DAMN! I was in the Army for 4 years and none of us ever knew how to get that last bar in. Not even the older Joe's who has been in for a decade knew how to do it. We all just laid that last bar on top and called it a day. This looks so damn easy to do and none of us ever thought to use leverage from the actual cot. My life is literally made complete now.
Oh my gosh. This has been a frustration to me for nearly a year. I have just been leaving that last bar off my cot when camping, but then I get a saggy cot. Figured there had to be an answer so finally got the idea to come to youtube and here you are! I now have a nice tight cot thanks to you, and am going to have a great night's sleep! Thanks so much for taking the time to video it~!
Thank you. I was doing 2 things wrong, 1 grommet to grommet, you put metal to grommet, and not knowing to use weight to stretch the canvas. Awesome video.
Wow. Thank you so much. I'm a civilian contractor engineer and I had set one of these up for the first time. Thanks again for the trick, I didn't even think about it like that.
such a great video! i saw couple of videos to get the last piece of rod inside the hole and kept trying for 2 hours but the rod wouldn't budge The other videos said to use a screw driver to provide leverage but it didn't help. your idea of turning the cot to use the feet as a lever for such a great idea. i did it and my cot was all assembled. great instructions and video, thank you!
The moment you stood it up, my eyes bulged out of my head, and I think my liquified brain leaked out of my ears. It's so obvious but never came to myself, or ANY of my camping buddies' minds. Thanks!
Put a little water on the sleeping part. Put your feet on the x support frame and pull. It goes right on. No need to stand it up and put all that effort.
Thanks a million! This is a life saver. I've always used a prybar of sorts. I still will if I'm setting up on soggy/muddy ground. This is perfect for dry setups.
I think of my self as a pretty stout gal, but even with your method, I had to admit the cot won the battle. But I won the war, because I did get the bars hooked under the ends. (Had to do that on one end regardless because the nipples were broken off.) I don't take no shit from no cot. Maybe after I use it a while, it will stretch out enough I can give this a try again. (As it is now, you can bounce a quarter off it, so I don't have to worry about sag.) A friend was throwing it away, so I got it for free. Just needs some stitching in a few places where the threads are raveling out.
hi i struggled for a hour, sweat and blood to try and put the last bar in then i thought i see if there is a knack on youtube and guess what here it is, many many thanks for this information it has made it so simple to fit ABT The Mad Trapper
I know this is old. THANK YOU so much!!!! I have been fighting this for half an hour. I f I could give you 100 thumbs up. I would do so!!! I have the exact cot. Exact issue.
Thanks for the tips. I just bought three army style cots. Only one has one of the spreader sticks. I'm just going to make some. I paid $20 for the three cots.
Seems like a bad design, but simple so less to go wrong is good. This method doesn’t look too difficult. I tried to put one of those together when I was younger just to see how it opened, but I didn’t need it at the time so I gave up. This is a good trick. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I bought a new one from ebay and my end bar went on with a little force after stretching the canvas some. Guess I just got lucky. Thanks for the video, very informative.
I seen someone complaining about there cots ! I think these cots are some ot the best ever ! That fella crying ought to just sleep on the ground :) You can normally buy these off of eBay for about 50 bucks a piece ! I have about 6 ! I love these cots !
I always just assumed the cot was designed as a selection guide so that people who could fit the 2nd bar without breaking something could be earmarked for specialist and/or officer training. Everyone else would be cast to the grunts. I was infantry.... so I never saw one properly assembled.
the method is fine and good if you have the room to be throwing your cot up in the air. but in a crowded tent or shelter your liable to get your ass handed to you if you slap another Marine in the head with your flailing cot. just use your weapon barrel to pry the last notch in to place. thats why they gave it to you. by the way, that plastic extender on the other side is in case your cot fabric has gotten loose and you need to get it tightened more.
Thank you, I was checking how to set one of this bed I had from a former US base in Germany. Now it is ready and working so I can ship it to Ukraine via people rescue association
I accidentally found an even easier way while cleaning the cot. All you have to do is mist the fabric and I'll loosen a lot. Once wet, even my 10 year son can put on the last bar.
All those years of high school and finally a practical use of using leverage, lol. I can't understand why they don't have these instructions included with the cot, would make things 1,000x.easier
before we put the sidebars in make sure the smaller holes facing downward so that it can hold up the mosquito net stickpoles, and use a strong stick or metal pipe to ply up the second sidebar is sooo much easier without standing upward cot bed...that's how i do it!
I believe that it is a cotton canvas material. This is just a plain army surplus sleeping cot. It could be from the 70s or 80s as far as I know. Thank you for watching.
