Owner guides
DIY motorhome drop down bed guide
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Who wants to save space in theirmotorhome conversion? A drop down bed is one of the biggest space savers you can have, leaving plenty of room for living and kitchen areas. But what exactly is a drop down bed and how does it work? Below, we cover all the fundamentals of installing a DIY motorhome drop down bed! Read on to learn how.
Disclaimer: we are not builders or electricians. Please do further research and consult a licensed professional after reading this introductory guide to make sure you are using the right choice of bed and installation method for your motorhome.
What is a motorhome drop down bed?
A drop down bed or elevator bed in a motorhome is one (usually a double) that sits over the lounge or cab area. They can be either manual – lowered by a winch/handle – or electric, which click to expand.
Drop down beds used to be only available in A-class or bigger motorhomes, but now they’re being fitted in motorhomes of all sizes!
These beds are pretty popular in motorhome conversions because they save a lot of room; if your motorhome also has a fixed double bed at the rear, a drop down bed at the front doubles your sleeping space!
Prefer a fixed bed? Read our guide tofixed bed motorhome layouts.
Pros and cons of a motorhome drop down bed
Pros
Saves space by having the bed out of the way during the day – like the roomy kitchen and lounge inBernie, above
Easy way to have or add a comfortable double
Can be lowered to mid-height, so that there’s still headroom below when in use
Can double the number of berths in a motorhome from two to four
Ideal for adults to use after putting the kids to bed in a rear double or twin beds
Cons
Have to be dropped down every night and put away each morning
May not be suitable for less mobile motorhomers
Could restrict lounge area headroom in a low-profile motorhome
Manual DIY motorhome drop down beds
As above, DIY motorhome drop down beds can be installed using either a manual or an electric system. A manual system is generally the more cost effective of the two, as it uses human power to work and electrics don’t have to be installed in this part of the motorhome.
Both types of bed are super convenient, but a manual is slightly less so given that you’ll have to use a handle or crank to get the bed out. That said, they’re an excellent and easier way to add a drop down bed over your lounge or cab.
How to install a manual drop down bed in a motorhome
1. Take measurements
As with most things relating to motorhome conversion, measurements are key. You’ll need to measure the space for your bed, then design the bed frame accordingly. Your bed space should already have been included in your motorhome conversion plan – as inBumblebee, above.
2. Attach pulleys to the beam of your motorhome ceiling
Use strong but lightweight cheek pulleys to attach a pulley frame to the motorhome ceiling. Again, correct measurements are essential here!
Although for campervans rather than motorhomes, this YouTube video explains clearly and conciselyhow to install pulleys to a van ceiling.
22mm micro lead block, £23.09
Micro cheek pulley, £20.41
Drop down bed pulley, £11.99
3. Attach the ropes
Next, pull sturdy or steel ropes through the pulleys and attach them to each other.
Drop down bed steel rope set, £107.99
Stainless steel hook and eye turnbuckles, set of 5, £6.99
4. Build and install your bed frame
It’s possible to buy full drop down motorhome bed kits, but these are almost always for the electric version of this style of bed. You can buy an electric bed kit and opt not to install that part, but it costs much less to build your own frame.
Use 4-8 aluminium bars to build the frame, and add a sheet of plywood and wooden slats underneath. As this is the base of the bed, you’ll need strong wood here, but you can save on weight by using a pegboard when you’re covering the bed frame’s top.
Finally, attach bolts to all four corners of the frame to fit turnbuckles. Attach a turnbuckle to each corner of the bed.
Drop down bed frame front, £98.99
Drop down bed frame side, £98.99
Drop down bed frame rear, £98.99
Drop down bed wooden slat, £8.99
500-1000mm T-slot aluminium bars, £48.07
Bed brackets/hinges, set of 8, £50.02
5. Fit the winch
Whichever type of manual winch you use, it needs to be firmly attached to one of the surfaces inside the motorhome. You can attach it to the wall on an L Track tie down system, fasten it to the floor, or even fix it to the ceiling.
Ceiling mounted hand winch, £95.76
540kg capacity hand winch, £30.28
L Track tie down system kit, £23.03
Electric DIY motorhome drop down beds
Electric drop down beds like inRollerteam above use the same frame style, slatting and size as manual beds, but drop down with ease using an electrical system and push button. Have a look at this video forhow to operate a drop down bed in an Elddis 196 motorhome.
Electric drop down beds are much easier to use if you’re not very strong or mobile, but remember: your electrical system has to work for the bed to operate!
How to install an electric drop down bed in a motorhome
There are two main ways to install an electric drop down bed in a motorhome – doing it yourself from scratch, or buying a drop down bed kit or the main components. Great news – it’s much easier to source all the kit needed for an electric drop down bed than it is for a manually operated one!
For about £1,800, you can buy electric drop down bed kits containing the frame materials, electric motor and controls, gearbox, crankshaft and belts. The main manufacturer for the UK market is Project 2000. Have a look at this YouTube video for info onhow to install a Project 2000 electric bed; although the example vehicle is a campervan, the method may work for motorhomes too.
If you prefer to buy the frame materials, electric system and the fittings separately, most suppliers will stock the fixings and fittings if they stock the bed frame. Evo Motion Design and Camper Interiors are two of the main stockists.
Project 2000 smart bed: frame £695, electric system from £995, brackets £105
Elevating electric bed – 3-part kit (technically a campervan kit, but will suit motorhomes too as it’s suitable for beds of up to 200x160cm): £1,750
Installing a DIY motorhome drop down bed with an electric lift
But perhaps you’re an ultra keen and ultra competent DIYer, who plans to install an electric drop down bed using materials sourced from scratch? This is obviously a lot more work, but could save a lot more money! In that case, you can mostly follow the instructions above for installing a manual drop down bed:
Take careful measurements of the proposed bed space
Attach pulleys to the beam of the motorhome ceiling
Attach steel ropes to the pulleys
Build and install your bed frame, and add turnbuckles to each corner
Install your winch
Once steps 1-5 are done, you’ll need to hook the winch up to your electrical system. Even if you’re on a budget, we recommend hiring a professional electrician for this – not only is it safer, you won’t have a rude awakening if your raised bed goes bump in the night!
Another option is to use an electric motor, rather than a winch attached to the motorhome electrics (although it’s a good idea to have a manual winch too in case of power failure).
The steps are different here, as the motor can be attached to the underside of the bed’s plywood, and the bed uses straps rather than pulleys. Follow the steps on how to install a Project 2000 electric bed as above.
Earn a return on your motorhome conversion
Whatever type of DIY motorhome drop down bed is best for your conversion, you’ll need a budget for it! Earn back part – or all – of the cost by renting out your motorhome when it’s not in use. The average UK motorhome, van or caravan owner only uses their vehicle four times a year – but could be making up to £10,000 annually by renting it to # vanlife enthusiasts! Could that be you?
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