9 DIY RV Bed Lift Storage Hardware Kits for Small Campers

You have finally squeezed your life into a 24-foot camper, only to realize your gear is taking over your limited floor space. Tripping over plastic storage bins every time you make coffee is a quick path to cabin fever. Maximizing the massive footprint under your mattress with a reliable DIY bed lift kit is the ultimate space-saving game-changer for small-scale mobile living.

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Why Under-Bed Storage is Essential for Small RVs

In a small travel trailer or converted van, every square inch of floor space must earn its keep. The void beneath a camper bed represents one of the largest untapped storage reservoirs in the entire vehicle, often spanning up to 30 square feet of potential real estate. Leaving this space inaccessible—or relying on a crude wooden prop stick to hold up a heavy mattress while rummaging for gear—is both inefficient and hazardous.

Retrofitting this area with a proper lift mechanism turns an awkward, heavy chore into a seamless, one-handed operation. It allows for the safe storage of off-season clothing, bulky water filtration gear, backup electrical components, or recovery tools that you need to access without breaking your back. Having instant, assisted access means you will actually use the storage space correctly rather than piling clutter in the living walkway.

RV Bed Lift Kit – Hatchlift Products Standard Bed Lift Kit

This kit is engineered to serve as a complete, out-of-the-box solution for lifting standard-weight RV bed platforms. It eliminates the guesswork of sourcing individual gas springs and brackets by providing a fully matched set of components designed specifically for lightweight camper construction.

Hatchlift Products built this kit with specialized mounting plates that help distribute the lifting load across the thin wood framing typical of factory RV bed boxes. The included gas springs offer a smooth, assisted lift that holds the platform open safely while you access your gear.

• Weight rating: 40 to 80 lbs of bed platform weight
• Target bed sizes: Standard RV Double, Twin, or lightweight Queen
• Included hardware: Two gas springs, mounting brackets, backing plates, and mounting screws

The installation requires wood backing or reinforcement if your bed platform is made of thin luan plywood. Take time to measure the pivot points exactly as instructed; even a half-inch error can prevent the bed from closing fully or cause the strut to bind.

This kit is perfect for owners of standard travel trailers who want an all-in-one package without hunting for individual brackets and screws. It is not suitable for heavy residential memory foam mattresses or massive, custom-built hardwood bed frames.

Heavy-Duty Gas Struts – Apexstone 100N Lift Support

These individual gas struts are designed to provide auxiliary lifting assistance or replace worn-out, light-duty factory struts in smaller camper compartments. They offer a highly reliable, smooth dampening motion that prevents heavy doors and light platforms from slamming shut.

The Apexstone 100N struts are highly regarded for their robust internal seals and rust-resistant nitride piston rods. They deliver 22.5 pounds of lifting force per strut, making them incredibly smooth and easy to compress when used in pairs on lightweight panels.

• Force rating: 100N / 22.5 lbs per strut (45 lbs total for a pair)
• Extended length: 10 inches
• Compressed length: 7 inches
• Connector type: 10mm ball sockets

These are designed for lighter loads, meaning they will easily compress and fail to hold up a bed platform if you try to use them on a thick mattress. They require precise alignment during installation to prevent the ball joints from binding and prematurely wearing out the seals.

This product is ideal for DIY builders looking to replace worn-out cabinet struts or those building lightweight, custom flip-up benches in small camper vans. Do not buy these for heavy queen-size platform beds.

Replacement Gas Springs – Suspa C16-08054 20-Inch Prop

These are high-grade, OEM-quality replacement gas springs designed for pre-installed bed lifts that have lost their charge over time. If your factory-installed bed has started sagging or dropping unexpectedly, upgrading to these high-force props is the standard fix.

Suspa is a premium industrial supplier known for incredible manufacturing tolerances and consistent pressure retention. The C16-08054 model provides a robust 100 pounds of force per strut, making it the perfect choice for lifting upgraded, heavier mattresses.

• Force rating: 100 lbs (445N) per strut
• Extended length: 20 inches
• Stroke length: 7.8 inches
• End fittings: 10mm composite ball sockets

Because these struts pack 100 pounds of force each, they require significant structural integrity at both the platform and base mounting points. Attempting to compress these by hand is almost impossible; they must be installed on the bed frame to leverage the physical weight of the platform for compression.

This is the go-to choice for RVers replacing failing factory struts on standard queen beds with upgraded, heavier mattresses. It is not designed for lightweight cabinet doors or flimsy plywood frames that cannot handle 200 pounds of combined upward force.

