drop down bed???

[B@tt]

Hi, newb here. I have a 6x14 Mirage with rear ramp door that I would like to convert but still be able to haul my bikes to the track and quad out to the hills.

Has anyone had any luck designing a drop down rear bed like you would find in a traditional toy hauler? I was thinking of building a light weight platform that would run up and down four 2x4 rails mounted vertically to the walls, two on each side of the platform bed. I think 1.5" round doweling inserted into holes drilled in the rails would be enough to hold the platform in the up position and a stop at the bottom would support it in the sleeping position.

Of course this would have to be lifted and lowered manually, but seems like it would open up alot of floor space for transport.

Any thoughts?

-Batt

[pete42]

would a fold down bed mounted to the wall work?
several have been built and pictured on this site.
some make it a full, queen size others have made twin one on each side.

welcome Pete

[CT Eddie]

Hi,
Look on myRVpartsplace.com they have several beds that fold up againist the wall and take only about 8" of floor space. As you build please post photos. Thanks..... ............

[B@tt]

I had thought of the fold up bed along a wall, but it seems that will take up more floor space than I might be willing to give up. Just weighing my options now, and will probably try a few options. This will be a fun project for sure.

My plans are more utilitarian than the builds I have seen here, but should be totally functional as a hauler, workshop, and dry camper when Im finished.

Great Site here. So glad I stumbled across it.

Pics to come soon.

[pete42]

If you have a chance you can check out "real" toy haulers.
I have seen them with electric lifts, manual swing away and of course on the side.
the one I liked because it didn't need electric to operate was one suspened from the ceiling with metal straps
it takes up more room when swinging up and down and if I remember correctly it was kind of high off the floor.
cousin of mine had an electric lift in his motor home and it kept stripping the gears maybe you could use block-n-tackle some how.
good luck and remember pictures are nice.

pete

[B@tt]

done a bit of research now, seems I will be going with a fold up bed against the wall. Just couldnt work out the logistics of a drop down overhead.

Anyone have plans drawn up that they care to share? I would like to price out materials for a build vs buying the prefab full size I found on rvsurplus.

Thanks.

[Bikerman]

I was thinking of putting box containers or cabinets on both sides and roll up the matress toward the front and haul behind a partician. My motorcycle could roll in between the cabinets. Roll the bike out, lower the partician to rest on top of the cabinets and unroll the bed. Still thinking, galley could go up front under the level the bed was rolled up on and access from inside or out. Gas tanks, water and recovery gear stored outside. So far, that's the thought.....

[woytovich]

If you wanted a bed that cranks up you could always score a cheap winch to use as a hoist for a bed. Rig it so that you could detach it from that task and use elsewhere too... use thin wire rope and pulleys...

http://www.amazon.com/Fulton-Single-Spe ... 801&sr=1-8

or

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-ca ... 65688.html

or

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-el ... 39997.html

(look on Craigslist for CHEAP boat winches)

This one is a "real" winch and small-ish.... more useful in other contexts too... you you have the need.

http://www.race-mart.com/Warn-WAR-91700.html

a cheaper one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-ca ... 92860.html

Mark

[B@tt]

I did look at winch systems and even started drawing some out, but in the end I think a fold up wall mounted bed will be more cost effective. I found a pre-fab that I like, and am also exploring the options of just building one. Either way, it should work out fine. I just cant wait to get this project going. Seems it will be my newest obsession.

[woytovich]

I'm going with a fold down in my small 5x8...

[firemaniac]

I was looking at wall beds for a place I was in awhile ago, did a Google tonight and found a kit with hardware and instructions HERE, including some cool latches that lock the bed in the up position when they are folded flat.

[CT Eddie]

Hey B@tt,
"Seems it will be my newest obsession." Your not alone........... I messed with the bed thing for awhile myself. In a 6x10 with an 87" quad there is less than 12 " on each side and 6" behind for the rear ramp door, leaving 21" in front for cabinets and less than 12" walk-in room. After spending hours on this GREAT site and searching the heck!!! out of the web I desided to build a fold-up bed based on the sketches on the myrvpartsplace web site and the concepts from other posters on this forum. Folding/locking metal leg connectors can be found at McMasters-Carr and wood on Rockler Woodworking. Just blow-up the sketches on the myrvpartsplace http://www.myrvpartsplacestore.com/Sing ... _p_47.html and go to it. My first few proposals were way to strong. I had 8 legs on my bed and 4 more on the wall section in the first sketch. Now I'm starting to build and a metal fabricator friend sez I could stack'em six high..girls that is .. so now I'm down to 3 on the wall section and 5 on the folding bed frame and limited to 3 high . Will use 3/8 ply or strand board over a 1x1 sq. steel tube frame. The folding section is 33x80 and the wall is 6x80, for a twin 39x78x6 bunk mattress. You could make it any width you want as there is very little weight on the wall section. A Queen bed in the house only has 5 legs total and is rated at 1,500+ lbs. Wish there was a spell checker on this thing.... oh well..... PS, check posting of Itsdoable 04/04/11 "Bed stuff" that is where I got the wall mount and another sketch somewhere I can't recall. But, someone posted a "cad-sketch" very simular. check 'em out. Good luck....

[B@tt]

Looks like I will probably go with a prefab/store bought bed. My next concern is mounting. My walls are 5/16 ply paneling with the frame spaced at 24" OC. Is it worth the extra weight to upgrade the walls to 3/4" and be able to mount anything anywhere without worry, or is it better to re-enforce just the areas where items will be mounted? Would angle iron better for re-enforcement or could I get a way with 1x4's attached to the trailer frame?

Sorry for all the questions, but I would rather learn from you all before I spend extra money on items that either wont work or are complete overkill.

Thanks.

[CT Eddie]

[quote="B@tt"]Looks like I will probably go with a prefab/store bought bed. My walls are 5/16 ply paneling with the frame spaced at 24" OC. Is it worth the extra weight to upgrade the walls to 3/4" to hang anything anywhere Would angle iron better for re-enforcement or could I get a way with 1x4's attached to the trailer frame?

NO, You don't mount to the interior paneling and you don't mount anything just anywhere. You can attach a mounting rail or plate of either alum or steel to your wall studs. Make the attachment rail lap over several studs and cover the length of your bed plus one extra on each end. The weight held by the attachment rail is limited to less than 1/2 of the bed frame and is supported from the floor by the legs under the wall mount section. Check the dwgs from the mfg. of your selected bed frame. Be selective of where and what you hang off the walls of any trailer, your're not dealing with a stick framed house. Good luck.........

[B@tt]

Be selective of where and what you hang off the walls of any trailer, your're not dealing with a stick framed house. Good luck.........

So maybe I need to rethink hanging one of these off the side wall???
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZO7LVW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER