Drop down bed struts changed

[Barclaybasher]

Finally got round to sorting the drop down bed on my 2001 Mobilvetta. The bed was really heavy to lift and when up was held by a seatbelt strap which took all the weight.
The struts that assist raising the bed are behind a panel above the cab doors.
I removed the panels.and raised the bed as far as it would go to extend the struts as far as they would go.
One end of the struts are fixed to a lug secured by a circlip, the other end by a bolt.
Although the mechanism was fully extended the struts still 'popped off'.
The distance between the fixings was 15mm shorter than the length of the struts meaning the new struts had to be shorter as there was no way I could compress them as they are 1250n.
SGS in Derby had a match for the struts in stock - £60 Inc vat for the pair and shortened them free of charge.
The code for the struts are taken from the old ones.
The bed is now easier to lft and sits even closer to the roof with no help from the strap which now fastened loosely.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Be careful in winter if the bed is touching the roof you might get condensation or mould. We drop ours down a few inches.

 

[Barclaybasher]

I had expected that the rams had failed just because of age.

I did one side at a time, after fixing one I took the cover off the other side to find that one had actually sheared

 

[Cush]

I have heard of people using ratchet straps to somehow compress the strut. would that have been a possibility for the next person?

 

[Toady]

I used a ratchet strap to reduce size of the strut. I then lockwired the strut and fitted it. Once securely in place, I removed the lock wire. What a faff!

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[Cush]

I used a ratchet strap to reduce size of the strut. I then lockwired the strut and fitted it. Once securely in place, I removed the lock wire. What a faff!

How would I lock wire something?

 

[Barclaybasher]

I used a ratchet strap to reduce size of the strut. I then lockwired the strut and fitted it. Once securely in place, I removed the lock wire. What a faff!

I did think of compressing the strut but took the easier option.

The bed now lifts easily and stays up without the strap.

I suspect the bed would be even lighter to lift if the rams were compressed but when up mine aren't under any load

 

[Toady]

How would I lock wire something?

Check out You tube.

When I spoke to SGS and explained my problem that the strut needed to be compressed then he advised the ratchet method. I had to use a large ratchet strap to compress the strut, then lock wire it. This allowed me to fit strut.

 

[Shrimp]

Hubby did our Hymer bed couple of yrs ago we put slightly stronger struts on and it’s a pleasure to use now, goes up with minimal effort even from me!

 

[Barclaybasher]

Hubby did our Hymer bed couple of yrs ago we put slightly stronger struts on and it’s a pleasure to use now, goes up with minimal effort even from me!

If I did the struts again I would have the the same length as they were cut down to but stronger too.

The 'Herman the Hymer' video on youtube shows their struts rated at 1700n, mine are 1250. The youtube video was helpful but I did mine on my own by propping the bed right up and I didn't have to hammer the struts on !

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[Shrimp]

I think hubby (Manic) said ours were difficult to do but I don’t remember a hammer being used!
Apparently ours were 1700nms, the new ones are 1900nms!

 

[Manic]

The 'Herman the Hymer' video on youtube shows their struts rated at 1700n, mine are 1250. The youtube video was helpful but I did mine on my own by propping the bed right up and I didn't have to hammer the struts on !

When I watched that video , I thought it wasn’t very good, I’ve never had to use a hammer like that.

 

[Barclaybasher]

When I watched that video , I thought it wasn’t very good, I’ve never had to use a hammer like that.

It didn't show the struts actually being taken off either, so maybe theirs 'popped off' as well