Power Bed Lift System – Lippert Components HappiJac Bed Lift

This motorized vertical lift system is designed to maximize vertical space by raising the entire bed platform flat against the ceiling. It completely eliminates the traditional tilt-up style bed, freeing up the entire floor area beneath it during the day.

The HappiJac Bed Lift is the undisputed industry standard for toy haulers and modern adventure van conversions. It utilizes a rugged, heavy-duty motor and a synchronized chain-drive mechanism to raise and lower the bed evenly without jamming.

• Weight capacity: Up to 600 lbs static load capacity, 350 lbs dynamic lift capacity
• Drive mechanism: 12V DC motor with synchro shaft
• Track system: Heavy-duty vertical aluminum tracks

This is a highly complex, premium installation that requires robust wall framing to anchor the vertical tracks securely. You must tap into your camper’s 12V electrical system and ensure precise physical alignment of the tracks to prevent binding during operation.

This is perfect for serious van lifers and toy hauler owners who need to clear out the entire rear section of their rig for dirt bikes, bicycles, or a workspace during the day. It is overkill and physically too large for a simple under-bed storage compartment access hatch.

Pneumatic Lift Mechanism – VEVOR Storage Bed Lift Kit

This channel-steel pneumatic lift mechanism is designed to lift the entire bed platform at a consistent pivot angle, providing complete access to the storage bay. Unlike simple strut-and-bracket kits, this system uses heavy-duty steel angle frames to support the mattress platform.

VEVOR constructed this kit using heavy-duty steel plates with a black powder-coated finish for long-term durability and wear resistance. The rigid steel frames prevent the bed platform from twisting or flexing side-to-side when you raise the mattress.

• Weight capacity: Supports up to 90 lbs of lift weight
• Material: Heavy-duty steel plates with black powder coating
• Lift angle: Up to 45 degrees for maximum access

The steel brackets are bulky and require a clear, unobstructed run along the inner walls of the bed pedestal box. Make sure your bed frame has perfectly square corners and adequate clearance to accommodate the heavy steel scissor mechanism without rubbing.

This kit is excellent for DIYers building a custom platform bed from scratch in a camper van or tiny home, utilizing a heavy residential mattress. It is not suitable for ultra-lightweight, tight-clearance factory RV bed boxes where keeping gross vehicle weight low is a priority.

Premium Gas Springs – Bansbach Easylift Gas Spring

These are ultra-premium, custom-grade replacement gas springs designed for extreme durability and incredibly smooth operation. They are built for those who want to eliminate the squeaks, jerking motions, and premature failures common with cheap imports.

Bansbach Easylift springs feature a ceramically coated piston rod and an integrated grease chamber, ensuring extremely low friction and exceptional corrosion resistance. They are manufactured to precise pressure tolerances, providing a controlled, luxury feel to your lift system.

• Customization: Available in precise, pre-charged force ratings
• Corrosion resistance: High-grade powder-coated cylinder and ceramic-coated rod
• Operating temperature range: -22°F to +176°F

These are premium, standalone struts and do not come with DIY mounting brackets or screws. You will need to know your exact length, stroke, and force requirements before ordering, as these are precision instruments designed for exact replacements.

This is for the meticulous builder who wants zero squeaks, smooth dampening, and a component that will easily outlast the RV itself. It is not for the budget-focused weekend warrior looking for a cheap, quick fix.

RV Hatch Lift Hardware – Arcon 14251 Hatch Lift Kit

This complete, lightweight entry-level kit is designed specifically for smaller exterior hatch doors or light interior bed platforms. It offers a simple, cost-effective way to add gas-strut assistance to small-scale camper storage compartments.

The Arcon 14251 kit is popular for its simplicity and small footprint, allowing it to fit into tight utility bays without crowding your gear. It includes zinc-plated mounting brackets that resist corrosion in damp, exterior-facing environments.

• Force rating: Designed for lightweight utility doors and small hatches
• Mounting hardware: Includes zinc-plated brackets and wood screws
• Strut construction: Durable steel body with standard ball-joint ends

The light-duty nature of this kit means it cannot handle standard residential mattresses. If you try to use it on a thick memory foam queen bed, the brackets will bend under the strain, or the gas charge will leak from being overloaded.

This kit is best suited for small teardrop trailer hatches, exterior utility storage doors, or lightweight twin-bed platform projects. Avoid this if you are lifting a standard-size RV queen or king bed.

Heavy Bed Lift Kit – Hatchlift Queen Bed Lift Kit

This is a heavy-duty, comprehensive kit designed specifically to handle heavy queen and king RV bed platforms. It is built to resolve the common issue of factory-installed struts failing after travelers upgrade to heavier mattresses.

