Options for Lifting RV Queen Bed

So apparently, the platform does slide out like everyone thought. A support arm is the obvious means of support.

Thanks for all the feedback so far. The Melbourne 29d and 29c are virtually the same as far as the bed sliding out. Since we replaced the mattress with a "Bed-in-a-box" foam mattress it now weighs about 80 pounds, much heavier than the original mattress that sits on a sliding plywood base. Due to the extra weight it is difficult to lift and hook the metal rod support that the RV came with.
Drawers sound good, but the space limitations around the base would prevent them from being pulled out very far.
Right now the best idea may be to use a variation of the dowel rods with rubber tips.

According to the OP, the mattress slides in and out, but not the platform it sits on. If this is the case, struts or a support arm are not going to help as they can't be attached to the mattress. I'm wondering what keeps the bottom of the mattress from wearing out as it slides back and forth.

We have the Jayco Melbourne 29d. We have the identical slide type rear queen you are talking about. They are basically the same unit. When I lift the plywood hinged assembly, there is a metal rod which swings up to hold in place. This came from the factory that way. The 29c and the 29d are basically the same units; very surprised yours does not have this metal rod. It would be an easy install.

I would guess there is a hinge system in place for the bed now correct? If so there is the possibility you could add a handle of sorts to the wood top and then as described above devise a support from some dowels to emplace once you have lifted the bed. I can lift the bed in our coach as the whole bed moves with the slide, but yes a heavier mattress would necessitate a support system to be installed again which would be a lift support, not necessarily the pnuematic type that really in some instance are not all that reliable.

Hi dufferdj,

Could you post a couple of detailed pictures of your situation? I am have a lot of trouble picturing the condition you are dealing with. I too want to say to add struts and such, but you have already said that is not an option.

If top access is too difficult and you have money in your budget, consider having a cabinet maker install drawers much like a captain's bed.

Ron

For reference to all readers, here is a captain's bed.

A decade ago I happened to see a nifty cam lift setup on a bed, but it's so long ago I can't picture it in my mind any more. All I recall is, as you moved the thing it pushed the bed up very easily, like a ramp.

My 'C' came with a short Queen on a platform that I could walk around on the end and both sides, so I don't have to make the bed when I'm in it. I have two sets of short queen sheets, so not a problem, but the storage area under the foot of the bed is hard to lift with one hand and remove stuff with the other. So I bought a couple of crutch tips and round wooden rods cut to fit the crutch tips and the length I wanted. Once the rods are in place, I can use both hands to find what I'm looking for.

Because the mattress SLIDES on the base, lifts are NOT an option. They attach to the plywood platform and on to the base, so the sliding prevents them from attaching and working the way a fixed bed would operate.

Stronger lifts.