The bed was a swine to erect, but we did it, and it's working very well.  I've lost a lot of weight, and think perhaps it would have been easier to close before that!!  The only way I can close it now is to stand on a footstool, and actually SIT on the edge of the mattress! However, it's very reassuring to know it's not going drop unexpectedly and break my back. The attached photo really doesn't do it justice.