How To Buy A Monkey Playsystem

How To Buy A Congo Swing Set?

Monkey Playsystem is a division of Congo Swing Sets, which is manufactured by KidWise Outdoors. So some refer to these swing sets as Monkey Playsets, Monkey Playsystems or Congo Swing Sets. They are all the same brand. Buying a Congo Swing Set can be a little confusing with all of the options so we hope this buying guide simplifies everything.

Before we get into individual features, lets discuss the advantages of the Congo Swing Set series. Every playset they offer is manufactured out of Pine wood and then coated in Woodguard Polymer. Polymer is a plastic coating that fully encloses the pre-treated lumber. This process makes the Congo Swing Set 100% maintenance free and splinter free. Additional advantages are :

• Will not chip, crack, or peel
• Lumber will not twist or warp
• U.V. stabilized formula – will not fade in the sun
• Polymer coating protects the lumber
• Solid wood core provides a 100% structural product
• Excellent cold weather impact properties below -20F; does not become brittle in cold weather
• No harmful chemical treatments; safety tested for lead and phthalates
• Non-Toxic Borate Treatment protects against rot and termites!
• Maintenance Free – no need to paint, seal, finish, or sand ever again!
• Easy Clean Up – Spray with bio-degradable cleaner such as Simple Green and rinse off

Now that we have covered the basics of Congo Swing Sets, lets get in to specific models. The only models with options are the Monkey Playsystems so lets review those.

Buying A Monkey Playsystem

Monkey Playsets, which are available in 2 color ways and 4 different layouts. To keep everything simple, Congo Swing Sets names them:

• Monkey Playsystem 1
• Monkey Playsystem 2
• Monkey Playsystem 3
• Monkey Playsystem 4

Do not be overwhelmed. It is pretty basic. The 1 and the 2 are the exact same unit except the 2 has the lower 3’ tall fort. This is ideal for younger children as it will provide both a 3’ and 5’ deck to play. Where the 1 will only have the 5’ deck. Likewise, the 3 and the 4 are identical except the 4 has the lower 3’ tall fort. Just like the Monkey Playsystem 2, the 4 is ideal for younger children as it will provide a 3’ , 5’ and 7’ deck to play. Where the 3 will only have the 5’ and the 7’.

So choosing your model should come down to whether you need the 3’ deck or not. If so, you need to consider the Monkey Playsystem 2 and 4. If it is not needed then you should consider the 1 and the 3. If you would like the Tube slide you will obviously need the 3 or the 4.

Now that you have chosen which model is right for you, it is time to select your options. Here are the options you have for each Monkey Playsystem:

• Standard Swing Beam or Monkey Bars Beam. The standard swing beam is a 4″ x 6″ Polymer Coated Beam. There are 3 positions so you have up to 3 swing devices at a time. If you choose the Monkey Bars for a swing beam, the the standard swing beam will be replaced by a ladder beam that has 3 positions as well. Swings May Not Be In Use When The Monkey Bar Swing Beam Is In Use
• Add A Monkey Bar is the next option you have. This would be a monkey bar that attached to one of the decks so that the swings can be used at all times. Below is an example:
  
• Next you choose your slide. The standard slide is a 10′ Wave Slide. See Below:
  
  You can upgrade to a 10′ Rave Wave Slide. See Below:
  
  The two slides are the same shape. The difference is the Rave Slide is heavy-duty and is what is called rotomolded.

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New Gorilla Swing Sets

Gorilla Playsets has introduced 2 new series of swing sets at Buy Swing Sets.  Introducing the Sun Palace and the Sun Valley.  They are essential the exact same swing sets except for the roofs.  The Sun Palace Series offers wood roofs and the Sun Valley Series offer canopy roofs.  Within each series you will find two models.  The Sun Palace I and Sun Valley I do not have monkey bars while the Sun Palace II and Sun Valley II do have monkey bars.  Lets look at each of these sets separately:

Sun Palace I

Features
Factory stained and sealed wood that is resistant to rot, decay, and insects
Cedar Wood
Tongue & Groove Wood Roof with Sunbursts, Dormers, and Chimney
Iron Ductile Swing Hangers
2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains
1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains
Slide – 10′ Wave Slide (Green)
Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel
Rock Wall with Climbing Rope
Safety Step Ladder
Safety Handles
Telescope
Steering Wheel
Flag Kit

 

