Fold up bed, use wood or steel or?

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Yes, they are nice. I cannot weld either. Would be nice to be able to buy a set. Guess I am stuck with my wood set.

Hi Bob and others who do not weld ...
After I sold my big welder and before I bought another machine, I needed some things welded from time to time. I looked on line for welding and found several places in my area (Phoenix, Az) that did a great job for a reasonable price. It did require me hauling my stuff to their shop and usually the welder could get it done in short order ... they had a pile of surplus steel and allowed me to pick through it to find what I needed. They would usually shear/or cut it to to size for a couple extra bucks. It saves money if you can cut it to size, drill, grind the pieces, etc., and then take the pieces back to the shop for welding. You can do the clean-up and paint when you get it home.

Just a thought ... The shops I dealt with charged by the hour and material ... so small projects were quite reasonable; however, to weld up an entire bedframe could be $100 or more ... it just depends on the shop and how much prep work you have done ... the same job might be $40 or $50 if you did all the cuts, and prep'd the pieces for weld before taking back in.

Good luck here ...

[lrrowe]

That is an option and I also have two welder friends that I could call on also. One really then needs the material and tools to cut and drill with.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Lucky on having a buddy that welds Bob ... he may have the tools you need and can help you there!!

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Bob,
I called on the cots/bunks yesterday and the cost to get them here is going to be an issue ... $122.00 for the cheapest shipping!! That makes the total at least $202.00 for the two cotts!!


I am checking on another idea of making my own tube bunks with heavy canvas bedding support. I have to make a couple of phone calls & visits and see what I will get charged for the canvas and tubing. I hope to be less, but my guess it will probably be a wash.

I suppose if I look at buying them online not really too bad ... $111.00 a bunk is probably not really too bad as long as the received product (from the surplus store is in good condition). To buy online is always a gamble ... Which way to go? One can drive themselves crazy trying to save a buck

As soon as I know, I'll let you know ...

[lrrowe]

Sorry about those shipping costs John. That does seem awfully high. Too bad I could not help with the deliveries given my travels to the shippers area.
Building them yourself is one way you get everything done your way.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Bob, NO David!, and Tom (& Lindy),
I sat down and spoke with my wife about the cots and she said to order them. Hmmm, for some unknown reason she thinks it will ultimately cost me more to build!!??


She is probably correct, just thinking out loud to myself ... tubing cost, canvas cost and labor (sewing) for two cots would probably run as much, if not more than just buying them ...


So, I bit the bullet and the final cost came to less than $200 and they will be here next week ... I think that is actually a pretty good deal (We'll see how they look). Now for the hinges ...

[Gonefishin]

Never ask questions when the wife says order something.

[lrrowe]

[NO David!]

Ditto gonefishin, as usual...

Sorry for the late reply, out of the loop a few days...

At the end of the day, I think you'll not regret it, based on what your plans are. As for the weight, I thought I saw a 300LB limit somewhere, but of course can't find it now. (How much do European spec military folks weigh anyway?) There is some sag of course, but they have survived our four teens, guests, etc. I guess we've used ours two years now. These cots were just that, military spec green over red primer, ugly, utilitarian, welded heavy gauge tubing and legs, plenty of dangerous pinch points at the leg hinges, terrible for retail, great for folks like us! I was able to split my freight cost across 4 units and rationalized much like your wise wife, the grief of getting materials ordered, hiring a fabricator, and commercial sewer looked like lots of dollar signs.

With this setup, it sounds like you just need a good platform for your mattress choice, I hope you will be pleased. We've even left the legs on the lower cots, and have been known to pull a cot out to the deck for a nap in the sun. Be warned, let the burlap air a day or so after being in storage, then you're good to go. We load damp kayaks right onto our upper bunks all the time with no issues.

Good luck!

[lrrowe]

John, I will be anxious to see your final result.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
Bob ... No worries_the overall cost was really not too bad (again, depending on condition) and came out to just under $95 apiece to get to my door. You can't find heavy duty commercial units for much better than that ... shoot, the Coleman cots I am using now cost about $75 with tax (if I remember correctly) and they will go in the basement for grandkid visits!


David ... Thanks for the feedback on weight and I agree, the cot frames and burlap cover should make a good platform for the mattress and make good fold-up beds in the trailer. And thanks for taking the time to add the pics and ideas for all of us ... I think all of us have an idea of what we think we want and build on the ideas and suggestions of others.


I am waiting till they get here (scheduled for Wednesday this week) and I have removed the Coleman cots from the trailer and am ready to fit the cots, order the mattresses, make the hinges, and install the whole shebang.


I appreciate all of the help and suggestions guys...

[lrrowe]

John, I am waiting to see your results to determine if I might alter my ideas and try yours.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

No worries Bob ... I'll attach pics as I go along

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi David, Bob, and Tom (& Linda),
The cots came in and they look pretty good ... they are really not too uncomfortable as they are ... but I did order two mattresses from "Unclaimed Freight" in Milaca, MN.
http://www.milacaunclaimedfreight.com/

They are a distributor for the "Ice Castle" ice fishing trailers (awfully nice looking trailers) and sell lots of stuff from tools to trailers. The mattresses (trailer foam mattresses) were special order 77" x 28" x 4" thick (the only thickness offered) and covered for $75 ea. I laid down on one (on a board) in their trailer and did not feel the board ... so, I decided to go ahead and order them and if I feel like I need more cushion later, I'll add a mattress pad.


I am going to make a couple of quick hinges from modified gate hinges (tacky, but quick and inexpensive) and see if that will work ... I'll add pics when I start on them ...

[Wookie97]

I don't know if someone has mentioned this or not for a bed but what about using the E-Track Shoring Beams? I seen another post where the guy built a bed that would raise and lower with the help of some pulleys and garage door helper springs. Pretty good concept but I didn't see how he stabilized the bed once lowered to a sleeping position. Not sure how much weight the shoring beams will hold but it looks like a good concept to use a combination of the garage door springs and the shoring beams.

I like the fold-down Murphy bed style but I also like the idea of being able to lower a bed from the roof. Just pitching around ideas, ordered my trailer yesterday and getting ready for my conversions plans.