Customer Reviews
Great for the price!
I can only speak for my own experience, but I'm really happy with mine. It was easy to put together, the instructions were clear enough, though they don’t go into too much detail. I used a screwdriver and a mallet, and it took me about half an hour. A few parts were a bit tricky to fit together, but with a bit of patience, it all came together fine. The wood is nicely sanded, and while it’s unfinished, you can paint or stain it if that's what you like. I might do that down the road, but for now, I’m fine with it as is. It's not an heirloom piece, and I can see it wearing down if you use it a lot, but I think it’ll last for years if you're careful. I wouldn’t jump on it too hard since it’s a futon, but honestly, for the price, I don’t think you can find a better one. I sleep on it every night and love that I have a couch to relax on, it changes the vibe in my room. I spent a good chunk of my budget on a nice mattress because that's what matters most. I got a thick futon mattress and a non-slip mat to keep it steady when it’s in couch mode. It feels nice, seriously. Overall, this frame and a good mattress are a solid choice. I'd buy it again.
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Perfect!
It came together fairly quickly. My son-in-law helped with the assembly and didn’t have any problems, even with me chatting away. A powered screwdriver made things easier too. The frame feels solid; there's no creaking at all. The wooden boards run along the length like a standard bench, which I find comfortable for sleeping. My only issue is the spacing between the boards in the seat and back area—3.5 inches and 4.5 inches in the middle—I'd prefer them to be wider or closer together. For everyday use, some extra support, like cardboard or non-slip pads, could help keep the mattress in place. Any futon mattress fits this frame, which is great. Lifting the back support to adjust to one of four positions is pretty easy from one side. If you have a thicker mattress, you might need to reposition the frame after lifting the back support. As someone weighing around 300 lbs with some back issues, this has worked out well for seating and sleeping in my small apartment. In fact, I've found it more comfortable for sleeping than my regular bed. I occasionally need to replace the futon mattress, but this sturdy frame should last for a long time. Overall, I highly recommend this frame, especially since it’s made in the USA!
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Great First Impressions!
I just finished setting up the futon frame and adding a futon to it, and I'm pretty pleased with how everything went. The delivery was quick, and everything arrived intact—no missing parts and no damage. The wood pieces are nicely sanded, so I don’t have to worry about splinters, and the grain looks smooth and even. If you're thinking of finishing it, I bet it would look nice with a stain or some paint, but I'd suggest doing that before putting it together. Just keep track of the parts, since the shapes and where the holes are make it easy to sort things. The assembly was straightforward, and the instructions were clear. You really just need a Phillips-head screwdriver, though having a rubber mallet to get everything snug could help. The pieces fit together well, and they even included an extra check step to ensure everything was correct in the beginning, which I appreciated. If I were to suggest any changes, I'd think about swapping out some screws for Clevis pins and adding felt pads for the feet to protect the flooring. But those are just my personal thoughts, and they don't take away from the frame's quality. Once it was all put together, I was able to carry it easily into the room without any wobbling, which is great. The futon fits perfectly, and while lifting it to a sitting position could be easier (I might add a pull strap in the back), that's more about the placement in our corner. Overall, I’m happy with this! It looks good, feels sturdy, and I'm glad it's made in the USA. The warranty is a nice bonus, too, although I doubt I'll need it.
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Great Frame for My Needs!
I've been using this futon frame for about six months now, and I really love it. As a student, it's just the right size to fit under my lofted bed in the dorm. Plus, it rolls smoothly on my shag carpet when I switch between couch and bed modes. Some highlights: - It's lightweight - easy to put together if you follow the instructions - Disassembles easily when I need to move out or for summer storage - Reassembles without any issues (which is great since some frames weaken after taking them apart) - Supports my mattress well - Fits back in the box if I need to store it. One tip: If you want extra support and don’t want to feel the bars through the futon mattress, you can easily staple or nail a large piece of cardboard to the seat and back of the frame. It sounds a bit unusual, but it’s a cheap and effective fix to try before deciding to buy a new mattress. With the cardboard, it distributes weight nicely, and I hardly feel the support bars. I was initially worried about a wooden frame, thinking it might break easily, but it’s actually held up well. The wood bends less than the metal frames I've had in the past. Overall, I'm satisfied with this purchase and have recommended it to a bunch of friends who also liked it. I’d buy it again if the need arose!
Verified Purchase
I was a bit surprised by how small the box was when it showed up, and I didn't expect all the assembly it needed. But the instructions were easy to follow, and I put it together perfectly on the first try without any problems. It's a solid and well-made product.
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Great Solution!
I've been really happy with this futon frame. It arrived pretty quickly and was exactly as described. My son-in-law put it together with no trouble, even with me chatting away. It feels sturdy and doesn't creak, which is nice. The wooden boards are set up length-wise like a regular bench, making it comfy for sleeping. Just a heads up, the gaps between the boards are about 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches in the middle, so it would be better if they were narrower or the boards were wider. For regular use, I found that using some cardboard or a non-slip mat can help keep things tidy and in place. The frame works with any futon mattress, whether it’s a budget one or a more expensive option. It's also simple to adjust the back support to one of four seating angles, although if you have a thicker mattress, you might need to remove it to adjust the angle. At about 300 lbs and dealing with some back issues, I find this setup works better for me than my standard bed. I've felt less stiffness since switching, which is a win! I'm quite impressed with the quality and expect this frame will last a long time. I recommend it!