Sun Palace II

Features
Factory stained and sealed wood that is resistant to rot, decay, and insects
Cedar Wood
Tongue & Groove Wood Roof with Sunbursts, Dormers, and Chimney
Iron Ductile Swing Hangers
2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains
1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains
Slide – 10′ Wave Slide (Green)
Monkey Bars with Powder Coated Metal Rungs
Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel
Rock Wall with Climbing Rope
Safety Step Ladder
Safety Handles
Telescope
Steering Wheel
Flag Kit

Sun Valley I

Features
Factory stained and sealed wood that is resistant to rot, decay, and insects
Cedar Wood
Iron Ductile Swing Hangers
2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains
1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains
Slide – 10′ Wave Slide (Green)
Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel
Rock Wall with Climbing Rope
Safety Step Ladder
Safety Handles
Telescope
Steering Wheel
Marine Grade Vinyl Canopy
Flag Kit

 

Sun Valley II

Features
Factory stained and sealed wood that is resistant to rot, decay, and insects
Cedar Wood
Iron Ductile Swing Hangers
2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains
1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains
Slide – 10′ Wave Slide (Green)
Monkey Bars with Powder Coated Metal Rungs
Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel
Rock Wall with Climbing Rope
Safety Step Ladder
Safety Handles
Telescope
Steering Wheel
Marine Grade Vinyl Canopy
Flag Kit

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Pioneer Peak Gorilla Playset

The Pioneer Peak is the top of the Blue Ridge Gorilla Playset line of swing sets. This “Ready To Assemby” playset is made out of factory stained and sealed pine. All of the up post (vertical support beams) and the swing beam are constructed of Preserved Pine and and considered maintenance free because of the poly coating they are treated with. This does not mean that you will not have to treat or stain this swing set. It simply means that the support system for this set does not require any maintenance. This is a huge plus.

The Pioneer Peak is a rather large residential playground. its foot print is 23′ wide by 25′ long. Gorilla Playsets recommends a safety zone of 33′ x 35′ to accommodate this playset. When it comes to features, the Pioneer Peak is not lacking. This playground comes with the following standard features:

2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains

1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains

Built-in Picnic Table

Sandbox

Clatterbridge and Tower

Rock Wall with Climbing Rope

10′ Radical Wave Slide

Climbing Rope Ladder

Deluxe Climbing Ramp with Knotted Rope

Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel

Telescope

Tic Tac Toe Panel

There is something to spark the imagination of every child. What I really like about this swing set is that the activities are spread out throughout the entire unit. The is not only a bonus for safety reasons but as a parent it keeps the kids from being on top of one another. The one feature that seems to really draw the kids was the clatter bridge to the slide. The bridge posed as a minor obstacle for the kids and this gave them a thrill. Having the second tower with a slide at the end of the bridge really controls the traffic flow while kids are playing.

The Pioneer Peak is a rather large project to assemble. It took two of us just over 12 hours. Like all swing sets, the key in my opinion was staying organized. Keep track of all of your parts and components. The more organized you are the quicker and easier the Pioneer Peak will come together.

Like all Gorilla Playsets, I am very impressed with the design. Safety is the primary focus in design but functionality and kids interests are closely behind. I would definitely recommend this swing set.

Gorilla Playsets Mountaineer Swing Set Product Review

Built out of the same quality as the entire Gorilla Playsets line, the Mountaineer is one of only three swing sets to offer two slides. This beautiful swing set has all the bells and whistles that kids dream of and parents can afford. This playground requires approximately 33′ x 22′ as a necessary safety zone. The actual dimensions of the playset is 23′ x 12′ and sits at 11′ in height. All activities center around the fort area. The fort area provides just over 24 square feet and sits 5′ above the ground. The fort can be accessed by the angled safety ladder, ramp entry with rope or the rope climbing ladder. Once in the fort, your kids can exit the way they came up or choose one of the two slides to race down. Your kids will find the tic tac toe panel and telescope under the tongue and grove wood roof. The deck provides cover for both the sand box and picnic table. On those hot summer days, kids can take a lunch break at the picnic table to get out of the sun. Off of the play deck, the Mountaineer provides a 3 position swing beam. This playset comes standard with to belt swings and a trapeze bar. These standard accessories can be swapped out for any other Gorilla swing or trapeze.

While this swing set has all the accessories any child would want, lets not forget that this is an investment and parents need to make sure they are not only getting a safe playground but a good value. With every Gorilla Playset you get the highest quality ready to assemble swing set. If this style playground was purchased from a local distributor and set up by that distributor, the price would be double. Gorilla rewards those who are willing to spend the time to assemble their swingset. Key structural points to know about all Gorilla Playsets. The up right posts are poly coated 4″ x 4″ wood. The swing beam, also made of poly coated wood, is 4″ x 6″ construction making this a very sturdy beam. Quality materials make this a safe swing set for your kids.

