So long Jackknife Sofas on my BT5210

[evh5150]

After trying work arounds last season to make my jackknife sofas comfortable for sleeping(with marginal results) on my 2021 BT5210 I decided to remove and replace them with my own configuration.
Both new couch and bed configuration gets me a comfortable 31"X 69-1/2" slide away bed.
Managed to stretch out another 1-1/2" in length too. ( From 68" to 69-1/2")

[MV213]

Nice mod! Do you have pictures of the frame and how it works? I can’t quite visualize it.

[evh5150]

Thanks MV213!
to answer your question about clarifying how this bed works is as follows:
1.0 The back rest wooden frame is rigidly bolted to the inside wall and the seat back cushion is attached to that at a 5 degree angle
2.0 I purchased 2 heavy duty(250 pound rating) drawer slides (per bed). These slides are attached to the existing base frame the jackknife brackets were attached to.
3.0 The upper plywood bed frame(31" wide X 69-1/2" long) is also attached to the slides. (The slides automatically lock when fully retracted for couch mode. Push the seat in and they lock in place.
4.0 To make into a bed you unlock the lever on each slide and pull/extend the seat out to expose the full 31" seat cushion width then a slide lock holds the cushion in that location. This will provide an 8" walkway between both beds when both cushions are in bed mode, to allow easy getting out of each bed. You could butt both beds together to make a single 62" X 69-1/2" bed but would make getting in and out of the bed more difficult.
**you could simplify the slide configuration by just making a 2X4 sliding frame that others do in B class vans. Will slightly reduce weight and cost but not by much considering what wood costs these days.
Hope this helps!

[MV213]

Great! Thanks so much.

[jlarson]

This is what I did.

[MV213]

After trying work arounds last season to make my jackknife sofas comfortable for sleeping(with marginal results) on my 2021 BT5210 I decided to remove and replace them with my own configuration.
Both new couch and bed configuration gets me a comfortable 31"X 69-1/2" slide away bed.
Managed to stretch out another 1-1/2" in length too. ( From 68" to 69-1/2")

Great idea!

[Just two]

Great idea!
We are at the point of removing the din-net and replacing with a twin bed. Will reroute the furnace duct and gas line for the furnace. More storage will be nice.

[Just two]

Had to remove the door to get the refrigerator out. Don’t like the gas portion of the unit. I noticed when removing it it has propane, 12 volt and 120 volts. Not sure what the 120 volt was for?
We are going with a Norcold 8 cubic foot. Just 12 volts <7amps. Should run good on lithium and solar.

[Just two]

Took out the dinette and the jackknife bed. Gave me a good opportunity to insulate the metal wheel wells with Rattle Trap. This has made a great difference in the road sounds. Also give me a chance to rework the plumbing by the fresh water tank.

[MV213]

Looks good, JLarson.

[MV213]

Had to remove the door to get the refrigerator out. Don’t like the gas portion of the unit. I noticed when removing it it has propane, 12 volt and 120 volts. Not sure what the 120 volt was for?
We are going with a Norcold 8 cubic foot. Just 12 volts <7amps. Should run good on lithium and solar.

Do you have the specific model number that you installed? I may be i terested in this mod, as well. Thanks!

[Just two]

We bought a Norcold N8DCX-8

[Just two]

MV213
We removed the Gas line that went to the old refrigerator and rerouted the gas line to the furnace. This will give us more room for storage under the bed on that side. We sealed and insulated the lower refrigerator cover. I want to rework the refrigerator roof vent to add a small temperature controlled fan and some solar cable glands.

[MV213]

We bought a Norcold N8DCX-8

Great, thank you.

[MV213]

MV213
We removed the Gas line that went to the old refrigerator and rerouted the gas line to the furnace. This will give us more room for storage under the bed on that side. We sealed and insulated the lower refrigerator cover. I want to rework the refrigerator roof vent to add a small temperature controlled fan and some solar cable glands.

Would love to see a pic or two of the install inside. Any issues fitting it?

[Just two]

A couple of tricks to getting the old one out and new one in. Had to remove the door, opening is 24” without the door. Made a long wood ramp for the steps. The new refrigerator fits perfect in the old space. We currently have the new refrigerator in place but not anchored in. We are working on running wires for the new batteries and hybrid inverter. Also using the space behind that area to get the new solar wires to the roof. I will get some pics of the process, stand by.

[Just two]

The refrigerator fits great. More available room inside because it doesn’t have the absorption unit. There are screws that secure it on both sides on the front edge. We are working on reconstructing the bed area. I rerouted the gas line for the furnace nearer the gas inlet. I am enjoying working on this project.

One note the 12 volt hook up on the new unit is on top. The old absorption unit had the 12 volt on the bottom back. We tested the unit before installing it with a lithium battery and it is very quiet and cools fast.

[MV213]

The refrigerator fits great. More available room inside because it doesn’t have the absorption unit. There are screws that secure it on both sides on the front edge. We are working on reconstructing the bed area. I rerouted the gas line for the furnace nearer the gas inlet. I am enjoying working on this project.

One note the 12 volt hook up on the new unit is on top. The old absorption unit had the 12 volt on the bottom back. We tested the unit before installing it with a lithium battery and it is very quiet and cools fast.

Hey that is a nice fit! I may be doing this next year.

[MV213]

Sorry, one more dumb question. The jackknife sofa is just held in by maybe 2 or 3 screws at each end down into the wood, correct? I need to pull mine and haven’t had a chance to look it over closely yet.

[Just two]

The bottom and back cushion sections are connected to the jackknife mechanism by 1/2” nuts. The mechanism is anchored to the wood frame by a couple of screws, ours had four each side. After that the plywood cover is held down by several screw around the perimeter. When we opened ours we found the water pump, water tank and had access to much plumbing & electrical on the drive side. Our 5210 had the dinette we have removed that. Our plan is to add twin beds.

[MV213]

The bottom and back cushion sections are connected to the jackknife mechanism by 1/2” nuts. The mechanism is anchored to the wood frame by a couple of screws, ours had four each side. After that the plywood cover is held down by several screw around the perimeter. When we opened ours we found the water pump, water tank and had access to much plumbing & electrical on the drive side. Our 5210 had the dinette we have removed that. Our plan is to add twin beds.

Appreciate the info!

[Just two]

Took out the over head cabinets today, both sides. The old ones measure 12 x 12. Planning on increasing them to 15 x 15. A little more overhead storage will be nice. I also want the doors to expose a larger opening. My wife wants the doors to open on the vertical plain. Hinges on the side. Six 12 inch doors should work.
Also installed liquid tight from the power panel to the wall on the door side of the refrigerator cabinet. That will carry the cables from the line power and the hybrid inverter.
The pictures shows removing the refrigerator roof vent added 2 glands for the solar panels. Should be able to get 800 watts up there. 3 - 200 watts and 2 - 100 watt panels.

[Just two]

I would like to add a thermostat controlled fan in the roof patch from removing the refrigerator. Anyone know of a nice one?

[MV213]

I would like to add a thermostat controlled fan in the roof patch from removing the refrigerator. Anyone know of a nice one?

I guess it depends on how big of an opening you have. If you have a 14x14 opening there are many on Amazon, including Maxxair and Fan-tastic. If you don’t have a standard opening, not sure what you can do.

[Just two]

I was thinking about repurposing a smaller one like the one pictured. Not necessarily solar powered but 12 volt. Switch it with a thermostat, when it gets over the set temperature it turns on. I opened the wall just right of the entrance, this is where I mounted my hybrid inverter. The fan will vent that as well as the refrigerator.