Bed Platform in 195RB is weak - Mod thread

[MrKABC]

Good evening all:

It comes as no surprise to us 195 owners here that the bed platform is seriously weak and in need of shoring up.

Wow... the craftsmanship leaves a lot to be desired! I'm aware of the "Morbweb" upgrades but to me it seems to not go far enough.

What is interesting is that there is NO support from the header "beam" (front of the TT) for approximately 3' to the lower support frame. The 5/8" plywood is pretty weak as it is and completely unreinforced, and I can now understand why others are reporting that it bows toward the center.

This will be my bed platform modification thread, comments, tips, hints and suggestions are welcome!

[ttavasc]

I replaced the hinges on the bed platform and then used some 2x2 between the front wall and bed skirting to add more support for the top half of the bed. I also added a divider to split the under bed storage into two sections - one being accessible from the outside storage door and the other from inside when the bed is lifted. I used some aluminum C channel and 3/8" finish plywood so I could easily remove the divider if needed. The height of the divider was high enough so that the bed platform rested on it when closed providing additional support for the middle of the platform.

Good luck with your mods. I had a lot of fun working on my 195RB.....

[LuckyDuck]

Welcome to the Jayco “bed fix club.” Nice work! You won’t be sorry.

[RogerR]

I added a 2x2 along the front edge and along sides because the edges bent as we sat on them to change shoes, etc. I also like the extra strength while lifting the bed and lowering it down. I also got some plastic edging and covered the edge so sheets would not catch on the edge while making the bed.

[MontanaRick]

My first mod (even before my first trip, based on reading threads here) was to put a frame from 2x2s across the middle. I also added beefier hinges at the head. Also added a 2 inch memory foam topper.

More recently, I did the following:
1. Removed the thin facing from the foot of the bed, trim it down, and put it on the cross framing mentioned above to fully separate the "outside" storage area from the "inside" storage area.
2. Added an extended frame to the foot to (a) enable a full length queen mattress and (2) have the support end much closer to the end of the bed to provide better support while sitting on the end of the bed. Stained and finished the exposed wood.
3. Added three 1x2 inch thick stringers (thicker portion vertical) going the length of the bed, attached with L brackets at the head and foot, resting on the cross framing in the middle.
4. Cut the plywood base to reach only to the cross framing, then added as new piece of plywood to extend to within an inch of the end of the mattress. I added self-stick, soft rubber gasket material (designed for windows) to the edge of the plywood to limit skinned legs against the plywood.
5. Replaced the mattress with a 12 inch Casper standard queen (recently on sale at Costco).
6. We got some long storage boxes (about 12x32 inches) designed for wrapping paper, and they slide under the bed very nicely to make storage easily accessible without having to lift the mattress and base.

We've loved our 195RB, but now we're feeling very spoiled. Total mod did add about 40 lbs, so need to calculate that into the equation.

[brwarrior]

I joined the bed fix club yesterday. Man I keep getting deeper into buyer's remorse. LOL.

I used the alum c channel but went with 1/2" ply. Can't believe how unsquare the best frame is. Next up is to finish the strut install. Ran out of screws because I'm an idiot.

And replace that freaking thermostat.

[MrKABC]

Originally Posted by brwarrior

I joined the bed fix club yesterday. Man I keep getting deeper into buyer's remorse. LOL.

I used the alum c channel but went with 1/2" ply. Can't believe how unsquare the best frame is. Next up is to finish the strut install. Ran out of screws because I'm an idiot.

And replace that freaking thermostat.

Buyer's remorse?

I'm getting lumber this weekend, time to do the bed fix! While I'm at it I really want to swap our the water tank for a bigger one. But that's another build thread.

Thermostat is a piece of cake! It will take you all of 5 minutes!

[brwarrior]

Just thinking I should have gotten something with more carrying capacity. I figure unless I'm dropping serious coin the build quality is what it is.

I was going to originally build out the wall for support. For the weight I figured the c channel and ply would be better.

[viclava]

Where did you get the hydraulic actuators? Thx, from Wenatchee.

[brwarrior]

I got mine from Amazon. Suspa C16-08054. You'll need brackets (10mm ball socket) and screws too. I added a small piece of 1/2" plywood. There brackets should show up with the item on Amazon as also purchased.

[MrKABC]

Finally getting to it... fun!

[MrKABC]

This bed will never buckle! Added a shear panel to the foot of the bed, 2" x 3" support posts, and framed in the plywood sheet with 2" x 3"s. Tomorrow I'll add the gas lift struts, 4" hinges, and will cover the plywood with pool table felt. Final pix coming soon, here's where I'm at now!

