Donut757 wrote:flboy, are u goin to use manual winches with a platform? And will it stay suspended while down, or just drop it to the floor? Cant wait to see that finished product
I am going to use tracks to guide the bed and gas struts to make the bed about neutral from a weight perspective. I will build the platform from steel that will hold the mattress. I bought my trailer 7.5 feet tall with the idea that the bed will go down about 3 feet and stop. Even though the bed will stop at 3 ft.. I intend to have the tracks go to the floor to take the weight of the bed, my wife ,and I, so the walls do not have to bear the weight.. The weight should mostly transfer to the floor.
The 4.5 feet below is enough to clear the bikes and 3 ft. is enough room to get in and out and not feel like the ceiling is in your face all night. I want to be able to use the bed if I pull off the road at night without unloading motorcycles. Also, I figured when I am at camp and if the bed is down, the 4.5 ft. will still allow for setting and lounging below. But unless I or my wife are in the bed... it will raise to the ceiling by pushing up from below.
I have the bed design in my head... I may draw it up as I build it in case is works well and others want to replicate.