Fold up bed, use wood or steel or?

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

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.

Hi Wookie97,
That was a great idea to use an E-Track system ... however ...


I did not install the E-Track and my trailer (CT) has a slightly curved roof which would not work well for bed storage and I am not really planning on more than myself and one other person (whether it be my wife or a prospecting/camping associate) requiring a bed in the trailer. The trailer (6x10 outside dimensions) is really cramped when you start to get more than 2 people in it.


Because of the width of the trailer (inside at about 68"), I am going to try to make the beds (Mil Surplus Cots) fold as close to the wall as possible. Also, the 4" mattress, bedding, and cot weigh less than 30#, the tip weight to fold up is much less, so no springs, etc. are really necessary. This means a simple hinge system that moves in when open and out when closed, should work great.


I hope to start working on the hinges this week, but I need to pick up a bottle of gas for the MIG welder first ... I prefer MIG over Flux core for the thinner metals and It leaves a cleaner weld. Sleeping bunks, beds, and cots are an issue for most of us and any ideas, whether good or bad, are building blocks to use, toss, or modify ... I'll add pics as I go ...

[lrrowe]

You know John, the more I think about your approach versus mine, yours has more merit. Here is why.

My idea was to use a 6 to 8 inch mattress and a fold up base. When folded, the mattress would be between the bed frame and the exterior wall. But the whole thing would stick 9 1/2 inches (mattress plus bedding frame) into the trailer space with or without the mattress. Doing this on both sides leaves only 49 inches (68 -(9.5 +9.5)) in the aisle for carrying bikes, kayaks or whatever.

With your idea, if the bed frame is hinged to the wall and the mattress secured to the frame as if it was under the frame, then you might be sticking out in the aisle the same amount as the 8 inch mattress idea goes. But if you really needed to carry stuff and will not need to sleep, you can leave the mattresses back and you gain 16 inches in aisle space; a significant improvement.

So let's see how your installation goes.

[professorkx]

Finished my folding bed today. This is posted in my project build, but wanted to post here as well since this topic is on folding beds. I made mine all out of wood. Five pictures, two in the down position, one with the end folded up, and two with the entire bed folded into place.











This is designed to use an air mattress and standard bedding, and everything is held to the platform with webbing straps so the bedding stays in place while being folded next to the wall.

[lrrowe]

And proffessorkx,
Your result would also satisfy my second point in my post above. I would only have to make your depth a little narrower.
See it helps to be delayed on one's work. New options pop up.

[Glenlivet]

Looks good professorkx. Simla to mine, though I used wood. I have had a lifetimes worth of disappointments and hard awakenings with airbeds so I totally distrust them.
The bed doubles as foam mattress storage, doesn't obstruct the window when up, and triples as table storage.
Seeing all these ideas for beds and cots that others have made, all working, is great.

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=46134

[desertrat222]

I build these bunk/sofa fold up beds for $600.00 + freight. i built them for my personal motohauler but i can build them for others.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Nice Bunks desertrat222 (Hmmm, Nice Handle)
I was getting ready to add the beds to my CT and then the boss decided she wanted a larger trailer, so .... I guess I am going to list my Cargo Desert Rat and make room for a slightly used Cruiser Fun Finder Xtra XT190 Toy Hauler.

I will miss my my little camper, but room, money and of course, the boss take precedence. I am looking forward to a larger trailer (I never had one) and am moving the wing from the Blazer to the newer Tow Vehicle. We have a 6,000 mile run through Arizona to Wash to Idaho to Mont to the Black Hills and back to Minnesota early summer as a shake down trip for the new (to us) rig (Sometimes things just happen before you know it)

I'll post the new pics as soon as I get some ...

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
Sorry for the delay in posting ... I have been busy and just getting back into the trailer world...

The Fun Finder is home and I have been making it more livable to the boss, the cat, and myself (Note the pecking order)...

We did not get on the road early summer as planned (plans changed for the west coast run) we are shooting for a shake-down trip to the North Shore (Lake Superior North Shore) sometime over the next couple weeks with the FF...

I have had the Cargo Conversion at a trailer sales place for the last few weeks, but I think it is shown to the wrong crowd and will probably move it back home and finish a couple things and list it myself...

Anyway ... I hope y'all are doing great and hope to see you at the Pine City Tear Jerkers ING this coming Weekend (6-5 - 7)...