  |
What Are Trundle BedsTrundle beds also called truckle beds, trumple beds or hurly-beds at typically a pair of beds in one. The primary bed is a twin bed, while the second, the trundle, is found beneath the twin bed and can be pulled out when it is needed.
The lower bed may or may not rise up to the same height as the twin bed that it is stored underneath of, giving kids 2 beds at the same height. These beds are not as commonly used as bunk beds are. Sometimes they are used as a day bed. However, there are the typical day beds with the trundle bed underneath. Due to storing one bed beneath the other, neither bed usually has a box-spring. When not used for sleeping, the lower bed, with mattress removed, may be used as general storage. Trundle beds are a great for small spaces, when an extra bed may be needed occasionally. These beds are good for a child that does not have a big enough bedroom to contain two separate beds, but enables their overnight guest to have a place to sleep. The trundle bed is not only good for a child’s room, but can be used in that spare bedroom. Some used their spare room as a home office, or play room. These rooms are a good location for a trundle bed as well, since it is a space saver, yet it provides extra beds when needed. |
Discovery World Furniture Twin Rake Bed with 3 Drawers and Twin Trundle, Espresso Solid Pine
Choose Between: Merlot, Honey, Espresso Finishes
Meets Consumer Product Safety Commission's ASTM F1427 Safety Standards to Protect Your Child
Choose Between: Merlot, Honey, Espresso Finishes
Meets Consumer Product Safety Commission's ASTM F1427 Safety Standards to Protect Your Child
Construction
Trundle beds are constructed with various materials. Most of us cringe when we find out something is made from pressed wood which is when wood particles, shavings, sawdust, are pressed and glued together, before the product is made, that gives the appearance of real wood. You may see other terms used which are pressed board, and laminate. The pressed board is usually covered with laminate to give the piece the look of real wood.
Laminate is a man-made product (usually plastic) that is actually ‘printed’ to look like it has woodgrain. It allows manufacturers to create furniture, cabinets, and flooring for less money. You canNOT stain laminate. It’s not wood!
Another name that may be familiar is veneer. Veneer is real wood. However, it has the thickness of a piece of heavy paper. There are also vinyl laminates which have photos of various woods printed on them to give the illusion of real wood.
Solid Wood: Solid wood is exactly yet, but is there a catch to claims of construction being that of solid wood. I will give you an example. I went to look at kitchen cabinets, found a look that I liked and asked the salesman if the cabinets were solid wood. I was told yes. He was not quite honest with me. The doors, and drawer fronts are made out of solid wood. However, the sides and backs of the cabinets are made out of pressed board.
MDF: Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is a high grade, composite material that performs better than solid wood in many areas. Made from recycled wood fibers and resin, MDFis machine dried and pressed to produce dense, stable sheets. MDF is more stable than solid wood and stands up better to changes in heat and humidity. Is it toxic material? MDF is manufactured using formaldehyde. In reality, MDF is nothing but a higher grade of pressed board.
Technically, MDF contains a mixture of wood solids, wax, and resin bonded together under high temperatures and high pressure to create a uniform wood-like product that is far cheaper than real wood. In layman terms, MDF is sawdust held together with glue; sort of a higher quality (that’s an oxymoron, in my opinion) material that serves as the base for the piece-of-crap furniture you get from office supply stores or certain shall-not-be-named furniture chains. I’ve heard some individual furniture makers say they believe casegood furniture constructed out of a core of MDF might have a life span of 1/10th or 1/4th that of something made from solid wood, properly constructed. To be fair, it also costs roughly 1/4 to 1/10th as much as real world. (Source: Why I Avoid MDF and Furniture Built with MDF (and Think You Should, Too by Joshua Kennan)
Laminate is a man-made product (usually plastic) that is actually ‘printed’ to look like it has woodgrain. It allows manufacturers to create furniture, cabinets, and flooring for less money. You canNOT stain laminate. It’s not wood!
Another name that may be familiar is veneer. Veneer is real wood. However, it has the thickness of a piece of heavy paper. There are also vinyl laminates which have photos of various woods printed on them to give the illusion of real wood.
Solid Wood: Solid wood is exactly yet, but is there a catch to claims of construction being that of solid wood. I will give you an example. I went to look at kitchen cabinets, found a look that I liked and asked the salesman if the cabinets were solid wood. I was told yes. He was not quite honest with me. The doors, and drawer fronts are made out of solid wood. However, the sides and backs of the cabinets are made out of pressed board.
MDF: Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is a high grade, composite material that performs better than solid wood in many areas. Made from recycled wood fibers and resin, MDFis machine dried and pressed to produce dense, stable sheets. MDF is more stable than solid wood and stands up better to changes in heat and humidity. Is it toxic material? MDF is manufactured using formaldehyde. In reality, MDF is nothing but a higher grade of pressed board.
Technically, MDF contains a mixture of wood solids, wax, and resin bonded together under high temperatures and high pressure to create a uniform wood-like product that is far cheaper than real wood. In layman terms, MDF is sawdust held together with glue; sort of a higher quality (that’s an oxymoron, in my opinion) material that serves as the base for the piece-of-crap furniture you get from office supply stores or certain shall-not-be-named furniture chains. I’ve heard some individual furniture makers say they believe casegood furniture constructed out of a core of MDF might have a life span of 1/10th or 1/4th that of something made from solid wood, properly constructed. To be fair, it also costs roughly 1/4 to 1/10th as much as real world. (Source: Why I Avoid MDF and Furniture Built with MDF (and Think You Should, Too by Joshua Kennan)
Cost of Trundle Beds
  |
You may have heard “You Get What You Pay For.” I always provide a choice of products for my readers.
Here, I have decided to do some price comparison for trundle beds constructed from solid wood, solid wood and other materials, as well as those not constructed from wood for a price comparison. |
Solid Wood Trundle Beds
 
