Lifetime Portable Basketball Hoop, 54 Inch Steel-Framed Acrylic Backboard

Seems really well made. Mechanism to adjust the height works well and is easy to use.Based on other reviews, I was dreading putting this together. It’s just not that bad. It took me, with the occasional help of a couple of kids, between 4 and 5 hours. It’s tedious - yes, but if you can follow instructions and set aside the time - it’s pretty intuitive.I recommend this goal and we’ve been having fun with it ever since we finished assembling it.

First, the assembly manual is the best I've seen for something like this so far. Detailed writing and pictures that actually match the parts with very good details. That was enough for me to go on but they also had optional YouTube videos for each step with QR codes to scan which was really nice.Now for the hiccups (with the parts lettered as they are in the manual):1. Step 4.2: After you tighten the screws AQB, The nuts AAN will not tighten all the way to the metal. Maybe it's supposed to be that way but it's hard to tell; it works fine and the screws don't move2. Step 4.3: The rubber parts AQC will not fit when the bolt from step 5.7 is put in place. I had to cut a small piece off the midsection of AQC to make room the the bolt.3. Step 4.4: my bolt AAD had damaged threads on the very tip and attempting to tighten the nut would have ripped it off or damaged it further. I had to cut off the damaged tip with a hacksaw to proceed.4. Step 5.7: piece APR (finger touching in photo) was too long. It would fit but there wouldnt any room for the rear lifter arms (ALS) that was supposed to be installed with it. I actually had to get my multi-tool out and cut about a fifth of an inch off that metal cylinder and then file the edge smooth. I had trouble making the cut with a plain hacksaw. But as you can see in the photo now completely flush and fits.5. Step 6.5: The height sticker is not designed properly. When I set the hoop to 10 ft exactly And then line up the sticker at the 10 ft mark, the 7.5 foot height is actually indicated by my finger in the photo and the goal won't lower any further than that. Double checked the height on both.Lastly, you need to be decently strong or have a long ratcheting wrench to tighten the counterlock nuts that are used in multiple steps. I am strong but I had to put a good amount of effort in with my 6 inch ratchet. You will either have to hold the nut on the opposite end with one hand while you tighten the other end with opposite hand, or you need a partner to hold it for you.I did most of this assembly solo but it would definitely help to have a partner for a few steps.Those things being said, I'm really happy with the end result and it looks and plays great. Took me about 5 hours; probably would have taken me 4 if I hadn't had to improvise on a few steps and had a partner to help me the whole time. Hopefully Lifetime will see this and try to prevent these issues for other people.

It’s a good product and the directions were good. I used the you tube video from Lifetime that was very helpful. It was difficult because you definitely need 2 adults to assemble. My only issue was the bolt going through the height adjustment handle. Couldn’t Get the bolt to line up with the other end of the handle. After 2 hours of trying everything (including loosening a lot of other bolts ) I ended up drilling out the hole to make it a little bit wider. After that everything was fine. They should make an easy assembly product like Spaldings product.

It took 7 and a half hours, with me and my skilled carpenter/mechanic son-in-law to put this together. Plus a third adult to help lift and hold it (horizontally) when parts needed to be attached, many of which did not line up as they were supposed to. And when you insert one section of the pipe into the other, you'd better make sure the holes for the bolts are lined up perfectly, because once pushed together you can't pull them apart. At that point (they weren't lined up, or else they were drilled wrong) my son-in-law had to drill through the steel pipe to create a new hole. Then when trying to attach the handle and pneumatic tube and pole together, in addition to needing at least three people, all the holes lined up but one -- it was off by a fraction of an inch. After unsuccessfully trying to muscle the sections in place, out came the drill again to drill through the rubber to allow the bolt to go through.. Do you have a drill with the proper bits? You also need a socket wrench kit, wrench, rubber mallet, lot's of muscle power to make things line up to slip in various connectors. Instructions (48 pages), though step by step, are in dire need of additional pointers to make sure you don't make common errors, and better diagrams of the hard to comprehend pieces that get put together. And, very important - if you are planning on paying the $100 or so for "expert assembly" like I was, don't count on it. We had the box, but the amazon expert assembly people could not find anyone who would do it. An that's over a two week period, with three calls to amazon. What you should do, is buy the expert assembly first (you then get to choose three days and hours as options), pick times a week out, and when (and IF) they confirm it, THEN buy the unit -- it came very quickly. Otherwise, I'd say buy another of the two main competitors; I would if I had to do it again.

Bigger than I even imagined. Excellent quality. Very well packaged and carefully delivered. Took my husband about 2 hours to put together solo, even though he hates reading instructions. I don't understand the horror story comments regarding difficult assembly. Easy to adjust height, even our 10 year old does it with ease. So far it's perfect!

Built it all by myself took 3 hours. All worth it, instructions were great. Love the infinite height adjust mechanism. Very sturdy hoop love the big 54" backboard great rebound with the acrylic surface(Had a tiny 44" one). Ah side from "the beast hoop" by spaulding this is the best portable hoop I've ever had and seen and played on. I highly recommend this hoop to players and serious ballers out there! Be ready to give up a few hours if your alone though for installation!