Reinforced Bed Support Frame

[Jim Dow]

This weekend I reinforced the bedrame in our 2011 Montana High Country.

We were tired of rolling to the middle of the bed due to a weak support mechanism under the bed. The support was made of nylon straps stretched across the box frame. I have read many complaints about the beds in 5ers; and the solution has been, generally, to buy a more expensive mattress. Even a very expensive new mattress would not have solved our problem.

I purchased two (2) sheets of finished (sanded on one side) half-inch plywood ($57) and cut them to produce three (3) planks (24" x 60"). The fourth plank just served as a spare.

I placed the 3 planks in parallel across the bed frame with about 2" open at both the head and the foot of the bed frame. The bed frame (camper queen) was 76" x 57".

I replaced the matress; and now I have a comfortable, firm bed/mattress that does not sag in the middle. I added a 1 1/2" memory foam pad on top of the mattress; and now I have a very comfortable mattress without spending hundreds of dollars for a new mattress that would have just sagged like the original. I figure that I saved about $700 in the process.

[Jim7411]

Good thinking. It's amazing what a little ingenuity can accomplish. It's also amazing at how sloppy Keystone is when it comes to little things like that. On the other hand, it keeps us do-it-yourself types off the couch!

[Canadiansteelman]

We also have a problem with our main bedroom mattress in our 37 ft 2012 Montana High Country 5th wheel. We have not used the trailer very much but we end up rolling to the middle of the bed as the mattress sags there.

Anybody else have this problem and what was the fix?

[Poppy's 5th Wheel]

We had the same problem. We originally thought a new, better mattress would resolve it but, nope. I was going to go the same route as Jim did but when we bought our mattress our salesman told us if it still sagged in the middle he would provide us with what is called a Bunkie Board. They are fairly expensive to buy, around $200, but since we didn't have to pay for it we went that direction. It did work as promised.

It did add about an inch to the height of the bed but now our bed is like home.

I found this through googling Bunkie Board and this looks like a great option and far cheaper than what ours was (would have been).

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Signature-...Board/34334506

[Dhuhn]

I did the same with my bed, added three planks across the bottom frame, no more sagging or roling to the center.

[therink]

This is surprising. My 2013 Sydney fiver came with 1/2" (sanded on topside) mattress base top (real) plywood. This model is considered a step below the Montana line. Our bed platform is quite stable. I did however have to put a 3" memory foam topper on the cheesy mattress, but when all said and done it is a comfortable bed. I find it more comfortable than the sleep number bed in the house.
I don't understand why Keystone isn't consistent with their construction standards across the various lines, especially when it comes to bedding or a base for a bed.

[Dhuhn]

Originally Posted by therink

This is surprising. My 2013 Sydney fiver came with 1/2" (sanded on topside) mattress base top (real) plywood. This model is considered a step below the Montana line. Our bed platform is quite stable. I did however have to put a 3" memory foam topper on the cheesy mattress, but when all said and done it is a comfortable bed. I find it more comfortable than the sleep number bed in the house.
I don't understand why Keystone isn't consistent with their construction standards across the various lines, especially when it comes to bedding or a base for a bed.

This is the lighter weight Montana I think they where trying to get rid of some more weight by doing this.