Question to FR about Murphy Beds

[RobbieH]

I see that FR is online here quite often, and I have an honest question for the factory team.

In my trailer, the Murphy bed broke at the top 1/3 of the frame - nearest the headboard. There is simply not enough strength at that end with only the one latch at the curb side of the bed to prevent the aluminum bed framing from bending and breaking.

To be clear, I am in no way upset about this nor am I looking for FR to remedy anything, I'm my own service center and I believe I have the problem solved. But if FR is doing something on the newer models, I'd like to know what they have done as it may give me some ideas to further strengthen my bed.

In the first picture, you can see where I have it circled in red where the aluminum tubing has buckled. The reason it looks like that is that I forgot to take a picture before I bent the frame back up, it was right on the verge of bending. This is the road side of the bed. On the curb side, the frame has already broken through, and I've done my repair. You will see the repairs in pictures 2 and 3. I do have a picture of the frame on the curb side broken through, but I can't find it.

Anyway, again, I'm not looking for anyone to fix anything for me, I am just investigating to see what FR has done to prevent this on the newer Murphy beds, maybe there's something I can do above and beyond what I have done so far. I also want to know because if this has not been solved, I'm reluctant to recommend a Murphy bed trailer to anyone, regardless of brand.

[D W]

You'll probably get a quicker answer if you send a PM to the FR Reps that frequent this forum.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...fr-117690.html

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by RobbieH

I see that FR is online here quite often

I'm sorry but currently, there is no active FR rep on here, that is from a towable division.
There are a number from the Motorhome divisions, thanx to the FR Motorhome GM, Brian Clemens. There are also FR software responses from ES_FR, that the software sends out, based on algorithms.
I agree that you need to contact the particular FR division.

[RobbieH]

Thank you, that explains why I see FR reps here sometimes, but not always. It's that they are responding to MH questions and not towable questions.

Thanks!

[Larry-NC]

Nice looking repair. I had to do something similar to a "glider" couch/futon and used aluminum channel instead of steel. You can get a 1/8" thick U-channel in a variety of channel widths, depths, and lengths from eBay without having to pay huge shipping costs or get more quantity than you need. I can guarantee that you couldn't buckle the stuff I bought.

[The Newsoms]

I put fold out legs at the foot end of ours for support.

[RobbieH]

The foot is fine. The problem is the headboard area.

I couldn't use U channel because of the way the Murphy is constructed in ours. I know it doesn't show, but there would not be clearance in several areas, one being where the air springs are. If I do continue to have issues, I can get in there and weld some flat plate to it and make it a U in the areas where I have clearance. So far, it seems to be holding up, that is some pretty heavy steel I used, and with it being "springy" instead of rigid, I think it is going to work as-is.