Go to www.hatchlift.com they supply complete kits for bed lifts and hatch's.
Here's the link to the thread. It has pictures of how I did it and further down is the source I used for the pneumatic hinges and the stuff I used.
//heartlandowners.org/showthread.ph...in-North-Trail?p=184440&highlight=#post184440
Great Job! I'm trying to figure out the length of lifts we need. Can you tell me how deep your underbed storage is? Also, do you have the factory mattress? Do the 60 pound lifts seem right for your set up?
Thanks,
Cliff
The depth of the storage area itself is 23 inches to the edge of the outside wall. The lid overhangs the edge by 6 inches and is 29 inches deep. As I said in the other thread, I used the 12 inch lifts which are just right. I played with the opening angle until I got what I liked. The farther back you place the struts increases the amount the lid opens. When you place the lifts you have to place the lift brackets the closed position length from each other. If you look closely at the pictures in the link, you will see the mark I put on the frame for the closed strut end. I then transferred the mark to the lid and placed the angle strut bracket on the lid at that point. Repeated same procedure for other end.
We have the factory mattress, not great as it is only 7 or 8 inches so we added a 3 1/2 inch foam topper. I think the 60 pound struts are the stoutest I would use although I have heard some use the 80 pound ones. DW can open it with one hand and they hold the weight just fine (sometimes including a folding table when rigged for travel). As it is now, you have to be careful and hold it well when closing it to keep it from slamming. Good luck. Mike
This is a really nice Mod. It's going to be one that we'll be doing now that I know about it.
I was going to ask what you had to pay for the parts. That really is a great price!Thanks, I think the whole deal cost less than thirty bucks including shipping from furturesalesrv.com (specific link is in the thread with the pictures I ref'd earlier). You need two struts, two ninety degree brackets and two flat brackets.
Mike
Once again, nice work! What other mods have you done Mike?
Cliff
Showed the Mod to my DW and she loved it. She then said why didn't you order the parts. The parts are now on there way and the MOD will be done soon.
We had the mattress that came from the factory. We did not like that mattress. We tried a Gel memory foam mattress. We really like it and ordered the new mattress. We hope that we get it before or first camping trip in 3 weeks.
Do you know if the mattress you have ordered weighs more than the factory mattress? Did you order the 60 pound struts?
The mattress weighs about 75 lbs. I ordered the 60 pound struts. I'm thinking that the 60 pound struts will be good it'll give me 120 pounds of lift. That should be perfect.
Haven't had a chance to do this yet. Have you had time yet Peter and Liane?
Cliff
I am curious as to how the struts would work with a flat bracket... seems as though you would need 90 degree brackets?