Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Topic: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal? (Read 1972 times) previous topic - next topic

Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

March 18, 2019, 11:57:19 am

Anybody add an extra set of gas lift rams to their walk around (North/South non slide out) queen bed platform?
We just ordered an adjustable Queen bed for our coach and the added weight may over power (too heavy) for the two OEM lifts.
(Englander Hollywood 50 Split Queen with the Bed Tech50-split (2) Adjustable (powered) Bases)
Ordered from Mattress World (mattressworldnorthwest.com)
It will be 2 to 3 weeks before they are delivered..

Any Help or comments welcome..

red

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #1 – March 18, 2019, 12:10:45 pm

You might want to wait and see if you need it. We have a thick (14") memory foam mattress with the original struts and the hold it up fine. But I also have and use a stick to hold it up just in case.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #2 – March 18, 2019, 12:35:53 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – March 18, 2019, 12:10:45 pm

You might want to wait and see if you need it. We have a thick (14") memory foam mattress with the original struts and the hold it up fine. But I also have and use a stick to hold it up just in case.

The power bases will add about 250 lbs I think.
Will have to bolt them direct to the hinged plywood base.
The bases will not need the legs for clearance of the lift mechanisms underneath.. and don't need to raise the bed any higher as DW needs a 6" step box now just to get into the existing bed.. (somewhat height challenged 4'9")

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #3 – March 18, 2019, 08:45:55 pm

We added a Purple mattress.. to heavy for the struts... bought new struts.. same problem... Will be making a bracket for both struts to work together soon.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #4 – March 19, 2019, 12:17:15 am

Quote from: DavidS – March 18, 2019, 08:45:55 pm

We added a Purple mattress.. to heavy for the struts... bought new struts.. same problem... Will be making a bracket for both struts to work together soon.

I'm wondering if I could use another set of the strut bases (they are left and right specific application) and swap sides & place them on the outside of the pedestal wall and just use longer bolts to go thru the wall and run the additional struts on the outside of the walls....Your thoughts??

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #5 – March 19, 2019, 01:12:50 pm

I think you can add another set with the same brackets.. Making them align as they open and close using the same geometry..Might work if they are far enough apart but might be easier to make a braket with both attached and one strut lower on the bracket soe they can be side by side and using leverage to keep open and closed.. I think, but I have not applied my theory yet

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #6 – March 19, 2019, 05:37:37 pm

I have read posts where heavier struts pulled the screws out of the hinge. It is the fulcrum and will absorb the additional pressure.

Re: Ordered new adjustable bed, installing actuators for bed lift..UPDATES!

Reply #7 – April 04, 2019, 01:59:53 pm

Quote from: craneman – March 19, 2019, 05:37:37 pm

I have read posts where heavier struts pulled the screws out of the hinge. It is the fulcrum and will absorb the additional pressure.

Yup.. that was my fear as well.
Soo..
Replaced the factory piano hinge with a 3" wide one...lots of screws.
Bought the 16" actuators and fabricated brackets for the rams to mount on the plywood bed frame rail, and plan on mounting the lower end on the engine frame rail .
now dealing with the plastic covered spacer block/beam that appears to be filled with Styrofoam and lag screwed to the top of the engine frame rail.
May have to add a 4" x 6" x 1/8" or 1/4" thick plate under the bottom bracket to spread out the weight of the bed.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #8 – April 05, 2019, 12:02:47 am

I put in heavier hinge and 195 pound struts. Operate gently. Ok for two years. Put hands evenly apart and lower with care. Affected locking mechanism and had to add extra gasket on bed lid for good sealing. Happy camper.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #9 – April 05, 2019, 12:14:55 am

Quote from: Realmccoy – April 05, 2019, 12:02:47 am

I put in heavier hinge and 195 pound struts. Operate gently. Ok for two years. Put hands evenly apart and lower with care. Affected locking mechanism and had to add extra gasket on bed lid for good sealing. Happy camper.

I was going to go that route but.. the 50/50 adjustable bed framework weighs around 250 lbs and I didn't know if I could physically lift and control it even with the stronger struts.
So went with the 16" electric actuators .
And by mounting them on the shelf at the base of the bed pedestal walls, it should greatly reduce the lateral force against the hinge.
Tomorrow (Friday the 5th) will deal with the lower mounts.. might be a challenge drilling the bolt holes thru the plate steel under the Styrofoam beam..