Thanks for the video its helped me pick one out online and will aid it putting it together once i get it. Mine is coming from an army surplus store with it being authentic but the canvas material is replaces with a nylon one. I dont know the differences between the two materials how much better or worse it will be from the real G.I. cots. I guess the army wont sell there stuff to the public directly they have to be hand me downs?
@@liame3900 Nylon is more durable and when treated can be flame retardant. I would assume that's the reason for the switch. Then again, I'm sure the real reason for the switch though is someone lobbied for the contract.
@@koopatroopa187 i bought one of these along time ago now over a year atleast. It was an army surplus store but wasnt quite an official cot. It sucked and wasnt what i wanted. I gave it away to someone. Wasnt tuat at all. Too short. Etc
Carlo Tai this is just an average army surplus one man cot. US surplus shops are common in the south USA. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to you first post more quickly. Good Journey Richie.
Muhammad Firdaus Mohammad Ramli Yes. This a traditional us army cot.( bed) The design is still wildly use by US manufacturing. Pre 1980’s the covering was a cotton or cotton blend. Now, probably it more common to see a nylon weather resistant material. The mechanics are the same. Using the leverage of the frame in an upright position and the strength of your thighs ( along with your body weight) for the last connection does the trick. Don’t forget to pre-stretch fabric by bouncing your body weight. I’m hoping you find this worth your time.
Sorry, I sometimes have to bounce my bottom to stretch out the fabric a little more. maybe moisten the fabric a little the first time after it has been in storage for a long time.
youtube's been around for over ten years and this is BY FAR the most instructional and helpful video.
Thank you, I hope you get a chance to use your cot for summer camping.
DAMN! I was in the Army for 4 years and none of us ever knew how to get that last bar in. Not even the older Joe's who has been in for a decade knew how to do it. We all just laid that last bar on top and called it a day. This looks so damn easy to do and none of us ever thought to use leverage from the actual cot. My life is literally made complete now.
Thank you for your service.
10 years in the Army and I finally know how to do this thanks to you! LOL!
man where were you 47 years ago,,, army vet here and always slept without that last bar connected.. thanks
Went camping this weekend, and used your method. Worked like magic!! Thank you!
Oh my gosh. This has been a frustration to me for nearly a year. I have just been leaving that last bar off my cot when camping, but then I get a saggy cot. Figured there had to be an answer so finally got the idea to come to youtube and here you are! I now have a nice tight cot thanks to you, and am going to have a great night's sleep! Thanks so much for taking the time to video it~!
Thank you. I was doing 2 things wrong, 1 grommet to grommet, you put metal to grommet, and not knowing to use weight to stretch the canvas. Awesome video.
This has made my life easier after 11 years. Thank you!
Life saver....wished I had seen this years ago. Saves a lot of pain and injury (at least to your pride)!
Wow. Thank you so much. I'm a civilian contractor engineer and I had set one of these up for the first time.
Thanks again for the trick, I didn't even think about it like that.
Thanks for the very helpful video. I have a vintage army cot with thick canvas and wood frame and this worked like a charm!
such a great video! i saw couple of videos to get the last piece of rod inside the hole and kept trying for 2 hours but the rod wouldn't budge The other videos said to use a screw driver to provide leverage but it didn't help. your idea of turning the cot to use the feet as a lever for such a great idea. i did it and my cot was all assembled. great instructions and video, thank you!
I wish I help a helper to video the technique better. It make me happy that you were successful. Be Well and Good Journey
Awesome!!! I knew it was about the lever arm, but the trick is the lever on a different plane. Well done!!!
The moment you stood it up, my eyes bulged out of my head, and I think my liquified brain leaked out of my ears. It's so obvious but never came to myself, or ANY of my camping buddies' minds.
Thanks!
Dan man, I spent 20 minutes with a pry bar and a screw driver. live and learn! thanks for the vid. now I know
Just picked up one of these cots today and this video was super helpful. This cot is like a tank 👍
Put a little water on the sleeping part. Put your feet on the x support frame and pull. It goes right on. No need to stand it up and put all that effort.
Smart, they should really include this clever method in their setup instruction.
i agree! it took me 2 hours to figure out how to get the last rod in and after seeing this video,it took me 2 seconds. love this guy
Thanks a million! This is a life saver. I've always used a prybar of sorts. I still will if I'm setting up on soggy/muddy ground. This is perfect for dry setups.
thank you thank you, I had the rubber disk going over the stud instead of on the out side. works perfect now
The rubber disk is a wall bumper.
SanFranciscoBay I never knew that, thanks!
