Fitting a Rusty Lee Bed - help needed please!

Hi All

I am fitting a full width R&R bed in Bertie. I am having some difficulty working out exact position before drilling holes through the wheel arches and floor.
Unfortunately Rusty Lee is getting married this weekend so unavailable to assist!
I assume that the front panel section is designed to sit on wood flooring (which I do not have under bed at present). If so what thickness spacers should I use?
How far up the wheel arches do the main fixing plate sit. It looks like it should go up nearly to top by the vertical bulkhead. However this then covers my seatbelt mounts
If I align the slots in the bracket with the seat belt mounts then the back frame seems too far forward of the bulkhead.
Any help and guidance that have fitted the same bed would be gratefully received

Especially any measurements like the distance of the bracket from where arch meets bulkhead. And distance from where back of front frame is from wheel arch / floor join.

Many thanks

 

Is yours a panel van then ?

 

No it's a kombi.

 

Have you not got 2 pre drilled holes on the wheel arches? I think it's where seat belts used to go? The bed bolts into them holes. Also, you'll need to put a batton across the slope to support the bed when it's in bed mode.

 

Yes I have seat belt mounts but when lined up with the plates on bed hinges the back seat frame seems well away from bulkhead meaning there would be a big gap for gear to fall down from the back!

 

If its a kombi you're laughing, just affix it to the existing mounts and he said up there, put a support of some sort on the slopey bulkhead for the bed. It may need the front frame packing/raising up to fix any levelling or fitting issues

 

Also, have you only mocked it up loosely so far?
Mine seemed Marmite when I did that, but when fixed in properly and everything tightened up it improved the fit greatly

 

Like the bed in Ellie May. The support as mentioned by @gman4175 reduces the possibility of this occurring.

 

That's what I thought, but like I have said it seems to be way out. I will have another play in the morning and see how I get on.
It has just occurred to me - it looks like the seatbelt mounts have rusted and been repaired - is that likely to change their location!

 

Aha!

 

Beat me to it.

 

Try this
http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/fitting-rusty-lee-r-n-r.49054/

And

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/rear-arch-seatbelt-measurement.36278/#post-632119

 

If the mounts on the arch are slightly out, enlarge the hole on the bed bracket.
Think I did that maybe

 

Thanks for the links @volkswombat. just what I need. I can see if my seat belt mount is anywhere near oscars measurements. I will also clamp the frame in bed position and sort out the height!

With regards attaching a batten support along the bulkhead, do you know how much room I have before hitting the fuel tank. Many thanks.

 

My seat belt mount had rusted out and been plated. So I put it in bed mode up against the arches marked and drilled. I did have my floor in though so didn't need to pack it.
I used wood baton across the back for support.

 

Thanks for all your help. My seat belt mounts were in correct place
Used your suggestions of clamping in bed position and long straight edge from rear cargo deck
Now sorting out timber for angled batten on bulkhead to support bed.
Some more questions........
1)Fixing the boards to the bed frame... Do you just drill and use countersunk self tappers? How far apart?
2)Front frame fixing......presume I drill through frame, vinyl flooring, wood sub floor and steel and then bolt through with high tensile bolts and a decent sized washer underneath. M6 or M8? Will 4 fixings be sufficient?
3)Seat belts...every time you change from seat to bed I assume the belts just fall in to the under bed locker and when you make back to a seat then you have to fish around for the straps?

Many thanks for any assistance.

 

1. Don't know as my boards came fitted to the frame. I'd take a look at mine for you but I'm about 200 miles away from my bus at the moment and will be for the next couple of weeks.

2. I just used self tappers through the frame and into the wooden floor of my bus, put about 4-5 in at various places. No need to bolt through as it seems sturdy enough. I'm pretty sure they came through the cargo floor and we put a lick of paint over them afterwards though for protection.

3. Not got seat belts in the back, so again I can't help.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

Thanks @gman4175
Self tappers into the floor seems easier

 

Unfortunately you will have to fish for them seat belts every time you change from seat to bed, doesn't sound to bad, but in reality it's a royal pain in the arse.

 

That's what I thought. TBH I don't envisage rear passengers that often, so we will just have to fish them out when needed!