Bed Platform 2.0 - Jun'23


The 1st version of this Rube Goldberg bed nailed the desired concept, but not so much the comfort as the linear actuators mounted on top of the platform could still be felt despite the foam layers.

Especially the one in the middle that was right at hips level 😖


Me liking my beauty sleep, this bed platform had to be redesigned ! Nothing short of a smooth flat surface with a 3" soft foam ($70 Comfort Premium Soft from Rochford Supply) on top of a 3" medium foam ($85 Comfort Premium from Rochford Supply) will do.

 

And ideally, the new bed should be lighter than before as weight near the top of a High Roof Ford Transit increases sway in Wyoming's gale force winds. A Six Flags experience on the road is not really a good thing...

So the actuators were relocated inside a new and thicker platform:

That bumped the platform thickness to 2-1/8" (5.4cm), from 1-1/4" (3.2cm). ~1 inch was consequently lost in head space under the bed. Not optimal for 6' 4" (1.92m) occupants but, as everybody knows, a good night sleep is critical for big babies !



Trap to access each actuator's head and cable:


A lot of time was spent selecting the lightest wood species and sticks from Home Depot and Lowes. Some were so light that I feared that version might sag with 2 people on board. Well, not to fret, 190lbs on the weakest spot resulted in less than 1/4" (5mm) of flex:


Also, with the thicker platform there was a high risk that weight would go up. Fortunately, thanks to lighter wood bits and a paint finish instead of gluing up a sheet of formica, weight actually went down: from 96lbs (43.5kg) down to 88lbs (40kg). Winner !

After adding cool white round lights (9W 5000K), a warm white silicon LED strip (right side of pic) and the cam latches for the stow away position (left side of the bed), the whole contraption was ready to be installed:

How does that 6" dual density foam mattress feel now that the bumps from the actuators are gone ? Just sublime ! 🥂

  Update Mar'25   1" was shaved off of the bottom foam sheet to provide more space for leaving blankets, pillows and stuff on the bed when in the closed position against the ceiling. Had to quickly hack together a low riding giant hot wire cutter for that. So the mattress is now made of 2" medium + 3" soft foam slabs, and the bench cushion was shaved to match (for 2 people).

 

More Pictures

Taken in March 2025 with the new, lighter, ceiling.
Bed in top position, ceiling locks engaged (driving mode):
Bed down, sleeping position:
Extension out, queen size width bed for 2 people:
 
The carriages / chains / gears are so strong that, statically, they can easily handle 200-300kg (450-650lbs) add'l weight on the bed. And once the bed is down and resting on the countertop, and the extension resting on ribs deploying from under the bench's lid, 4 elephants could easily square dance on the bed !

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