Hymer Drop Down Bed Removal

[Armytwowheels]

Having lived in the van (B644)for 11 months now and having had a good think about the rubbish/kit/essentials/just-in-case things that we carry around, we are thinking of removing the drop down bed and fitting cupboards.

We met a German couple several times while travelling around Portugal and they have done this to their 644, only they got the factory to do the alterations when ordering the van.

My question is - other that trawling through motorhome breakers, how an earth are we going to find matching cupboards for a 2000 reg van? Are they going to have to be custome made trying to match the wood the best we can.

 

[JeanLuc]

Peter Hambilton used to do this modification but I believe he has stopped offering it now. You could contact him and see if he knows anyone else who can do it.
Link Removed

 

[Floydster]

The ideal would be to find someone with cupboards who wants a dropdown bed.
Could try phoning round some of the dealers to see if they've got anything.
Could try asking someone like Peter Hambilton as they may have info.
I seem to remember a post not too long ago where someone was doing the same and i think it wasn't a cheap conversion.
We're lucky as we've already got the cupboards and they're certainly more use than a sparebed.
Good luck
Paul

 

[Allan & Loren]

I used to work in the home improvement industry designing kitchens and bedrooms and often designed rooms with two contrasting ranges. Base cupboards in one colour and wall cupboards in another. Sometimes just a few for a feature - maybe just pan drawers or a dressing table and bedside cabinets.

Rather than try to match I'd look to do a contrast that works well with the others and change a few of the existing ones at the same time to blend in. You won't need to change many of the existing ones, just something that pulls them all together.

 

[scotjimland]

Just a thought.. will you be able to get the bed out of the van door ?

it was probably installed before the windscreen was in place..

measure carefully before starting..

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[Armytwowheels]

I used to work in the home improvement industry designing kitchens and bedrooms and often designed rooms with two contrasting ranges. Base cupboards in one colour and wall cupboards in another. Sometimes just a few for a feature - maybe just pan drawers or a dressing table and bedside cabinets.

Rather than try to match I'd look to do a contrast that works well with the others and change a few of the existing ones at the same time to blend in. You won't need to change many of the existing ones, just something that pulls them all together.

That's not a bad idea, we have just been taking about making the cupboards with sliding doors rather than hinged lift up doors. This would be simpler to make and safer as they will be over our heads when driving.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Just a thought.. will you be able to get the bed out of the van door ?

it was probably installed before the windscreen was in place..

measure carefully before starting..

Oh pants, never thought of that. It must come out though as others have done it.

 

[JeanLuc]

Since Peter Hambilton used to do this conversion, I'm pretty sure the bed will go through the hab door - (might be a bu**er if the door is at the back as in B544 though).
I suspect it would help matters if the swivel seats were removed first - these will fit through the driver's door (left hand side). Also, it might be necessary to remove a table if one is fixed - this increases access and working space considerably. I have just removed mine and refitted it in order to gain access to the batteries (under the L-shaped settee).

 

[Armytwowheels]

Thanks JeanLuc and pandj, I will give Hambiltons a call when we get back to the UK.

 

[Allan & Loren]

That's not a bad idea, we have just been taking about making the cupboards with sliding doors rather than hinged lift up doors. This would be simpler to make and safer as they will be over our heads when driving.

Do a Google search for tambour units/doors. They are easily accessible, reasonably priced come in kit form to fit to cabinets and look great

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[Armytwowheels]

Thanks. Looks like Magnames do them for £50 per door. We would need 6 doors I think.

 

[tonyidle]

Peter Hambilton used to do this modification but I believe he has stopped offering it now. You could contact him and see if he knows anyone else who can do it.
Link Removed

It's still offered on his web site.

 

[scotjimland]

I'm pretty sure the bed will go through the hab door -

yes.. I think you are right.. been out to look , will be a bit of a struggle but dooable.. with some Vaseline ..

@Armytwowheels
We also thought about doing this when Chaz no longer comes with us but decided against because sooner or later you will either sell or trade and without the drop-down bed makes it a less attractive buy .. and limits potential buyers to couples without kids.. we also thought it would be useful for grand kids..

The other thought was, what is the gain.. ? A few lockers that you will soon fill up with 'stuff' .. in my experience no matter how many lockers you have .. you find 'stuff' to fill them.. our 36 ft RV which we full timed in was a good example.. it had literally dozens of lockers that all ended up full of 'stuff' .. and when we sold it it , it literally took days to empty them.. and some of the 'stuff' hadn't seen the light of day for several years...

Your choice of course.. just my thoughts..

 

[JeanLuc]

You will lighten the van though. I was surprised when weighing it fully laden last summer, that there was less spare capacity on the front axle than the rear.

 

[Armytwowheels]

I think we will lighten the van too, as we have already taken the mattress out and store all our ski clothes and wet suites up there. I keep our few winter clothes that we need with us. Oh and a couple of body boards too!! I am sure all this would fit in the new lockers but we would be lighter with out the bed and all it's workings.

As for resale value, we would not get rid of the bed and Colin will construct the new cupboards in a way that we could take them out again and reinstall the bed.

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