OK, the truth will be spoken here. You've been warned.Putting this together was like baking a 10-hour cake.If you know handyman friends have a pizza party for them.If you are not handy or don't have time to learn, or can't hire a professional to put this up, don't buy this bed.The people who say this took 4.5 to 6 hours putting this up...what planet are you from? My husband is a clever man and it still took us no less than 10 solid hours.Cons:The bed comes in the mail, three awkward heavy piecesYou take a great risk in trusting any company to deliver what they say on any huge item that you don't want to have to returnLots of intricate instructions that were not always correct [90%correct]. You must use logic when they go wrong.A few 'C' screws seemed too short in a few places. For example, where the rail connected could have used longer screws.Those '29' rods must be turned the right way and the manual pictures showing the holes facing out were too small to see.You strip a screw-hole by accident and you're out of luck.You can't use a drill. Use screwdrivers.The plates connecting the back of the stairs to the back of the bed should be largerThe drawers in the stair need a stronger magnet and an opening catch so they won't bang a kid's toe while he's climbing in the top bunk. The drawers are a great fun addition but not a well-thought-out plan.In picture three a few of the hooks were not counter-sunk properly. But it didn't cause problemsThe Pros:The bed comes in the mail with, ideally, all you need.they got the number of screws right-thank you for this!!!The detailed and numbered instructions give you great confidence. You think 'this is doable' and your esteem rockets for about 6 hours then things go downhill a bit- not too far-but down as you are tired and have to think what they mean on a few instructions.The wood is not rickety or painted cheaply. It's good solid furniture.there were enough bed slats and a couple of extra ones-thank youSturdy top bunk despite the kid's jumping on it. [we couldn't stop them. They were too excited]This ended up being around $750 with tax but it was a good price compared to what I found elsewhere on the internet for the same bed.Both the ladder and slide are removable if you don't anchor them down with screws.Ladder and slide stay in place without anchors in screwsOur grandkids are over the moon. They LOVE it and want to spend more time in their room.Putting this bed together is not for the faint of heart but you can do it.The question is should you do it.DO NOT THROW AWAY THE INSTRUCTIONS. You will need them if you ever move the bed again. Lots of little pieces.It's a nice piece of furniture, and a wonderful childhood memory to have if you're a kid.We added strips of electric tape to the slide to slow the kids on their trip down. It was too fast for little ones.We closed the drawers with electrical tape and added some to the stairs, they were too slick and the edges too sharp so be prepared to deal with that.Use the hand screwdriver not electric drills unless you are very deft with that. You paid for each of these pieces and don't want to stip the screw holesWas it worth it? Yes. In the end, the instructions were mostly correct and It was a good quality 10 hour cake we baked.The truth. The end.
