Manufacturer Improvements have been made. Cautiously optimistic with a simple reinforcement.
I ordered this bed based on the high customer review score. Only afterward did I read that it appears to have significant design weaknesses and is prone to frame collapse. I was disappointed but I formulated a plan to improve the bed, based on information gathered from other reviewers. Im adding my information to help others.
Upon inspection prior to assembly I noticed a new design for the center, side to side cross beam. I have included a picture and circled it in red. This piece is somewhat evident in a few other reviewers photos but it seems very different from the design which so many experienced a collapse with. The center leg is unlikely to bend as it is ed top and bottom, as are the legs on either side. From what I can see from the ones which collapsed, this appears to be a significant improvement.
I assembled the bed and found it to be extremely rigid with no movement or squeaking. None. It feels very solid. I also used an idea suggested by another reviewer; I laid down 1x4 planks, cut to 54.5 inches in between most of the bed (see photo). This prevents the standard from flexing too much and distributes weight along all three frame bars. Note that the included bed do appear to be a little weak for the job. I wouldnt trust them nor the plastic fittings they are attached with. The extra wood planks should easily compensate for this and prevent them from getting over stressed.
The roll out with plastic liners are likely not super strong nor durable. Im sure I will have to improve them at some point also. However, for a bed in this price range, everything works and it looks nice and most importantly it feels very solid. Did I mention no squeaking?
Lastly, this is probably overkill but I have ordered some reinforcement legs (see photo) to the North/South center beam at the midway points between the cross bar and the headboard and footboard. Probably not necessary as the wood planks should prevent the center bar from getting too much weight, but it was cheap insurance.
4 stars so far because with the 35 of reinforcements I made, I believe it is strong and solid. Better and bed would make this a 5 star purchase.
Manufacturer Improvements have been made. Cautiously optimistic with a simple reinforcement.
I ordered this bed based on the high customer review score. Only afterward did I read that it appears to have significant design weaknesses and is prone to frame collapse. I was disappointed but I formulated a plan to improve the bed, based on information gathered from other reviewers. Im adding my information to help others. Upon inspection prior to assembly I noticed a new design for the center, side to side cross beam. I have included a picture and circled it in red. This piece is somewhat evident in a few other reviewers photos but it seems very different from the design which so many experienced a collapse with. The center leg is unlikely to bend as it is ed top and bottom, as are the legs on either side. From what I can see from the ones which collapsed, this appears to be a significant improvement. I assembled the bed and found it to be extremely rigid with no movement or squeaking. None. It feels very solid. I also used an idea suggested by another reviewer; I laid down 1x4 planks, cut to 54.5 inches in between most of the bed (see photo). This prevents the standard from flexing too much and distributes weight along all three frame bars. Note that the included bed do appear to be a little weak for the job. I wouldnt trust them nor the plastic fittings they are attached with. The extra wood planks should easily compensate for this and prevent them from getting over stressed. The roll out with plastic liners are likely not super strong nor durable. Im sure I will have to improve them at some point also. However, for a bed in this price range, everything works and it looks nice and most importantly it feels very solid. Did I mention no squeaking? Lastly, this is probably overkill but I have ordered some reinforcement legs (see photo) to the North/South center beam at the midway points between the cross bar and the headboard and footboard. Probably not necessary as the wood planks should prevent the center bar from getting too much weight, but it was cheap insurance. 4 stars so far because with the 35 of reinforcements I made, I believe it is strong and solid. Better and bed would make this a 5 star purchase.