Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Modifications and Upgrades
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-24-2013, 08:04 AM   #1
audio1der
Senior Member
 
audio1der's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
Gas shocks for bed lift?

We purchased a Queen Sealy coil mattress with thin pillow top for our bed, and want easy access to the under-bed storage.
Does anyone have experience with how strong the 2 gas shocks should be to just hold the "bed" in the up position? I'd rather error on the soft side, if it took a finger or two to help hold it up rather than pull screws through wood trying to push it closed.
Thanks!
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
audio1der is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2013, 08:37 AM   #2
hankpage
Site Team
 
hankpage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
We replaced our factory mattress (If you consider that a mattress ) with a 12'' gel/foam mattress. I found that by moving the present struts about 6" to 8" towards the foot of the bed they worked perfectly raising and lowering. It's worth a try before you purchase anything. ... Hank
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
hankpage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2013, 08:48 AM   #3
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
This is what I did... http://www.hatchlift.com/rv-hatch-ca...main_cat_id=32&
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2013, 09:26 AM   #4
audio1der
Senior Member
 
audio1der's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage View Post
We replaced our factory mattress (If you consider that a mattress ) with a 12'' gel/foam mattress. I found that by moving the present struts about 6" to 8" towards the foot of the bed they worked perfectly raising and lowering. It's worth a try before you purchase anything. ... Hank
Ours has nothing from the factory- just "strong arm"
We need to purchase & install something, just unsure of the #values.
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
audio1der is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2013, 07:01 AM   #5
JENNIFER_SUSAN
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New York
Posts: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage View Post
We replaced our factory mattress (If you consider that a mattress ) with a 12'' gel/novaform mattress. I found that by moving the present struts about 6" to 8" towards the foot of the bed they worked perfectly raising and lowering. It's worth a try before you purchase anything. ... Hank
yes, should give a try before purchasing anything
JENNIFER_SUSAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2013, 06:59 AM   #6
audio1der
Senior Member
 
audio1der's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
A pair of 20", 79# shocks actually take some force to close the bed back down now; should be plenty for when the mattress arrives this week in preparation for our first trip this weekend.
We laid on the provided "mattress" for 2 minutes and were both sure we'd not get any sleep using it, so it was no question of replacement for us.
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
audio1der is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2013, 11:09 AM   #7
jlonginav
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Aliso Viejo Ca
Posts: 108
Bed Lift Kit

Hi, I installed the kit from Hatch Lift.com I chose the heavy version that came with 120lb gas springs. I like you put in a standard queen mattress. One thing I did was use the instructions for the "Short" bed install. This worked great. Have a friend help
jlonginav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2013, 12:36 PM   #8
audio1der
Senior Member
 
audio1der's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
Not putting anyone down for buying the kit, but what makes it a "kit"? If you buy 2 gas shocks, 2 flat and 2 angled brackets and some hardware to hold them on the wood, do they supply the measurements of where to attach the brackets?
I moved the brackets on the bottom of the bed (under the mattress) once before I got it but no one will ever see the extra 2 holes and I lightened the tongue weight by 0.01grams
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
audio1der is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2013, 02:12 PM   #9
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
Since I did not have the brackets or the struts it seemrd to be the easiest way out. Not to mention it saved me running around town looking for the necessary components.
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2013, 05:50 AM   #10
audio1der
Senior Member
 
audio1der's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
The kits were cheaper than the sum of the parts I bought, but shipping to up here is always cost prohibitive... just wondering what made it a "kit"
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
audio1der is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.