General Boards > Redecorating and Updating your Motorhome
Under Bed Access and Storage
Mike Groves:
Our '99 Marquis (without slide) has the struts but I've not taken the time to check their weight supported number and get them replaced. So Beaver thought of it, but for some reason didn't include them on the slide models? I just assumed everyone had them. Mine definitely need replacing and we've added a memory foam mattress which adds more weight to the bed. Right now I have to heave more than I'd like before the existing struts help even a little, but then I can hold the bed up while I put the oak plank in to hold it up. It is scary however to go about putting in anti-freeze all the while hoping the oak plank holds (our reservoir is located to the right side of this are rather than being accessible from the engine hatch). Would be much nicer to replace the struts. I'll have to do that now that Fred has reminded me.
Mike
David Handley:
Fred,
Would love to have the drawing if you can manage it.
Thanks,
Fred Brooks:
Hi Guys, Here are the pics and measurements for the installation. Please keep in mind this a 2000 Marquis built in april of 2000. The angle iron I started with was 1/8' thick by 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 by 10" long for engineering purposes. Final product could be reduced to 6" long. These pics show #8 screws to hold things for engineering purposes. I recommend that after you have confirmed the installation, replace the #8 screws with 1/4 X 20 bolts, locks and nuts.
1- Remove the matress and stow in the hallway
2- Raise the platform to almost verticle and prop in place securely. (I used a 2 X 4 and screwed it in place for safety reasons.
3- Cut and paint the angle iron.
4- Install the strut mounting brackets to the angle iron and bed platform using #8 X 3/4 sheet metal screws
5- Cut and paint 1" X 4" long X 1/8" flatstock to mount with 2-sided tape under the angle iron in the area identified as "A" (this is to fill the off-set of the factory assembly. DONOT put screws in this area, it's a track channel for a bearing.
6- Remove the steel rollers and remount inward 2" for clearance of the platform strut mounts (bed retracted)
7- Install struts, close platform and test operation (difficult without weight o mattress)
8- If all is well, replace # 8 screws one at a time with 1/4 X 20 X 3/4" bolts, locks & nuts.
About a 4 hour project once you have the hardware, have fun and enjoy the results. Fred
Michael Rump:
Hi Fred,
We have decided to install the struts on our bed for easier access.
You mentioned that you had to move the rollers a couple of inches for clearance. I probably missed it in your pictures. Could you help me understand that part of the job?
And, it looks like you used pop rivets in some areas. Is that necessary?
Thank you for doing the engineering and sharing.
Best to you!
Fred Brooks:
Hi Mike,
The rollers are mounted at the foot of the bed on the end of the pedestal and support the platform as it moves in and out when extending or retracting the slide room. As the room retracts, just before reaching the end the strut mounting brackets that are mounted to the platform will hit the rollers. I think I moved them inward about 2" but you can plot that out easy enough using a tape measure. Fun project if you take your time. I put "peel and stick" tiles down so the litter box clean up is easy. Regards, Fred
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version