Can I hang or hinge a bed using the ceiling?

[1Tim612]

Hi,
I was curious if the ceiling frames on an MCI-7 would support small 100# child if I make a bed hinged to the wall. I was thinking of a folding a piece of plywood with a piano hinge in the middle (all supported with oak framing and cross braces). Then mount this frame to the wall with some hinges and then use a couple chains or cables to clip off using the ceiling.  The conversion is done so I'm not sure how good the framing supports are in a bus. This all very new to me.
-Tim

[RJ]

Tim -

Have to confess:  Back in my charter days, sometimes during a layover while waiting for the group to return, I'd crawl up into the overhead parcel rack to take a nap.  Wasn't the most comfortable, but better than trying to nap sitting up in a seat pair or attempting to stretch out on only three seats in the back across from the toilet.

This was before the enclosed parcel racks used in later model coaches.

GMCs had the most room, followed by MCIs.  Eagle & Prevost were too small (closer to the roof).

Factory parcel racks are attached to the wall and the ceiling, just like what you're contemplating, so a suspended bunk is totally do-able.

Just make sure you find the roof ribs, and not the actual roof!

Oh, and FYI, the Classic GMC Motorhome built from '73 - '78 had a convertible sofa.  The back swung up to become an upper bunk, with the outer edge secured by seat belts!  Might do a Google search for a bbs dedicated to those and ask for pics to give you an idea how they worked.  Another possibility.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Gary '79 5C]

Talk about confessions RJ,

Years & Years ago, I was playing HS basketball in Clarksburg or Parkersburg WVa and having traveled there by bus, we unloaded and were in the gym bldg. We were way early, which is fine, so I take a walk to strech & relax. I find the bus is still open so I find the rear 5 seats to relax(no toilet).
When I wake up, I levitated, Holy Crap, I could only think what is the score of the game I am missing... I think I rocked out for nearly an hour.
I made it, albiet late. We won so no retribution.

That was a MCI 5A, 1967 I believe, looking back on the sales/delivery records one of three they took delivery 4/1967,

S/N's 6859, 6860 & 7149.  Weirton-Pittsburgh Line.

Any body know the where about of these three lost dogs, said lovely ??

Gary

[Tom Y]

Tim, I mounted a bunk to my 5C. I used a snap and seat belt material. The ribs will hold it, but I put another peice of steel in the rib so the screws would not pull out. You may want to look at inserts that pull in like a rivet, instead of a screw in the thin ribs.  Tom Y

[1Tim612]

Well, at least it's possible...I'll give it some thought and see what I can find on sofa bunks!! Thank you!!

[RichardEntrekin]

Newell does this.

Here is how they do it. From the wall side the use two arms that work just like the radius arms on suspension. The pivot points mounted to the wall is actually about halfway down, so that when the bunk is up against the celiing, the bunk is snug against the wall, and when is down it also is snug against the wall. On the center aisle side of the bunk, they simply run aircraft cable from the corners straight up to the ceiling. They upsholster the bottom of the bunk to match the ceiling, and use catches to hold it up to the ceiling while not in use.

My coach was originally fitted this way, and I removed the support in the celing for the bunks. I'll be glad to send you some sketches if you want to pursue this option.

Look at the rear bedroom pictures and you can just see two of them up against the ceiling. http://www.holland-motorhomes.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=0552395X2K23K2010J9I17I16JAMQ4270R0&veh=1093294

[luvrbus]

Safari used a neat system for the bed it was powered up to ceiling when not in use and down for sleeping maybe a RV surplus would have the mechanisms   



good luck

[Tom Y]

Tim, We made our sofa / bunk. Very simple. I will get a pic if you want. Tom Y

[bryanhes]

Tim,

There is a company that makes a sofa that is hinged at the back rest. When you want to use it as bunks you just lift the bottom of the sofa back and it attaches to cables. Your sofa then becomes a set of bunks!

Here is a link to a different type of one: http://www.bonbon.co.uk/clei/doc.htm
Looks expensive though.

There is one that used to be in a motorhome that I was mentioning above years ago that a company still makes. I have been told anyway. I am waiting for a response from the guy that told me about them.

Bryan

[1Tim612]

Awesome ideas!!  I can just see me telling my kids that if they don't be good I'm going to flip the power switch while their sleeping and squash them to the ceiling  . Just kidding - but made me chuckle thinking about it!! Those bunks on the Newell were great Richard - thanks for the link. That flip up couch was neat a well! Might be the best option if I could find something like that!! It would look the most natural. -Tim

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[Aussiecoach]

This is what I am planning to use in mine.
http://www.happijac.com/prod-lifts/lift-ov.php

I am having trouble finding a supplier though, happijac won't sell direct

[bottomacher]

The roof support frames are about 5 feet apart in your bus, I think, and I believe that there is a caged nut about 8 inches or so from the outside wall along the frame; these are the nuts that the baggage rack supports are bolted to. If you could somehow take advantage of these nuts to insert an angle or square tube the length of the bunk, you could likely support a bunk by using two of the nuts and some aircraft cable. FWIW

[belfert]

I rode in an MC-7 or MC-8 in the 1980s that had a bunk hanging from the ceiling just behind the driver.  The luggage rack was removed in that area.  The bunk was lowered if there was a need for it.  Our primary driver slept in the bunk for the first part of a three week trip.  The second driver was dropped at an airport to fly home after he did the first 10 hours.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Instead of hanging from the ceiling how about supporting it with folding or removable posts/legs?