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Topic: Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper.. (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper..
Yahoo Message Number: 125559
So our '85 MP had (once) a rear couch with fold-out bed.  A PO changed that to a full-time bed and in pulling up the full-time bed (a sheet of plywood with legs on one side) there is a large box underneath it that constitutes the storage cabinet accessible from the outside and is about the size of the old couch I believe.

So, with that in mind I'm wondering if the old original couch was probably a foldable frame of sorts but without the bottom since the storage compartment was used as the bottom.  Does that make sense?  Below is a picture of a full-RV couch with the bottom still in place --I believe it's a flexsteel model : http://www.olywa.net/singletonsrv/PC090010.JPG I'm not sure if the bottoms can be removed from these or not..

Also, I noticed a sticker on the wall adjacent to the couch that indicated no sitting in the couch when the vehicle is in motion which would indicate that there were probably no seat belts either back there.. Correct?

Ultimately I'm looking for a replacement but am thinking that a regular RV jack-knife sofa/sleeper (or gaucho) would not work since it's got a base that would make it really tall.. Is that a correct assessment?

By the way.. My wife wants me to check if the Mothership offers these for sale if we go out tomorrow.. Not sure if they would or not.. but it doesn't hurt to ask while we're out..

-- Rick
Re: Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper..
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 125561
Rick, to the best of my knowledge Lazy Daze has never used Flexsteel products, preferring to build their own sofa/beds.
 In my 1985 twin/king, the sofa/bed bases were essentially big wooden boxes, permanently mounted and accessible from both inside and outside for storage. Each base had a panel about 8" wide and the length of the sofa, hinged to the front of the base in such a way that it could be flipped up (supported by fold-away wooden braces underneath) to support the dinette table, which dropped down to form the platform for the center part of a giant bed.
 I know that's a little hard to visualize, and unfortunately I don't have any pictures showing it that way, because a a solo RVer I never had a reason to do that. Perhaps someone else here does. The best I can do is this photo:
 http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/g-lounge2.jpg

...which shows the sofa base on the curb side, with cushions replaced by storage drawers. You can see the hinged panel I mentioned, in its "down" position, just below the drawers.
 Later LDs changed to a different scheme: sofas that slide together and meet in the middle of the room. That's how my 2006 midbath works... or did before I replaced the street-side sofa with a desk :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper..
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 125562
Quote
On Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:40:25 -0000, Andy Baird wrote: " Rick, to the best of my knowledge Lazy Daze has never used Flexsteel products, preferring to build their own sofa/beds."

Ok.. I was kinda thinking that might be the case..
 "  In my 1985 twin/king, the sofa/bed bases were essentially big wooden boxes, permanently mounted and accessible from both inside and outside for storage. Each base had a panel about 8" wide and the length of the sofa, hinged to the front of the base in such a way that it could be flipped up (supported by fold-away wooden braces underneath) to support the dinette table, which dropped down to form the platform for the center part of a giant bed."

I follow completely!  8-)
 "  I know that's a little hard to visualize, and unfortunately I don't have any pictures showing it that way, because a a solo RVer I never had a reason to do that.  [ ... ]

...which shows the sofa base on the curb side, with cushions replaced by storage drawers. You can see the hinged panel I mentioned, in its "down" position, just below the drawers."

Sounds good.. Ours does not have inside access to the storage area but would be easy to add.  I did find a drawing in the archives from a number of years ago and wonder if it's representative of what I'm looking to restore but would still like some real photos detailing the setup and whatnot.  If it's something that can be fabbed up with off-the-shelf hardware then I can do that -- I'd also love to put a table back there as well that goes into a floor mount like many trailers have..

Here's the drawing link:
 http://tinyurl.com/6znmk77
Re: Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper..
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 125563
Andy..

You did have a pic on your Gertie site that fills in the details better.. here :
 http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/sideboard.htm

This picture in particular is of note :
 http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/Sideboard-no-couch.jpg

I was wondering what the two thin slots were near the back corner and was guessing they were for seat-belts.. Your photo confirms that hunch.  If that's the case then I could easily get a seat there by putting a sofa cushion there (perhaps custom fabbed) and then a not too large extension could be fabbed up to hold the other half of the bed and not take up quite as much floor space as the full-time bed does..

Hmm...
 
Re: Question regarding 80's Multiplan rear couch/sleeper..
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 125604
"This picture in particular is of note:

http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/Sideboard-no-couch.jpg>"
 Ho, that's funny, Rick--you know my site better than I do! Yes, that's a much better representation.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"