Backyard Swingset

[lupi]

Thinking about getting one of those swingsets like you see at Costco/Sams. Have found minimal reviews on them so looking to see if any out there have any experience or things to look for when selecting.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

They are fine, but expensive. Save money. Get one on craigslist. Make any repairs you need to make and save about 90%.

Most people just want them out of their yards. We sold ours for $50 after trying to sell it for a year at $100. If someone said they want it for free, I'd have told them to disassemble it and take it.

Your kids will stop using them at around 6. Then use them on occasion till they are 9. They are a waste of money. Just buy them a bicycle and go to the park when they want a swing set and slide. Shocker ... you are going to do this anyway to provide social interactions for your kids.

 

[DesiPower]

I have neighbors/friends who got them from Costco, lowes and Home depot and some local stores like rainbow. none of then fell apart, all of them are still standing after years of rain and sun. So I guess they are all OK. Everyone got them professionally installed, I don't know anyone who did it themselves.

btw, in very case, different neighborhoods, they had to get HOA permission

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

They are fine, but expensive. Save money. Get one on craigslist. Make any repairs you need to make and save about 90%.

Most people just want them out of their yards. We sold ours for $50 after trying to sell it for a year at $100. If someone said they want it for free, I'd have told them to disassemble it and take it.

Your kids will stop using them at around 6. Then use them on occasion till they are 9. They are a waste of money. Just buy them a bicycle and go to the park when they want a swing set and slide. Shocker ... you are going to do this anyway to provide social interactions for your kids.

TOTALLY agree. It's EXACTLY like any other toy. They will get bored of it and then never touch it again. DONT DO IT.

 

[DesiPower]

I agree with the waste part, kids by themselves will never play with it after a few days, its only when their friends come over, it will be used for a few minutes, after that they will retreat to their video games anyways...

Get a basketball court, flatten a piece of land get it paved and put a hoop, it will be used more.

 

[vi edit]

Check around craigslist/newspaper adds. There are guys who specialize in buying and refurbishing Rainbow playgrounds. A setup from Rainbow will cost $12,000. These guys may charge $2500 and deliver it to your house. Rainbow makes good stuff and is easier to resell should you need to.

The value really comes down to how far you are from a playground. We lived out in the country and my daughter used the crap out of ours when the weather was permitting. Now that I live in town and I'm only a few miles away from some really nice playgrounds, it wasn't as important to have one.

 

[Homerboy]

Just sold mine on CL (7 years old) for $600 bucks.
I think I sold it TOO cheap, I've gotten a MILLION inquiries on it.

If you know how to swing a saw, I recommend building your own.
There are kits that you pick ala carte and then cut and provide your own wood. you save a TON of money and you can get actual quality wood instead of that Rainbow crap.

 

[lupi]

Not worried aout it not getting enough use, and the kits I've seen are in the 400-500 range while I can get one that looks good on sale for $900. I'll take that minor surcharge to have everything pre cut.

Looked through CL, all the ones for sale are in the 2k+ range and there are about as many WTB as FS postings.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Just sold mine on CL (7 years old) for $600 bucks.
I think I sold it TOO cheap, I've gotten a MILLION inquiries on it.

If you know how to swing a saw, I recommend building your own.
There are kits that you pick ala carte and then cut and provide your own wood. you save a TON of money and you can get actual quality wood instead of that Rainbow crap.

$600 for one used? We couldn't give ours away and it was $1K new. You must live in California.

 

[Homerboy]

$600 for one used? We couldn't give ours away and it was $1K new. You must live in California.

Wisconsin.
Was over $1100 in lumber.

 

[DrPizza]

I have neighbors/friends who got them from Costco, lowes and Home depot and some local stores like rainbow. none of then fell apart, all of them are still standing after years of rain and sun. So I guess they are all OK. Everyone got them professionally installed, I don't know anyone who did it themselves.

btw, in very case, different neighborhoods, they had to get HOA permission

Professionally installed? I thought it was a wonderful project to work on with my boys when they were 3 and 4 years old. Make sure the one you build has a 2 story fort. They used the heck out of that thing - club, etc., until they were at least 8 or 9.

To those recommending not to get one, why don't you recommend, "hey, get your kids the latest video game console, for $300 or so. Then a few games at $60 each. Then, in 2 years, get the new game console, and new games. THEN make the argument that the play sets that gets kids outside aren't worth the money.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Professionally installed? I thought it was a wonderful project to work on with my boys when they were 3 and 4 years old. Make sure the one you build has a 2 story fort. They used the heck out of that thing - club, etc., until they were at least 8 or 9.

To those recommending not to get one, why don't you recommend, "hey, get your kids the latest video game console, for $300 or so. Then a few games at $60 each. Then, in 2 years, get the new game console, and new games. THEN make the argument that the play sets that gets kids outside aren't worth the money.

:thumbsup:

Metal play sets also have great utility after the kids are done playing with it. I built two bbq/firepits out of one play set.

 

[rh71]

People are sometimes giving them away on the local FB group here. Just takes up too much room.

 

[Vdubchaos]

There is no better set than the one found at 1 million parks around your area (in my experience).

4 kids and we never had one, and most people I know that have them........kids never use it.

Save your money is my best advice

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would build one, it would be a fun project and pretty simple and cheap and more solid than the flimsy thin metal ones at hardware store. They're not the same quality as you get at a municipal park. Could probably use 4x4 pressure treated lumber lengths for the main structure.

