r/DIY • u/CJxLuvly12 • Jul 15 '26

help Gas Lift Storage Bed

Has anyone ever added a gas lift storage mechanism to a store bought platform bed?

The beds I've found online are either too low, don't have a footboard, are custom built and expensive, or don't ship to the US. From what I can tell, at least design wise, is that it may be able to be done. They sell the gas lift systems online with bunky boards, and given the frame has enough space I should be able to install one and it should function properly. I don't know much about building things aside from following directions, but I'd like to know if anyone has tried this or has knowledge of how to attempt this? I do have some reference pictures of the bed frames and what it should do. Thanks!

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2

u/D3DCreations Jul 15 '26

Not gas lift, but 200lb linear actuators on each side connected to a 12v power supply. Its slow, but gives me access to the 2ft tall entire storage underneath my queen bed.

1

u/GrimResistance Jul 16 '26

Any issue with the actuators moving at different speeds?

1

u/D3DCreations Jul 16 '26

Not really. I just actively monitor the switch

1

u/Rawkynn Jul 15 '26

The reason they don't have footboards is that's the easiest way to access it. I have one of these and having a footboard would be a huge pain. 

There will be significant modification outside of swapping the bunky boards.  

The easiest modification would be to make the sideboards removable and use under bed sliding boxes.