Answered Motorized Bed Lift - linear motor or other options?

[GUS2000]

Has anyone modifirdtheir coach with a linear motor to lift the bed up in order to make it easier to access the under bed storage?

 

[Just George]

@GUS2000 Yes I've installed electric lift on the bed in our DutchStar.

I bought 2 of these and have one on each side of the bed, mounted outside of the bed frame box.

 

[Just George]

@GUS2000
Here are some dimensions and photos of a bed lift. This info was provide to me by DusthStar Don from another forum. I use the dimensions for my lift. The photos are of Don's lift but mine looks very similar. In a couple of the photos you will see a pin and clip on the top lift motor arm connection point. It's important to have a way to disconnect the motor drive in case the unit fails or there is a loss of power you will still be able to get under the bed if necessary.

 

[GUS2000]

Thanks!! this is great!!

where did you get power from and how do you control it?? im looking at possibly a wireless controller and putting a 12v power supply in one of the bedside tables or seeing if there is an open outlet where the pump for the sleep number bed is plugged in..

 

[Just George]

@GUS2000 I used a 12V laptop power supply that I had. I believe there was a 120v outlet below the headboard. (that may not be accurate) In any case if I'm wrong on that, there is an outlet in the small nightstand cabinet on the forward side of the bed. As far as controls I have two ways to control, the first is a momentary on-off-on switch mounted just below the table top on the forward nightstand. I also installed a remote control. Since I have two ways to control I used relays to do the power switching. This is the remote I have.

 

[GUS2000]

thanks for sharing.. i know what my next project is now!!

 

[Neemer]

Good stuff. Thanks!

 

[GUS2000]

Just George, Did you fabricate that black metal bracket that the actuator is mounted too??​

 

[Boat Bum]

No doubt a cool factor of 10, but couldn't you replace the lift arms such that it could be lifted with a finger tip? Just curious to know.

 

[GUS2000]

No doubt a cool factor of 10, but couldn't you replace the lift arms such that it could be lifted with a finger tip? Just curious to know.

just want the easiest option since i have back problems... this to me is the best method... thanks

 

[Neal]

If you have a heavy comforter etc. on the bed, that makes it worse. You could try upgrading the lift struts so it's more effortless, I think Newmar uses the min size for a bed with nothing on it. That's what I would try first, just get better lift struts.

 

[GUS2000]

If you have a heavy comforter etc. on the bed, that makes it worse. You could try upgrading the lift struts so it's more effortless, I think Newmar uses the min size for a bed with nothing on it. That's what I would try first, just get better lift struts.

I tried that...we not only have a heavy comfortor.. we also have a 2" memory foam topper...
just wanna make it as "effortless" as possible

 

[Neal]

You could ask Newmar if they've done it. They offer beds that the headboard side raises so it sounds like you could install some system like that but for the foot of the bed. Newmar may have something like this already for accessibility reasons, your case is one, and they should have an answer to this need as not everyone can lift it.

 

[Neal]

Did some googling, something like this could work? You have power for the sleep number bed behind the headboard, so there is 120V there. 12V would be easy to source as well.

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Actuator-Protection-Industrial-Machinery/dp/B0CWN924HP/?tag=rvf01-20

 

[Neal]

Seems I'm late to the party (again) - you already got the answers. Let us know what you end up doing and how it works out.