suspended bed

[metso]

Hello,

This is my first post to the forum. Though I have enjoyed researching and reading many of the posts here.

I am helping out a friend here who wishes to add a suspended bed to his van.

His intention is to suspend a bed from the internal ribbing/ roof struts.

There are some holes already drilled out and we would like to use these if possible.

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Considering the weight of suspending a light weight frame bed and a person, these holds have to be solid and secure.

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Does anyone know of the type of bolts we should be using to anchor a pivot point to these holes?

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I have already proposed that we use some steel braided lanyard or some webbing to suspend the bed.

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Any advise would be massively appreciated.

 

[n brown]

done similar, but instead of trying to suspend the whole weight, of bed plus bod,View attachment 55929 i found it better to put a couple of supports on the wall to take the weight of the bed when lowered. that way the weight of the person is only on the bed when it's supported. the same effect can be achieved with folding legs on the bed, as for fixings i used blind bolts straight into the stronger corners of the ribs
i hung one with a braided nylon cord like paracord- split 4 ways it's not a lot of weight , a metal frame,some slats and a bit of foam.

 

[IanH]

As a general rule, for built in safety factors, allow 5x for humans load.

If sex is involved allow another 1 x for solo and 3 x for dual!!!!!!

Seriously though N is right, give it lowered support, even quite small brackets will be very effective.

:have fun:

 

[mistericeman]

Have a google for "Grippel wire" ...I use it all the time for hanging aircon units and ductwork etc ...
Fast strong and a great range of different fittings to suit all sorts of applications

 

[janner]

call me daft if i have missed the jist of this thread,is your pal going to sleep in the suspended bed ala hammock stylie or is he going to suspend it out of the way and lower as needed to alight on the floor,a whole different kettle of fish either way,
jan

 

[Chris356]

I think he is trying to replicate the electric ones on newer vans that sit at kitchen worktop height

 

[Byronic]

I think what your looking for as a fixing point is a RIVNUT this allows you to fix a threaded
nut when access is from one side, like a rivet. If you have predrilled holes measure the dia.
get the correct size Rivnut go on Youtube a bloke on there shows a simple way to install
a Rivnut without the special riveter. Then just screw in hooks or eyelets etc.

Presumably the bed will be supported at the van wall and a roof rib near the midspan
that's a lot of weight on something which relies on less than 1mm of folded steel for
its strength. At times perhaps there could be 2 people sitting on the bed corner plus
25% of the bed weight? You could spread the load by fixing at 2 positions ie 3rd points
on the (no fixing at centre) rib and joining to make a Y and then a single fix to bed?

 

[metso]

I think what your looking for as a fixing point is a RIVNUT this allows you to fix a threaded
nut when access is from one side, like a rivet.

Those Rivnuts are nuts!!

thank you...

I never knew such a nut existed... but wow, suspended bed aside.... thinking of all the possibilities now...

Thank you

 

[Roger]

I've only ever met one couple with a suspended bed and they hated it. Electrically operated came down over the dinette and pretty well blocked everything underneath it.

Why not a Rock n Roll bed in the dinette area, makes good use of space.

In those pics, the cross bracing looks like cargo barriers, put vertical spring loaded pipes to stop the cargo sliding forward - the bracing does not look like it would hold to much vertical weight.

Most van roofs are pretty flimsy, you can push them in with a hand, you may be able to use the roof cross braces, but again they are pretty flimsy and are pressed steel and their shape gives them the strength NOT the thickness of the steel.

Rivnuts might work on thicker material - 3mm plus, you'd be lucky to have more than about 1mm on the cross braces.

Spreading the load is the real issue if you don't want to stop damage.