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #10 – April 05, 2019, 12:23:38 pm

I used a liner actuator like yours for one of my house projects last year. One thing you will have to consider is the differences between the two actuators. What I mean by this is that no two actuators will operate at exactly the same speed. The best thing to do is to have two switches to operate that way you can keep them in sink with each other. I got around this issue by going with a longer stroke, heavy capacity, and placing the actuator in the center for the lift.

However in your application I would still use two separate actuators like you are doing. I would just use two switches to independently control them.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #11 – April 05, 2019, 03:33:15 pm

Quote from: Eric & Alena + 3 – April 05, 2019, 12:23:38 pm

I used a liner actuator like yours for one of my house projects last year. One thing you will have to consider is the differences between the two actuators. What I mean by this is that no two actuators will operate at exactly the same speed. The best thing to do is to have two switches to operate that way you can keep them in sink with each other. I got around this issue by going with a longer stroke, heavy capacity, and placing the actuator in the center for the lift.

However in your application I would still use two separate actuators like you are doing. I would just use two switches to independently control them.

THNX !
I will keep an eye out to see how close the are to being equal then... Hopefully they will be close enough to "catch up" when fully extended/retracted..(I really do not want to try to add another control box if I can help it.)
On our engine bay there is nowhere to mount a base bracket in the center ((no "lip"), and the actuators are too long when retracted to stand upright and still fully close(lower) the the bed, and too short when extended to fully raise to allow access to the engine room.

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #12 – April 09, 2019, 07:03:23 pm

And now we wait for the bed to be delivered on Friday the 12th....

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #13 – April 09, 2019, 08:00:59 pm

Looks good! Did you find that the two actuators to stay close enough in speed of lift/lowering to not be an issue? Controlling them with one switch?
Don

Quote from: saddlesore – April 09, 2019, 07:03:23 pm

And now we wait for the bed to be delivered on Friday the 12th....

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #14 – April 09, 2019, 08:29:27 pm

Don.. The curbside one is slower , but I wonder if it is because that side has the longer length wiring..
It is within an inch or so from retracted to extended time wise.
Will know more after the bed frame(s) are delivered...(add another 250 lbs)

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #15 – April 10, 2019, 11:17:23 am

How long does the lifting lowering take without the mattress? It will be interesting to see how much more quickly it descends and how much slower the the upwards trip takes with the mattress in place!
Don

Quote from: saddlesore – April 09, 2019, 08:29:27 pm

Don.. The curbside one is slower , but I wonder if it is because that side has the longer length wiring..
It is within an inch or so from retracted to extended time wise.
Will know more after the bed frame(s) are delivered...(add another 250 lbs)

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #16 – April 16, 2019, 12:41:50 pm

Well everything delivered....
Found that the base(s) and mattresses weigh in at 200lbs.. so is a bonus vs the 250 lbs they quoted.
Had to order furniture "glider feet" to replace the 4" legs supplied... need the half inch for clearance of the power cords under the frames.. (bolts to mount the feet are 3/8" x 16 thread)
After some "rough in" figuring.. bed will end up 33"/34" off the floor...So will have to build an 8" step platform for SWMBO'd.. she's 4' 9"..

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #17 – April 17, 2019, 09:29:47 pm

AND!!!!
The Wife IS a HAPPY CAMPER!!!

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Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

March 18, 2019, 11:57:19 am

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #1 – March 18, 2019, 12:10:45 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #2 – March 18, 2019, 12:35:53 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #3 – March 18, 2019, 08:45:55 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #4 – March 19, 2019, 12:17:15 am

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #5 – March 19, 2019, 01:12:50 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #6 – March 19, 2019, 05:37:37 pm

Re: Ordered new adjustable bed, installing actuators for bed lift..UPDATES!

Reply #7 – April 04, 2019, 01:59:53 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #8 – April 05, 2019, 12:02:47 am

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #9 – April 05, 2019, 12:14:55 am

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #10 – April 05, 2019, 12:23:38 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #11 – April 05, 2019, 03:33:15 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #12 – April 09, 2019, 07:03:23 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #13 – April 09, 2019, 08:00:59 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #14 – April 09, 2019, 08:29:27 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #15 – April 10, 2019, 11:17:23 am

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #16 – April 16, 2019, 12:41:50 pm

Re: Ordered new bed, May need to Add 2nd set of Gas lift rams for bed pedestal?

Reply #17 – April 17, 2019, 09:29:47 pm

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