Durable storage solution for sleeping on it

[Nitinat]

Hello All,

We are in early stages of planing our trip down south and looking for storage solution that will also work as base for bed.

Our vehicle of choice is Chevy Astro AWD, which should give enough living and storage space. Basically idea is to build something like this:

Bed that sits on a platform and can be lifted up, if required or possibly mattress that folds. Anyhow storage will still be underneath the bed and we need some type of boxes that would support weight and not break. Or not break our budget and not break from weight...

Space that we would need to fill with boxes looks something like this (not our van or picture):


I have looked at metal boxes, like these:

But there are two problems with them:
#1 It's hard to find them locally, shipping them is expensive
#2 I believe they will add significantly to weight of the car

More concerned about #1, so I am out looking for some durable options that we could use as our "bed frame".

Please, if you have any suggestions, possibly with pictures and vendors who would sell them, let me know!

Thank you!

 

[digitaldelay]

I managed to create a flat sleeping platform in my Safari using a couple different sizes of Rubbermaid Action Packers (1 x 181L and 2 x 90.8L) and a folded middle seat. Use more Action Packers if you don't need the middle seat. Throw an air mattress of some kind on top and you are good to go!

Get the Action Packers from Canadian Tire. They go on sale about once a month.

Jason

 

[Nitinat]

I managed to create a flat sleeping platform in my Safari using a couple different sizes of Rubbermaid Action Packers (1 x 181L and 2 x 90.8L) and a folded middle seat. Use more Action Packers if you don't need the middle seat. Throw an air mattress of some kind on top and you are good to go!

Get the Action Packers from Canadian Tire. They go on sale about once a month.

Jason

AirMatress will suck hard on 50 000km journey, as we have one that we take out camping and it has slow leak already. We will certainly go for decent foam mattress. And back seat will be gone for obvious reasons.

I'll drive down to Canadian Tire to look at Action Packers in next few days - Thanks for suggestion!

 

[southpier]

you're not going to enjoy hoisting the bed every time you need something in the boxes

 

[Nitinat]

you're not going to enjoy hoisting the bed every time you need something in the boxes

Maybe, but I don't think it will be worse than having to put up RTT every evening, especially when it's raining. But that's another discussion.

 

[madmax718]

may I make a suggestion and consider using foam/futon mattress instead of a regular spring mattress. build a base that folds, like a v. Then you can lift up one side to access the contents underneath. lift up the other for the other side.Throw a tarp over it when your not sleeping to keep down the dust/dirt from being on your clean sleeping area.

 

[digitaldelay]

AirMatress will suck hard on 50 000km journey, as we have one that we take out camping and it has slow leak already. We will certainly go for decent foam mattress. And back seat will be gone for obvious reasons.

I'll drive down to Canadian Tire to look at Action Packers in next few days - Thanks for suggestion!

Sorry, I should clarify. By air mattress, I mean 2 x $200 Exped SynMats, lol. I agree, from what I've heard, plain air mattresses are not very comfy.

Action Packers not on sale this week, just keep checking the CT website or set a Sale Alert like I did.

Jason

 

[Nitinat]

Sorry, I should clarify. By air mattress, I mean 2 x $200 Exped SynMats, lol. I agree, from what I've heard, plain air mattresses are not very comfy.

Action Packers not on sale this week, just keep checking the CT website or set a Sale Alert like I did.

Jason

It's comfy for two nights if it doesn't have leak, after that I start missing decent mattress. a lot. I certainly want to avoid air mattress, just from reliability point of view, when you have to sleep/live on/with it for a year or more, it has to be solid solution - something like high density foam mattress.

For CT I set up price alerts last night. I am in no rush right now.

 

[Dawgboy]

Google rock an roll bed frame. I'm considering building one for my A100 van. You make the actual bed out of 3 panels of ply, and both ends lift up for access. I'm thinking the easiest way to build the support would be Unistrut, as all you will need is a hacksaw and some wrenches.


Brought to you by Cyberdyne Systems

 

[Nitinat]

Google rock an roll bed frame. I'm considering building one for my A100 van. You make the actual bed out of 3 panels of ply, and both ends lift up for access. I'm thinking the easiest way to build the support would be Unistrut, as all you will need is a hacksaw and some wrenches.

Thanks for the idea - will look at it. I certainly don't have lots of tools or workshop were I could build stuff, so requirement for bed is easy to build

 

[frans]

check out these companies, all have retrofitted those small vans for camping. Might get some ideas...

http://www.lostcampersusa.com/
http://www.jucyrentals.com/?gclid=CO6306PAgroCFWfhQgod6SAANA
http://www.escapecampervans.com/

 

[Nitinat]

check out these companies, all have retrofitted those small vans for camping. Might get some ideas...

http://www.lostcampersusa.com/
http://www.jucyrentals.com/?gclid=CO6306PAgroCFWfhQgod6SAANA
http://www.escapecampervans.com/

Thanks a lot for suggestion - will certainly take a look at those!

 

[Nitinat]

@digitaldelay - Thanks a lot for suggestion again, we looked at Action packers today and they look like something we are looking for - light, durable and budget friendly.

 

[digitaldelay]

@digitaldelay - Thanks a lot for suggestion again, we looked at Action packers today and they look like something we are looking for - light, durable and budget friendly.

Cool!

Jason