Front cab drop down bed

After looking at the Trek that on the lot at my dealers lot... I'd like to throw out a couple of suggestions to be picked apart (improved upon) if someone actuallly wanted to retrofit a drop down solution...

My first thought was to mimick the Trek system and go with a rack and pinion system... But, finding the matching parts is provong to be the major stumbling block with that idea...

Then I thought about two other systems...

The first was a similar system to what they use on boat lifts... Basically it's a single electric motor with two shafts (the motor drive the two shafts via a belt) and the shafts are wrapped in stainless cable... (the weight of the boat helps to lower.) In a MH a track, would need to provided to guide the bed down...

The second system would use a garage door opener mechanism (converting the motor to 12V of course...) and a screw drive to lower the bunk... All the needed parts are there... the travel limiter switch, the screw reciever and the track...

Granted, both would need a bit of "shade tree" engineering... but it's a start...

If the bunk is going to be hinged at the front of the cab over section that the boatlift shaft arrangement may be the best arrangment and the easiest to backward engineer...

Just my .02

As others have mentioned, front dropdowns were quite common in the 80s (Winnebago, Tiffin and Fleetwood amoung others all had them) and Trek kept having them since (although Trek would typically come down in the living room area not in the cab area).

I'm sure retrofitting is not impossible but it's probably not a trivial job as pretty much all class As without a dropdown will have upper cabinets and often the TV and backup camera mounted at the front and those would likely all have to be removed.

Fleetwood and ACE have them. Retrofitting is another question.

Trek makes something like that in their Safari motorhomes.
The bed works on a pinion system...

My 1982 Pace Arrow has one, but its not Auto. I am just trying to figure out how to upload pic here but haven't mastered it so far but will keep trying.
Tim

I was cruising the web pages for "hide-a-bed" or loft bed in A class and came across the 2013 Windsport 29X by Thor Motorcoach Class A that has a loft bed over the cock pit...

Which is the same manufacturer as my RV !!!

I called Thor right away and they said that an authorized dealer should be able to
retro fit this bed... and price it up for me (they would not give me the price of parts).

Camping World quoted me $5,000.00 for the install...
After they suggested instead I should consider buying a new RV with all the features
that I want instead of retro fitting this bed...geesh

There is no way buying a $120,000.00 RV (needs to be a class A Toy Hauler) getting in debt over my head and then trying to resale my RV I have had for a year, at a loss, doesn't make any sense... I hope to get my RV paid off by the time I retire ;)

ANYWAY.... When I said "OK lets do it as long as will look identical to the photos and videos online how soon can I get it done".

Well.... then they said they will have to "get back to me"... WHAT ???

Apparently they just tossed out a figure to see if I would bite or run...geesh.
I can't afford to pay more than this so really hoping will be less or that price.

Now before anyone thinks I'm crazy... I bought a used RV for $60,000.00 less than they sell for online, so just because of the amazing deal I got on the purchase price, and the importance to me to have a separate bedroom area up front.. sure I'm willing to pay that..

But at least I found a possibility !!!! So excited :)

I hope Camping World will do a good job of an installation. There is one other authorized dealership near Buffalo, NY but they have not gotten back to me yet.

thought I would share in case anyone else is looking for options..
I will post before and after photos if I get it done ...

joe b. wrote:
Back in the mid 80s, Winnebago made some Class A rigs, with a pull down double bed over the driver and passenger front seats. It was on some sort of spring loaded mechanism and came down almost to the top of the front seats. I bought a couple of them for a summer travel program, to haul kids. They worked find but I haven't seen one of those beds in many a year.

There are A class models and other models with this option for sure
in 2013. However I would like to find someone that has "retro" fitted this into their exhisting motorhome.

Find out how much to retro fit?
See what finished product looks like
Also find out the pros and cons of this renovation?

Ideally, now that I know what I like, I would trade mine in for
an RV with the exact features I want. However Dealerships are
unwilling to take a 2008 toy hauler trade in,
for me to purchase a new one :(
Of course price is also a barrier.LOL

Here are some Motorhomes that have a front drop down bed feature:
2013 Thor Windsport (since I have a windsport I"m hoping this will be doable retro fix)

http://www.klaraju.com/picture_library/RVbed.jpg

Winnebago:

http://www.roamingtimes.com/rvreports/3/images/winnebago-via-class-a-motorhome-interior-3.jpg

2013 Outlaw Class A Motorhomes
http://outlawrv.com/floorplans.php

Had one of those in my '88 Chieftan. Was fine for kids or a small adult.

Back in the mid 80s, Winnebago made some Class A rigs, with a pull down double bed over the driver and passenger front seats. It was on some sort of spring loaded mechanism and came down almost to the top of the front seats. I bought a couple of them for a summer travel program, to haul kids. They worked find but I haven't seen one of those beds in many a year.

polar76 wrote:
Those are common in the back of toy hauler 5th wheels, could probably adapt one…
is there one in your Toy Hauler?

Yes I have a queen back there...
http://www.klaraju.com/picture_library/GarageBeddown.jpg

However my friend sleeps back there (as I need quiet)
which leaves me the option of the sofa bed...

I would prefer a dedicated bed area I could leave down
pull a curtain and even escape to for some privacy.

I know there has to probably be reinforced framing and I wouldnt'
mind it looking tidy as it did in the photos on the Thor web page.

That failing sure I would just put anything at this point.