Fold up bed in Gemini 23TW

[WAK]

Hi,
We recently purchased a 2021 Gemini 23TW. When the bed is folded up, the legs at the end stick out and are dangerous. I have numerous bruises from bumping into the leg closest to the dinette. Anyone have the same problem? Suggestions?
WAK

[cpmath]

Did you not see the bed folded up prior to the purchase? Perhaps you could remove the legs so you wouldn't bump into them, cutting them off a bit is an option.

[Coveman2]

Try cut up pieces of pipe wrap or pool noodles, may not look pretty but may save a few bruises.
Coveman2
Compass 23 TB

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the Forum!
Murphy beds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH748aPpcxA

[macdaddy1111]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Welcome to the Forum!
Murphy beds...

Haha. Funny!

[Bluetreak]

I have a 2020 23TW and understand your issue. The solution is to have the folded portion of the bed held back further at more of an angle.

Have you tried moving the mattress and bed coverings/pillows to different positions to allow the bed frame to fold back farther?

You can try making the elastic loop that Thor provided a little smaller/shorter to hold the bed back more. Another thought would be to make a loop of thin rope or cord to hold the bed back. I'd keep the elastic cord in place as a backup. If your new loop breaks and the elastic is not there, the bedroom wall and maybe the TV could be damaged and it will not likely be seen as a warranty issue.

I have a 3" thick mattress topper to add to the bed that will make things a lot thicker and a little more difficult, so I will be trying things out soon.

Good Luck!

[Tizeye]

I saw that on an initial video and thought was an accident waiting to happen. First thought was a DIY solution - not cut off or pool noodles as suggested (in humor, presumably) earlier. Not certain how they attach, but at that point can they be removed and a simple hinge from Home Depot sandwich in there between the legs and base, enabling the legs to swing flush when the bed is raised?

Of course the ultimate solution is for Thor to scrap the bed/bench and put a true sofa/murphy bed in there. It is already a full length slide...and who needs a bench to tie their shoes! Thor should have good marketing data as the Delano is offered with both floorplan versions - bench bed and murphy bed - in the Delano/Tiburon. Which one sells the most?

Better yet, while they are at it, look at using Fords 176" wheelbase (like LTV Wonder and 2nd Winnebago Ekko floorplan) rather than the 158" WB, which would more directly compete with the 170" wheelbase Sprinter, but that Ford engine!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by macdaddy1111

Haha. Funny!

Yeah... I almost spit my coffee all over the keyboard!

[BoggyVan]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Yeah... I almost spit my coffee all over the keyboard!

We have a 2020 Gemini 24tf sprinter. Different coach, but rear bed is the same. Outs came with air assist cylinders to return bed fully upright. These are available from Thor and can be added to your coach as an upgrade.

[Bob Denman]

. That sounds like fun!

[Bluetreak]

Here are a few pictures:
The triangular legs seem to be held on with two sizeable bolts several inches apart, so maybe they could be hinged...However, as they rotate "in" towards the center, they will take up more real estate on the underside of the bed.
On the product liability side, they will likely not go back to the original, bed supporting position on their own, so the user of the bed will need to actively do something to make sure the bed legs will work properly. This already happens on the murphy bed in the 23 TE. The user has to swing the legs down when the bed comes down... (sorry, all the pics rotated 90 degrees..)

[PDX247]

Originally Posted by WAK

Hi,
We recently purchased a 2021 Gemini 23TW. When the bed is folded up, the legs at the end stick out and are dangerous. I have numerous bruises from bumping into the leg closest to the dinette. Anyone have the same problem? Suggestions?
WAK

After ramming into the thing 100x I took the leg off and use wing nuts to put it back on when I put the bed down.

[Bob Denman]

But by doing that: you lost a great potential towel rack.

[Bluetreak]

Originally Posted by PDX247

After ramming into the thing 100x I took the leg off and use wing nuts to put it back on when I put the bed down.

I like the wing nut idea. Shorter bolts to make it easier, too! Just have to remember to attach the legs before you put down the bed.

[Robertiverson]

Thor’s bed design jingle.. “ya do the hokey pokey and ya bang your arms all-round!”

