Do you have a TP Explorer Climbing Frame?

[Paddingtonthebear]

If so would you mind giving me your opinion on it?

I have found the Explorer frame with the platform and the den cover plus the jungle run extension all for £174, and inc delivery. Seems a total bargain as it’s £250 or more elsewhere. My questions are:

1. Is it suitable for a 6yr old - will it last them a good few years? I’m assuming the jungle run is a better option than a slide as kids get older

2. Do the ground spikes included in the box actually work and keep it secure or does it need extra spikes?

3. Is the den cover easy to remove? (for winter)

4. How long until it goes rusty?

Thanks!

We've had one for about 6 years and it hasn't rusted yet. I got the slide and the jungle run but didn't bother with the den and I never put the platform on. 8 and 9 year olds still play on it. I never put the spikes in, I can't really see a scenario when it would tip over.

Thanks. We have a slight slope in the garden so would need the spikes to keep it secure I think.

Anyone else?

We've got one second hand, had it for about 3 years. Dses are now 8 and 6. They have a slide attached and a cover but no jungle run or swing. We do have a homemade (not by us) climbing wall attached to it though which has had some use.

The cover is mostly a pain in the arse and doesn't go on for much of the time. The children tend to like sitting right on the top.

It's a pretty good climbing frame and the deal you've found is a good one.

Ours is ancient. The dc have had years of use out of it. At one point I bought a lovely wooden one which they ignored in favour of the old metal one. We have all the neighbourhood kids on it from 4 ish through to about 13

Ours isn’t fixed to the ground. In fact the top part and bottom aren’t screwed together and the monkey bar bit is just hooked over too. Makes it easily moveable for mowing the grass. It’s perfectly stable and hasn’t fallen apart yet

We had one for 11 years bought when kids were 2 and 4. The youngest needed supervision for a while but the eldest was always fine. We had a jungle run, a scramble net and a den. We decided to get a separate slide rather than one to attach. The den got a bit mucky in winter as we never removed it but kids liked cleaning it in the summer. The whole frame never rusted. We have just got rid and kids are now 13 and 15. Admittedly probably not really used the last year or two but to say we had our monies worth is an under statement.

We bought the climbing frame, platform, den, slide and bars when DD was 2 or 3. She's now 17 and finally stopped sitting on it in the garden with her friends about 3 years ago. It was probably one of the best things we bought for her.

Ordered! Thanks!

We had one second hand when my DS was about 3. It's still in the garden. Great condition. It hasn't rusted and the plastic slide looks like new. Bares weight without any trouble. Vinyl platform is the original one (vinyl tent has been gone a long time as it was torn in a very strong wind). My DS is 16 now. It has more than paid for itself. I would recommend.