Choosing a climbing frame - different kinds of wood

[JumpJockey]

Sorry this isn't directly relevant but the toys section is very slow and people who know about woodwork might be here!
We've been looking at climbing frames for the garden, and have decided to go for wood. The question is, there are so many different fundamental styles that we're not sure how to decide which is best. Some are made from round wooden poles, others from square, others from plank-style. Some say they need metal ground stakes, others say you need to concrete them in. How do you know which is best? Or does anyone have experiences of any of these brands?

Selwood climbing frame made from flat planks, but only needs metal ground stakes.

Plum climbing frame made from round wood, says it needs to be concreted in

Another plum Much the same as the one above, but is made from flat wood. ???!!!

Do you think it would be reasonable to use stronger ground stakes on the ones that say they need concreting? The Selwood one actively says Do not use concrete. I don't understand...

I'm just having a look - we have a metal TP one which is v good - can you maybe ring the manufacturers and ask about the concrete? I would do that.

Ok, found the FAQ page on Selwood. They don't need concreting in because of the design - it seems to include a flat base as part of it which would help structurally.

I think you could concrete it if you wanted to but you don't need to. While with the Plum one, the design of it means concrete would be a good idea (though it says that about a lot of things which manage perfectly alright without) though actually I can't see how you would go about concreting it in as the playhouse fabric extends to the bottom of the posts.

I wouldn't stress it. They are all going to be super quality. Plum are a very good brand, I know that much, and I'm sure the others are all pretty good too.

Good idea - I guess they would probably say You Must Do What We Say and on your head be it... Looking at the instructions, the ground stakes seem to be held on to the frame only by small screws anyway, so not sure what degree of actual strength you get! Which one do you have?

Also the difference between them is that the Selwood has got that flat tray bit, which means you can't physically put the other posts into the ground as then it would be wonky!

The plum one has just got posts, no flat bottomed bit, so in theory all the legs could go an equal distance into the ground.

God, I could bore for England on this stuff, are you asleep yet? Bet you wish you hadn't asked

Oh one other question - on the Plum ones, there are gaps on each side of the slide at the platform level, would that be a risk for kids to fall down do you think?

Yep not liking those screws, it's hardly an intrinsic part of the structure is it.

I'd go for the Plum. depending on the warranty you get?

Sorry, keep overlapping...! Not bored at all, DH and I know nothing about this so all advice is very helpful! The plum ones don't say to concrete the actual legs into the ground, just the support stakes, which you attach to the legs of the frame via a screw through the leg at 90 degrees.

No I'd not say that's a risk at all. You'd be amazed what becomes normal to kids. It's not far to fall anyway.

We have the TP challenger? Can't remember, it's huge with monkey bars, den etc. It also has a slide, but no handles on the top, which worried me initially but they proved perfectly safe without them. I underestimated my kids

Regards integrity of the frame and ground I'd say the plum is better.

Yes sorry, keep crossing posts! That sounds fine - our TP giant swing has 90 degree support stakes bolted onto the bottom of the legs.

Considering it gets a lot of leverage side to side with several kids on it at once, it's been fine with these. It rocks a lot without them though.

I think with the climbing frame being on the same thing as the swings, you'd have integral stability with that anyway as it's heavier than just swings on a frame.

I'm not a pro at all btw but just speaking from experience.

Hope you manage to get one you're happy with.

Slightly off topic, but those plum ones look very much aimed at toddlers.

As the mum of two climbing mad DDs, I think they would have been very quickly out grown.

We have a TP challenger with a big extension tower I don't think they do any more and even so my "lovely" DD2 prefers to turn summersaults over the very top of her giant TP swing. Has done since she was 7 or 8

DH has just reminded me. At one point we took rungs out of the challengers back ladder so DD1 could get on the top, but DD2 could only get to the slide platform.

Thanks! :)

Woops, that was to Flightty - startail thanks for the input too :) We have a couple of trees that the girls can climb when they get bigger...
Re the challenger - is the middle section a den that has a soft base? Can you add swings to it? That's what we're mostly after, swings and then a slide for the girls to keep themselves busy. The den sort of section is a bonus really.

Aha! Good old Google... searched for "fixing climbing frame to ground" and found these... fixy things So looks like that will be our answer :)