Hatchlift designed this heavy-duty kit with beefier brackets, high-tensile hardware, and heavy-duty gas springs that prevent the bed from dropping unexpectedly. The included reinforcement plates are essential for distributing the massive lifting force across the bed frame.

• Weight rating: Designed for bed platforms weighing 80 to 110 lbs
• Target bed sizes: Standard RV Queen, Residential Queen, and lightweight RV King
• Inclusions: Two heavy gas struts, reinforced steel mounting plates, wood screws, and a comprehensive installation guide

Because of the high spring tension, installing this on a flimsy, unreinforced bed box can rip the screws straight out of the wood. You must ensure the frame is structurally sound and consider upgrading to through-bolts with backing washers if your bed pedestal is made of lightweight luan.

This is the definitive choice for travelers who have replaced their uncomfortable, thin RV mattress with a heavy, thick residential mattress. It is not suitable for lightweight twin beds, as the struts will be too stiff to close easily.

Storage Bed Lift Hardware – Happybuy Pneumatic Mechanism

This full-length steel frame lift kit is designed for heavy platform lifting with minimal effort. It utilizes a pair of rigid, cold-rolled steel lift frames equipped with powerful pneumatic struts to stabilize the mattress platform.

Happybuy built this kit to completely stabilize the mattress platform, preventing side-to-side wobble when lifting the bed in tight camper quarters. The extended frame channels bolt directly along the sides of the bed box, distributing the lifting forces evenly.

• Length options: Typically available in 3-foot to 5-foot frame lengths
• Material: Cold-rolled steel with a durable white or black finish
• Lift Capacity: Up to 90-110 lbs of lift force per kit

This kit adds significant weight to your build due to the steel frame channels. Installation requires careful alignment along the inner walls of the bed box, meaning it is easiest to install during the initial build phase rather than as a retrofit.

This is excellent for custom DIY van conversions or tiny homes where a robust, heavy-duty mechanism is needed to support a custom wooden bed platform. It is not ideal for ultra-lightweight travel trailers where keeping gross vehicle weight low is a priority.

How to Calculate the Correct Gas Strut Weight Capacity

Choosing the correct gas strut is not as simple as matching the weight of your mattress to the rated force of the strut. You must account for the entire weight of the moving assembly, which includes the wooden plywood platform, the mattress, all blankets, and pillows. Because the lift mechanism operates as a class-three lever, the struts must exert significantly more force than the actual weight of the bed to lift it successfully.

To find the required force per strut, use this basic formula as a starting guide:

$$text{Force per Strut (lbs)} = frac{text{Total Moving Weight (lbs)} times 0.6}{sin(text{Mount Angle})}$$

For standard installations at roughly a 45-degree angle, a simplified estimation can be used:

• Total Moving Weight (lbs) x 0.6 = Force per strut (lbs)

If your total moving weight is 100 lbs, you will generally need two struts rated at roughly 60 to 70 lbs each to lift the bed comfortably and hold it open safely.

Keep in mind that the placement of the mounting brackets drastically alters the mechanical advantage. Mounting the struts closer to the hinge (the head of the bed) requires much higher-rated struts because the leverage is reduced. Conversely, mounting them further down the bed pedestal reduces the required strut force but limits the overall opening angle and access space.

Safety Tips for Installing Tensioned RV Bed Lifts

Tensioned gas struts store an immense amount of energy and must be handled with extreme respect during installation. Never attempt to compress a gas strut by hand to test it; a healthy strut is designed to resist hundreds of pounds of pressure and can slip, causing severe injury. Always perform the initial mounting steps with the struts completely extended, and only cycle the mechanism once the entire system is securely bolted to the bed frame.

Another critical failure point is the wood structure of the bed pedestal itself. Factory RV bed boxes are often built with thin 1×2 spruce framing and 1/4-inch plywood, which will easily splinter under the force of a compressed heavy-duty strut. Reinforce all mounting points with scrap 2×4 blocks or 3/4-inch plywood backing plates to distribute the load, and use through-bolts with nylon locking nuts instead of simple wood screws whenever possible.

Finally, always install a manual safety prop rod or latch lock if you plan to spend extended periods working inside the under-bed storage area. Even the highest-quality gas struts can fail unexpectedly due to temperature drops or seal wear over time. Having a physical backup bar ensures that a heavy platform will never crash down on your head or hands while you are retrieving gear.

Implementing a functional, assisted bed lift system is one of the most rewarding upgrades you can make to a small living space. By matching the correct strut weight rating to your specific platform setup and reinforcing your mounting points, you transform a daily frustration into an organized, highly accessible storage haven. Take your time with the measurements, prioritize structural reinforcement, and enjoy a clutter-free camper floor on your next off-grid adventure.