Bed platform gas 'springs' plea for guidance

[Dave W]

Last year I cut the bed platform height down by about 5 inches. When I did this, I pulled the two gas springs out. Unfortunately the memory card that I used to document approximate locations of the platform end brackets ended up corrupted and the inner panel pieces I removed that had the original screw holes were trashed when I pulled it apart in small pieces (glue and dozens of staples). Does anyone have a location or dimensions they could get for me so these springs can be mounted correctly? The raiseable piece is correctly set as those spring brackets were never removed.

Thanks

[tech740]

Mine are 20 3/8" From the bottom of the non moving head support board to the center of the ball. My struts are 20" extended. Hope that helps.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by tech740

Mine are 20 3/8" From the bottom of the non moving head support board to the center of the ball. My struts are 20" extended. Hope that helps.

I have tried to figure out where that 20-3/8" is measured from but I have to be dense and can't. The struts on ours are also 20" long in a free state.

[notanlines]

Dave, I have tried every which way to measure something that would be the same as what you have. We have the same struts, but the bed box might be different. We are at the trailer right now. If you want me to text you a couple pictures just send me a message and I'll contact you and sent them right away.

[Dave W]

Thanks for the advice folks. I think I'll put this project on the shelf for the next few weeks as we are traveling (headed for Durango, CO this morning from Colorado Springs). I've pulled the existing, improperly mounted springs off and will use 'muscle power' when we need something from under there.

Part of my problem is the mattress that weighs in at probably 2-3X what the original Keystone pad did

[tech740]

Hope this helps

[Tom N OH]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Thanks for the advice folks. I think I'll put this project on the shelf for the next few weeks as we are traveling (headed for Durango, CO this morning from Colorado Springs). I've pulled the existing, improperly mounted springs off and will use 'muscle power' when we need something from under there.

Part of my problem is the mattress that weighs in at probably 2-3X what the original Keystone pad did

Enjoy your trip to Durango. Lovely little town & the train to Silverton is a nice ride. The Cumbres & Toltec is a much more scenic ride if you have the time while in that area.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by tech740

Hope this helps

Perfect - I'll give it a try. Thanks

Originally Posted by Tom N OH

Enjoy your trip to Durango. Lovely little town & the train to Silverton is a nice ride. The Cumbres & Toltec is a much more scenic ride if you have the time while in that area.

It has been years since the last trip here - what a difference in the town. Have taken the Durango-Silverton train but probably wont this trip though may drive to Silverton on Friday. The Cumbres & Toltec might have been a good choice but at this point, would be a big backtrack on US160 (and Wolf Creek Pass) and many 30 mph miles that are being rebuilt. Dang!!!

[B-O-B'03]

Originally Posted by Tom N OH

Enjoy your trip to Durango. Lovely little town & the train to Silverton is a nice ride. The Cumbres & Toltec is a much more scenic ride if you have the time while in that area.

The wife and I rode the narrow gauge, from Durango to Silverton, 13 years ago and it was great.

On our trip out, 2 years ago, I was pretty shocked at how much the ride costs now (like over $100 each maybe?)

I think it was around 35 previously.

I'll check out Cumbres & Toltec the next time we are in the area.

Thanks,

-Brian

[Dave W]

Did a trial fit and have to report that 20-3/8 from the header shown in the photo will not work on ours without moving the top bracket which I didn't have time to 'play' with at the time. I also think that I have a bad gas spring as my 200 pounds just cannot compress the 80 pound Made in China operating force gas spring any amount which tells me something internal happened to it. I'll order a pair of new springs and go from there.

These are Industrial Gas Spring, Inc pieces and I will be contacting them directly for correct force rating and mounting now that I have one in-hand. Their web site is pretty decent too.

[Dave W]

I found the pieces that I trimmed off the bed platform in my soon-to-be-cut to kindling pile. The required bracket mounting dimension is 27-1/2" from the outside foot end of the platform. The top flap now works as it should.

What I thought was a jammed gas spring wasn't as the other is just as stiff. Come to find out - you just cannot simply (easily!!) compress these springs by leaning on them. You need some sort of lever arm (2nd class if I recall my last physics course).

[sourdough]

When they are operational the struts are that way - very difficult to operate by hand. Keep in mind that the struts are rated for varying loads and you said you have a mattress that is 2-3 times the weight of the original mattress - they might have a problem. On the other hand, we replaced our RV mattress with a new, thicker, much heavier mattress and our struts work fine. Hopefully yours will as well.

[chuckster57]

Struts are rated by pounds. If you can post a P/N I may be able to give you the rating, then you could get different ones. They come in various ratings and lengths.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Struts are rated by pounds. If you can post a P/N I may be able to give you the rating, then you could get different ones. They come in various ratings and lengths.

These actually had the 'weight' rating on them at 80 pounds. I may try a pair of 70 pounders but these seem to work just fine for now even with a boat anchor weight Simmons mattress instead of the feather weight original