Any idea how much wooden swingsets go for? A range of prices? I know they can go for thousands and thousands, but what is the cheapest? What do you think a set with a small cargo net ladder, a small picnic table, fort, 10' slide, fireman's pole, two swings, a two person glider, and jungle gym bars across the top (provided you can avoid the swings hanging down) cost?

By Kate on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:13 pm:

http://www.leisuretimeproducts.com/2003season/6003.htm

How much would you pay for the set pictured, if it was 2.5 years old from a neighbor and in good condition?

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:15 pm:

I haven't checked, but here's a couple of websites out of my Parenting magazines.

Rainbow Play

Cedar Works

Woodplay

By Vicki on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:16 pm:

Do you have any idea how much it was brand new?? I would guess I would pay at least a few hundred dollars for it.

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:33 pm:

I think that set brand new would cost about 400 at Sam's. It isn't a heavy duty set and doesn't seem to have upgraded hardware. I probably wouldn't be willing to pay more than 200 and only if it was in great condition. We built ours, with all the bells and whistles and upgrades, we spent about 600. The rainbow ones (which are super nice) run closer to 2000.

By Kate on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:39 pm:

It was $600 at Sam's Club originally. How can you tell a heavy duty set from one that's not? And what is upgraded hardware?

By Vicki on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:50 pm:

If it is in great shape, I would likely spend between 200-300 for it. A big plus is you wouldn't have to put it together. LOL That alone my dh would be willing to spend more for it. LOL

By Feonad on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 05:20 pm:

200 or 300 dollars sounds fair if in good condition. I love not putting one together.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 05:29 pm:

New wooden ones are $1000+.
We paid $1000 for ours at Sams. http://www.leisuretimeproducts.com/2006season/6006.htm
I would say $200-$400 for a used would be fair. Make sure it will be easy to take apart. Ours was thrown in a hurricane and we had a hard time getting it back together.

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:13 pm:

We did a lot of research when we built our swingset. Looked at lots of things, went mid grade on some, high grade on others. Then 2 years later we moved. Stayed with the house was the cheap version. I hate it, the kids hate it and never use it. The upgraded hardware is sturdier, swings easier. The swings are much more comfy on your bottom and your hands. The slide is sturdier. So many little difference, but all boil down to just how solid it feels.

As for putting it together, if you buy it from someone you will still have to take it apart to move it, therefore still putting it together

It sounds like a good deal for 200 to me. To do it again when I moved, we would have just started over and trashed what we have. Now my kids are just used to not playing on it and it seems like a waste of money.

By Vicki on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:26 pm:

If it is from a neighbor, there is no way I would take the thing apart to move it. When I hear neighbor, I am thinking a few houses away. I would take the slide and swings off and get a bunch of guys over and they can pick it up and move it. It can be done, we did it for a friend before!!

By Kate on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:33 pm:

They are asking $300 and it is five houses away. Not sure anyone could really walk it over....plus I have a fenced backyard with a small gate which will present problems. I don't think TOO much of it will need to be taken apart, just some of it.

The thing is, my oldest will be ten in April. My other child is five. I KNOW it's not the smartest financial move I could make....how much will the ten year old play on it? Not much, I bet! BUT, the reason I think SHE will like it is the clubhouse/fort thingy at the top of the slide. She's always wanted a treehouse and this is the closest thing to that. My five year old will get use out of it, of course. BUT, we DO have a swingset already! It's eight years old and a metal one with some rust. Ten year old can't really swing on it as she needs the swing so high she almost hits her head on the top bar the swings hang from. Neither can use the itty bitty slide. Actually, the ten year old can't really use ANY of it, come to think of it. My ten year old CAN use all the parts of the wooden $300 one though. Anyway, I wish it was only $200. I could justify it better that way. So do you think I'm crazy to buy it??

By Alberobello on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:39 pm:

I don't think you are crazy to buy it. I'd love to have a garden to have one of those. Your five year old will love it and like you said your ten yo can use it as a tree house.

(You can always tell them: Would you be willing to accept 250? or is that too cheeky?).

Good luck!

By Vicki on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:40 pm:

Ugh, never thought about a fence... LOL Your right, some of it is likely going to need to come apart. But I bet you will be able to do it in just a few pieces and not take days to get it back together like a new one!! LOL

I don't think your crazy, and you might be surprised at how much your 10 year old plays on it. My dd turned 11 in December and she still plays on hers at times. Not as much as when she was smaller, but some!!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:54 pm:

My children are 11 and 9. They play on ours ALL the time. The neighbors do too. They love the clubhouse--they have "meetings" in there all the time LOL. My daughter even had a tea party in there one weekend. Ours is very heavy and would have to be almost all taken apart to be moved anywhere.
I think $300 is very reasonable. I wish we got ours for that
I say go for it!
Good luck with your decision.

By Kate on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:58 pm:

So Yvonne, is yours made by Leisuretime, too? And you find it sturdy?

By Kate on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 07:01 pm:

Sorry, Yvonne, I just checked your link and yours IS Leisuretime. Are you pleased with the quality? This one is also Leisuretime, but obviously a lesser model based on your link pic and my link pic. I wonder if yours just has more stuff/bells/whistles, or if yours is better quality, too.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 07:13 pm:

We are very pleased with it. We took a direct hit with Wilma and though it was pulled down with a tree (massive roots ripped our yard apart), the swing set held up. I do not know anything about the other model to compare. I imagine, if it is the same company, you are just paying more for the additional items (rock climbing wall, etc). We just bought this a year ago. I was second guessing myself, because of the kids ages. I am happy we went ahead and purchased it. The kids love it. You certainly will get the use of it with your younger child. We had a metal one. It rusted like crazy. I like the wooden ones much better.

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 09:16 pm:

If you think about it, a metal one cost at least 100 bucks, for a similar size one you are talking probably closer to 150. For twice that you don't have to deal with rust, it will be better. Yvonne's is a much nicer model. I think you will be happy with it, but I don't think it will be too much sturdier than your metal one, just taller.

That being said, your 5 year old will get another 5 years out of it, even if the 10 year old doesn't use it, it is worth it.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 07:42 am:

I didn't read all the other responses. I know they can be quite costly, and there are different grades of lumber. A friend designed and built one himself, studied various swingsets at various retailers and purchased everything at Home Depot and built it for his grandson.

If you have the space in your yard, several kids, or are planning to stay in the house you're in (as in when you have grandchildren), I'd definitely get one, and get the best you can afford.