Forum Discussion

cgragg's avatar
cgragg
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013

Modifying loft bed

Newbie here. And do I get some crazy ideas. To start off, I've owned a couple of trailers, so not totally new to trailers. Just bought a Wanderer Wagon by Thor. Smaller bumper pull toy hauler. It meets all my needs and the price was right, but I'm not digging the loft bed. With it in the lowest position, it's still about 5' off the ground. Ideally, I'd like to figure out a way to lower it to a more user friendly level and raise it to the ceiling when not needed. It's fully manual operation relying on 2 gas pistons on eash side that help raise it when lifted. It rides in a couple of steel tracks also. Has anyone every tried modifying this setup to get the bed to ride on a longer track so it comes down lower? I'm not a fan of crawling out of bed in the middle of the night and having to decend a ladder.
Toy Haulers
  • CabinetmakerII's avatar
    CabinetmakerII
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2013
    Have you concidered an inflateable bed? The footprint would be about the same on the floor. Of course this would only work in camp, after the toys are out of the garage.
  • cgragg's avatar
    cgragg
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2013
    Me and the wife slept on a queen size airbed in a tent for a week at sturgis a couple months ago. Not doing that again. Every movement you make transfers across and disturbs the other and seems like I was always rolling into her or she rolling into me.
  • Y-Guy's avatar
    Y-Guy
    Moderator
    Oct 08, 2013
    Other then installing something like a HappiJac I'm not sure of your options. I can't really recall seeing any mods to the rear beds to accomplish what you are looking for either.
  • cgragg's avatar
    cgragg
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2013
    HappiJac is exactly what I would need. Bit out of my budget at the moment though. But now I know they exist.
  • Blackdiamond's avatar
    Blackdiamond
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2013
    I am giving this some thought but I don't remember how my loft bed was constructed exactly in my old TH.

    Look at the track, I know there is a stopping point built into it...can it be moved or modified? Longer shocks to raise the bed might be needed, then their attachments points might need modified/re-engineered. I know when one of my shocks went bad it took a great deal of strength to raise that bed up and lock it in place with the rubber straps.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Oct 10, 2013
    My buddy made a loft bed in his enclosed trailer. He used e-track on the walls for support but does not have a lift assist. He will raise one side of the bed and pop in the e-track stop, do the same on the other side and walk the bed up or down the walls by going left to right. It's a boxed frame with open slats and a futon mattress. His trailer was the perfect width for a queen sized bed oriented east/west and the frame tucks up even with the ramp door opening.
  • cgragg's avatar
    cgragg
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    Blackdiamond wrote:
    I am giving this some thought but I don't remember how my loft bed was constructed exactly in my old TH.

    Look at the track, I know there is a stopping point built into it...can it be moved or modified? Longer shocks to raise the bed might be needed, then their attachments points might need modified/re-engineered. I know when one of my shocks went bad it took a great deal of strength to raise that bed up and lock it in place with the rubber straps.


    Your right on the same train of thought I am. I'm looking at doing exactly what your saying. I think the hardest part would be matching up the existing track and extending the track and welding on some new track to it to extend it lower. Then the second challenge would be finding gas shocks long enough to travel the extended distance I'm looking for. It's doable though I think. May be easier to just replace the whole track system with a like track rather than welding onto existing track. Appreciate all the responses. Brainstorming is how we get things done.

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