Urgent & most important...NEED HELP???

**kekemo** · 19th April 2008, 04:48 PM

Ok...yep not my area of expertice....but know a little bit about it....

Ok...here goes....

Have double bed in caravan, well did have (against the wall & slides out so you have more room to make it)....its mounted on a metal frame....the slide in/out action is from underneath....doubles as the support for bed....best I can explain is u shaped attached to top of bed frame....I will take a photo in a little while of the frame....Yep I have it out the van aready...

Now, what I want to do is reduce its size.....but only by 20cm...now I know that doesn't sound much....but my idea is to be able to still expand the frame & put a double back in should I want to depending on the occasion that the van is wanted for....so only having to change a mattress instead of whole set up.....
(Dont worry... I have problem solved with the bed slats...just inserting extra pieces in the alternate slat/space, when expanded will be strong enough..

So...the 20 cm that I cut out I want to be able to re-insert at any time....

I believe I see how it can be done....after the 20cm is taken out(from the middle rungs)...
holes drilled in each corrosponding end....to allow for it to be bolted back together...obviously using the piece of 20cm just cut out to blot back as the support or sleeve.
Then using a piece of flat-bar ready for when you want to re-insesrt the 20cm (....to ensure strength....& ridigity isn't compremised...& alignment the same...)
My quiry is ...in the support legs....will cutting the 20cm out cause loss of support ....because this part is tubing....I would guess a piece of rod could be inserted with grub screws or nuts(think thats what they are called) to stabalize & again keep in alignment....

With the frame now being 137 wide it supports a standard double mattress which is 140cm/wide....
So cutting it back to 117cm...I am hoping to reduce a double foam mattress to 123cm.....
You may not think that sounds much....but in caravan space that will allow me to make the bed with out climbing over it....& give me heaps more room to walk when the bed is pushed back....
By making it expandable I can change mattresses to accommodate the usage of it for guests if necessary.....or allow easy conversion ready to adveritse if I want to sell....
...With out having changed the construction or value of van...actually I see that it will increase value having an expander Kingsingle or double bed.

So...will the plan work.....????
I'm hoping so....but I have no men to ask....& brothers up north....lost with out help.....
Oh....other thing is...
This way I can do all the alterations....as only angle grinder & drill is needed....but will it be strong enough!
Hope photos help.....and that you can understand this dribble....perhaps I should re-arrange questions clearer....will try..

**bsrlee** · 19th April 2008, 08:36 PM

Why bother bolting bits in each time? Just make up 2 rolls of slats - staple them to some webbing to make the spacing even. Use the short set with the narrow mattress, then replace with a wider set when you are using the wider mattress. If you are worried about the overhang breaking off, just make the long slats thicker, and if the bundle looks like it will be too heavy, make it up in two pieces.

If you just bolt a piece of iron - flat or angle - across the cut, it should be adequately strong. You may want to use either 2 nuts or put a spot of boiled linseed oil on the nuts to stop them working loose.

**kekemo** · 19th April 2008, 09:30 PM

Yes second part that's what I thought I was explaining.... making flat bar as a joiner & extender....using bar...means that I don't need to weld....and I can extend or consentina back anytime....hope so anyway....

But with the slats....I wont have to change them as I will alternate the slats so they fit like fingers between each other...when the bed goes in the slats move between each other( if you can image staggered...start on the left side, with slat 120 wide...then on the right side with 120wide...then back again...so effectively the strongest part of the bed will nearly have continuous slats...up the middle...like sliding fingers,
......no need to remove or change them...only the mattress needs to be changed...going to get a foam one cut down for the smaller size...but keep the good orthorpedic one inside on spare bed... previously there was chip-board on there....we had already replace some of this with thicker pine slat, and we glue them straight on to the frame....and I can assure you they were darn well stuck....just about needed to get hubby back from heaven to help....they were so tough!

**Yonnee** · 19th April 2008, 11:29 PM

A slight adjustment to bsrlee's suggestion. Just remove the section you want, and then use your own idea about the alternating slats. This way you leave the frame the same size (to fit the double) and then adjust the slats for the wider mattress.

Yonnee.

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Urgent & most important...NEED HELP???

yes....I agree with the bar..

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