[RogerR]

My supplied short screws pulled out after a few uses so replaced with clear through bolts with big washers on the outside. Can't be seen unless the bed is up. Should never pull out again. I replaced my mattress with a Zinus 10 inch memory foam which weighs more in addition to the support 2x2 s I added. Next project is replacing and reinforcement the hinges at the top of the bed. Come on Spring!

[MrKABC]

Replace the hinges with these! 4" gate hinges available at either HD or Lowe's.

What screws pulled out? Also, here's my future mattress...

[RogerR]

My screws on the sidewall holding the gas lifter pulled partially out. I drilled out barely big enough holes and put bolts through the wall and secured with large washers to spread the load.


Nice hinges. Did you reinforce the place they attach to the wall? Love my Zinus, hope you like yours.

[MrKABC]

Originally Posted by RogerR

My screws on the sidewall holding the gas lifter pulled partially out. I drilled out barely big enough holes and put bolts through the wall and secured with large washers to spread the load.

Nice hinges. Did you reinforce the place they attach to the wall? Love my Zinus, hope you like yours.

Yeahhhhhh... wish I had seen your info about the weak side wall screws a bit earlier, lol. Mine failed spectacularly and ripped out the supporting wood pretty good. I'll be correcting that error next weekend with new framing and using better hardware. Live and learn right?

The hinges work great! I did reinforce the header beam where it attaches to the front wall with heavier duty hardware. Those cheap/narrow screws that were there didn't inspire confidence. Overall the bed platform is very secure now and I'm happy. Once I fix the gas lift support issue I'll be good to go!

[Jay2504]

MrKABC, please tell me how your bed mod is holding up? We have just bought a 2020 24RBS. I am in process of insulating the walls around the bed support, and even though we have yet to spend the night in it, the bed platform is already bowing the “wrong” way just from the the cylinders holding up the bed! I know there is no way that the current setup will hold up even for a short period of time. Another idea that I have seen was to put 3 or 4 foot strips of metal on both sides of the existing 2x2 supports. I haven’t looked close yet, so I don’t know about the hinges. We plan on raising up our bed often so I will certainly check that out. Any feedback would be appreciated. Jay

[MrKABC]

Hi @Jay2504, I ended up installing plywood shear panels to reinforce the base (see pic) and rebuilt the bed top using 2" x 3"s. If you don't add thicker framing to your 1/4" plywood the lift supports will bow them outwards.

Decking screws are a must. I'll take better/ more pictures of my setup tomorrow.

[Jay2504]

Thanks MrKABC. You are correct that right now, my unused bed is bowed up near the middle because of the top of the lift struts. Looking at the pictures, you put plywood on all 3 sides of the base. What thickness did you use? I have used foam board to insulate the cavity’s around the base and I could cover it now with plywood. Did you remove the 2x3 vertical support board that you added? I was thinking of building a framework in the center like Rustic Eagle did on his 2018 24RBS. If you want to see look in the mod thread he started. One more question please, the 2x3 board that you added to the bed plywood at the foot of the bed, did that board hang outside of the base? Jay

[MrKABC]

Originally Posted by Jay2504

Thanks MrKABC. You are correct that right now, my unused bed is bowed up near the middle because of the top of the lift struts. Looking at the pictures, you put plywood on all 3 sides of the base. What thickness did you use? I have used foam board to insulate the cavity’s around the base and I could cover it now with plywood. Did you remove the 2x3 vertical support board that you added? I was thinking of building a framework in the center like Rustic Eagle did on his 2018 24RBS. If you want to see look in the mod thread he started. One more question please, the 2x3 board that you added to the bed plywood at the foot of the bed, did that board hang outside of the base? Jay

Hi Jay! I added more pictures of my final install. In answer to your questions:

1. I used 3/8" plywood.
2. The 2"x3" vertical supports turned out to not be needed and didn't have enough anchorage to provide lateral support. When the gas lifts applied pressure toward the front of the trailer, they both were ripped away from the bed pedestal framing. That was a mistake and one you should not follow. Instead, I used the plywood shear panels anchored to the bed frame which works great!
3. The 2"x3" at the foot of the befffffff is just inside of the base. The frame and the lift work great, my Zinus mattress is now on there platform and it works like a champ.

I hope these pictures help. Let me know if I can answer any more questions. Have fun modding!