... and it still looked like new. What is nice about steel is no splinters or creoste (sp).

http://www.tptoys.com/OutdoorToys/Ca...imbing-Frames/

007DT

Dude way off topic.... But being a Dad, I'll play... I bought the Disney set from Hoe depot.. It had killer instructions but takes time to set-up if you to it yourself. One really cool thing is that it has Timber Wraps which cover the large 4X4 beams.

2 additional recommendations...

1. Use pea gravel. A little more $$ but it lasts forever and is cleaner than most alternatives.
2. If you get this set-up or similar, cement the beams into the ground to make it more stable when Dad tries it out..

tjangi

i love this forum... its so open minded... many thanks for all the help... i guess i should just do it...

rennlist membership usd 100... shwingset usd 3 k... watching your kids jump for joy... priceless....

Allen

Whatever you get...if it costs more than $24.95...hire someone to put it together...trust me on this one!

tjangi

true dat

993Brendan

Waaaaaaaay off topic, but extremely on topic at my house. We have a 16 month old who loves to go to the park and swing, so I'm sure something like this is in our future. I was amazed at how much they cost, but next to what I've put into the 993 and the ability to put a smile on someone's face other than my own, it is cheap....

clubrcr

Come on guys. I bought one at Costco and put it together myself. It was a lot of work, but your kids are old enough to help. Let them use the electric screwdrivers and hammers. They will love it and will always remember the time you spent putting it together. Just because we have the money to have it delivered and built, don't forget the memories you'll make and the "hands on" experience the kids will get building it. It's 100% better than a freakin video game!

007DT

^^^ +1 That is why I brought up the fact that the install instructions were great on the one I bought... Very straight forward and very detailed... Although it had 850 screws so it took a while.

Texas993

Go to Sam's or costco. Same stuff for half the price. I have had both - Creative Playthings and Sam's - and there is no major difference except cost.

I had my handyman build my Sam's unit. Just make sure that you factor that into the cost as the wholesale clubs don't offer assembly as a service.

Allen

Personally...I would never let my 4 and 7 year old play on a set that a 4 and 7 year old help build...

993James993

I highly recommend a swingset with a horizontal ladder, a slide, rings and the swing. Both my kids developed incredible upper body strength by playing on the monkey bars. The one I bought years ago was made from zinc coated steel and was set into the ground using ready mix concrete at the four posts. The kids played with it for about 5 years before they outgrew it. It was easy to remove and adjusted for inflation it should cost well under $1K. I'd go this route and put the rest in one of the tax deferred educational accounts.