The Skyfort

[99SVT]

A few months ago, my wife bought our daughter a swingset fort from Sam's:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=198829&navAction=

This thing came in 4 boxes, each 8ft long, and weighing 160lbs each. Well, finally got started on it Saturday.

Here's the pile of lumber that was left, after the first day of working on it (Sunday):

Here's what was built after the first day:

Here's what is accomplished at the end of today:

I probably got about 8 or 9 hrs of building in it at the moment... the reviews were saying around 24hrs total, so I have a way to go.

I'm gonna try and do it in sections in the shop, and move it out to it's final resting place, as it is to freakin' hot to be building this outside. Plus, I have the air tools and fans in the shop (plus the shade).

 

[Bull]

I'd like to get something like that. How is the quality? Holes pre-drilled, and properly? Lumber nice? Instructions clear?

 

[Cardboard Man]

Looks like it'll be a neat unit when you get it all done. I built my son's (from scratch) in the shop too for the same reasons you listed and moving it to it's spot in the yard didn't go as planned. I intended to use the lift to raise it up and lower it onto my car trailer but I didn't take into account the lift arms interfering with the trailer fenders. What a pain it was to block it up and then unload it. In retrospect I should have left it in smaller pieces that I could load by hand and just put sub-assemblies together outside. Just something to think about as you build yours.

 

[mdbeck1]

I'd like to get something like that. How is the quality? Holes pre-drilled, and properly? Lumber nice? Instructions clear?

I've helped build a couple of these "forts" for kids. They were all from plans and you had to cut and predrill all of our own lumber. I sped up the construction a lot by precutting most of the lumber to the right lengths and having a couple of people assisting in the actual build. I drilled all of the holes on site and everything seemed to go well.

Give it a try. The worst that can happen is you have to go off plan and build it as you go.

 

[99SVT]

I'd like to get something like that. How is the quality? Holes pre-drilled, and properly? Lumber nice? Instructions clear?

It's cedar, so the wood is not of any quality... soft. All the holes are there, but the connections that require a lag bolt, you need to drill a pilot hole in the adjoining wood.

It is very stable, and everything seems to be supported well, you just have to take care assembling, as to not over tighten things. I broke out my 1/4dr ratchet, and dialed my regulator on my compressor down to 60psi. Works great.

We've been looking at a bunch of these, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay $5000 for one of these things. Then the wife found this on at Sam's, and it has all the things we were looking for in one, and for a reasonable price.

I also think I'm gonna get her one of those coil spring riding things that are at the parks... I always loved those things when I was little. Now when I get on 'em, they just bend over to the ground.

edit: oh, and the instructions are great.

 

[dittle fart around]

View media item 10323Built this in my backyard in 92 before the kits started to show up. The tall section has a 8X10 slab for parking bikes and the mower, Next floor is 6ft tall and had a flat roof till the neighbor built a fort for his kid. Added the 3rd level with 1/2 trusses for the lower roof. The kids loved it. I'd come home from work and there would be a dozen kid in the backyard playing basketball, swinging going down the slide or dropping water balloons from the top, sometimes all at the same time. You're kids will thank you for an active childhood.

 

[mdbeck1]

View media item 10323Built this in my backyard in 92 before the kits started to show up. The tall section has a 8X10 slab for parking bikes and the mower, Next floor is 6ft tall and had a flat roof till the neighbor built a fort for his kid. Added the 3rd level with 1/2 trusses for the lower roof. The kids loved it. I'd come home from work and there would be a dozen kid in the backyard playing basketball, swinging going down the slide or dropping water balloons from the top, sometimes all at the same time. You're kids will thank you for an active childhood.

Very cool. I wish that I would have had something like that as a kid.

 

[carhunter]

me too, I used to draw plans for treehouses, go karts, etc, but dad never had time to build any. By the time I was old enough to work on something like that myself, I had lost interest!

 

[BigAl62]

Man, we've sure come a long way. When my niece and nephew were little, my brother asked my friend and I to assemble a wood swing set and slide combo. All he had was a list of materials, instructions how to assemble it and swings & stuff, my friend and I had to go to the lumber yard and get the wood, cut it to size & shape and assemble. It took all day and my cheap a** brother only paid us $50. Needless to say, we were not motivated to help anymore!