|
Discovery World Furniture Twin over Full Honey Convertible Bunk Bed
Solid Pine Meets Consumer Product Safety Commission's ASTM F1427 Safety Standards to Protect Your Child |
Click to set custom HTML
Same Bed-2 Merchants
 
|
Fashion Bed Group Casey Daybed Honey Maple Solid wood with Maple finish. Underneath for trundle or drawers. |
|
Fashion Bed by Leggett & Platt Casey Daybed
Solid Wood 3 finishes to choose from Option for drawers or trundle underneath |
Fake Wood Is Not Always A Money Saver
 
|
South Shore Mobby Loft Bed with Trundle and Storage Unit
Twin Pure White Made in Canada with non-toxic laminated particleboard I reviewed several beds from South Shore and all of them were made with particle board, other fake woods. |
Related Articles
Kid's Bedrooms
Types of Bunk Beds-Loft Beds
Captain's Beds
Guide For Buying Nursery Furniture-Infants to Big Kids Beds
Types of Bunk Beds-Loft Beds
Captain's Beds
Guide For Buying Nursery Furniture-Infants to Big Kids Beds
Safety
Safety Specifications
You may see terms such as: Meets All ASTM and CPSC Specifications
What are these specifications and what do they mean to you? The CPSC is who you report faulty products to. This is who demands recalls on toys that have harmed children. Years ago, the slats on cribs were wider than they are today, but after children were getting their heads caught, deaths occurring, the specifications were changed. This is a good resource if you want to check the safety of a product, what the specs are supposed to be and if there have been any recalls.
CPSC: Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/
ASTM:: American Society For Testing and Materials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASTM_International
Here are some links for Specs regarding bunk beds: I was unable to find anything specific for trundle beds.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=1805
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=1805
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Voluntary-Standards/Topics/Bunk-Beds/
You may see terms such as: Meets All ASTM and CPSC Specifications
What are these specifications and what do they mean to you? The CPSC is who you report faulty products to. This is who demands recalls on toys that have harmed children. Years ago, the slats on cribs were wider than they are today, but after children were getting their heads caught, deaths occurring, the specifications were changed. This is a good resource if you want to check the safety of a product, what the specs are supposed to be and if there have been any recalls.
CPSC: Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/
ASTM:: American Society For Testing and Materials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASTM_International
Here are some links for Specs regarding bunk beds: I was unable to find anything specific for trundle beds.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=1805
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=1805
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Voluntary-Standards/Topics/Bunk-Beds/