At a place I used to camp as a kid my uncle and few other people built one with 3 logs. 2 posts and top cross bar with 4 swings. Rope was tied to the log on top and to a board. Just sand down the edges of the board so they don't cut circulation.

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah I dont get those saying to not get one... We live across the street from a gradeschool with a huge playground. I still built one for my kids (and the neighbors) and even last summer it got some usage (kids are now 11 and 13). When they were younger, it got used ALL_THE_TIME.

 

[local]

I would build one, it would be a fun project and pretty simple and cheap and more solid than the flimsy thin metal ones at hardware store. They're not the same quality as you get at a municipal park. Could probably use 4x4 pressure treated lumber lengths for the main structure.

At a place I used to camp as a kid my uncle and few other people built one with 3 logs. 2 posts and top cross bar with 4 swings. Rope was tied to the log on top and to a board. Just sand down the edges of the board so they don't cut circulation.

This. I built a simple double swing set out of 4x4s for my 2 year olds. It cost a grand total of ~$75 including expensive ass toddler seats and will probably last longer than my house. I can also expand it however I want.

 

[DesiPower]

Professionally installed? I thought it was a wonderful project to work on with my boys when they were 3 and 4 years old. Make sure the one you build has a 2 story fort. They used the heck out of that thing - club, etc., until they were at least 8 or 9.

To those recommending not to get one, why don't you recommend, "hey, get your kids the latest video game console, for $300 or so. Then a few games at $60 each. Then, in 2 years, get the new game console, and new games. THEN make the argument that the play sets that gets kids outside aren't worth the money.

If I were to buy one myself, I would definitely install myself, won't have it any other way, I was just talking about friends and neighbors, point being, one might want to think of that cost too if they are not going to do it themselves. Our kids were never keen on having one so we never bought one. Additionally, my older kid, 8 still does not have a console, we are not planning to buy one anytime soon.

 

[NoTine42]

Professionally installed? I thought it was a wonderful project to work on with my boys when they were 3 and 4 years old. Make sure the one you build has a 2 story fort. They used the heck out of that thing - club, etc., until they were at least 8 or 9.

To those recommending not to get one, why don't you recommend, "hey, get your kids the latest video game console, for $300 or so. Then a few games at $60 each. Then, in 2 years, get the new game console, and new games. THEN make the argument that the play sets that gets kids outside aren't worth the money.

I also thought it was worthwhile....with the grandparents buying

Assembly was fun, we wanted a surprise, so it was me, FIL and contractor brother in law. It took us a full 8 hours for assembly. Most of the time 2 of us were just finding and feeding parts to the BIL...I can't blame a normal homeowner wanting help.

 

[Darwin333]

Thinking about getting one of those swingsets like you see at Costco/Sams. Have found minimal reviews on them so looking to see if any out there have any experience or things to look for when selecting.

Not sure about the metal ones but I bought my kids one of those really nice big ass wooden ones and let me tell you one thing, they are a mother fuckin bitch to put together. My daughters are quite a few years apart so it did get a decent amount of use but I wouldn't do it again. For the cost of the thing and the cost to have it assembled (I ain't doing that shit again) I could have filled half the backyard with some easy shit they would have had just as much fun with, a trampoline and a small metal swingset.

IF you do get one, try calling the manufacturer for tips on assembling it. I did that on the 2nd weekend and they had some great tips that made the process easier.

ETA: I have 2 girls and no boys so that can easily bias my position. It did get its use and its still standing in the backyard in pretty good condition after 8 years (and virtually zero maintenance) and I suck at wood working. Perhaps you will enjoy putting it together, if so then by all means.

Buying used is a great idea. I'd give mine away for free right now if they came and took it down and hauled it away themselves. Maybe try posting on Craigslist that you want one, if you have a large trailer you could take it down and reassemble it in a few pieces.

 

[Darwin333]

$600 for one used? We couldn't give ours away and it was $1K new. You must live in California.

That's crazy to me too. I'm in the same boat as you, well over $1K set with nice wood and I'd be happy if someone came and took it for free. Except for the marks from the weedwhacker and the rope climbing thing it's perfectly good as new. I'd do cartwheels to get $100 for it and not have to take it apart myself.

 

[boomhower]

I have one that I believe came from Walmart, got it for free from a neighbor whose kids outgrew it. It's older but still in great shape so they do last. I'll pass it one to someone else in a few years when my kids outgrow it. No way I'd pay what they cost new. As mentioned find one on craigslist.

 

[mrjminer]

Yea, I'm with the others. I would ONLY get it new if you have super young kids, like babies. That's probably the only way you will get your money out of it -- or if you plan to have more kids in a few years or something.

These things sit around in backyards for ages because there's nothing to do with them one the kids grow up. Definitely check Craigslist -- or -- just go driving around and ask a few people if they use theirs or if they want to make $100 or something.

 

[waggy]

I got a free wood one. It just needed to be sanded and painted. It's over 14 years old and my kids don't use it anymore.

So i'm going to offer it to the neighbor who just got married.

wood ones are great. they last a very long time if you take care of them.

 

[spacelord]

The skimpier ones from Costco are good for the money. But not nearly as rugged as the full Rainbow sets that are built with tons of 4x4s. I sold our wood costco for about 25% of what I paid for it after almost 10 years of use. They guy disassembled the whole thing with a crew within a couple of hours and it was gone.. that was sweet.

Beyond getting a wad of good cash I didn't have to lift a finger to get rid of it.