B544 overcab bed slowly sinking Forums

LittleGreyCat

Hi,

we took posession of our '02 B Klasse 544 on Thursday and have taken it out for its first weekend outing.

Generally well pleased, but after using the overcab bed for a night (and following the Hymer manual and putting the table up there whilst travelling back) we noticed that the overcab bed was low at the front, partially obscuring the forward view.
[Not massively obscuring - you can still see to drive - but less view than there was before.]

Standing in the middle at the front and gently pressing upwards with my back raised the bed but over the next couple of days (driving to and from work) the bed 'bounces' a little when going over bumps and humps and is gradually working its way down again.

The safety strap at the back is done up, and tightening that up as far as it will go does not seem to improve things.

Is this a sign of worn gas struts, or just something that Hymers are prone to do?

The bed is quite stiff to pull down and push back up.

The van is booked in next weeek to have a sticky front door looked at and some security locks fitted, so there is an opportunity to get the gas struts done if required.

Cheers

LGC

GEH007

Id be very surpised on an 02 plate, but best to get it checked.

Are you saying its effectively tipping/tilting forward as the belt is holding the rear?

Mines an older variety and bed/struts still tight as a drum.

takeaflight

If you have beding eg a pillow pushed towards the side of the bed nearest to the windscreen then the bed will lower slightly.

The gap between the bed and the top of the cab on that side isn't very wide, hence anything rumpled up like a duvet with cause a problem.

Roy

vicdicdoc

Sounds like weak gas struts to me . . have a word with Peter Hambilton, they will sort you out [without being ripped off]

JackieO

The beds are difficult to put up and down if there is no bedding on them and our bed does 'bounce' a bit on the road - but dipping down at the front doesn't sound good.

Bill says, "Needs new gas strutts then", but I say, definitely get it checked by an expert.

*edit* - You put the table up there? I've never seen that in a manual but I do know that the Hymer table is one mighty heavy piece of equipment - I wouldn't be putting it up there while travelling.

/goes to check web for advice.

navman

ChilliK

Our 534 has a collapsible table that is part of the back bed, but if yours is anywhere near the same weight as that I admire you for lifting it that high. Small wonder the bed bounces a bit on humps Shocked

Mike

takeaflight

Teach me to read the post, if you are putting a table up there then the bed will sink and any bump in the road the bed will probably sink even further.

Before wasting money on struts etc, take the table off and go for a drive.

babyrhino

Check out the advice from Takeaflight first - table might be the problem.

I had a similar problem on my 2001 Hymer - increasingly had to put a shoulder under the bed to put it back up in the morning.

Eventually one hydraulic strut failed spectacularly and bed wouldn't raise. If it doesn't go up and down under more or less fingertip control you may have the start of a problem.

Brian