Rock Roll Bed Suppliers

17551 Views 28 Replies 16 Participants Last post by richrd, May 14, 2009

Vandemonium

Discussion Starter · Sep 28, 2006

Hi after lots of planning I've decided I'd like a
3/4 width rock and roll bed with side cupboards

There are a few different designs I've seen but
people tell me some are better than others....

I want to panel the front part with nice Oak wood so
it ideally needs to be flat box sections at the base.

Can anyone suggest suppliers and reccomend which
might be the sturdiest?

Thanks
Nic x

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

nefarious

· #2 · Sep 28, 2006

Check out the various advertisers who specialise in interiors >>>>>>

jennybugs

· #3 · Sep 28, 2006

Yep, that's what the sponsors are there for...not just to make this place look pretty

vwcurtains

· #4 · Sep 28, 2006

beds

can I draw your attention to Bluebird Customs - imo best beds available

Vandemonium

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 28, 2006

True & I have looked at most of the sponsors
however most people wouldn't tell you if a competitors
bed was sturdier

Hence asking the advice of you lov-er-ly folks.
Cheers for the tip with Bluebird - I've heard they're good
does anyone have a bluebird bed?
Nic x

hampshireman

· #6 · Jun 5, 2007

I have just purchased and installed a 3/4 Bluebird bed in my T4 and whilst I canot fault the manufacture, it is very disappointing that it's not a rock and roll. The hinge mechanism works, but to get the bed into a seat again, you have to grab the top of the seat, bearing in mind its more than a metre away in the flat position. Then you have to pull it upwards while pushing the seat back.

Bluebird who were very helpful, claim it is a rock and roll, but it's nothing like the one I had in my 73 Bay Westfalia, which operated on a sort of ratchet mechanism and was so easy for my small framed wife to operate. She cannot work the Bluebird one and it's a strain for me.

I am currently in process of fitting a gas strut to assist the movement.

cuchullain

· #7 · Jun 5, 2007

just kampers do real good r&r bed hinges, very similar to the originals, they also do full bed kits with the panelling and cushions, they're advert is ^^^^

cheers
paul

peelo

· #8 · Jun 5, 2007

Vandemonium said:
Hi after lots of planning I've decided I'd like a
3/4 width rock and roll bed with side cupboards

There are a few different designs I've seen but
people tell me some are better than others....

I want to panel the front part with nice Oak wood so
it ideally needs to be flat box sections at the base.

Can anyone suggest suppliers and reccomend which
might be the sturdiest?

Thanks
Nic x

vwcurtains said:
can I draw your attention to Bluebird Customs - imo best beds available

I'd second that.

No where near as cheap as buying just hinges from JK.

But is you've fitted both, as I have, you know where the extra money goes and the Bluebird ones are worth every penny. Whereas the JKs ones will leave you angry.

nefarious

· #9 · Jun 5, 2007

peelo said:
Whereas the JKs ones will leave you angry.

You're just rubbish at woodwork...

peelo

· #10 · Jun 5, 2007

nefarious said:
You're just rubbish at woodwork...

some plans might be nice :moon:

and the ability to move the hinge without using a hammer...

seriously... have you tried to move a hinge?

next time you're there, get one out and try to move it

nefarious

· #11 · Jun 5, 2007

peelo said:
some plans might be nice :moon:

There are plans for placing the hinges... if people can't work out how to use a ruler they should buy the kit with the pre-cut boards.

peelo

· #12 · Jun 5, 2007

nefarious said:
There are plans for placing the hinges... if people can't work out how to use a ruler they should buy the kit with the pre-cut boards.

the plans for placing the hinges are not fantastic though... but I agree the pre-cut boards are a much better bet

go and try moving the hinges though... when we put them in we couldn't move the bed... and were told they are a bit stiff

we went for the full home build option because we had a load of materials going begging... but if I was doing it again I'd get a kit

dragster172

· #13 · Jun 5, 2007

peelo said:
I'd second that.

Motion carried.

Either a Bluebird one or a second hand original...avoid the jk ones like the plague.

rat-look-blue

· #14 · Jun 5, 2007

I would say bluebird are one of the best but while at Vanwest i discovered a company who have just started making them, they had a demo one there and i was totally sold! will be buying one asap.....did get a leaflet but cant find it just at mo will look again.....think it was a company called KN or KW something like that........

madhouse

· #15 · Jun 5, 2007

i've got a JK one and it works just fine, it took a bit of 'adjustment' to get it square and working easy (put that down to a nice, new and square bed going into an old, 'not as square as it used to be' bus). Not had any problems, new hinges are always a bit stiff some lube and general use soon fixes that.

and it was a lot cheaper!

hampshireman

· #16 · Jul 3, 2007

The gas strut works a treat for my wife to operate having used it every night for the last 3 weeks in Spain and France. Bluebird rubbished the JK hinges by the way and when I checked with JK themselves before investing in the strut, they said they couldn't fit to a T4 van anyway.

I would repeat that the BB bed structure and design are very good including their service and helpfulness, although they were adamant this is a rock and roll bed. It just ain't!

toooldskool

· #17 · Jul 3, 2007

I've got a Bluebird bed in my T4 and am intrigued as to where you have put the strut. Could you give me details please

splitpopart

· #18 · Jul 3, 2007

rat-look-blue said:
I would say bluebird are one of the best but while at Vanwest i discovered a company who have just started making them, they had a demo one there and i was totally sold! will be buying one asap.....did get a leaflet but cant find it just at mo will look again.....think it was a company called KN or KW something like that........

Yep that's KW conversions , Keith and Mandy are really nice , i have the first 3/4 one they made absolute quality , got a full width in my dads split too .... the way forward me thinks ......... ditched the bluebird as this one is similar to the hinged westy and look the dogs nads ....

and a real quality piece of kit , thumbs up to Keith and Mandy :hangloose

hampshireman

· #19 · Jul 4, 2007

Hello toooldskool.........

The gas strut is fixed at the floor just in front of the near side support leg for the back platform and about half way up the back board of the seat back. This position suited me so as to keep a fairly clean space right through the floor for storage boxes and stuff. It doesn't matter how far across the width you fix it.

The main problem with this idea is the light touch needed in bleeding the strut to get the pressure just right, but it works fine. I cheated and went to the strut makers who bled it for me while the strut was fixed in it's most extended length. The outer tube must be at the top BTW.

The strut is almost vertical when the seat is up. I could email you some pics if you like.

Splitpopart...Can you supply details of the KW company location etc. I have a pal with a T4 thinking of doing what I did but if it saves putting the strut in, it would be useful for him on the assumption their hinged mechanism is ratcheted and avoids having to insert a gas strut. Sods Law if it does and I have fiddled around to get not a perfect if good solution to stressing my wife and I's back.

As a matter of interest on this subject, does anyone else have the same opinion as me about the BB bed in that it's not a true rock and roll, in that you still have to heave the seat upright.

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nefarious

· #20 · Oct 24, 2008

hampshireman said:
Bluebird rubbished the JK hinges

Of course they did, would you have expected them to champion them?

The JK ones are basically Reimo patterns.

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