Lunar bed slat problems

JohnM20
JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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edited July 2019 in Caravans #1

Has anyone else had problems with the bed slats on their Lunar caravan?The caravan is just 4 years old and quite frequently the made up double bed collapses whilst we are in it. (No ribald comments please!!!). Neither of us could be described as being particularly heavy. On inspecting the slats they appear as though they may have shrunk, possibly by drying out. There is some lateral movement side to side which is obviously needed but if the slats are pushed fully to one side in their running channel there is then only about 2mm in the opposite channel. If the slat is then flexed with a bit of weight it pushes completely out of the channel. Not much fun in the middle of the night having to make up the bed again. Consequently we have taken to sleeping in single beds.

Can anyone suggest a solution but before anyone suggests it, no, we don't want a caravan with a fixed bed.  They take up far too much daytime living space in our opinion.

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Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2019 #2
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  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited July 2019 #3

    could always glue one end of slat so other end is still free to move a little. line the end up and mark with pencil so each carrier as the same amount of slat in it and insert with glue up to mark and leave to set. you will always have the same amount in carrier at both ends..Or is it the centre pull out your talking about, if so just ignore me.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #4

    They are Jerry built so only 2 options, A. get rid of the Lunar or B. do what we did and change the slats for hardwood

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2019 #5
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  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #6

    When you take the van in for service, it might be worth mentioning it.  We had a similar problem on our Bailey and they did an adjustment (not sure what).  However, we dont use our pull out slats very often as there are only two of us and we use a fixed bed.  I'll let you know more about it next week when our daughter is also coming with us.  Let's see if she ends up on the floor.....  smile

    David

  • mazvw42
    mazvw42 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited July 2019 #7

    We had a similar issue with ours which was sorted out twice under warranty, it also caused the draw unit to loosen and the slats to disappear under the draws.  We have recently changed to another make of van and the slats have plastic ends on each side that not only make them glide better, but also stay in place.  Little inexpensive things that make a huge difference!

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #8

    Our Stellar is booked in for looking at next week. We make up the bed using slats that pull out from the side to almost meet in the middle. They are metal ones. The Offside one has twisted and sticks against the end side piece. There is also a gap that has appeared behind the offside wardrobe that sits above the fridge.

    Whilst we don't have the same problem of collapse we do have to be careful when making it up. This happened on our recent 6 week trip so the van has been booked in to have a look at it. 

  • rjb
    rjb Forum Participant Posts: 118
    edited July 2019 #9

    Check the plastic runners to see if they are cracked

  • Psmiffy
    Psmiffy Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2019 #10

    We had the same problem with our 2yr old Lunar. (But not with the older model we owned that was properly built)  it was a combination of flimsy plastic track, nothing to hold the slats in position when pulled out, and flimsy construction of the locker frame that supports the flimsy track. A couple of lengths of bungee cord arranged to hold the slats under tension when pulled out, and some extra struts to support the frame and stop it flexing helped, and so far we've had undisturbed nights. It's a shame the designers/ builders never take the vans out for a couple of trips before putting them into production, if they did they would surely discover some of the glaring production faults they are happy to sell on to us. 

  • TomL
    TomL Forum Participant Posts: 763
    edited July 2019 #11

     How old is your Stellar, Wherenext? We've just had major problems with our 2017 Stellar during a 3-week holiday in the Scottish Highlands. Lunar weren't interested in any warranty claim, in fact, their customer service support was appalling. Could be similar to your problem but I'm not sure how we can communicate privately with any advice or suggestions. Keep us up to date on this Forum and I'll watch out for your responses

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited July 2019 #12

    you'd think that, in a van without a fixed bed where a 'make up' bed was the primary sleeping area, the mechanism, which will obviously get plenty of use, would be as robustly made as possible....perhaps not.

    yet again, more tales of woe from our leading van makers.....frown

     

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited July 2019 #13

    What do you think of the Autosleeper range BB?🤔

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #14

    The bed slats on our Lunar started to tangle so I removed the front draw unit.  One of the two soft wood supports had snapped so my SIL made 2 hardwood supports which worked well.  Having had success with that I decided to replace the bed slats with hard wood ones

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited July 2019 #15

    See ‘IKEA’, excellent👍🏻

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #16

    We hate slats on beds. Too much faffing around. Took ours out and OH cut three hardwood support panels to slot in instead. They live under side bed, with bedding. Take seconds to fit. Weight not an issue for us, our van is light compared with new ones. Current ones have been in use since 1996😂

