Recommendations Please! Wooden Climbing frames...

[Wolfgirl]

OK, so now is the time for me to start considering climbing frames. we have an old TP explorer, but its pretty much outgrown.

so we are considering wooden ones. Ive haulled through the internet and looked at some of these:

Jungle Jim
Swing King
Mounmouth play centre
dhlogcabins

and loads more.

I guess with these being wood, they will be tannalised, pressure treated, and hopefully with weather the elements.

But I wondered if anyone has a wooden one, if they could recommend what they have, and if - after a few years, you are still happy with the quality and how it has faired weather wise.

I see second hand ones on eBay or local papers, and feel a little disappointed when I see the wood greyed out and looking shabby. Would that just be down to maintenance, would you think - could it all be stained and made to look nice, like when you stain\protect fences.

sorry, I know I seem a bit OTT about this, but the price of these things is not funny, so Id like to get things right!

thanks ladies

will watch with interest , how old are your dc? I'm looking for something similar for dc aged 7 and almost 11, preferably with a climbing wall.

Mine are 3 and 5, but we have all ages come to visit, so trying to make sure I have something that will last whilst they grow. However, my 5 year is in 7-8 year clothes - he is in reception year and towers over the other kiddies

most of these frames go from age 3 -12.

We have got a
Houtland wooden playframe. I can highly recommend it. We have had it for about six years and it weathers well.

The best thing about it was that we could decide exactly which components to have, that suited us and we have added extra things for variety.

At the moment ours is set up with 2 trapezes, a slide, firemans pole and a monkey seat. However, we also have a normal swing and a rope ladder. Underneath the slide you can make it into a camp too, which means it is very versatile.

My best friend also bought one of these playframes about 2 years after us (DH helped her DH put it together) and they have a climbing net on theirs, a rubber tyre swing and now also have a toddler swing. They too, couldn't be more pleased with it.

Hope this has been of help.

thanks Pesto, thats great. Any more out there?

Would definitely recommend the junglegym
we got the villa and it is perfect for a small garden. Ours has a ladder, climbing rope and climbing wall. There are good monkey bar add ons too. Ours cost approx 420 euros.

Mmmm... I'm very drawn to the JJ. I like the chalet, but think it might be a bit big, so will have to look at next size down. I like the moneky run too, as you can have swings underneath it, or there is a rock wall - apex shape - so one side is the rock wall, the other side a scramble net (I think) - and from this is a swing beam which attaches to the chalet tower.

You see.... I have looked - intensely, I just want to know how they weather and what quality \ thickness \ sturdyness wood, they all are.

I will take a look at the Houtland... only just glimpsed at that one. thanks xx

...anyone else?

Hi Wolf, I've got 7 children from 18 years to 6 months.

About 6 years ago we bought a Rainbow playcentre. It was quite expensive..about 4000 pounds I think (they go up to about 70k though, lol) but it has been an absolute investment. It's easily big & strong enough for an adult to join in and you can buy a basic frame and add to it as time goes by. We moved house over a year a go and it was easy to dismantle and re-assemble, remaining as strong as it was originally. It barely moves, even when quite heavy people are playing or swinging and it has easily survived the onslaught that mine have waged upon it.

My main gripe would be that they shout loudly about their long warrantly but when the acrylic rope on the sort of disc swing (the proper swings have plastic coated metal heavy duty chains)became brittle and frayed and stuck into the childrens hands they absolved themselves from blame saying that that part was only under warranty for a year and that I would have to pay for a new one. I thought that was pretty mean and bad service.

Other than that, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Sorry, here's the link to their site: www.rainbowplay.co.uk/

Hmm, that doesn't work does it? Lets try again....www.rainbowplay.co.uk/ or maybe it's www.rainbowplay.co.uk

awwrrr... thanks AramintaAlice. Mmmm... yes I ve seen the Rainbow frames, they look gorgeous, but too big for our garden. Costco will be selling their double play centre one very soon at £1264. Im not sure what is on it, but... my budget is about £800 - but more than that only a small ish garden to put it in.

thanks for responding. thats great

Bought a TP Sherwood tower and double swing arm about 3 years ago and i'm very pleased with it. My budget was about £1000 so I had a good look around too. There's a few places that have the frames set up side by side so you can compare size and quality. The Sherwood is big, but it may be a bit rustic for you, as the round poles do have natural splits in them, and can be left to weather.
Just a thought - if you went for TP you may be able to transfer some of the accesories onto a wooden frame and save some cash,? The slides and swings are often compatible across the range.

Hi WolfGril and friends

I am at the start of my search and already overwhelmed by choice. This thread came up in my search...i have been looking at jungle gym, tp and lured by the price of dunsterhouse

WolfGirl, what did you go for and are you pleased?

Let me know what you end up with nodecentnicknamesleft?
I just had PPI rebate off Hsbc and would like to invest in something fabulous for my kids of 6 and almost 4. I saw TP frames for £224 on eBay (only on completed listings at this time though) and I really am tempted, then we'll add on more goodies as they get bigger!