Discussion
SweptVolume said:
Funny that this is now considered a bit council.
I think that only because they are more affordable from the big shed suppliers, so are no within the reach of the council types, who put them in their front garden to show off to the neighbours, don't look after them, and they soon become an awful eyesore.Most of the decent folk seem have them in their back garden, probably look after them better, and throw them when they look a mess.
I should add that, if buying from one of the big shed suppliers, make sure they give you the right boxes!
We realised that Lockdown 1 was imminent, so rushed out to Argos to buy one, the shop was rammed with people doing all sorts of panic buying, they gave my missus two ‘Box 1 of 2s’, so we had two same halves of the kit, which of course did not work. SWMBO was adamant that I did not get out of the car at collection (me: clinically vulnerable) but it’s the absolute first thing I would have checked, and indeed leapt out at me from the box labelling when we unloaded the car the next day. Argos were then shut and not open for exchanges for about three months. Hence why we ended up with a (much better quality, but also twice the price) Jump King via online ordering.
The good thing about sticking with the well known brands is that they all do spares. All of the individual components of our Jump King can be bought as spares as/when they eventually wear out due to being outside in all weathers.
We anchor ours down with some big steel staples into the lawn, not expensive, it stays rock solid even when blowing a gale.
We realised that Lockdown 1 was imminent, so rushed out to Argos to buy one, the shop was rammed with people doing all sorts of panic buying, they gave my missus two ‘Box 1 of 2s’, so we had two same halves of the kit, which of course did not work. SWMBO was adamant that I did not get out of the car at collection (me: clinically vulnerable) but it’s the absolute first thing I would have checked, and indeed leapt out at me from the box labelling when we unloaded the car the next day. Argos were then shut and not open for exchanges for about three months. Hence why we ended up with a (much better quality, but also twice the price) Jump King via online ordering.
The good thing about sticking with the well known brands is that they all do spares. All of the individual components of our Jump King can be bought as spares as/when they eventually wear out due to being outside in all weathers.
We anchor ours down with some big steel staples into the lawn, not expensive, it stays rock solid even when blowing a gale.
kriggi said:
I wouldn't recommend Plum. We have a 10 foot one, probably 5 years old. The channel at the top of the net that the pole goes through is very thin and has deteriorated in the sun to the point that the pole has come through.
The padded edge that covers the springs has also deteriorated and now acts as a sponge soaking up all the rain water. So when the kids jump on it water is pushed out soaking them. Both the net and padded edge are stored inside in the water months.
No problem, Plum sell spare parts! Except they don't, not if your trampoline is 5 years old! So now it can't be used.
Their customer service is also appalling, they never return calls or emails. At least not within 6 weeks!!!
And yet we have had no real bother with ours, the plastic lugs that support the net frame/hoop snapped, email enquiry and a telephone order had them out in no time.The padded edge that covers the springs has also deteriorated and now acts as a sponge soaking up all the rain water. So when the kids jump on it water is pushed out soaking them. Both the net and padded edge are stored inside in the water months.
No problem, Plum sell spare parts! Except they don't, not if your trampoline is 5 years old! So now it can't be used.
Their customer service is also appalling, they never return calls or emails. At least not within 6 weeks!!!
It’s been out in all weathers for 4 years and is still in decent shape. South facing garden so has spent plenty of time in the sun.
It will get a good clean next weekend - all being well it will get packed away after we exchange contracts!
If anyone one is planning on a permanent location for their trampoline the above has worked well for us - dig up turf, bang in log roll, line with left over shed felt, top off with plenty of bark. Odd weed comes up between the log roll but pulls out easy enough. Strimmer deals with the grass up to the log roll.
Edited by The ArtfulBodger on Thursday 11th March 17:40
triggerhappy21 said:
We got a 10' one from Smyths a few years back. They had a good selection. About £150. Rated for 100kg, which is more than some alternatives. Keep and eye because some aren't rated for adults at all, if you fancy an evening bouncing around lol... Has steel tubular frame around top of net which keeps everything nice and taut too.
3 years sitting outside all weathers and still perfect.
Kids still love it too. I tend to oil the joints a couple times a year to get rid of any squeaking, so relatively quiet even when used hard.
Don't underestimate assembly time, took most of a morning to put together...
And don’t whatever you do dismiss the instructions as being there only for the benefit of idiots, I omitted to lace up the net to the mat before fitting the mat to the frame - every spring was fitted before I realised my mistake! (I build and maintain pipelining machinery for a living...)3 years sitting outside all weathers and still perfect.
Kids still love it too. I tend to oil the joints a couple times a year to get rid of any squeaking, so relatively quiet even when used hard.
Don't underestimate assembly time, took most of a morning to put together...
Pressure was on as it was going up ready for a big reveal to an excitable 3 year old on her birthday - after an early start and a bit of time lost due to the above oversight I just managed to pull it off! On my own it was a Couple of hours from unboxing to bouncing.
eps said:
They are a pain to put up - possibly consider a spring puller - depending on how much you like your fingers and the skin on your knuckles!! There is a knack to putting them up. I just do it by hand, using a spare spring to pull them. Watch the spring doesn't expand and then contract on your skin - they pinch hard!!
Gloves - you need gloves!Edited by eps on Wednesday 10th March 14:59
https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Polyurethane/PU-Palm...
The spring fitting a spring is the way forward though.
For tough buggers you can use a mastic gun.
https://youtu.be/z8IEIimDrqk
Edited by The ArtfulBodger on Thursday 11th March 18:13
LeadFarmer said:
Whilst I think they are an ugly thing to have in the garden, they can look ok if sunken into the ground so they are ground level, and don't have the safety side netting. But without drainage the pit will turn into a green sludge pond.