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #17

    It's nearly 3 years old. Due for 3rd year warranty in August. Taking it in on Thursday so will post after dealer had a chance to report back to me.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #18

    These bed slats are different from the wooden ones. Those pulled out from the front along the plastic rails. These metal ones pull out from under the 2 side seating areas. They don't quite meet in the middle but are not supposed to. However one of them has become twisted, pulling part of the wardrobe away or it could be vice versa and consequently is difficult to pull out without damaging the wooden support  that sits at the end of the seating area.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited July 2019 #19

    what an odd, specific questionwink

    if I didn't know you better I'd think you might be stirring something up there....been reading their forum, have you?

    perhaps you are Gromit?undecided

  • Psmiffy
    Psmiffy Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2019 #20

    Agreed, Lunar's policy on guarantees and customer service is appalling.Don't  just accept Lunar's nonsense about everything being out of warranty or it's down to 'wear and tear' you've paid a lot for your van and if it has problems that you wouldn't expect after a couple of years it can't have been built properly in the first place, and therefore it is not fit for purpose. Go and put this to your dealer and don't leave till you have a satisfactory arrangement re repairs and who is paying for them ie Lunar or the dealer (who is ultimately responsible for the quality of the merchandise he/she sells you.) 

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited July 2019 #21

    Sorry BB that’s over my head🤷🏻‍♂️. I have a buddy who has decided to go Moho-first in his 50yrs of life. I had a C/van for a short while so I’m no help. I said I know of someone who does Moho’s in his sleep & who gives sage advice to the masses👍🏻. Specific?, yes. Odd?, not really☹️. I’ll tell him you thought it was a joke, I tried, no worries. Although-‘I can’t help’ would’ve sufficed.

  • TomL
    TomL Forum Participant Posts: 763
    edited July 2019 #22

    This is exactly what happened in our case with Lunar claiming there was no liability under warranty terms as our van was older than 12 months (See the warranty terms in your service manual) Our dealers, who we've dealt with for over 30 years,  argued our case but it dragged on for 6 weeks. I think you'll get nowhere with Lunar but you must persist with the dealers and insist that you have your rights under the Consumer Rights Act. Your claims will be against the dealers and not Lunar. Try to keep calm with them as they'll be the ones who'll be doing the repair work for you. We had to cancel holidays and couldn't plan any others but after 7 weeks the repairs were completed at no cost to us and everything seems OK. A bit traumatic but best of luck!

     

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited July 2019 #23

    ok, here's my advice...have a word with a current owner like TW, he's as 'sage' as any.....

    and to read the AutoSleepers forum, loads of further advice on there, some of mine which isn't apreciated by a mod or two....hence my previous comment...

    your timing was just too perfect.....wink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #24

    I’ve just seen this. I have an AS and I’m happy to help, Rocky. 

    Why not drop me an email (profile) and I’ll answer as many questions as I can. 👍🏻

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited July 2019 #25

    Thanks Tinster, it’s appreciated👍🏻. I will contact you, I considered forums but like my buddy I have no idea what I’m looking at. You will be able to give me stuff I can pass on. Much to my embarrassment I didn’t know you had an AS, I just knew you had a Merc😬😨. Note to self-must pay more attention😊

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2019 #26

    I had exactly the same type of response from Swift.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2019 #27
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  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #28

    Hi everyone, A polite reminder to please keep this conversation on topic and free from arguments. I've removed a few posts to keep the discussion on track. Many thanks. 

  • Dannyboy1
    Dannyboy1 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited September 2020 #29

    Hi there our Lunar caravan bed alts do exactly the same. We went to B&Q and had 4 small pieces of plywood cut to size to put over the top of the slats. Works perfectly. Once we put the bed away the small pieces of wood are stored under the seat at the front.

     

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited September 2020 #30

    I think they would have sorted it by now being 14 months when question was asked. wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2020 #31

    I would try fitting end caps to the slats to make them effectively slightly wider. Our 2012 had the s standard. Maybe fit to  one end or both depending on clearance. Something like these~:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caravan-Motorhome-Grey-Plastic-Bed-Slat-Lath-Latt-End-Cap-BLEC-/174005591180