Electric bed lift: Easy campervan upgrade
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Fun and simple project for increased livability inside the van.
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I get small commissions for purchases made through the following links:
Actuator: amzn.to/3wmpjBS
DPDT switch: amzn.to/3R09qKX
Thank You. Your the first person/video I’ve seen that actually shows how to install them. I’m doing an upgrade of cabinets and a 1/2 bathroom in my truck with wood cabinets and a wood bed brace. I’ve been looking for a way to lift the bed and hold it up to get to the storage underneath. This will be cool and easy enough for me to install it.
Tim, great video. I installed the same thing in my travel trailer using your video and parts list. The hardest part was getting the angle right to give me the highest lift for my bed. I also used two pieces of 2x6's, one on the floor and one on the the bed to give it added strength and support. It's been problem free since installation. Best part is now my wife can lift it by herself without calling me for help. Thanks for a worthwhile project!
Glad to hear it's working! I had the same experience with the girlfriend. Multiple times a day- "Tim, can you lift the bed?" Happy to give her independence, and a daily task of mine now in the past haha.
Cheers!
-Tim
Since I see you as a great craftsman and engineer , I’m waiting to see you cut your roof and apply the same principles to each corner and make your entire top extend upward. I will never criticize or question your projects because you have done things that people have payed hundreds for for almost nothing. Great job. 👏🏽
Roof extender !!! Yes. 😁
I've seen a few Express van builds that have used old Volkswagen pop-up camper tops! It sure would be nice to stand up inside...
Always appreciate the kind comments Mike!
Cheers!
-Tim
Awesome and a must really. Thanks Tim !
Very cool. Thanks for showing it, I think I may try to incorporate a couple in my Skoolie.
Cheap enough for some fun little projects!
Kind of wish it was a little faster, but not the end of the world.
Safe travels!
-Tim
Considered one for my solar rack. But figured it’d just be something else to maintain. But nice feature you have there
I watched a lot of tilting solar rack videos as well (I feel like I'm missing out on a ton of solar power!) But as you said, it adds a lot of complexity and moving parts... I also wouldn't trust these actuators outside (they say they're rated for water resistance but they're sealed as well as a screen door.)
@Van with Tim 😂
Four of those (in a beefier model), DiY van leveling system? Automatic jacks like the might Speedracer!
Just saw a $$$$$ Sprinter van here in Mt. Rainier National Park with the entire front end floating a foot off the ground.
Pushing a button instead of doing the "campsite shuffle" with the leveling blocks would be so nice!
Hi Tim!
My compliments for the wonderful job.
Can you tell me something about the power consumption?
Hey Tim
Way cool up grade .
Looks cool but the slow speed would be annoying to me
Look at you! That smile with the demonstration says it all. A Very cool and clearly satisfying project. Excellent, my man.
I'm curious how the stress forces would be different if if you installed it with the motor closer to the hinge and the lift end away from the hinge? Any thoughts? I'm guessing not much because it did work but who knows?
I have a class C and often wondered if a 12vdc leveling system could be DIY'ed from off the shelf actuators and scissor jacks inexpensively. After market systems are costly and a DIY guide or kit would be of interest and of great use. (imo)
Thanks Rick!
I'm no physics major but can usually find a formula online to calculate such forces... I searched for a long time and came up empty handed!
I ended up with this configuration as it's how I've seen doors actuated.
For self leveling:
Just saw an expensive Sprinter with the front a foot off the ground via the self-levelers here in Mt. Rainier National Park (talk about next level convenience!)
I bet there's some code you could load into a small $20 computer (RaspberryPi / Arduino) with a three axis gyroscope + accelerometer to sense which corners are low. It could then send 12v+ out to four electric levelers respectively.
I wouldn't trust this particular style of actuator in the elements, but I bet you could pick up and weld / bolt on four electric scissor jacks to accomplish the same effect!
(Could probably modify some salvage yard scissor jacks with high torque electric motors for even more cost savings?)
Always good hearing from you!
-Tim
Nice bed system. Another question, what do you do for ventilation inside? I would like to see you make some cool stuff, like some cool roll down windows, with screens and such.
Hmm, if the REAR of the bed lifts up too, maybe one installed there could transform bed to bench for daytime sitting?
What if you put your hand in middle
Nice update - gone all executive spec now! Don’t think I’ll likely do that on my bed in my truck camper but I did think about using some hydraulic struts from a car hatchback to take the strain out of it. Might try it out one day.
A somewhat related question; how is the base of your bed working out for air flow with the holes you have bored into it? Enough to prevent mould build up? I made my bed a pull out couch design but I made it with enclosed slats sandwiched between two sheets of thin plywood so it then has a solid lift up base to access storage underneath similar to yours. I plan to bore large holes like yours right through the ply and the fixed slats for airflow (3 per fixed slat) but am wondering if that will be enough or if I should have left it as open slats. I wanted a solid, stronger base, though. There are vent grills going on the front panel, too. Hope that makes sense! I’ve been filming some of the build but I’m not much of a film maker, so not sure if I’ll put the vids up or not. Thanks 👍🏻
Thanks for checking it out!
I was also considering the hood struts but this ended up being nearly the same cost haha.
The bed seems to be doing well, but easy to say as it spends it's life mainly in the arid Mojave Desert. We've been in the humid mountains of Oregon and Washington for about two weeks now with it and it seems to be good so far (no mold).
Funny enough, the back half of the hinged bed is fully crisscrossed slatted and the front was as well until recently.
I liked the rigidity of a solid piece more than the flimsy slatted base.
I'm sure if you added a few holes in your solid ply pieces you would have no issues with airflow!
Hope that helps!
-Tim
@tim ok dumb question but what do all the holes under the bed area do? ty my friend an i did subscribe! 😃
Thanks for the question and thanks for subscribing!
In humid areas the mattress can trap moisture and cause mold between the wood and mattress. The holes allow a very small amount of air to circulate and it prevents mold issues. Great question!
👍👍👍
How can I get a parts list?
Here are the two parts used:
Actuator: amzn.to/3wmpjBS
DPDT switch: amzn.to/3R09qKX
Second!
Could you lay on the bed to watch tv if you installed it at the head of the bed? Are they strong enough?
If the bed frame was solid enough (not flimsy like my wood frame) and the hinges are solid and sturdy I would probably say yes.
I would arrange it so there's one on each side though instead of one in the middle.