Verified Purchase
Assembly was straightforward!
I'm pretty handy, and it took me around 45 minutes to get it all set up. As I sit on it now, it feels solid—no squeaking or creaking at all. The metal futon frame I swapped out was about $50 cheaper and made noise the whole time, needing constant fixing. I'm excited to see how this wooden frame stands the test of time, but so far, I'm really hopeful.
Verified Purchase
Great value for a futon!
I can only share my own experience, but I've been really happy with mine. It was easy to put together and pretty straightforward. The instructions are clear, though they won’t walk you through each step. It took me around half an hour using just a screwdriver and a mallet to get it assembled. A few parts were a bit tricky, but if you take your time and fit things together carefully, it all comes together nicely. The wood is smooth but not finished, so you have the option to stain or paint it if that's your thing. I might consider that later on, but I'm fine with it as it is now. It's not an heirloom piece since it has a simple design and assembly at this price point. I can see it possibly wearing out if used heavily, but with a little care, it should last for years. Just a heads up, it’s a futon, so don’t expect it to be tough! For the price, you won’t find a better futon. I sleep on it every night and truly enjoy it. It's nice to have a couch to relax on whenever I want, and it changes the vibe of my room. Just so you know, I invested most of my budget into the mattress since that’s important. I ended up getting a thick, comfy futon mattress that was a bit pricier than the frame and a non-slip mat to keep it steady in couch mode. It's comfy, for real. Overall, this frame, along with a good mattress and cover, is a solid investment in furniture. I’d buy it again without hesitation.
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Very Impressed with the Frame!
I just finished setting up the futon frame and putting the futon on it, and I'm really happy with how everything turned out. The shipment from Hawkins Woodshop was solid; everything arrived in good condition with all the parts included. The wood is smooth and well-sanded, so there shouldn't be any splinters. The grain looks nice, and I think it would take a stain or paint well if you decide to finish it. Just a heads up, it's probably best to do any finishing work before putting it together, but the parts are easy to identify, so it’s manageable. Putting it together was straightforward and didn’t take long. The instructions were clear, and all you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver. A rubber mallet could help, but it wasn’t necessary. The fit of the pieces was great, and I appreciated that they included an extra step to double-check the initial assembly—it helped! If I had to suggest something, I’d say it could be helpful to swap a few screws for Clevis pins and add some felt pads to protect the floor. Those are just my thoughts, though; they don’t take away from how well the frame performs. Once it was all set up, I easily moved it into the room. It's not too heavy and feels stable, which is a relief. The futon fits like a glove on it, although lifting it to a sitting position could be a bit easier, perhaps I’ll add a pull strap later. Overall, I think it's an product—great design, sturdy build, and made in the USA. I’m also satisfied with the warranty, although I hope we never have to use it!
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Easy to build
Sturdy, easy to build. Very clear instructions
Verified Purchase
Well designed, engineered and right wood, easy to put together.
I bought to replace a completely inadequate "sleeper sofa" in a travel trailer slide out. My problem was that the inside "length/width" side to side of the slideout was 73.5 inches. Everything including this is 74 inches or 74 1/2 inches. I looked and looked and looked and with metal, there is "no give" on the width. I finally took a hard look at this and figured since it was wood, I could cut it down... Just enough to fit. So, did it work? Yes but... This is very well engineered and designed and that all assume you are not going to cut it down to size like I did. But you have to be careful. The best way, in retrospect is to cut both edges and not just one off including losing one of the dowels on each side. That worried me for structural integrity, but it is a bit over engineered where all of the other pieces once together compensate. And in the end, it all went together and is structurally sound... I had purchased metal support pieces and extra screws assuming I would need them when I did not. I did have to do a couple of my own "pilot" holes to ensure a good bite with the screws, but in the end, it works great and is the only thing that will fit. I now have a full size futon that extends out perfectly so when in "sofa" mode it allows the slide to move in without hitting anything. Then when you get to the campground, put it in bed mode with a good six inch mattress and a true real life adult can actually sleep on it... Comfortably... I am very pleased and by having to adapt it with a bit of engineering/construction background, I was able to see how well designed and constructed it was for people who do not have to adapt it including cutting off edges and structural dowel fasteners. Great product and, drum roll please, American made... And for what you get, pretty inexpensive compared to anything else on Hawkins Woodshop even before the tariffs. Including a high quality six inch futon mattress my total price was 398 bucks. I am impressed. The only weakness would be individual units where a piece might be cut where the grain creates a structural "break point" and a screw could break it or stress. But I see at least one other buyer who had this happen and the company responded on a weekend and immediately sent out a replacement part. So, I'm thinking they are aware of it and have excellent customer service to address it. This is due to their choice of wood and its intrinsic quick growth grain orientation, however tulip poplar is a great choice of wood for this overall, relatively inexpensive, light, good construction characteristics overall for this type of product. This was well thought out by whomever runs this company.
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