Tp Activity Toys Challenger Climbing Frame

...is produced and supplied by TP Toys. TP Toys specialise in Activity toys primarily for outdoor play. They were founded almost 50 years ago. They produce several different type of climbing frames both in steel and wood. We opted for the challenger climbing frame as this is the one I had when I was a child.

So apart from I had it as a child what were the other reasons for plumping for this over the explorer or a wooden one. Firstly the ...
...we opted for the challenger. TP Toys have many stockists all over the country; we located one close to home and order the challenger frame, the rapide slide and the split level platforms. This cost £345, (£175 for the frame, £115 for the slide and £55 for the split level platforms). The order was processed online and within 24 hours all the items were delivered to my home. This was greeted by two very excited little boys who insisted that the climbing ... more

Just before Christmas my mother and I were having a discussion about what to buy the boys for presents. My mother then came up with the brilliant idea of buying a climbing that we could add extra things to for their birthdays/Xmas etc. I say brilliant but as you read on you'll know that I begin to change my mind!

***** The Challenger Climbing Frame *****
The challenger climbing frame is produced and supplied by TP Toys. TP Toys specialise in Activity toys primarily for outdoor play. They were founded almost 50 years ago. They produce several different type of climbing frames both in steel and wood. We opted for the challenger climbing frame as this is the one I had when I was a child.

So apart from I had it as a child what were the other reasons for plumping for this over the explorer or a wooden one. Firstly the wooden ones are so expensive, they didn't even factor into the equation. So it was a straight decision between the challenger and the explorer.

Well the challenger can be built to two different heights one for toddlers at around 3ft and the other height stands at around 6ft. There is a lot more climbing challenges to the challenger than the explorer. The challenger is rectangular in shape whereas the explorer is circular. There are two different slide types the Rapide and the CrazyWavy which both fit the challenger at both toddler and full height. I believe that both these slides also fit the explorer. With the challenger there is also the option of two split level platforms and a walkway and the top of the climbing frame. There is also a wider range of accessories for the challenger that you can add on. The challenger is suitable for children as young as 18 months as long as the are supervised by an adult at all times. The basic challenger frame with no extras costs £175, and the basic explorer frame costs £135. Both of these climbing frames have a lifetime guarantee against rust causing failure to the frame.

Due to the wider range of accessories and the extra climbing challengers we opted for the challenger. TP Toys have many stockists all over the country; we located one close to home and order the challenger frame, the rapide slide and the split level platforms. This cost £345, (£175 for the frame, £115 for the slide and £55 for the split level platforms). The order was processed online and within 24 hours all the items were delivered to my home. This was greeted by two very excited little boys who insisted that the climbing frame was built there and then.

The instructions stated that it should take 1 adult 2 hours to put together. Okay, so there were two adults so off we went into the garden to start construction. All the screws, nuts, blots and allen key that we need were included in the box with the parts. So we started to put things together and for once in these flat pack, all the pieces were there and they had supplied us with far too many bolts etc. The instructions were relatively straightforward as long as you're good at reading diagrams.

Two hours in with 2 adults building this thing we finally manage to get it to toddler height. Another hour goes by and yes we have a full sized climbing frame on our patio, not the grass! No idea why we didn't build it situ but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now this climbing frame is quite lightweight so not too difficult to pick up, manoeuvring it on the other hand is another story. As we were walking down the garden the top half of the frame was wobbling and at one stage nearly toppled us. After five minutes we finally had the frame in place. Here is where we now have to stake it into the ground. The stakes that are provided are really long, which is great on the stability side of things, but not when you're trying to get the things in place. Another hour passes by and finally we have a climbing frame in the correct place and staked into the ground. It's now five o'clock and dark, Mum and Dad are exhausted and the boys are donned in wellie boots and coats happily climbing all over the frame. Yea, a success! So we sit in the garden watching the boys playing happily while drinking cups of tea. We decide to leave the slide and platforms until the next day.

So the next day dawns and I'm greeted by 2 boys bouncing on the bed at 6.30am, shouting slide, slide, slide. Oh boy, I'm in for a great day! I carefully explain that it's too early and dark outside so we'd do it later on. By 11am, I give up trying to tidy the house and keep the boys calm, so hubby and I head out to put the slide together. We read the instructions and set to work. It states that one adult should take an hour to put the slide together and attaché it to the frame. Well, I'm not entirely sure how one adult would have managed. Let me explain why, you start by putting one long metal pole down one side the slide and as you start to align the pole with the holes in the slide the top end pops out or vice versa. Definitely two pairs of hands are require for this, but at least the time guide was more accurate this time round. An hour later and the slide was attached to the frame.

Next came the platforms, now I really wish we had put these on whilst building the initial frame. We had to remove eight poles from the climbing frame to insert into these platforms and then do them back up. Not so easy now we've attached the slide as one of these poles has the slide attached to it. So we eventually get these platforms on and again sit back and watch the boys and my neighbour's daughter play of the slide and climbing frame. Ah, just realised slide and wet grass not ideal, three very wet and muddy children.

Cool one frame slide and platforms up and running providing much entertainment. Great idea, a lot of work but worth it, or so I though until my youngest son's birthday appear as did the challenger den another one of these add ons for the frame this particular bit cost £60. So I have managed to put putting this on the frame until this weekend. A lovely sunny weekend, so I picked up the box and the screwdriver and spanner and head out. The instructions say one adult will take one hour to put this on. Yeah right…. It took me a little over 3 hours to put this on, only to discover that I had put it on back to front and believe me it's staying that way. I have so many cuts over my hands where the allen key slipped as I was either tightening or untightening bits of the frame it's unbelievable. There are lots of bits of the originally frame that you have to dismantle to put this den on. But hey the boys love it so it's worth the frustration and one very tired and irritable Mum.

Having done all of this my Mother rang to inform me she had ordered James' birthday present. A basket ball net (£40 plus the attachments - £20) and the triangular scramble net (£35), and these would be arriving this week. So I guess next weekend I'll be doing yet more construction work to this climbing frame.

***** Accessories *****
Platforms - £55
Rapide Slide - £155
CrazyWavy Slide - £89.95
Den - £60
Basket Ball Net - £40
Basket Ball Net Mount - £20
Triangular Scramble Net - £35
Scramble Net - £35
Toddler kit - £25
Slide Extension - £16.95
Monkey Bridge - £69.95
Jungle Run - £49.95
Jungle Run Toddler kit - £19.95
Aqua Slide - £25
Twizzler - £23

***** Where to get it *****
Website: www.tptoys.com
Email: customerservices@tptoys.com
Telephone: 01299 872803

***** Overall *****
It's quite an expensive outdoor toy, but for the amusement the children and their friends get out of it, and the fact that it will be used for many years to come it is actually good value for money. My main piece of advice if you want to purchase one of these, buy the platforms, toddler kits and den at the time of buying the climbing frame and attach them when you construct the frame. This will svae you loads of time and save have to dismantle the thing several times, not to mention saving your hands from loads of cuts and scratches. Would I recommend this product? Absolutely, ignoring the time consuming element, I have had such joy this weekend watching my boys and their friends swinging around on the climbing frame and whizzing down the slide. It's great to see them so eager to get into the garden.
 

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