Besides cement, how do I secure a swingset in the ground so it won't tip?

Question

It comes with 6 legs and with no anchors itself, but not all legs have to be secure.

Answer 1

To be safe, I'd secure all the legs using cement. Wouldn't you hate to have the swing set tip over or collapse with one of your kids on it.

If you don't want to anchor it with cement, you could bury some treated 4x4's in the ground next to the legs - I'd do it to all of them again. Then take some large "U" bolts or straps to secure the swing set to the 4x4's. Of course doing this will take more time and money than just setting the legs in cement.

You can use the premixed stuff to set the legs, just make sure that the kids stay off the swing set long enough for the concrete to set - give it a couple days to be safe. It doesn't take that much cement to secure a swing set and by the time the set is ready to leave your yard it won't be that hard to dig out.

I hope that this helps. Just remember that securing the set is for the safety of your kids when making your decision.

Answer 2

As the other answerer noted, when multiple kids are swinging, eventually they'll all be swinging in the same direction at the same time, and judging from the steep "A" angle of the swingset, it's highly likely that their weight could tip the swing in the direction they're swinging. Now, having said that, it's unlikely that the entire swingset will pitch over, but man, if it ever did, I'm not sure I'd like to see what injuries could result from getting bonked by the top cross-member. Yep, either stake it with some long-lasting wood (redwood or pressure-treated) stakes, some type of metal stake (well protected from falling children), or partially embed the swingset legs in concrete, or use some type of wet-set concrete anchor that can then be bolted to the swingset.

Answer 3

Certainly at the major pivot points, IE: Swings... Tt should be secure, a Teetor totter or back and forth see saw isn't as critical.

I have used rebar, in the past, but the way I used it largely depended on the wall thickness of the "Legs"

I'd figure an angle for the "anchor" use a heavy duty drill, and with the set on the ground, drill angled holes through the legs, allowing that the rebar would then be pressed through and driven into the ground. What then might be done is cinderblock around each leg to protect from ripping on the rebar.

Certainly anything above ground is a trip hazzard however.

The best, though not easiest is to anchor the legs not parrallel to them but more perpendicular, below ground, similar to driving a tent stake in the opposite direction of the rope and the most probable point of pulling stress.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

Why do you not want to use cement? If it's the money, I'd sacrifice and go ahead and do it. A few extra bucks now could save you a doctor bill in the future. You could get four bags of "QuickCrete" for about 16 bucks and have more than enough for the job. If it's because it's gonna be on cement instead of in your yard, they make special anchors that you set the swingset in and can anchor to the concrete.

Answer 5

Swing Set Ground Anchors

Answer 6

I am thinking of those flat metal pieces that go on your roof for heat ductwork - the flat mounts to the roof and allows a rounded metal pipe to be attached to it.

If you could attach something of this nature to each leg of the swingset, you could then drill a hole in each corner of the flat part.

Not get those very long yard stakes and drive them through the metal flat and through the ground really deep. This should really help to anchor the swingset and prevent it from tipping.

I would pop-rivet those metal pieces to the lets so they are there to stay.

Answer 7

If you don't want to mix cement you can get pre fabed cement blocks with straps attached from any home improvement store, they come in various sizes depending on the size of the set. All you do is dig a hole large enough to accomodate the block back fill and tamp then attach the anchors.

Good Luck

Answer 8

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Answer 9

There is a flat plate that can be screwed in to the ground - use for mobile home anchors . Not hard to use. Find at home centers or hardware stores.

Answer 10

I drilled 1/2" holes at the base of the leg and went to lowes and got 12"spikes and drove them in,make sure you put them in on a little bit of an angle so they cant be pulled straight up