Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

Can anyone advise on which Rock n Roll Bed to go for? ... we have a converted panel van with a RnR made from those heavy hinges and boards but want something more solid to use as a travelling seat for the kids. We would like a full width bed and aim to fit 3 point belts (probably the Brickwerks ones).

I've seen the Volkswares and Bluebird beds and wondered whether anyone had any experience of fitting and the quality of these? We're based in the North West so both of these options are good as the companies are close by ...

Thanks guys ... any help gratefully received!

Chris

If you run a search, you'll see that there are dozens of posts on the subject of rock and roll beds, but after reading most of them, I've yet to come to any definite conclusion. I'm in a similar position to you - I want to fit a rnr bed to my T25 - but although there seem to be plenty out there, not everyone agrees on which is best. The first thing to note is that if you buy any metal framed bed (volkswares, bluebirds, autobed, etc), you will find that you need to 'build up' the area over the engine compartment, by around four inches (approx). This is because the beds are made to fit the higher luggage space found on bays, and this area on a T25 is lower down (if you follow me).
So when the bed is laid flat, it's about four or five inches off the top of the engine compartment.
Some people build thus up with timber, or fit a set of drawers, or an extra layer of foam. Easy enought to do, but you can't help but think the bed could be made to fit.

We've fitted a 3/4 bluebird bed in our panel van, the instructions were difficult to follow & we asked for help on here & someone kindly sent us photos of how theirs fitted which really helped. Making up the box section in the back was not too bad (& hubbys not into carpentry) & there are some great ideas on here of how you can use the box section as storage. We got foam cut in Bristol which fits really well, we chose the 4inch high density foam which is really comfy. The bluebird bed is really good quality & works well but its just the instructions we had problems with.

Thanks guys for the good advice ...

The Volkswares website has a vid to show you how to assemble it but nothing on fitting (I've noticed comments on this elsewhere in the forum too) ... does anyone know how straight forward it is?

Hi Chris

I fitted a Bluebird 3/4 bed and it was pretty simple, the instructions were rubbish but to be fair its only two holes through the sloping engine bay bulkhead and the front frame screws down to your plywood floor. You can make your raised section in the back as simple or technical as you like but it does give you about 100mm high storage inbetween the bed and the engine lid. I will point out that the seat is quite wide and i couldnt live with the massive overhang, so i chopped out 100mm and welded the front back on, its way more practical and still gives you over 6ft when the bed is down. In a previous post i gave the "EzBak" system a bit of a hard time but it does actully help when your putting the bed back to a seat. I can measure how far the bolt holes are down from the engine bay if it helps you, just pm me if necessary.

Good luck, cheers

Kevin

I will point out that the seat is quite wide and i couldnt live with the massive overhang, so i chopped out 100mm and welded the front back on,
This is the sort of thing I mean - if kevinbeever is right, once fitted, the Bluebirds bed is not really suitable for use as a seat, which sort of defeats the object. It would be useful if we could hear comments from the owners of the various other beds that are available.

I put a devon r&r in mine. Very well made and the pull out action is one handed. You'll need to have it blasted and power/painted and new wood. About £100/150 with the refurb on top. Still need a shelf though.
This one belongs to Billybigspud
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 4#p7722514" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It doesn't look like Billybigspud's bed has the shelf, or is it just out of sight, underneath the mattress? Looks a tidy job anyway. HArd to judge the height/depth of the seat, though, without a shot of it in the 'closed' position.
Are Devon beds a seperate make (like Volksware, for example), or do you mean it's one that came out of a Devon camper?

thestorybus wrote:Thanks guys for the good advice ...

The Volkswares website has a vid to show you how to assemble it but nothing on fitting (I've noticed comments on this elsewhere in the forum too) ... does anyone know how straight forward it is?

I found the hardest part with the volkswares bed was building it up and then having to build the raised box section over the whole of the rear engine. It's handy though for tool trays and things. Fitting it was a case of drilling 6 holes two in floor pan and another 4 were the floor pan angles up to the engine. Those two bolts were hard to reach and tighten you need some one to help you. Quality wise it's strong and heavy as hell. I went full width and I'm often found lying down on it having a beer very comfy with 3" foam cushion on it. The hinge mechanism is a little akward to get right but once you get it right you can flip it into the bed position like the chap on the video on the volkswares website (I had to file down a blob of weld on mine as it was catching did not realise for a while was forcing it) Attaching a leather belt helps no end aswell.

Andy

tforturton wrote:It doesn't look like Billybigspud's bed has the shelf, or is it just out of sight, underneath the mattress? Looks a tidy job anyway. HArd to judge the height/depth of the seat, though, without a shot of it in the 'closed' position.
Are Devon beds a seperate make (like Volksware, for example), or do you mean it's one that came out of a Devon camper?

Came out of a Devon conversion. Like you, I spent a lot of time looking into beds for seatbelt/safety reasons and came up blank. Bed height is easy. Just cut it down to size. Being a viable seat at the same time is another thing.

Strikes me that if you've got to have a build up area behind the rear seats, then you might as well use it for something useful - like your kitchen area. Anyone done that?

Mmm Im about to fit a new metal framed bed. rather than raise the bed, I am planning to cut off the legs and re-weld the mounting plates... ill let you know how it goes!

tforturton wrote:Strikes me that if you've got to have a build up area behind the rear seats, then you might as well use it for something useful - like your kitchen area. Anyone done that?

you would have to move it all ever time you go bed though?

'GHOSTWHEEL' wrote: you would have to move it all ever time you go bed though?

No, I meant you built a set of drawers to fit in that extra space, and fit your kitchen in there. But how would you connect the gas, or the water? Okay, perhaps more problems than solutions in that one.