Plum Products Play Trampoline

This arrived with two bolts missing, but in response to my email they sent the missing parts by return post. Our 3-year old loves it, and isn't heavy enough to bounce to a dangerous height, so that's perfect. A very solidly made made toy.

This is a great trampoline really.

SAFETY AND COMFORT CONSIDERATIONS

I like that my son doesn't have his vision impaired while he is bouncing; it's not a large trampoline and I imagine I would feel claustrophobic with a safety enclosure. Instead, I opted for interlocking, shock absorbent safety matting from ebay which I doubled up to 2cm thick (laid on concrete).

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

I am not a regular exerciser and although sporty when younger, I never had any power in my arms so putting this together proved a challenge - nearly gave up but after a little thought I managed to succeed through mind over matter!

THE MAT TO THE SPRINGS

I tried to put the matt on by attaching opposite springs at first but gave up on this idea as some seemed impossible to stretch over the spring. Instead, I attached the springs to the matt in a haphazard order starting with the easiest ones. I had to use the pull tool provided and sit on the floor with two feet up against the frame either side of the spring in order to get leverage by leaning back and pushing with my feet. I was left with about four springs which I just could not attach. I had to enlisted the help of a fit, average build young man who managed to attach two but couldn't pull hard enough to get the final two on. A second, on the larger side of average man tried but was still fustratingly about 7mm too far out. At this stage, I was disappointed and was considering whether the alignment was out - giving up or starting over again. As I was bolting in the frame, it was not that difficult to allign bolts and tighten them so I didn't think the alignment would be too much of a problem.
Then I realised that if I stood it on it's side with two feet accross the ground and the two springs that needed attaching at the top, I could get the required leverage by holding onto the pull tool and gradually applying more and more pressure through body weight by almost hanging on the tool! (I had to get up a bit higher than the trampoline to do this so I stood on the doorstep which was conveniently the perfect height above the yard level). I still needed someone to help as I needed to pull down with two hands and someone else needs to hook the spring in the loop while it was being stretched.
I would recommend that you try to attach the mat to the springs primarily with the trampoline the right way up and only as a last resort and on the final few springs would I turn it side ways and use my own body weight and gravity. The reason I say this is that I envisage that if you pulled it down too much then the frame could brake or a nut. Although this trampoline seems well built and strong I wouldn't want to put the frame under unnecessary pressure. However for the final couple of springs I expect it is fine and may help to realign the frame if that's a problem.

HOW MANY PEOPLE AND WHO IS NEEDED TO PUT IT TOGETHER?

In summary, you do really need two people to do this I think unless you are rediculously strong and can pull all the loops with one hand so you have the other hand free to hook the spring in while the matt is being stretched.
The second person does not have to be strong, a kid could hook it in the loop while the matt is stretched. And if you turn tha trampoline on it's side and finish it off like I did, then the first person does not have to be particularly strong either. I didn't have to use all my body weight and I am about 12 stones (female). You would need a strong grip though.
You also need fairly strong wrists to put the rubber feet on. At first, I thought they were impossible to get on as they where too small but then realised that the knack is to apply pressure at the same time as twisting the feet on. (The bolts at the bottom of the frame may have to been tightened first).

BUILDING TIME

It took me about an hour and a quarter to do which, after reading reviews for various trampolines, seems reasonable (although it felt like about two and a half hours!).

THE DAMAGE!

I did manage to get a metal splinter in my finger though and a small cut on my wrist trying to get the feet on. The instructions do recommend gloves but obviously you loose grip with gloves - I didn't use any.

DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS

Just a final note on selecting a trampoline: If you're not too familiar with your measuring distances then I'd recommend always measuring out the size of a trampoline before purchase as you really can't tell from pictures. Even with a person stood next to the trampoline you still can't get a really accurate idea of the scale although at first you may have assumed that it is a certain size without question.

This trampoline is larger than I expected (given the superimposed child bouncing on the product picture) and seems durable (solid construction, weather proof and good padding). My 3 yr old and 5 yr old love it. Personally I prefer having no safety net as my kids go less crazy without one - so they seem to have fewer knocks.