 

[hbud]

Lookin good. I put the same one together this time last year. It was a 100 degree day when I attached all of the pieces together. It took me about 16 hours to put ours together. I was just about done in this picture, just the top lookout tower railing and swings to go. Our little girl plays on it at least 10 hours a week. Rain or shine.

<a href="http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh78/HBUD_photo/?action=view&current=img1299125380357.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh78/HBUD_photo/img1299125380357.jpg" border="0" alt="Sprint PictureMail"></a>

 

[NUTTSGT]

The built in picnic table is a great idea.

 

[Wingnut65]

99SVT, I think you may have something... All the reasons why you want to build it inside may be why the kids want to keep it in there. Besides, it may be too heavy and awkward to move. And, the horizontal could be used as an engine hoist when the kids aren't swinging...

BTW, Nice Work.

 

[99SVT]

another 3hrs today....

 

[PassnThru]

Lookin good. I put the same one together this time last year. It was a 100 degree day when I attached all of the pieces together. It took me about 16 hours to put ours together. I was just about done in this picture, just the top lookout tower railing and swings to go. Our little girl plays on it at least 10 hours a week. Rain or shine.

And I'm guessing that you have more than 16 hours in the site prep. Looking good

 

[back2class]

Ive got my work cut out for me on one of those soon. Got a free $10,000 Rainbow set with the fort and big spiral slide. Did not realize how big it was when I went to pick it up. Ended up having to demolish all the roofs and the fort that went over the monkey bars as I only had an 11ft trailer. Also had to cut the 18ft 2x6 clear cedar swingbeam, Saved as much as I could, but still have a few days work and couple hundred $$ worth of PT wood to buy in order to replace the cedar parts I had to leave behind. Not sure if it will be worth it. Right now 3 year old has a wood one I fixed up for him and just is not too into it.

 

[mad57]

That last pic looks great but....is it going to fit out the garage door??

 

[copterdoctor]

Man, we've sure come a long way. When my niece and nephew were little, my brother asked my friend and I to assemble a wood swing set and slide combo. All he had was a list of materials, instructions how to assemble it and swings & stuff, my friend and I had to go to the lumber yard and get the wood, cut it to size & shape and assemble. It took all day and my cheap a** brother only paid us $50. Needless to say, we were not motivated to help anymore!

I have a similar story.. my sister did basically the same thing.. but I gave her the 50 bucks back and told her that there's no way I'd accept money for building something for my nephews...... after all, that IS what family is for.. right?

 

[klhitman]

View media item 10323Built this in my backyard in 92 before the kits started to show up. The tall section has a 8X10 slab for parking bikes and the mower, Next floor is 6ft tall and had a flat roof till the neighbor built a fort for his kid. Added the 3rd level with 1/2 trusses for the lower roof. The kids loved it. I'd come home from work and there would be a dozen kid in the backyard playing basketball, swinging going down the slide or dropping water balloons from the top, sometimes all at the same time. You're kids will thank you for an active childhood.

i could live in that

 

[69f100]

i could live in that

hell! i would live in that!

 

[Bender78]

Those are some great looking play sets - nice work indeed.

I built a pretty elaborate swing set, slide, raised fort with a sand box under it when my oldest was about 2. That was 22 years ago now and the "fort" is pretty weather beaten, but I haven't been able to muster up the ability to take it down yet. I guess I'm just to friggen nostalgic sometimes.

 

[Kevin54]

Will you be able to get it out through the garage door?

 

[99SVT]

That last pic looks great but....is it going to fit out the garage door??

no, won't fit out that door, as it is only 8ft tall. The middle door is 10ft tall.

But, my plan is to lay it over on a trailer, and tow it out to it's final resting place.

 

[yucholian]

Here is one I just finished 2 days ago for my girl's 4th birthday party.
Still need to finish the site and wife needs to sew up a canopy.
I bought the plan and cut, rounded over all the edges myself.
BTW, the price you paid for your kit is a bargain for what you got.

