Bed Locker Mods

Cannot understand why autosleeper have gone away from the slide out bed arrangement that worked so effortlessly. On our latest Nuevo we have the caravan style slatted pull out beds which work ok ish - but such a flimsy arrangement to lift for access to under bed storage lockers.
I have added gas struts (2x150Nm struts per side) see pic


A lot more sturdy arrangement and a lot easier to lift the bed/seats and is held up without the need of the prop.

I got the gas struts from eBay see 


A straight forward DIY job - surprised autosleeper do not do something similar.

Thank you for a great idea - I have just ordered from the same seller on eBay.

They do! The bed locker lids/slide outs on our Lancashire are metal and have gas struts.  The change was in late 2011 and made first on the Mercedes models.

Hi Ron - ours is a late 2009 model and def did not come with the metal framed slide out beds - wish it had. They probably had a period  when they did both options say if specified when ordered new!!

2009 was way before the change. When we went to the NEC in 2011 the demo Mercs had metsl but the Peugeot's were still wood. That is why I said that the chsngeovrr hapened in late 2011.

2009 was way before the change. When we went to the NEC in 2011 the demo Mercs had metsl but the Peugeot's were still wood. That is why I said that the chsngeovrr hapened in late 2011.

Got you - I assume you mean that the Lancashires went back to metals 2011 after a couple of years of wood. 
Think that was a good move - the metal arrangement like our previous 2004 Nuevo was far superior.
Thanks for the clarification.

Ours has the gas filled struts, on the fixed bed too. I just wish A/S had fitted something to stop the seat cushions sliding about when you sit on them, the press studs are ok to keep them in place when travelling but un pop easily
I might have to get some anti slip mat and glue it to the tops of the slats.
Allan

Thanks Steve

£6.88 for four and the hardest thing about the fitting was waiting 5 days for them to arrive via (free) 2nd class post. All brackets and screws included.

Peter

ajrm wrote:Ours has the gas filled struts, on the fixed bed too. I just wish A/S had fitted something to stop the seat cushions sliding about when you sit on them, the press studs are ok to keep them in place when travelling but un pop easily
I might have to get some anti slip mat and glue it to the tops of the slats.
Allan

Yes, our cushions slide off very easily as a very surprised golden retriever noted after suddenly changing from sleeping peacefully on a comfy (covered) settee to upside down on the floor with the cushion on top after me slightly over cooking a roundabout   

Have put some of the non slip place mat thingamajigs under the cushions which seem to work. Didn't secure them as remove when using as a bed.

That's good to know that it works. I'll get some later and put it under the cushions
Allan

Great tip and thanks for posting it. I am just going to order some.........  

Thanks from me too, looks like a good idea, can you still lift the base back as far as the side wall please? Guess it depends on where you position the strut? Think I will get some too!

Another thing we did was to drill and screw all the joints on the slatted parts instead of relying on the staples, also put right angled on the corners of the base, made the whole thing much easier to slide in and out and much more solid.

The base goes back as far as in picture. If you need it upright say for maintenance etc you can quickly disconnect the gas struts from their  ball joints. 
Am sure you can get longer gas struts but not sure from where.

Thanks will look into that then!

Take a little care with the factory fitted gas struts. I guess that they are stronger than the ebay ones. On one occasion I removed the seat cushion while the metal frame was lifted. With the weight off the frame rose a bit more and it was EXTREMELY difficult to get the frame down again. I was very concerned that by pressing down too hard I would break something.

 Good man, E Bay here I come, (again), already blinged the Merc via E Bay with stainless steel radiator slats, (they improve the look considerably) but drew the line at a Bull Bar and a bonnet edge shiny bit!
Want to protect the mirrors as well but the chromed covers currently available look pretty flimsy. The company making the Fiat GRP protectors haven't come up with the goods so far. 

Barry.

And if you want an alternative to the usual horrible steering wheel then google Royal steering wheels, I have one wholeheartedly recommend them!

Gas struts.........

I had an idea about something else and ordered too many as decided not to go ahead with what I planned. Anyway, the upshot is that I have six of these things available. They really are easy to fit.

I will be at the Peterborough show with the MH FUN group, so if anybody wants some gas struts, then you are welcome to them in return for a drink. Cheers