This video literally just saved my camping trip!! Thank you hahaha
I think of my self as a pretty stout gal, but even with your method, I had to admit the cot won the battle. But I won the war, because I did get the bars hooked under the ends. (Had to do that on one end regardless because the nipples were broken off.) I don't take no shit from no cot.
Maybe after I use it a while, it will stretch out enough I can give this a try again. (As it is now, you can bounce a quarter off it, so I don't have to worry about sag.) A friend was throwing it away, so I got it for free. Just needs some stitching in a few places where the threads are raveling out.
I always got the material wet then it would stretch. Only practical around home, with time to let it dry. Thanks for the great video!
I've been trying to use a lever for some time with no luck. Your trick is amazing. Thank you.
hi i struggled for a hour, sweat and blood to try and put the last bar in then i thought i see if there is a knack on youtube and guess what here it is, many many thanks for this information it has made it so simple to fit ABT The Mad Trapper
I know this is old. THANK YOU so much!!!! I have been fighting this for half an hour. I f I could give you 100 thumbs up. I would do so!!! I have the exact cot. Exact issue.
Thanks for the tips. I just bought three army style cots. Only one has one of the spreader sticks. I'm just going to make some. I paid $20 for the three cots.
OMG, thx for that trick man! You saved my night sleep!
I’m glad this worked. One I hope to make a better version of this video. Be Well and Good Journey Richie
Thanks a million! Helped me a bunch
Seems like a bad design, but simple so less to go wrong is good. This method doesn’t look too difficult. I tried to put one of those together when I was younger just to see how it opened, but I didn’t need it at the time so I gave up. This is a good trick. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I bought a new one from ebay and my end bar went on with a little force after stretching the canvas some. Guess I just got lucky.
Thanks for the video, very informative.
I need end bars for mine! This was a fantastic video.
One little pop... maybe two little pops😁 Thanks for sharing this brother!
I seen someone complaining about there cots ! I think these cots are some ot the best ever ! That fella crying ought to just sleep on the ground :) You can normally buy these off of eBay for about 50 bucks a piece ! I have about 6 ! I love these cots !
Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for.
awesome. this definitely helped me. I just got a new cot in today and could get an answer back from the seller yet on how to get that other end in
I always just assumed the cot was designed as a selection guide so that people who could fit the 2nd bar without breaking something could be earmarked for specialist and/or officer training. Everyone else would be cast to the grunts.
I was infantry.... so I never saw one properly assembled.
You are a life saver-thanks!
Now I know how to take mine apart. Thank you!!
I'm glad this information helped you. Again, this was not my discovery. I am glad to share it.
I'm sitting in the locker room struggling... found this gem.
That works, but the end poles are designed to have the plastic bumpers inward on the pegs.They are not wll bumpers as someone assumed.
So are they wall bumpers or not? What's their purpose if not a wall bumper?
@@donschlonski2936 turned inward, they make a tighter fit. they are spacers.
Thank you! I've just been using mine without the last bar. Lol! Now I can get it right and it'll probably be more comfortable (a lil bit anyway).
Great idea - works quite easy doing it that way
Excellent demonstration. Saved for life😁
the method is fine and good if you have the room to be throwing your cot up in the air. but in a crowded tent or shelter your liable to get your ass handed to you if you slap another Marine in the head with your flailing cot. just use your weapon barrel to pry the last notch in to place. thats why they gave it to you. by the way, that plastic extender on the other side is in case your cot fabric has gotten loose and you need to get it tightened more.
You sir are a life saver. THANK YOU! 😂😭👏
Brilliant was struggling trying pry bar and pole for leverage.
Has this helped anyone? please let me know your success.
+sunbladerr Thanks! For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to get that 2nd bar on!! I'm going to try this!
+sunbladerr Yep. 12 years in the Marines and no one showed me this.
6 years Army..Same here
Staff Sergeant? 60,000 dollars is your yearly salary.
Yes it helped me. You are using leverage and gravity to put the second end piece in place.
Thank so much I was about to fight this thing your video saved the day
Was in active duty for 6 years, national guard for 3, and was today years old when I learned this.
I can confirm, Do Not Put Your Fin...
why did you stop typing...........oooohh I know why
You.. are.. the best sir.
I’m glad this helped.
This video is exactly what I needed thanks
I’m glad that it was helpful. Be well and Good Journey
You are A LIFE SAVER
I’m glad it helped. Happy camping. Be Well and Good Journey
Well. I feel like an idiot! Hahaha thanks for this
Thank you, I was checking how to set one of this bed I had from a former US base in Germany. Now it is ready and working so I can ship it to Ukraine via people rescue association
I accidentally found an even easier way while cleaning the cot. All you have to do is mist the fabric and I'll loosen a lot. Once wet, even my 10 year son can put on the last bar.
