Fitting Bluebird customs Rock 'n Roll bed

[kp73]

Hi, total noob here - I'm trying to fit a Bluebird customs rock and roll bed to replace the home made wooden box that was in my van when I bought it.

The bed has two arms that bolt to the angled part of the raised floor (sorry, dunno what the proper name is for that!). I've bolted one of the arms using the seat belt fixing point - but on the other side there isn't a fixing point.

Is there some other way I can secure the arm, or if not I guess I need to drill a hole. What should I use to do this?

[Fritz]

KP, The key to fitting any rock and roll bed is by making sure it is fitted in the correct position in relation to the deck height of the engine cover when it is laying flat (sleeping position), and if that means using backing boards secured to the frames and the correct depth of sponge you are to use for the mattress....an inch either way will drive you mad.....


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,

[uniB]

Once you've got the bed height correct as Fritz says – and it look abouth right to me compaired to mine – you can just drill through the bulkhead. Have a look underneath and you should be able to figure out where it will come through the other side, just make sure there's nothing on the other side but there shouldn't be. It's best to make some smaller holes and get bigger in stages. The underside of the bulkhead is likely to be pretty gunky and your hole might fall on a ridge – if this is the case it's probably best to make or get a big steel washer plate.

You will have to make a wooden section to go over the engine cover area to build it up to the height of the new bed but I'm sure you know that already

[CovKid]

Agree with Fritz on this. I'm in the process (over next two days) of welding up a base out of box sextion that is similar to the Bluebird but will be boxed in underneath as seat houses an LPG tank. My original seat (MDF DIY) took some working out but in the end its down to where it sits in the flat position. In the end I had to make a 'test' seat which was only 2' in width out of scrap to get a feel for how the hinges worked and at what level the back and base board would lay once it was done. Once I'd done that, making a full sized one was much simpler.

In terms of commercial seats, the Bluebird has my vote in terms of its rigidity. I really don't like MDF or chipboard seats as they don't stand the test of time and I've never felt happy about putting a child on one, seat belts or not. Too many of them are fixed in with flimsy 'L' brackets and suchlike. Bolting through the bulkhead has to be a better idea.

I presume the lugs (those bits of metal sticking out at the sides of the front of the seat are meant to rest on brackets when the seat is down as thats another issue - having a firm front edge when bed is down.

As long as you're sure bed lays down at the correct angle and height, just drill your hole and fasten a mega washer or better still 1/8" plate with a hole drilled in it to strengthen fixing on the reverse. Theres nothing behind that bulkhead at the point you need to drill which is handy.

[lloydy]

So can these bluebird beds be set at diffierent heights then, i ask because i've got a autohomes which has a couple of drawers on the engine lid and wouldn't want to lose this. My komet doesn't have a R&R bed, and the bed in it is slowly falling apart, it also has a water tank were covkids LPG tank is. Was thinking that may foul it to. Sorry to jump in!

[CovKid]

Not in-built no but you can stack it off the floor slightly to fine tune it. You could cut the top off those brackets and make a new hole below, or simply weld on another bracket I guess. Otherwise you have to go the completely custom root and build one to suit, and for the cost of the materials, probably not a bad idea.

This approach is quite neat though - and lightweight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nknJBx37gHY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm building mine from scratch from box section using hinges I already had.

[lloydy]

Yeah, i'm probably gonna go down the route of trying to copy the one i already have, will hopefully work out cheaper as its made out of ply, thanks for the reply

[CovKid]

Cutting down a sprung futon bed seems a great idea though as the hinge mechanism is with it. You do need welding skills though to get it right.

Mind you, of all the ones I've seen, this must be the most OVER-engineered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoR6Emc8LQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-4L_kgSUCs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI6oCGSsOgw&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lloydy]

unfortunatly welding is not one of my many skills! Although i am thinking of taking a course. The futon does seem a good idea, but i think with the futon and R&R bed it would foul the water tank as this is the same height as the engine compartment. I could very well be wrong, and i shall be nosing at other peoples vans during the camping/show season

[CovKid]

You don't really need a course to learn to weld - just get stuck in, practicising on sheet steel. Most you'll need is about ten minutes with someone that can weld just to show you all the controls and what they do. You soon pick it up. Only rule is only weld clean steel not rust. So does your water tank sit on one side?

[chickenkoop]

if it only took 10 minutes every one would say there a welder, any fcuker can put down birdshit, do a course Lloydy you'll learn a lot,

[jamesc76]

Mind you, of all the ones I've seen, this must be the most OVER-engineered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoR6Emc8LQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thats the t4 &5 bed frames which have the seat belts built into them hence why there like that I have seen um in the flesh and there not over engineered at all!

[uniB]

Mind you, of all the ones I've seen, this must be the most OVER-engineered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoR6Emc8LQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hope they're better at welding than they are at video making!

[lloydy]

the water tank runs from one end to the other

looking at it again an R&R bed won't fit, think i'm very limited with that tank there.
As for welding i think i could actually weld, i started off as a plumber and used to do lead burning[welding] with oxy-acet. It's more the experience of knowing were to cut and knowing when to stop!
Keep on debating wether to buy a knackered van and teach myself

[CovKid]

Trust Chickenkoop to pipe up -

All I can say is theres a lot of welding going on over here today Rob Figured out bed frame structure so just cutting all the pieces to length. Will post pics as I go.