 

[Spareparts]

Built one for my youngest son several years ago and that thing kept him busy for years, his sidekick (small wire hair terrier mix) were all over it. His dog would wear you out chasing balls until you got tired and threw the ball on the upper deck, well it didn't take long for the dog to learn to climb the ladder and get the ball then come down the slide. Wish I had taken some pictures. Now the dog is gone and our son is 21 and on his own with his own kids. When he gets settled in his own place we will build one for them.

 

[69f100]

i just realized where ive seen this one before. my neighbor has one for his kids. its been there for going on 3 years now, and other than paint, it has held up well. it has a plastic tree stump for climbing which supports my weight (ask me how i know) and a slide thats aweome. this thing will be funn

 

[dittle fart around]

i could live in that

I might be living in it pretty soon if I can't get a job.

 

[BigAl62]

I have a similar story.. my sister did basically the same thing.. but I gave her the 50 bucks back and told her that there's no way I'd accept money for building something for my nephews...... after all, that IS what family is for.. right?

OK, but my buddy isn't family so I thought he should be paid a little better for giving up his day off, as for me, yes I probably shouldn't have taken any money except that I always do work for family for free. Getting paid once wasn't the end of the world (plus I gave it all to my buddy since we used his truck - for gas money).

 

[99SVT]

3.5hrs today....

gonna build the roof separate, and hopefully be able to set it on, once outside.

When it comes time to move it out, I'll put it on my 4 Go Jacks, and roll it out the middle door (10'x10'), put it on a trailer, and move it to the yard.

 

[dlz628]

I've helped build a couple of these "forts" for kids. They were all from plans and you had to cut and predrill all of our own lumber. I sped up the construction a lot by precutting most of the lumber to the right lengths and having a couple of people assisting in the actual build. I drilled all of the holes on site and everything seemed to go well.

Give it a try. The worst that can happen is you have to go off plan and build it as you go.

I was thinking about doing one of these premade DIY tree fort kits but I was a little concerned about the time requirement. Like you say, it comes with hardware and plans but no lumber, so I'd be doing all of the cutting and drilling. I'm curious, how long did it take? Did you make any mistakes that caused you to have to backtrack or scrap any part? Would you go this route again?

 

[gtae07]

A friend down the street received one very similar to this from his parents: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/sarat...od7860107.ip?xid=plp15740329-toys:product:1:2

He paid a couple of us with beer and pizza to come help him assemble it. The wood was not of the greatest quality and the instructions were fairly poor--after the second page we pulled the instructions apart and resorted the pages into a more logical order.

If I build something like that for our son, it'll be my own design and made from pressure-treated lumber, same as my dad did for us many years ago. He later boxed the lower portion in and made it a shed after we outgrew it.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Looking good! I would suggest installing the top eye bolts for the glider chain as far apart as possible. The chains should not be parallel. It limits side-to-side motion so the glider cannot impact the other swing or the wall on the climber. Make sure there is minimum of 6' distance from the edges of the structures to the edge of the "Use Zones" around all the sides and and a minimum of 144" "Use Zone" from the top center beam of the swings to each side the swings face, as wide as the top beam is long.

I'm not knocking that system, it looks well designed and built, but it would not pass a few points of the inspection for a public playground. That's not meant to be an insult, the requirements for public playgrounds are rather intense and not many residential systems pass.

Tommy

 

[mdbeck1]

I was thinking about doing one of these premade DIY tree fort kits but I was a little concerned about the time requirement. Like you say, it comes with hardware and plans but no lumber, so I'd be doing all of the cutting and drilling. I'm curious, how long did it take? Did you make any mistakes that caused you to have to backtrack or scrap any part? Would you go this route again?

I know that this from quite a while back but I just saw it. The only "kit" fort that I worked on had four posts that let it set on the ground. That let us do one side at a time. I think I spent one afternoon/evening (by myself) cutting up the lumber and a long day at a friend's house putting it together. I had a couple people helping that day and the kid was happy.

I don't remember any big problem but I've done quite a bit of framing over the years. ...and I don't normally buy plans for this type of thing. It's more fun to think up a rough idea and work from there. If you haven't done much framing you should probably stay pretty close to the published plans.