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Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: CABass on August 24, 2021, 04:37:45 pm

Title: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: CABass on August 24, 2021, 04:37:45 pm
We love our 2004 2350 with the rear corner bed - except for getting into and out of said bed.  I've put on a few pounds since I was born, and getting up in the middle of the night for a trip to the loo is, well, difficult.

My wife sleeps next to the bathroom wall and I sleep next to the outer wall, due to needing CPAP and O2 at night, the tubing for which is easier to run along the outer wall overhead cabinet.  I try not to disturb her in my wiggling, bouncing transition from lying down to standing up, and I've decided to mount a grab handle to the interior wall to assist me in getting my lard girth out of bed.

The question is, how to mount it so it doesn't just rip out of the wall?  As you know, the wall itself is like a 1/8" thick piece of wood paneling with about a 5/8" gap between the bedroom and the bathroom wall.   I'm not too keen on those little anchors that you punch into the wall and drive a screw into; I think I need something more substantial.  But if they will work, what kind is best? 

(https://craigsrailroadpages.com/images/handle-1.jpg)

I'm not enough of a carpenter-type of guy to pull the wall open and put a backing plate behind the area where the handle will go (It's 10" x 1" plastic and mounts with two 3/16" x 1" oval head screws at each end) so I've cut a piece of 1/4" x 2" aluminum into four 4-1/2" pieces -- two for the outer wall that the handle will mount to, and the other two for the adjoining wall inside the bathroom to help distribute my weight.  But I'm very concerned that I will not be able to get the holes lined up for the four 3/16" x 1-1/4" machine screws (one near each corner) I would use to tie each of the two plates together.

(https://craigsrailroadpages.com/images/handle-2.jpg)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

EDIT:  In looking at the situation again, I'm wondering if the best location would be right on that 1/2" trim strip to the left (rear) of the narrow panel between the bathroom door and the bedroom wall.  In tapping that area it seems like there is a fairly substantial "stud" at that corner.  I just don't want to break anything!
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: Volkemon on August 24, 2021, 08:50:06 pm
I sleep on the outside wall also. Do you have the cabinet on the right wall forward over your feet?

The second location you post (The EDIT)  would be a nice stabilizing handle. If you wanted to 'sandwich' the wall I think it wouldnt be that hard to line up all the holes. Drill from one side, and the hole will line up where it comes out.  2o2
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: CABass on August 24, 2021, 09:56:14 pm
Quote from: Volkemon on August 24, 2021, 08:50:06 pm
I sleep on the outside wall also. Do you have the cabinet on the right wall forward over your feet?

The second location you post (The EDIT)  would be a nice stabilizing handle. If you wanted to 'sandwich' the wall I think it wouldnt be that hard to line up all the holes. Drill from one side, and the hole will line up where it comes out.  2o2

Yes, in fact I use that cabinet over my feet to gain some leverage to sit up by pushing up against it with a foot!   I've never been a very straight driller; what seems like level and square to me going in can be off by an eighth of an inch or more over 1"  depth.  Some of us shouldn't be trusted with power tools!

But now in actually putting my wife to bed and test "getting up", I'm leaning toward just mounting it on the door between the mirror and the edge of the door.  That's a solid piece of wood there, even if I have to lean a little bit farther to reach it.
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: Ron Dittmer on September 03, 2021, 03:42:54 pm
What comes to mind is a full length 2"x2"x 6 feet (nicely finished, matched wood species and stain, with two lightly  1/4" rounded corners) down the entire length of that wall, mounted against the left-side trim.  It would be more out of your way for getting in, as well as being tastefully inconspicuous.  Something that long would also handle the stress quite nicely.

There was a time, for a price, the factory would have been very happy to provide one including shipping.  Maybe they still will.
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: CABass on September 08, 2021, 02:59:32 pm
That's a very good idea.  I've contacted the factory with a list of parts I want to purchase twice now with no response over several months.  I tried following up with emails but so far....

Having done a lot of thinking I decided to drop the idea of the small handle that will concentrate weight in two areas and instead purchased a Glacier Bay 16" stainless steel concealed mounting grab bar, which I mounted to an 18" piece of blonde wood with rounded edges that matches the wall color.  Mounting the bar vertically on the narrow wall portion between the bathroom door and the bedroom wall using nine wall anchors plus the six mounting screws for the bar, I was able to spread the force out quite nicely.  Countersinking the mounting screwheads and using wooden plugs to hide the screws makes things look clean.

My wife says it looks good, and it assists my getting up without much flex to the small wall, so I'm calling it a successful project.    tymote to all who commented!

(https://theroadtosage.com/images/00001.jpg)

(https://theroadtosage.com/images/00002.jpg)
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: Volkemon on September 11, 2021, 09:45:19 am
2o2 2o2  LOOKS GREAT!!   2o2 2o2

Nice work!
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: CABass on September 11, 2021, 09:57:05 am
 tymote
Title: Re: 2350: How to mount indoor grab handle to wall by bed?
Post by: CalCruiser on September 11, 2021, 06:30:11 pm
Nice work sir 2o2 Enjoy your 2350 !!

If you want a super easy way to make up the corner bed check this out. The  Queen size is perfect for 2.  http://www.rvsuperbag.com/Standard-QueenSuperbag/productinfo/RVQ/