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Son_of_Norway's avatar
Aug 17, 2017

Electric Bed Lifter

This is for those with RV's in which you have to lift a bed to get at the storage underneath. We have such a bed in our HR and my back is unable to lift it anymore. The gas shocks don't help a bit. After learning about linear actuators I bought two and installed them on either side of the bed. The ones I bought were about $70 apiece. They come with a controller and a remote. I reinforced the bed's frame with plywood on both sides bolted together. Relatively easy project aside from calculating the geometry but I have a son who is an engineer to do that for me.

A video would be much better than the picture below, but I hope that the picture gives you an idea of the finished project. Note that I placed the actuators on the outside of the bed. Inside would be much better but the situation under our bed would not allow for it.


15 Replies

  • What we did was just eliminate the need to lift the bed all together!
    We cut a rectangular hole at the end of the bed leaving an outer support frame. We then put the cutout on a piano hinge, added cabinet magnets and a handle. This has been one of the best mods we've done as I did not like having to lift that bed because of it being so heavy! :)
  • While that looks like a great project it seems that stronger gas shocks would have been an easier route and they would remain inside the bed frame. I think I would stub my toes on a regular basis!

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