A few questions:
1. Where are the structural members in my 1997 U270 right side wall behind the copilot seat?
2. Would a stud finder be able to find the steel or wood studs?
3. If the studs are metal, are they steel or aluminum and how thick?
I need to build a single murphy bed behind the copilot seat with the following features:
- Single adult up to 300 pounds.
- Pivots into wall. Only takes 10 inches of floor space.
- Retains mattress and bedding. No need to make bed every night.
See the photos for a sample of the right side wall and current mini-desk configuration. The mini-desk will be removed.
The murphy bed will be supported by the floor, but the wall may have up to 20 lb of pull force applied to it.
Tim,
I can only help you with location of structure. If you go out on a day when there is a heavy dew, you will be able to see exactly where that structure is.
You may want to think about a thinner plywood on a steel structure. You could then hang a folding table from it, so that area would not be just a blank wall while the bed is in the up position.
Neat project, keep us posted on what you come up with.
Len
Tim, sidewall structure is steel tubing, about 1.5" square. Best way to find structure is with a strong magnet.
I have magnent hooks. 1" base. 26 lbs each. That I use, work well.
(https://s20.postimg.org/tdqal7mx9/IMG_8364.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
1. I don't know.
2. Yes. The studs are steel. You can probably detect them through the inside OR the outside walls.
3. Steel. Other members will pipe up with the exact size and wall thickness.
I use a cheap magnetic stud finder (see photo). Works great on our coach.
We also use an electronic stud finder to find roof supports that would probably also work for side wall.
Your floor hinge will have to deal with a covered cable run on the floor, that sticks out about 5 inches from the wall. If you have carpet, pull up the carpet to locate it.
Also since you are not putting any weight bearing on the wall, you will find that there is probably enough wall thickness to hold bed closed without requiring to be in a metal stud.
Studs are your friends.
Roland
Here are some photos of the finished bed. It is "Cot sized", or about 30 by 78 inches. The features are:
- Removed the desk. May be able to attach another desk to the 3/4 inch red oak plywood bed in the future.
- No side structural members required.
- Two Brass pins hold the bed upright.
- Floor takes the weight.
- Moved 115VAC wire from desk to the magazine rack beside the copilot.
- Only uses 9 inches of side space.
- Holds bedding in place. No re-making bed every night.
- Can be expanded to be a coffin when I die.