Bed Lift in 21RBS

[charliem]

[font size="3"]With the factory now supplying an upgraded 8" mattress the original gas struts are at their limit in lifting the bed. With an additional 2.5" foam topper (yes, my wife can feel that one pea under a stack of mattresses) the struts were completely overpowered. I replaced them with twenty inch 60# struts from CW. Ten minute job; problem solved.
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[drdave]

Could you post a link please?   I am having the same issue.   I see "large bed struts" on CW.  Are those the ones?
Thanks

[charliem]

[font size="3"]CW calls them gas props. Their search function isn't too smart.

[a href="http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/gas-prop-20in-60lbs/49806"] Link to Gas Prop[/a]
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[tinkeringtechie]

Thanks Charlie, this is on my to do list from the wife. Did you happen to notice what the rating was for the original struts? I'm curious how much of a boost it was.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/3008/thread" timestamp="1409114819" author="@tinkeringtechie"]Thanks Charlie, this is on my to do list from the wife. Did you happen to notice what the rating was for the original struts? I'm curious how much of a boost it was.[/quote][font size="3"]Yes. The originals were 140 Newtons, about 31 lbs. You easily get 40s, 60s, or more at CW. I thought 40s would still be marginal, but 60s work great.
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[mitch]

This will beat the 2x4 I used to prop up under the bed when I needed to get something or work on the water heater. It always felt a bit like a guillotine but I just hoped karma had my back.

[tinkeringtechie]

I just ordered mine and wanted to add that the bottom bunk on the BHS uses the same strut as the main bed. I'll report back once I get it about whether the same upgrade is sufficient.

[cl21bhs]

Be careful when you replace the struts with a bigger size(more weight capacity). I replace the strut on the bunk bed, which was a simple pop off, pop on, but the extra strength ripped the bracket off of the sheet metal (under the bunk). I had to put a piece of aluminum on a diagonal and then attach the bracket to that. Now it works fine.      

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Not a problem on the main bed because both ends of the struts are attached to 1" square tubing, but sheet metal could be a problem. Glad you got it fixed.   
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[tinkeringtechie]

Be careful when you replace the struts with a bigger size(more weight capacity). I replace the strut on the bunk bed, which was a simple pop off, pop on, but the extra strength ripped the bracket off of the sheet metal (under the bunk). I had to put a piece of aluminum on a diagonal and then attach the bracket to that. Now it works fine.      

Can you post a picture of the modification? I'm curious if I'll run into the same problem.

[cl21bhs]

This is what it looks like after the repair: 

[attachment id="343" thumbnail="1"]

[tinkeringtechie]

Here's what mine currently looks like:

[attachment id="346" thumbnail="1"]

That's how it came from the factory. Looks pretty stout.

cl21bhs- is that what your's looked like before it ripped out?

[cl21bhs]

No, yours looks like it has an extra piece of sheet metal. Give it a try, just stand clear. You could always reinforce if it doesnt hold.
Steve

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3419/thread" timestamp="1410228233" author="@cl21bhs"]No, yours looks like it has an extra piece of sheet metal. Give it a try, just stand clear. You could always reinforce if it doesnt hold.
Steve[/quote]Thanks. Sounds like they may have already heard reports of it ripping out and decided to reinforce it.

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/3378/thread" timestamp="1410148450" author="@tinkeringtechie"]

Here's what mine currently looks like:



That's how it came from the factory. Looks pretty stout.

cl21bhs- is that what your's looked like before it ripped out?
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The underside of the lower bunk in my 21BHS is entirely aluminum sheeting.  It is a 2013 model.