Regs on the sunken trampolines mean that they need to have enclosures round them now, they’re easy enough to remove though.Drainage depends on your soil, but it’s easy enough to throw a sump pump in the bottom as a quick cheap fix if required.
(My parents company supply and install play equipment)
LeadFarmer said:
Be sure to show photos once it's set up, and then photos in 3 yrs time when it's ripped and covered in green mould.
And I think trampoline law dictates they have to be placed in your front garden next to the bonfire remains from when you tried to burn the insulation off some copper cables you 'found', and next to the broken washing machine that's been there for the last 5 years and is just visible through the uncut grass/weeds
Spot the trampampoline...
There'll be one in this garden somewhere..
Hahahahaaaa!And I think trampoline law dictates they have to be placed in your front garden next to the bonfire remains from when you tried to burn the insulation off some copper cables you 'found', and next to the broken washing machine that's been there for the last 5 years and is just visible through the uncut grass/weeds
Spot the trampampoline...
There'll be one in this garden somewhere..
Classic - exactly what came to mind and I came her for when I clicked on this thread. Just need a Suzuki Hyabusa in the garden for max effect.
We got a 14 foot (I think) round one second-hand for about £20 and it's been brilliant. No idea what brand it is but probably something generic. It's starting to get a bit worn looking now, but it's at least 10 years old so can't really complain. They certainly are ugly, but my daughter's enjoyment is more important to me than my garden looking pretty.
One thing I would say, is if you have young children, get one where the springs are outside the "enclousre". Also if you intend to put it on the lawn, it WILL kill the grass.
As for spring pullers... I think I used a metal tent peg bent through 90 degrees.
One thing I would say, is if you have young children, get one where the springs are outside the "enclousre". Also if you intend to put it on the lawn, it WILL kill the grass.
As for spring pullers... I think I used a metal tent peg bent through 90 degrees.
Edited by kambites on Friday 12th March 09:23
Just to update, we ended up buying a 10ft x 15ft Telstar Elite. It's rectangular, so fits into the space a bit better with the enclose net sewn into the mat, so that the springs are on the outside.
There's actually not a huge amount of choice, so many are out of stock. I'm hoping that once it's up we can kind of screen it in a little bit so that it's not such an eye sore.
There's actually not a huge amount of choice, so many are out of stock. I'm hoping that once it's up we can kind of screen it in a little bit so that it's not such an eye sore.
We’ve had the spring free large oval for a while.
They are really pricey, but the quality of thing is superb, the base is really heavy weight and the sides actually spring you back in. It’s a really clever design.
Have a look at their watermelon video and also where they test the sides of it by running at them. All really good marketing...
Is it worth 10x what a Argos one? Don’t know, but we get a lot of use out of it and it’s still in great condition after 3 years
They are really pricey, but the quality of thing is superb, the base is really heavy weight and the sides actually spring you back in. It’s a really clever design.
Have a look at their watermelon video and also where they test the sides of it by running at them. All really good marketing...
Is it worth 10x what a Argos one? Don’t know, but we get a lot of use out of it and it’s still in great condition after 3 years
The ArtfulBodger said:
Gloves - you need gloves!
https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Polyurethane/PU-Palm...
The spring fitting a spring is the way forward though.
For tough buggers you can use a mastic gun.
https://youtu.be/z8IEIimDrqk
Nive one bruvvah! I have one to put up this weekend after my wife's surreptitious buying. I did say I'd find out which one to buy on a car forum (obvs.) and spend a few days over analysing people's purchases and making a spreadsheet, but it would appear she's just gone and bough one and I wondered how you do the pulling.....https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Polyurethane/PU-Palm...
The spring fitting a spring is the way forward though.
For tough buggers you can use a mastic gun.
https://youtu.be/z8IEIimDrqk
Edited by The ArtfulBodger on Thursday 11th March 18:13
I went (well daughter went) for 14ft in-ground trampoline, which involved hire of a mini digger. Fast forward 2 weeks from install and quickly realised that ground was not draining as well as expected in heavy rain, so ended up with big pond. Re hire mini digger and dug 30ft trench from bottom of hole to bottom of garden. Now drains lovely, all in time for winter :-(
leemanning said:
Just to update, we ended up buying a 10ft x 15ft Telstar Elite. It's rectangular, so fits into the space a bit better with the enclose net sewn into the mat, so that the springs are on the outside.
There's actually not a huge amount of choice, so many are out of stock. I'm hoping that once it's up we can kind of screen it in a little bit so that it's not such an eye sore.
It’s the business to be in during lockdown!There's actually not a huge amount of choice, so many are out of stock. I'm hoping that once it's up we can kind of screen it in a little bit so that it's not such an eye sore.
Massive demand for 12 months, they mostly all come in from China, lots of delays getting containers into the UK at the moment.
I too was in the camp of ‘these are council, really don’t want one’ but it’s tucked away at the top of our modest garden and I’ve learned to live with it. It’s become a total joy to watch our 6yo on in truth. He’s quite a shy, risk-averse boy, but the trampoline has really helped bring him out of his shell, it’s made him more physically adventurous and with that I’m seeing a growing confidence. It’s also a brilliant bargaining chip: tidy all those toys or no trampoline!
We went all out and have a 16ft one ... it’s bloody massive and great fun
Scares the life out of me when it gets windy mind and was tied down with 6 ground anchors before dismantling for winter.
It’s a play active one ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6FT-8FT-10FT-12FT-14FT-...
Scares the life out of me when it gets windy mind and was tied down with 6 ground anchors before dismantling for winter.
It’s a play active one ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6FT-8FT-10FT-12FT-14FT-...
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