Helpful tip, standing it upright.
7 cots later... new there was a way
So the rubber end aren't supposed to fit into the knobs? I flipped the over to the metal side and they went in.
I use a pry bar to pry the tight side into place.
All those years of high school and finally a practical use of using leverage, lol. I can't understand why they don't have these instructions included with the cot, would make things 1,000x.easier
SOO AWESOME!! THANK YOU!
Thank you I just bought two of these and there tuff
just bought one of these... once it's together nice and tight, is it just as easy to take the bar out again when I've finished using it
I want to see if this will fit into a camping backpack. Could you please do another video on this? Thanks!
Maaaaaaaan I've bamboozled for years on setting this thing up
before we put the sidebars in make sure the smaller holes facing downward so that it can hold up the mosquito net stickpoles, and use a strong stick or metal pipe to ply up the second sidebar is sooo much easier without standing upward cot bed...that's how i do it!
Best advice
thank you so much
I’m glad this was helpful for you.
Works great for one thats broken in... not new
I'm missing parts to this cot. Where can I find the middle screws/knobs and another bar?
Loata Tuikaba It May be cheaper to buy a old cot with all the parts from an army surplus store.
Good job - It works!
I were to buy one of these what should i look out for?
Almost any army surplus store should have these old cots. Some sporting goods stores as well. Thanks for watching.
Still couldn't do it. Couldn't get the third one in let alone the fourth
I am going to try this
great help. thank you
Thanks so much
what brand does the military use?
Thanks i was about to burn down mine and call it a day
Thanks. Some people ignore the step of sitting on the fabric to stretch and loosen the tension. Be Well and Good Journey.
Thanks
👍You da man🙏
what is the canvas material made of nylon? thanks.
I believe that it is a cotton canvas material. This is just a plain army surplus sleeping cot. It could be from the 70s or 80s as far as I know. Thank you for watching.
Thanks for the video its helped me pick one out online and will aid it putting it together once i get it. Mine is coming from an army surplus store with it being authentic but the canvas material is replaces with a nylon one. I dont know the differences between the two materials how much better or worse it will be from the real G.I. cots. I guess the army wont sell there stuff to the public directly they have to be hand me downs?
I wish they still made them out of cotton@@sunbladerr
@@liame3900 Nylon is more durable and when treated can be flame retardant. I would assume that's the reason for the switch. Then again, I'm sure the real reason for the switch though is someone lobbied for the contract.
@@koopatroopa187 i bought one of these along time ago now over a year atleast. It was an army surplus store but wasnt quite an official cot. It sucked and wasnt what i wanted. I gave it away to someone. Wasnt tuat at all. Too short. Etc
What brand is that cot please ?
Carlo Tai this is just an average army surplus one man cot. US surplus shops are common in the south USA. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to you first post more quickly. Good Journey Richie.
I did this, the fabric tore apart.
Oops.
What is the weight limit for this cot?
Canvas recently tore doin the middle on a 25 year old wooden legged cot. Where can you get another
Down the middle
It is an old boy scout cot
Glorious
this is militray camp bed?
Muhammad Firdaus Mohammad Ramli Yes. This a traditional us army cot.( bed) The design is still wildly use by US manufacturing. Pre 1980’s the covering was a cotton or cotton blend. Now, probably it more common to see a nylon weather resistant material. The mechanics are the same. Using the leverage of the frame in an upright position and the strength of your thighs ( along with your body weight) for the last connection does the trick. Don’t forget to pre-stretch fabric by bouncing your body weight. I’m hoping you find this worth your time.
@@sunbladerr Hi, thank you so much for the info. looking forward to get this military issue. looks so robust
where can i get one likr this?
Thank you 😁
why do you put it on backwards in the beginning.. and you are missing pieces on the spreaders...
Me in the field “how the hell does this thing go together?”
thanks a bunch 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Don't know why it is so hard for people to figure this out.... I've been doing this for years!
Thanks. Like any puzzle the solution looks easy in hindsight. Do love demos if you’re camping near friends.
Thank I almost had given up hope
I think the plastic grommets connect to the plastic nipples.....if you use the aluminum side it damages the nipple and will eventually break it off
I thought the plastic nipples were bumpers to protect the wall if you push the head or foot against the wall.
@@sanfranciscobay no way dude
Whats the price and give the details. Cash on delivery.
i need to find one ofthese
My cot cover is so tight, not even that way work.
Sorry, I sometimes have to bounce my bottom to stretch out the fabric a little more. maybe moisten the fabric a little the first time after it has been in storage for a long time.
Thx for this, mine are 15 or 20 years "old" and still super tight...
That’s why Marines sleep on the ground.