Community Forums

Mike Bartelt · 06-12-2016, 02:21 AM

Hey everyone!

The struts to hold up my bed platform and engine bay cover aren't even there... can someone who has a factory setup show me what it's supposed to look like so I can mount new ones?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Skip426 · 06-12-2016, 09:42 AM

Mike , a question or two.

Do you have a bed room slide ?
Can you see any screw holes in the bed platform where struts may have been removed ?
My engine cover didn't have struts ; it's much too heavy. I purchased adjustable supports at a building supply , I didn't trust the factory struts to hold up the bed while I under, the bed, on the motor so I use one there too.
I'll look for a picture and re-post.

Skip426 · 06-12-2016, 10:14 AM

Here's a picture of what I use. Good solid support .

Dutch Star Don · 06-12-2016, 11:52 AM

Mike.....Give Newmar a call. They should have the exact model numbers for you. I wouldn't buy them from Newmar, but you can then go on line with the length and strength (psi).

Rotten-Red · 06-12-2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bartelt

Hey everyone!

The struts to hold up my bed platform and engine bay cover aren't even there... can someone who has a factory setup show me what it's supposed to look like so I can mount new ones?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

These are the pics you requested. These are factory installed with the exception of the metal plates under the upper brackets. I put them in because Newmar attached the bracket directly to the flimsy wood which didn't seem strong enough. The metal plates spread out the strain.

The engine cover doesn't have gas props. I made a wood prop stick that holds it open. It works fine and really you don't get in there much anyway. Most of your maintenance is done from the hatch in the rear or underneath.

Mike Bartelt · 06-13-2016, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Here's a picture of what I use. Good solid support .

How many do you use?

I do have a bedroom slide out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotten-Red

These are the pics you requested. These are factory installed with the exception of the metal plates under the upper brackets. I put them in because Newmar attached the bracket directly to the flimsy wood which didn't seem strong enough. The metal plates spread out the strain.

The engine cover doesn't have gas props. I made a wood prop stick that holds it open. It works fine and really you don't get in there much anyway. Most of your maintenance is done from the hatch in the rear or underneath.

Thanks! That's exactly ALL the information I really wanted/needed!

I need to put a little work into my platform... it's loose, some other bolts or screws holding the rear hinge portion have been removed and neither of the struts are attached. It is all really flimsy.

I'll probably get heavier struts, I have a thicker memory foam mattress and I doubt the factory struts would hold it.

At least now I have a good idea of what I need to do to fix or improve it.

Dutch Star Don · 06-13-2016, 04:44 AM

This is how I reinforced mine in my Monaco Diplomat. The metal bar across the bottom kept the bed frame from spreading and I plated the underside of the bed and used carriage bolts to through bolt the plates on. With four pistons, it worked well to lift a pillow top mattress.

Skip426 · 06-13-2016, 10:25 AM

Mike , I have two of the supports , one set to support the bed , the other set to the length needed to hold the engine cover. Foam mattress is one reason I use the extra support , factory struts ok , if I'm just under to grab stuff from storage , when working under on the engine I want something solid.

Don; impressive job of fixing up your bed lift .

Although, it may not be possible on all coaches , Red's and mine , the bed lays down flat on top of the engine cover.

Red; how did you get into my coach to take those pictures?