Assembly time can range from 10 to 12 hours. This is a big task but very doable for parents of all skill levels. As always, it is extremely important to follow the directions and stay organized while unpacking the package. Knowing where all the parts and pieces are will make the entire process smoother.

The bottom line is the Mountaineer is one of the premier ready to assemble swingsets sold. If slides are your kids favorite feature then look no farther. You will not find a better valued swing set with two slides sold. Gorilla does a wonderful job in designing fun and safe activity centers with their playsets.

Frontier Swing Set Product Review

The Frontier swing set is part of the Blue Ridge product line. Like all Blue Ridge sets, the Frontier features factory stained and sealed wood that is resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. All of the up beams (the structural supports) are Premium Preserved Pine Poly Coated Beams. This coated beams are maintenance free. Gorilla Playsets warrants the lumber on the Frontier for ten years.

A safety zone of approximately 30′ x 35′ is required for this swing set. The actual footprint dimension is 18′ W x 23′ L. The Frontier is shaped in a L shape with a fort where the two swing beams meet. The fort deck is 5′ tall and 4′ x 6′ in size. This is where the make believe begins. Kids can access the fort by climbing up the climbing wall, rope ladder or the climbing ramp with rope. As a parent with two toddlers, the climbing ramp with rope is a must have feature. Safety is a big concern with swingsets and having younger kids I was concerned about the entering and exiting the fort. For anyone with small children, I strongly recommend the climbing ramp with rope. Once on top of the fort, there is plenty of room for 3-4 kids to play safely. Kids can exit the fort the same way they entered or shoot down the slide. With two swing beams, there is plenty of room for multiple kids to play. This playset comes standard with two swing belts and a trapeze bar on one beam with a tire swing on the other beam. It is important to note that anyone of the standard accessories can be changed out to a glider, disc swing, infant swing or any other swing you might want.

The Frontier comes with:

* Iron Ductile Swing Hangers

* 3 Position Swing Beam

* 2 Belt Swings w/ Powdered Coated Chains

* 1 Trapeze Bar w/ Powder Coated Chains

* Built-in Picnic Table

* Sandbox

* Rock Wall with Climbing Rope

* 10′ Wave Slide (Green)

* Deluxe Climbing Ramp with Rope

* Climbing Rope Ladder

* Turbo Tire Swing and Swivel

* Telescope

* Tic-Tac-Toe Spinner Panel

This is not the first swing set we have assembled and from experience, I was really impressed with the entire process. The Frontier comes delivered on a pallet on an eighteen wheeler. With a little help from the driver, my husband and I unpacked the set and moved it to the back yard. We created a staging area for assembly which made the entire assembly process easier. All of the lumber came pre-drilled making assembly easier then any other set we have put together. It is important to stay organized when unpacking. This will shave time off the assembly process.

I am thoroughly impressed with the Frontier swing set. This swing set is based off of one of Gorilla’s most popular sets the Blue Ridge Chateau. If you took away the swing beam that the tire swing is on you would have the Chateau. A tire swing was a must have for my family therefore we chose the Frontier over the Chateau. The kids love this swing set!

Chateau Product Review

Gorilla Playsets revised one of their most popular swing sets, the Blue Ridge Chateau, for 2009. New to the playset is the wooden dormers, chimney and sunburts features to add detail to the roof. With these added features, the price on this playground has not changed.

Like all Gorilla Playsets, the Chateau features factory stained Premium Preserved Pine and all of the structural beams are treated with a Poly Coat. The Chateau lumber is warranted for ten years and all of the accessories for one. The swing set has a 19′ x 15′ footprint and requires an additional 30′ x 25′ safety zone. Make sure to have a level area for assembly. Assembly time can vary. It took us a little over four hours, but we have experience assembling sets. The best suggestion I can make to anyone in regards to the assembly process is stay organized. Like all swingsets, make sure to check your hardware as part of your regular maintenance.

One you have the Chateau put together, the kids are going to love it! Standard features on this swingset include: two belt swings, one trapeze bar with rings, picnic table, sandbox, rock wall with climbing rope, ten foot radical wave slide, climbing rope ladder, telescope, and tic tac toe panel game. More then enough to ensure hours of fun. As a parent, one of my favorite features is the picnic table. On hot sunny days the kids can have lunch under cover and still be on the swingset.

