Info Re Moving a Wooden Swingset?

My husband and I bought a swing set off Craig’s List last summer and we took it apart and put it back together (since you’re pregnant you’ll need to have a friend – definitely takes two people). Although since it was several years old, the wood had warped a bit so it was very difficult getting the screw holes lined up again after taking it apart. We also had to buy all new screws, bolts and nuts because the original ones had rusted – but it wasn’t hard to find new ones at the hardware store. I do recommend picking the perfect spot to put it together though because once it’s together, you cannot move it! It’s way too heavy, even for 2 grown men to move.
Good luck!
L.

Are you sure that you want one thats been rotting in someone else's yard plus you have to watch out for older pressure treated wood because it has arsenic I say save your money and purchase a new one or just take your kids to the park. My son's school playground was torn down and they just got a new one put in I want to say its 2001 or older but I'm not sure it could be more recent then that.

Hi A.,
We bought one a number of years ago and dismantled it, labeled the parts and then trucked it home. We ended up having to wait a few weeks to put it back together and did end up with a few extra bolts ;) I recommend putting it back together while it's still fresh in your mind!
Good luck!
S.

Depending on the manufacturer you find off Craigs list, some will take apart for you and put it together for you at your home. I know for sure Rainbow does this for a fee. My neighbor sold a $2500 Rainbow swing set for $700 and it cost the buyer another $200 to have them dismantle and put back together. GReat swing set too for 1/3 of the price!

Hi,
While I haven't done this myself, I have two friends that have.My hubby helped them both.
Both had good (one definitely better) experiences. It's MUCH easier if the people have the original installation directions or if you can get a copy on the web.

The better experience was with a child life (expensive) set. The other was a toys r us set. The wood was a little stripped on that one and they had to nail an extra board on one side to be sure it was stable.

They did not fully dismantle either set, they did three sections using two trucks to transport.

good Luck!

YOu can take them apart in chunks so a) you don't have to move the entire thing but also b) you don't have to reassemble the entire thing either.
You'll need a couple strong people and a truck but it's worth it in the end. We've done it twice!

Our friends gave us theirs. It is taken apart in pieces and then reassembled. Because it is wood it may have warped a little bit. That is what happend to us and we had some difficulties putting the last piece together. We eventually did and it works beautifully.

last summer, my husband took a swingset down from his aunts house and put it back up in our yard. it wasn't just your basic one either. it had a tower and a rock climbing wall also. his uncle helped him take it apart, then he put the whole thing together BY HIMSELF!!! yeah i could have screamed at him because i was so nervous, but he did it. so anyway my point it is yes, it is feasible. and with a little help, can be done very quickly.

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Absolutely take it apart! Bring your digital camera and take ALOT of photos of every board and piece as you remove it then you can see how to put it back together when you get it home. Also don't throw the bolts in a bag/container. Put them back into the holes the came out of. That way you don't loose any or forget where they go. If you can't put 1 or 2 back where it goes... put it in a small baggie, lable it and tape or staple it near where it goes.
good luck hope this helped

A.,
We sold one of the 2 story with the tube slide play centers and the people came and took it apart and moved it. My suggestion would be to take detailed pictures before and after taking this thing apart. Hope that helps.

A.,

Piece of cake if you have an electric or air impact wrench to remove the bolts (you'd need an air compressor if you have the air verson...we opted for electric version - can get at Home Depot or a discount tool store) . My husband and I got a wooden set, for free, from friends of my sister's. We had it down in less than 2 hours and reassembled back at our home in about 2 hours. Better to have at least 2 people working on it. Since you're due in July, I wouldn't recommend you climbing and lifting although, once in pieces, it's surprisingly light! Just remember where you put the bolts and pieces for easy reassembly...better to take down and put back up in the same day so you remember which way the pieces go! It was easier than we thought.

Good luck!

K. - Mom of 2.5 year old boy.

I gave our climber basic tower, swingset, slide.. to my sister a few years ago when my kids outgrew it. My brother in law came over with his truck and disassembled most of it by himself. He and a friend loaded the tower piece in the truck and away it all went. He put it all together by himself. It can be done.

I don't think you have to completely dismantle it, but I don't know how you would move it without separating it into sections. In general, the bigger and heavier the pieces are, the more stress you will put on the connections by trying to move it. It could break in a key place or wind up being very wobbly when you reassemble it.

A good thing to do is to take a big piece of tape - like duct tape - and attach it in a "flat donut" to major sections - as you dismantle the slide, stick all the hardware on the sticky side of the tape in the order in which you removed them. When you are done, top that piece of tape with another piece, sticky side down. You won't lose all the nuts & bolts! Then place the slide in the truck you are using. Then separate the top connector piece and keep all those pieces of hardware together. And so on. Another option is to put the parts in ziploc bags and write on the bag what section it came from. You won't lose the pieces but they won't be in order either. It depends on how secure you can keep the items during transport. If you have a large tarp, put it on the ground while you are dismantling the set so you don't lose hardware in the grass.

You should be able to get an assembly diagram on the web unless the set is really old. Otherwise, take notes as ou do it unless you have a really experienced handyperson with you. Everything looks easy to dismantle, but then when you try to reassemble it, you have all these parts on hand...

GOod luck!