| Author |
Message |
Jeff Pritchard (Jeffpritchard) (68.8.222.153)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 8:12 pm: | |
OK, so today I was wandering through the maze of sticksandstaples MH at a RV show, and I was looking at the different types of slide mechanisms I saw.
Of note, were the minimalist slides used for closets and such rather than a galley slide or whatever. A lot less to it since it doesn't have much weight to support. I got to thinking about how a "cross island queen" bedroom slide moves, and noticed a couple where the frame of the pedastal of the bed was stationary and just the top of the pedastal and the matress moved with the slide. Started thinking about ways to mount the whole slide to the "top part of the bed", and use a contraption sort of like those "joey bed" bay trays to guide and support the whole thing. Seems like with some nice ball bearing wheels and tracks, etc. you could make a couple hundred pound bed/slide-wall move pretty effortlessly.
So why not design a bedroom slide this way, and then make it manually operated. Who needs a motorized slide when you could push it out with one finger? Thinking about this primarily for a bus or MH with a frame rather than the unibody busses. Just seems like for a couple hundred bucks worth of heavy duty drawer hardware or similar rolling tray hardware one could make a nice bedroom slide and never have to worry about hydraulics leaking or electric motors binding up, etc. The large platform for the bed seems to provide the ideal support for the tracks that support the bed and the slide wall.
OK, so what's wrong with this half-baked idea?
- jp |
Ace (24.28.41.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 8:27 pm: | |
JP nothing at all! I was in a friends bus at the arcadia rally on new years and he had exactly what you describe! It was in a 4905 buffalo and when I went in, the bed was all the way to one side. He gently pulled on the bed and it came out to the center. Another slight push (no effort I might add) and it went back to the side it was on! It made the bedroom have more walk space when not sleeping and gave ample room for entering or exiting bed (whichever came first)! I thought it was cool then and still do! The guys name is Butch, and he post occasionaly on the MAK board. If you need a number I have that too! He played in the band when in Arcadia!
I say go for it cause it can't be that hard!
Ace |
Nelson, Knoxville (64.12.96.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 11:53 pm: | |
Ace: I am trying to visualize the traditional night stands and the overhead and side cabinets at the head of the bed. seems you would loose the night stands and any side cabinets lower than the top of the pillows and bedding. How did your friend set up the area at the head of the bed?
I really like the idea as I have allowed very little space on the sides and at the foot of the bed in the layout of my 4104. |
Ace (24.28.41.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 6:59 am: | |
I forgot to mention that the bed was facing rearward and the head was against what most of us call the bathroom wall. He didn't have any nightstands which allowed him to use a larger size bed ( I think). Not too sure but I think he had a headboard that moved with the bed so it always looked centered and he didn't have the usuall overhead cabinets since the bed was backwards! |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.142.34)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 9:18 am: | |
A related concept which requires even less engineering brain-cramps - is this too 'hippie-bus' to even consider?
- An original bus window has gas struts installed which open it as an 'awning'
- In the window cavity, a box slides out which houses TV, entertainment center, bookshelves, whatever. Perhaps even microwave. Perhaps even a window unit AC???
- You could have four or more of these?!
OK guys, hit me with all your scorn! ;) |
akrom (64.12.96.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 7:35 pm: | |
Scorn? I think you're absolutely brilliant!!! akrom |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.58.120)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 11:55 pm: | |
Ace: If I read your post correctly, your friends bed only moved side to side within the original dimensions of the bedroom, it is not contained in a slide-out that extends out of the original dimensions as Jeff is posing? I think the manual bed slide-out would be very doable and at approx. 7' wide would allow for a queen bed and 2 12" nightstands. Could easily be mounted to a set of AccuRide or equivelent heavy duty full extension slides that would make for easy manual deployment and retraction. Could easily be motorized with a gear reduction unit. |
Ace (24.28.41.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 5:03 am: | |
James you are correct, but it was still a cool concept!
Ace |
Jeff Pritchard (Jeffpritchard) (68.8.222.153)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 12:17 pm: | |
James is right on track with what I was proposing.
James, do you have a line on any motor/reducer hardware that would be appropriate for this use? Would also need some cut-off switches to stop the motor when it reaches either end of the intended travel. Seems like a worm drive is what you would want so that it would keep the slide from moving when the motor was not activated.
BTW, James, is your middle name Clerk? Were you intentionally named after the famous 19th century physicist? Very cool.
jp |
Ray D (205.171.72.27)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 1:10 pm: | |
It would be 110V, but a garage door opener can be made to work and even has the limit switches. |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.76)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 3:16 pm: | |
I liked the idea one fellow had when he was talking about a "Fold Out" instead of a slide. I don't have his web site but it was cool and easy. Much easier than if a slide gets stuck, then you have to try to move the whole unit.
Anyone know if he ever actually built to the plan?
I thought it was great but I don't want to cut up the frame of the RTSII. I will say though, it sure opened up the space in his drawing and when it was closed for travel, the bus was like a normal bus, no walls inside to get in the way.
The thought was very inovative and space conservation was tops in this design.
I seem to remember a picture of his bus with the foldout but can't recall where it was.
Anyway, this is another option if it would work in a plan.
"Imangine Your Dreams"
cd |
David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (67.216.90.172)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 9:32 am: | |
If you use the Accuride slides please use the extra heavy duty ones (series 9301) http://www.rockler.com/findit.cfm?page=1491
Don't think that you can just use multiples of slides to equal the weight rating you need. Weight ratings for slides are only for specified widths (usually not over 36"). Yes, I know Galey mentioned doing that in his "bible" (stacked about 5 pairs) but it is a bad idea. But we did get a good laugh out of it (we were in the cabinet business for a couple of decades).
Lorna |