Bed frame replacement ?

Morning all,
Bit of a problem.
I've got a 1999 Autosleeper Trident VW.
The R n R bed is very difficult to slide out and in again.
The underseat struts ( which go from front to back ) are bent and one is cracked.
I need either a second hand bed 'frame', or can someone suggest a new seat/bed which can be fitted, or someone who can fabricate a new one.
Any ideas ?
Thanks in advance,
Tris M

Worth giving them a ring...we’ve always found them very helpful on the phone.  


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Anything is possible if you put enough money and effort into it, but I would recommend that you don't try to fit a different bed. In my experience, very few beds work in the way that the A/S one does (assuming it's the same basic design as that fitted to a Trooper it's not a rock&roll design - it's actually a Z-fold bed) so it will be hard to find one with exactly the right dimensions.

First thing I would do is contact the A/S parts dept to see if they have any bed frame spare parts. You can be 99.9% sure that they won't, but for the cost of the call it's worth a try, IMO.

If it were mine, the next step would be to have the bed frame dismantled and the damaged parts repaired. Any local metal working company should be able to straighten the bent parts and to weld any cracks. A local blacksmith would probably be ideal for this, though they may not want the faff of taking the bed apart.

Failing that, as Quilter says, taking a bed out of a Trident that's being broken for parts would be the next best bet, but be aware that breakers tend to ask silly prices for things like that, so don't expect to get one for £50!

Hi both,
Thanks for your replies.
Have gone down the metal repair/replace option .... Found a local firm which does conversions and they are confident they can fix it. (Under £500 too - v happy)
So, with your help Mojo, hopefully sorted.

When we next meet I'll buy you a beer.
Then finally time to enjoy the

Thanks.

Tris M

Sounds good - though I would hope it will be a ~lot~ less than £500! If they are fixing the existing components (i.e. bending straight and welding) the parts cost should be minimal, so it will mainly be labour. It's hard to imagine how they could spend more than perhaps 5 hours on it, which should be a great deal less than £500...

Anyway - hopefully you will soon be out and enjoying it, before the fantastic weather is over!

-mojo- wrote:Sounds good - though I would hope it will be a ~lot~ less than £500! If they are fixing the existing components (i.e. bending straight and welding) the parts cost should be minimal, so it will mainly be labour. It's hard to imagine how they could spend more than perhaps 5 hours on it, which should be a great deal less than £500...

If that long Mojo.

I agree with you - £500 sounds a lot to me. Admittedly it will probably be a fiddly old job, with several "offerings up" and a bit of big 'ammer work before it's spot on, but 5 hours is a long time.

Best of luck to Tris anyway. It has got to be fixed.

Gromit wrote:and a bit of big 'ammer work before it's spot on

Ah, the Big Hammer of Correction - my favourite tool!