I hope to pick my 23TW up on April 20 in Elkhart if no more build delays. Ordered in Dec. as Compass 23TW.

The bed foot design is on my list to tackle. I may try industrial Velcro to attach or fab a pin-on solution, maybe a hinge too. Will see.

May even try a total redesign using lightweight sectional supports as I’d like to recoup some real estate while the slide is in and I’m driving or parked.

Everything’s a trade-off so customizing may be key to happiness.

[Robertiverson]

Update. May 1 returned from 13 day, 3100 mile return trip to California. Bed was a pest. Legs were removed in 30 seconds each day upon folding up bed so the legs were out of the way. Bench was useless. Wasted space of folded bed while driving was stupid. Stealth sleeping with slide in was only possible on dinette bed. Our solution the day after returning took two hours. We removed and junked the bed frame. Cut up mattress. Reinstalled mattress. We can now sleep while slide in or use it as a bench. We will continue to modify it to suit our needs. 5’ and 6’ tall, we can both lay down comfortably, just not on a queen anymore.

Originally Posted by Robertiverson

Thor’s bed design jingle.. “ya do the hokey pokey and ya bang your arms all-round!”

I hope to pick my 23TW up on April 20 in Elkhart if no more build delays. Ordered in Dec. as Compass 23TW.

The bed foot design is on my list to tackle. I may try industrial Velcro to attach or fab a pin-on solution, maybe a hinge too. Will see.

May even try a total redesign using lightweight sectional supports as I’d like to recoup some real estate while the slide is in and I’m driving or parked.

Everything’s a trade-off so customizing may be key to happiness.

[senorjim]

Originally Posted by Robertiverson

Update. May 1 returned from 13 day, 3100 mile return trip to California. Bed was a pest. Legs were removed in 30 seconds each day upon folding up bed so the legs were out of the way. Bench was useless. Wasted space of folded bed while driving was stupid. Stealth sleeping with slide in was only possible on dinette bed. Our solution the day after returning took two hours. We removed and junked the bed frame. Cut up mattress. Reinstalled mattress. We can now sleep while slide in or use it as a bench. We will continue to modify it to suit our needs. 5’ and 6’ tall, we can both lay down comfortably, just not on a queen anymore.

How much shorter is the bed (mattress) now?
Thanks for sharing. We are picking up our new 2021 Compass tomorrow and will make the 1000 mile trip home with it.

Jim

[JSkate]

Our solution was the wingnut idea. I removed the 2.5" carriage bolts and hex nuts and replaced them with 3/8" 2" carriage bolts and wingnuts. Now, we can easily remove the legs, when the bed is folded and reinstall them before lowering it.

[Robertiverson]

We cut off 34” of the foam and tucked the excess cover under the mattress for extra padding underneath the mattress. The shortened mattress overhangs the wood base about 3-4” so that it adds padding to soften the edge for entry to bed or for dangling legs when used as a TV couch.

The 34” remnant foam is now a grand-daughter mini bed in the house. The foam cut easily with an electric carving knife. Wife and grand daughter sleep front-to-back in modded bed with slide in or out. So nice not to deal with the metal legs sticking out and the unusable Murphy bed space. If slide is out, I sleep on the 6’ 6” exposed bench. It’s narrow so I will fabricate a 6-8” pullout extension of aluminum or steel plate and fab a booster mattress to fit extended size.

I’ll likely cut a hole in the dinette wall that separates the bed area from the dinette and add a removable window or shade to the hole. The hole is to allow pass through and vision to dinette and front of coach. The removable window or shade for the hole is for privacy. I need to make sure there is no structural need of the wall before I cut the hole.

Will camp locally the next four Saturdays in local mountains, beach and desert to test things out before four week trip to Wisconsin air show in July.

QUOTE=senorjim;292065]How much shorter is the bed (mattress) now?
Thanks for sharing. We are picking up our new 2021 Compass tomorrow and will make the 1000 mile trip home with it.

Jim[/QUOTE]

[Robertiverson]

Uploading several pics of what my chop up looks like with slide in and out.
Very cozy and comfortable to sleep in and use as a lounge couch. With slide in can use bed for stealth snoozing or rest while driving.