Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

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Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

September 07, 2014, 09:39:36 pm

For those that have them and those that don't, On our U300 I have a one sided Joey bed in my big bay. I have only had one other one when I had a SOB back in 05. Do you who have them think they add to your storage or just make it easier to get to stuff in your bay. And for those that don't would you like to have one. I'm considering removing mine. Just looking for some thought from those who have had them a long time.

Regards Andy

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #1 – September 07, 2014, 09:55:43 pm

We have the same set up as you and wouldn't go back. Wish we had one in the narrow bay. Roll it out and you can crawl all up in with what you have piled on it. We full time most of the time and carry everything we need for all seasons so it is a big help in organization of what you need especially during the change of seasons.

Pamela

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #2 – September 07, 2014, 09:59:50 pm

We full time and we love our joey. I can't imagine trying to live without it! Mine is packed to the gills and I'd have to unload half my crap to find anything without it.

see ya
ken

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #3 – September 07, 2014, 10:00:25 pm

I removed my 2 joey beds shortly after I bought the MH in 2005. I left them out for some time, as I did a couple of moves with the motorhome as the primary moving vehicle. You get a HUGE amount of space, and they are very heavy, in and of themselves. I actually stood them up in the bed of the S10 pickup I was towing for the moves, utilizing the increased space underneath for items to protect from the elements.

I put them back in around 2009, after I no longer really needed the extra room/weight to haul so much property around for moves. I've kept them in, mainly because the underneath of the coach is a better storage place for them than taking up space in the garage. More often than not, I don't open them up to get anything because the HWH wiring and boxes are low enough, and tender enough, that I don't want to hit them. With the weight of a filled Joey bed moving inward, I think it wouldn't be that hard to damage something if I wasn't as careful as I should be. I might use them more if my RV garage was 20 ft wide instead of 16 ft, allowing more freedom of movement around them when open.

Frankly, I wouldn't have paid to have them added...but that is me, and I don't expect ever to full-time (I need garages for my junk and could never pare down enough to do so). If I were a more orderly person...everything in its place, and a place for everything, I might feel different.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #4 – September 07, 2014, 10:06:31 pm

We have a dual extension full depth and width Joey Bed in our cargo bay, and I couldn't do without it. Specs say up to 1000lbs with 70% extension to either side. I believe that I have a bit more than that in it most of the time. What you lose in storage volume, you more than make up in accessibility. I am always very careful to let the stops gently engage and never let it slam to a stop. I love the thing and hope to one day become the Jedi master of organizing all the stuff on it...
Don

Quote from: Andy 2 – September 07, 2014, 09:39:36 pm

For those that have them and those that don't, On our U300 I have a one sided Joey bed in my big bay. I have only had one other one when I had a SOB back in 05. Do you who have them think they add to your storage or just make it easier to get to stuff in your bay. And for those that don't would you like to have one. I'm considering removing mine. Just looking for some thought from those who have had them a long time.

Regards Andy

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #5 – September 07, 2014, 10:11:11 pm

Joey beds take up an even greater amount of room in our U225 (on a percentage of storage available basis) than other FTs. We have three - installed long before we got the coach - but I've noticed that the bin doors render Joey beds almost mandatory for me due to not being as supple as I once was.

Our storage bins are made up of plastic boxes with lids stacked together. In some sort of order; I'm just never sure of exactly what order. But it's a lot easier to find something with a Joey bed slid out than it would be to unload all those plastic bins and go through them.

So, since we also will probably never be full-timers, the Joey beds stay.

Craig

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #6 – September 07, 2014, 11:11:45 pm

Quote from: Andy 2 – September 07, 2014, 09:39:36 pm

....................Just looking for some thought from those who have had them a long time...........................

Andy,

We were able to find a heavy duty (3000 lbs rating) Joey bed prior to taking delivery of our coach in 1998. It extends 70%, only to curb side (1/2" high front lip). The heavy duty slide has less wasted space than the lighter duty ones (only 1" clearance to the bay doors and bay door frames and only 3/4" clearance to the bay floor) so it makes good use of the available storage volume.

I would not want a street side extension, either while sitting on the side of the road or in many, if not most, campground lots. Longer items can go 8'(+) across the coach and the more frequently used items are (box or bin) stored on the front of the slide. Infrequently used items are (bin) accessible from either the curb or street sides of the coach, on the back 30% of the Joey Bed.

But, it is very much a personal preference (and use) decision. For us, I can't imagine how we could/would get along without ours.

We have used it in various ways over 16 years, ranging from where it was essentially emptied following every trip (when we were using the coach associated with a personal business) to where the Joey Bed supports full timing 7+ months per year.

I think that it depends a lot upon your personal desire/discipline regarding organization and how much you tend to carry. The more "stuff" you tend to carry and the more organized you want to be, the more you appreciate a good Joey bed. The more that you are into "a place for everything and everything always being in its place", the more you like a Joey bed. I can lay my hands on anything we carry in seconds. I have watched non-Joey-bed-owners look through piles of goodies for very long periods of time, repeatedly, and it doesn't seem to bother them a bit. Kind of like every day is Christmas for them!

