| Author |
Message |
KC Jack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 12:56 pm: | |
The queen island bed in my 96” coach has the head to the back of the coach. The 60” wide bed leaves only 15” on each side for isle. This is enough for getting in & out of bed and making the bed but not enough room to get dressed. Since there are wardrobes on each side at the foot of the bed, the only place to get dressed is at the foot of the bed where it isle goes forward.
SO…
I am thinking about building a new bed platform that will allow the bed to be where it is now plus allow it to slide (on HD slides) to the curbside wall. When desired, this will give 30” of space to get dressed. Also, it will make it much easier to access the closet over the headboard. The base will be 15” narrower and offset to the curbside so it is roughly 18” from the curb wall (3” mattress overhang) and 30” from the street wall.
The bed will slide 15” to the curbside when desired. The bed can be located either in the center of the coach or against the curb wall as desired. I will use a linear actuator to move the bed just to make it extra spiffy.
Since there is a 30” isle, I can easily put 25” deep drawers on the street side of the pedestal. The taller the pedestal, the more storage room is underneath. How tall can I make it without getting a nosebleed? I am thinking about 21” high plus a 10” mattress. That puts it about 8” below the windows.
Is 31” too high for the bed?
Any comments, suggestions, criticisms, or smart remarks are appreciated.
Jack In KC |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 1:16 pm: | |
Much too high to sit on comfortably for many folks, and you need to sit down to get in bed. I had to eliminate the box springs to reduce the height for my wife who is only 5'2". She really had trouble getting in bed with it so high before I removed the springs. Try it first with the shortest of the one that will be using it. We always used the bathroom as a dressing room.
Richard |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 3:19 pm: | |
High altitude falls out of bed can be tricky when you fall into a space smaller than you are.
I did that, Not fun at all. So I am going to keep mine down low. I have the same walk space issue but refuse to comprimise on comfort.
How did I do that you may ask?
Air mattress with slow leak and I rolled off the edge. Needless to say it gets replaced with a real mattress next week.
The slide sounds interesting. Hmmmmm...
Enjoy.. |
Keith Monnig (Kmonnig)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 4:17 pm: | |
You might just think about using a side murphy bed. That way, the bed is out of the way until you need it. That is what I have done, and now I can use the bedroom as an office during the day, then at night, I just pull the bed down and crawl in. |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 4:32 pm: | |
I like the idea of the slide, as long as it doesn't rattle everytime you move. I had a wooden frame bed once that squeaked everytime you moved. I fixed that real quick.
I've been thinking about the side clearance issue and thought about getting a custom mattress, something about 50" instead of 60"
Ed |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 5:25 pm: | |
Keith - I Want Photos! I'm planning on the same and any inspiration would sure be great!
Got any pics?
-Chuck |
Keith Monnig (Kmonnig)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 6:03 pm: | |
Chuck,
I'll send you some later this week, I'll have to go take a few. |
Rob King
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 6:42 pm: | |
Hi KC Jack
There was an article about 2-3 months ago in "Bus Conversions Magazine" that covered this concept by Mike, the editor. I don't remember it having specifics as to mechanisms, etc. but it maybe worthwhile to get a copy of article. Try http://www.busconversions.com with a message to the editor.
Rob
91 Prevost
Missouri |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 7:13 pm: | |
Ditto the rattles of the slide. Not to mention the bruises when
the slide lets go during an amorous shift of position. |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 7:23 pm: | |
I would worry about the sheets and stuff getting caught in the mechanism or worse yet getting dirty from the slide itself.
Then think about safety too... Fingers, Toes and small animals in the right place at the wrong time.
That Murphy side tilt sounds interesting though. |
Dick Bell (Richardkan)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
I saw the Murphy concept in a Eagle under construction this fall. REALLY a neat deal. The couples reasoning was the day room was a great place for HER to get away from HIM and do her crafts without being in each others way. As a previous post wrote, it also could be used for a small office. The murphy tilted up to the passenger side instead of to the rear of the coach. Wish I was back at that stage, I would've seriously considered it. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 2:23 am: | |
Your situation describes ours except that there is a doorway to the bathroom at the end of the bed. You will get used to one of you at a time sitting on the center of the end of the bed and getting dressed. It will probably be less trouble than you think. When we are alone in the coach, I dress in the living room and Cris dresses in the bedroom at the end of the bed. We see no problem. |
Rob King
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 7:28 pm: | |
Hi JR and all
The current new model Newell uses the murphy bed concept with a "rear salon for daytime and a bedroom at night". Their web site, http://www.newellcoach.com, ask for a brochure. Very interesting concept worth considering.
Rob
91 LeMirage
Missouri |
CaSteve
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 12:24 pm: | |
K C, contact me off the board regarding a slide mechanism that I have that would be ideal for your bed idea. I can send you pix. CaSteve |
Dale MC8
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 4:21 pm: | |
Fleetwood used the Murphy Bed concept a couple years ago and quickly discontinued it.
In my time as a RV Tech, the most common thing wanted by those who didn't have it was "a bed that is always a bed". Just something to consider.
Dale MC8 |
KC Jack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 4:57 pm: | |
Thanks for the input everybody. I think having a full time bed is important to me. I have traveled in van campers where you have to put up the bed to eat; I think it is a real pain.
I am not worried about the bed rattling; I will use three Rockler HD slides, unfortunately they are not cheap, about $75 each. The bed will be held in place by the linear actuator so it should not slide unexpectedly. A momentary switch will energize the linear actuator so the operator will have to be present whenever the bed is moving.
I have thought of another enhancement. The curbside of the pedestal will be a storage bin about 18” x 70”. It will have a couple dividers that are necessary to mount the bed slides. Normally lifting the bed platform would access this area. If I have the bed also slide 15” to the street side I will have access to this bin.
Thanks again
Jack In KC |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 9:14 am: | |
In my Eagle I had to have the bed mounted so that I could tip it up to gain access to the engine compartment. Would that be a problem?
Richard |
KC Jack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 1:56 pm: | |
Good point Richard. Thanks. I will have to remove the drawers, remove the other stuff stored, and unscrew the plywood platform from the slides. I plan to mount an aluminum angle on the slide and use self taping screws (with pilot holes) to screw the plywood from the top.
Jack |