Murphy bed in a slide out

[Jbird68-KEY]

I am thinking about building a horizontal queen-sized murphy bed into the rear slide out of our Passport Ultra Lite 3220BH. We currently have the folding cushion/Bed in that slide out. The photo below says 74 inches wide but I measured the width at 80 inches. I've watched many YouTube videos on DIY murphy beds. But they all have a box with hinges on the sides. This method would not allow the length of a queen size mattress to fit within a box that will fit in the 80 inch width. So I am thinking about buying a steel frame that is less than 80 inches. Then adding a board the length of the bed underneath to attach some heavy door hinges. Most likely have end boards but not side boards. Build a base that could also be a couch when the bed is folded up and attach the hinges to the top of that. It would be about 12 inches away from the wall. Just looking to have a more comfortable bed that isn't sitting directly on the floor.

If I screw the base to the floor will the screws extend too far and stop the slide from sliding?

 

[German Shepherd Guy]

There sure isn't much there for a floor on the slide-out. I think that is your most legitimate concern. Cool idea though. Keep us posted on how the build goes.

 

[Jbird68-KEY]

There sure isn't much there for a floor on the slide-out. I think that is your most legitimate concern. Cool idea though. Keep us posted on how the build goes.

I was also concerned about the height. I'm not sure what the height of the slide-out is. It may limit me to a full-size bed instead of a queen size.

These images are of a full-size bed.

If I do anything it won't be until next spring when I reopen for the season. If all else fails i could just end up buying a steel frame that folds up and a mattress and only use it when needed.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Based on your design above, you need room behind the (couch) and wall area for the bed to pivot (the part that is actually behind the couch has to have swing room against the wall. Unless you make the actual pivot spot on top of the couch and the bed frame and mattress would not be behind the couch at all, but on top of the couch when folded up.

But then, that will make the bed about 18-20 inches more narrow, unless you have a tall ceiling slide out.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

A queen bed is 60" wide. The slide is most certainly taller than that, so height sounds okay.

 

[Semperfi24]

You mentioned screw length. So that leads me to believe you intend to screw into the floor from inside the trailer. What if you went the other direction with the screws or bolts? Screw them in from outside (underneath) the slide out upward into the trailer (with bolts you would need another person to put the nut on inside the trailer while you push the bolt up from underneath). Since you mentioned a steel frame, my suggestion would mean 1 of 2 things. 1. You just bolt the steel frame to the floor like I suggested coming up from underneath (you could possibly counter sink the bolt head a little for more clearance) or 2. You screw up from the bottom into a 2X4 on the floor, then attach your steel frame to the 2x4 that is securely fastened to the floor.

Option 3 would be that you do this entire project with the slide in the out position, and when you are done you go outside and under the slide, then use a multi tool, dremel, grinder, etc to cut off any screw that protrudes beyond the floor

 

[chuckster57]

You mentioned screw length. So that leads me to believe you intend to screw into the floor from inside the trailer. What if you went the other direction with the screws or bolts? Screw them in from outside (underneath) the slide out upward into the trailer (with bolts you would need another person to put the nut on inside the trailer while you push the bolt up from underneath). Since you mentioned a steel frame, my suggestion would mean 1 of 2 things. 1. You just bolt the steel frame to the floor like I suggested coming up from underneath (you could possibly counter sink the bolt head a little for more clearance) or 2. You screw up from the bottom into a 2X4 on the floor, then attach your steel frame to the 2x4 that is securely fastened to the floor.

Option 3 would be that you do this entire project with the slide in the out position, and when you are done you go outside and under the slide, then use a multi tool, dremel, grinder, etc to cut off any screw that protrudes beyond the floor

Any fastener installed from the bottom of the slide will rub and may tear the flooring.

 

[rlh1957]

There sure isn't much there for a floor on the slide-out. I think that is your most legitimate concern. Cool idea though. Keep us posted on how the build goes.

Use shorter wood screws like maybe 3/4” to 1”. Since they are biting in a short distance use more screws to increase the holding power.