There is no universal. single answer...................personal wants and needs.

Neal

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #7 – September 07, 2014, 11:45:56 pm

We have Joey beds, one on each side, and I often wish we didn't have them. Don't really use them. The street side holds my tool boxes - 3 of them and my golf clubs. The curb side carries some luggage, our extra air compressor, coach papers, and a few other things. If I didn't have them I think I could pack better. As it is they do not function as some of the bolts, the center frame bolts, are loose and I have not figured out how to fill the bolt holes so they can be re-seated. Obviously these bolts came loose due to excessive outboard weight when extended. Maybe I will take them out and leave them at my son's house and see how it goes with out them.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #8 – September 08, 2014, 07:41:31 am

FYI, Joey Bed company is out of business and no parts are available. But there are several companies making truck bed & motorhome bay slide outs. I don't think any others have the one open end that Joey Bed offered.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #9 – September 08, 2014, 08:42:42 am

If your an organize freek, not only do slide tray make sense they are a compulsive requirement. As Craig pointed out if you keep your stuff in the tubs (inside and out) like we do. We keep the most used near the door and less used in the middle.

Can you imagine unloading the boxes 5, just to get what's behind them then load them backIin. I do need exercise but not that way. Besides our freezed is in the main bay, why would I try to move that thing around?

By the way, im looking for a 30x60 for the generator bay.

will pick it up

Who said; personal preference?

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #10 – September 08, 2014, 08:48:27 am

Pulled mine out years back and stuck it in Storage... You don't realize all that extra space till it's gone... If someone wants one I got available

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #11 – September 08, 2014, 09:25:19 am

My position on storage beds are all pros: Keeps things organized//brings out to reach items in the rear//for me extends storage out to access instead of crawling into the big bay//have one on each side and helps when getting items out under the slide when extended. I think they are great item to have.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #12 – September 08, 2014, 10:04:20 am

IF you have a single slide FT of the early 2000's vintage like mine, the street side has about 50% of the opening on the street side obstructed by the frame rail reinforcement. On these machines a Joey bed is virtually a requirement (the one that pulls way out on the curb side) for convenience due to this obstruction.

I always smile when I hear folks complain about unloading the basement to get at the Aquahot on some of their coaches. In mine, you open the basement door, slide the joey bed all the way out in the larger second bay, crawl in from the drivers side, take down the velcroed panel and service the unit. Takes about as much time to do as it takes to read this email.

SO, in a 40' single slide non tag unit I still have 2,300 lbs of excess load capacity in coach (in spite of adding a very heavy tile floor), no Tag taking up storage space, and all the amenities of the U-320 with pretty good service and storage access.

That being said, a 42" single slide tag axle 2001 U-320 might be a good choice, but I would want to "turn it up" on the HP from stock.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #13 – September 08, 2014, 10:15:13 am

On my 1992 U240 I have the steps obstructing one bay (street side access) and have installed a Joey there, plus another in the other bay and now one in my 2003 Dakota TOAD with a work top with side access storage. Would not do without any of them. Space loss traded for access was really no choice.

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #14 – September 08, 2014, 03:54:01 pm

I may (or May not) have mention these 27gallon storage boxes
Homz Tough Tote - Walmart.com
They fit 3-accross in my joey bed. (David Able put me on to them).

I have 5 in my joey.
They let me store more stuff than I can find and create a level platform to carry even more.
They work great...

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #15 – September 08, 2014, 04:38:40 pm

Quote from: TheBrays – September 08, 2014, 03:54:01 pm

I may (or May not) have mention these 27gallon storage boxes
Homz Tough Tote - Walmart.com
They fit 3-accross in my joey bed

Dang, you gonna make me organize my storae bay.

Roland

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #16 – September 08, 2014, 04:57:12 pm

Your mind is better than mine.

Even though I have a chart that tells me where things are, I still look at the clear plastic tubs to find something

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #17 – September 08, 2014, 05:28:18 pm

Howdy Elliot, Thanks for the shout-out. Attached a couple of pics.
Dave A

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #18 – September 08, 2014, 06:05:39 pm

Dave, love the drawers

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #19 – September 08, 2014, 06:49:25 pm

Well Thanks for all the input, A lot of great comments and different views

Now i just have to figure out what is going to work best for me. thanks again

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #20 – September 08, 2014, 07:07:57 pm

Quote from: fouroureye – September 08, 2014, 06:05:39 pm

Dave, love the drawers

Howdy fouroureye, Thanks, wish I could take credit for them, but they came with coach. I think they are OEM on this model year. They are VERY handy.
Dave A

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #21 – September 08, 2014, 07:11:40 pm

Dave, I took those upper drawers off the coach the day after buying it. I feel they take up too much space for what they hold.Plus they are heavy.
JohnH

Re: Pros and Cons of a Joey Bed

Reply #22 – September 09, 2014, 12:25:08 pm

So John, your forcing the questions; 24" deep?, do you still have them, will you sell them or is a trip to Canada required?

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