The appearance of the Chateau is that of a much more expensive set. If you are willing to take the time to assemble your own swing set then you will receive tremendous saving by purchasing a ready to assemble playground. We price shop a lot of playgrounds and local dealers were selling similar sets for over double what the Chateau cost. Every time I look at our play set in the back yard, I feel satisfaction knowing that not only did we assemble the swing set ourselves, but that we paid so much less the we could have and did not compromise the quality.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this playground!

Congo Outing II Product Review

The Congo Outing swing set is Gorilla’s entry level playset. Don’t let the words “entry level” deceive you. The quality in this playground is the same quality you would find in Gorillas more expensive playsets. By entry level, I am simply referring to the price point. The Congo Outing can be found at major retailers throughout the USA for under $1,000.00 with shipping included.

When I first saw this swingset in person I was blown away with the quality. Factory stained wood that has a rustic appeal. While this play ground is compact in size, approximately 15′ x 12′ x 11′, it is not lacking in features. This set offers 2 Belted Swings, 1 Trapeze Bar, Rock Wall, Climbing Rope, 8′ Slide, Sandbox and Ladder. Being a more compact swing set, this is perfect for smaller spaces. Keep in mind that like all playgrounds, a minimum of a 6′ safety perimeter is required.

In regards to safety, the Congo Outing, like all Gorilla Playsets, goes above and beyond regulations to ensure that all children have a safe environment to play on. This is evident in the design. The Congo is constructed of 4″ x 4″ framing and a 4″ x 6″ Swing Beam. All Swing Beams come with Iron Ductile Swing Hangers. These are heavy duty, even though this is a residential swing set. Gorilla uses angled ladders, along with flat steps, for safe entry and exit.

Assembly took us a little over 55 hours and I would not consider my husband and I handy people. The key to the assembly process is staying organized. There are a lot of parts to misplace so be cautious. I have heard horror stories about shipping damage and missing parts. I can say that our experience was anything but that.

Overall, the kids love this swingset, which in turns means I love this swingset. I recommend this playset and the Gorilla brand.

Gorilla Playsets Product Review

Gorilla Playsets is a divisional of PlayNation, one of the top manufactures of residential wooden swing sets. When PlayNation developed the Gorilla product line their intentions where to provide the same quality and design for online and catalog retail.

Gorilla Playsets are considered “Ready to Assemble Swing Sets”. This means that the swing sets arrive at you door step ready to be assembled. No more measuring, cutting, or sanding. Each piece of lumber is pre-drilled and counter sunk. Ready to Assemble swing sets can reduce assembly time by 70%. These types of swing sets are extremely affordable because no longer is a contractor or swing set retailer needed to assemble the playset.

Every Gorilla Playset starts with quality lumber. All of their swing sets begin with hand selected Premium Preserved Pine. This ensures the swing set will not only be strong but durable. All lumber is backed by a 10 Year warranty. Many of their swing sets use a Maintenance Free Poly Coated Beams. What is this? Essentially, it is the same Premium Preserve Pine that is treated for termites and dry rot and then coated with a polyethylene to protect the treatment. The end result is structural beams that will not splinter and can withstand extreme weather conditions. The choice and treatment of lumber sets Gorilla Playsets a part from the competition.

Safety Features are incorporated in each playset. All features meet or exceed ASTM standards and specifications. Some of the safety features you will find on a Gorilla Swing Set are:

• Angled ladders with flat steps
• Heavy Duty Electro-Galvanized Hardware
• Heavy Duty Polyethylene Plastic on all Standard Swing Belts
• UV Resistant Plastics in Accessories
• 4” x 6” Swing Beams
• 4” x 4” Swing Posts
• Swing Chain tested up to 800 lbs.

Assembly can range from 2 hours on some of the smaller playsets up to 12 hours on the larger ones. The key to a quick and pain free assembly is staying organized. Depending on which set you purchase, there can be several thousand pieces. Keeping track of these pieces will go along way towards an efficient assembly process.

Do to the size of the swing sets they must ship via freight trucks (not UPS or FedEx). Because of this, you will need to be there to sign for your shipment. It is extremely important that you thoroughly inspect your shipment for visible damage. Once you sign for your shipment it is yours. From experience, if there is a problem with your swing set, Gorilla is very responsive in correcting the problem. Make sure to contact your retailer immediately.

Overall, Gorilla Playsets provides an affordable high quality solution for your residential wooden swing set needs. With a variety of models to choose from, you are sure to find a swing set to meet your requirements. A swing set is a major investment. You did not need to compromise quality when there is a quality and durable manufacture like Gorilla Playsets.