Struts for under bed storage

[magnetic157]

Has anyone added struts to help lift the bed to gain access to the storage?

Ours didn't come with any and it's a royal PITA to hold it up while trying to get things in and out. I'm looking for something to help make this easier.

[Witch Doctor]

Check Napa Auto Parts, they have some that will work, just make sure you get one with enough psi to hold it open.

[KKonyha]

Ours came with them. I have seen the air cylinders at Walmart also.

[auroraRNT]

Lavanture Products are brands Forest River uses. This is the supplier you can go online and order from.
https://industrialhardwaredirect.com...y/gas-springs/

[latner]

I bought a set from here: RV Bedlift Kits

[mdstudey]

We add 100 pound struts from Hatchlift. Kind of a PITA to install but oh so worth it. I had upgraded the mattress that is a lot thicker and heaver than the one that came with it. Plus it sure made doing any work in the storage compartment easier. We don't have a pass through.

[Draggo]

I bought a couple of 100 lb. ones from Amazon. As previously mentioned, a pain to install but well worth it. There is no way my wife could open it before, now it's easy.

[CrocNC]

We have a Vibe 308 BHS and our bed did not have any struts either. I bought a pair at Camping World, but I also had to buy some 1x2 strips to reinforce the upper sides between the corners, so I could install the strut connections and have support. It was fairly easy.
1) Used a brad gun to install the 1x2s, then a furniture crayon to mask the brads.
2) I then determined the placement of the struts, marked the locations for the strut supports and attached a 4" 1x2 to which you screw the strut support.
3) I then removed the mattress from the bed and flipped the storage cover all the way back, placed a scrap block of wood between the cover and the bed support (just in case my screws decided to penetrate deeper)
4) Attached the small end of the strut to the wood supports.
5) Flipped the cover back with the struts attached and determined where the strut support needed to be placed on the side of the storage compartment.
6) Depending on the strut support bracket you can either screw into the 1x2 upper support or add an additional piece of 1x2 below the upper support to attach the large end of the strut to.

[Dan n Gerda]

It sounds like you might have an easy fix! We have a 24ft 2016 FR 2401w MBS with a full slide! Unfortunately the box under our queen master bed is screwed closed! Nothing inside! We would like to do the same thing for the added huge inside storage we would gain! We haven’t a clue about what to do! Any ideas? Dan & Gerda

[Ncgrandma]

I wanted the same thing for the storage area under our queen bed. Instead of buy anything fancy my husband used a 1” x 2” board with bolt, washer and nut fastening to the wooden divider and a sm pc of wood on the top to rest it under so it won’t fall. Didn’t cost anything, had left overs, a little time and works great.

[stevegotl]

I have a brand new Standard Bedlift Kit made by Hatchlift Products that I'll sell you for $30 plus shipping. These sell on Amazon for $70.99 ... message me if interested....


https://smile.amazon.com/Platform-Be...it+queen&psc=1

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by stevegotl

I have a brand new Standard Bedlift Kit made by Hatchlift Products that I'll sell you for $30 plus shipping. These sell on Amazon for $70.99 ... message me if interested....


https://smile.amazon.com/Platform-Be...it+queen&psc=1

Sent you a PM.

[Boomerweps]

The gas struts come in various lengths and pressures (for varying weights). The lengths depend on your mounting points. Lots on Amazon.
My bed had the gas assist struts but they were mounted one on the far side and the other about 18" in from the side because of the water pump and heater location. My handle was positioned mid-way between the struts, making for a twisting, awkward lift due to unbalanced weight. I first moved the lift handle to the bed center but the off center struts still made for a twisting lift. I felt for the best balance point when lifting the bed against the struts and put the handle there. A few extra holes, hid by the bed covers, but a much easier lift.

[roadster]

I bought the struts from amazon. It's a LOT of trial and error= multiple holes. Lol. I finally got it right after approx two hours! I spent more time looking for bolts, nuts and washers, and going back and forth to the fridge for some cold beers. Ill adjust later when I upgrade to a memory foam mattress. Cheers!

[Luckyboy]

Originally Posted by roadster

I bought the struts from amazon. It's a LOT of trial and error= multiple holes. Lol. I finally got it right after approx two hours! I spent more time looking for bolts, nuts and washers, and going back and forth to the fridge for some cold beers. Ill adjust later when I upgrade to a memory foam mattress. Cheers!

I used the basic guidance from a poster here and did make a couple of changes. Again, I don't think 100 lb. struts are needed. 50-60 would be a easier to deal with!

[Luckyboy]

Originally Posted by Luckyboy

I used the basic guidance from a poster here and did make a couple of changes. Again, I don't think 100 lb. struts are needed. 50-60 would be a easier to deal with!

Here are my measurements.

[roadster]

Originally Posted by Luckyboy

Here are my measurements.

Man, I wished I found your measurements earlier. Surely could have saved me time. Oh well. Thnks for posting again.

[smyates57]

Originally Posted by magnetic157

Has anyone added struts to help lift the bed to gain access to the storage?



Ours didn't come with any and it's a royal PITA to hold it up while trying to get things in and out. I'm looking for something to help make this easier.

Did you figure anything out because I would like to add the same thing!

[dfriedman]

I mounted two 55 pound struts, 20" long, bought from Amazon for about $22 for a pair (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P39MTCK/).

It certainly is a PITA, especially because it is imperative that you reinforce both the bed platform (where do they get such cheap particle board?) and the bed frame sides.

The bedframe sides are a sandwich of two sheets of cheap veneer plywood (might as well be cardboard) with foam particles in between. The struts put considerable force on the mounting brackets (which should be no surprise) and these cheap materials will not hold a screw. I mounted pieces of 1x4 on the inside of the frame, screwing these into the base. I put a small plywood patch under the platform, attaching the bracket through platform and patch with machine screws and nuts rather than wood screws.

[dedobias]

Originally Posted by Luckyboy

Here are my measurements.

Can you repost the pictures please? Some of them are not displaying. I se a lot of instructions and most of them show mounting the other way whcih I think is wrong.

Thanks.