Couch Bed ideas

[Herbie]

I build a Westfalia-style rock-n-roll sofa bed using reproduction hinges from BusDepot.com. My kiddo rides strapped in a car seat there, so I built the frame out of steel, but a basic plywood box and plywood bed boards would get you a convertible couch/bed arrangement if you weren't using it while driving.

 

[Len.Barron]

I copied this design from an image seen on Pinterest. Built for my M101A2 miltitary trailer. Converts the couch to a full-size bed and removable for large cargo.

View attachment 418960

View attachment 418962

That's about the smartest design I've seen, would be plenty stable and yet light enough to pull out and use as outside furniture as well..

 

[eporter]

I like my bi-fold setup. Works as a couch, or as a bed for one or two. Bonus is that I can convert while still inside the van if it's raining or snowing out (been there). This also leaves the center aisle clear for cargo, bikes, etc.

 

[Mxkutch]

Thats pretty slick eporter, where do you keep all of that foam when it's in couch mode.

Remember, thats exactly what I'm wanting, yours looks really slick. Where did you get your 8" memory foam and have you seen any issues with your 550 cord damaging the matress. Also how heavy is that foam? Does the top ever flop down when you are driving?

 

[Coachgeo]

Thats pretty slick eporter, where do you keep all of that foam when it's in couch mode.....

His first pic shows where the extra foam is... but then again does not jive with not having to get out of the rig to make the bed unless he can reach the same area from above and not just from the open end shown in the pic (bottom right corner of pic you see the extra foam)

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=419325&d=1505245187&thumb=1

 

[eporter]

Ha, got me there Coach!

I've started using that stretcher slot for hauling things, so that extra piece of foam now goes "behind the couch" between the folded up bed and the ambo wall. I can also store it below the bench, in the long compartment there. In pic#3, those two pieces of plywood hinge up and access one big compartment. You could move the first set of hinges out more, and change the other panel sizes, to make a bigger storage spot for thicker foam.

The other two pieces of foam form the couch back and seat cushion.

For now it's all held in place by the barely-tightened ratchet strap. Ideally I'd have some kind of latch mounted on the wall that secures both ends of the couch back so it can't hinge forward/unfold. Then the foam would be upholstered and held in place to the plywood with velcro or snaps. I've thought about adding some trim on the short ends of the couch back to strengthen up the plywood, and prevent the strap from compressing the foam.

No problems so far with the foam compressing. I think it's a seat cushion foam, it's rather firm. We got a foam mattress topper pad that makes it a lot more comfortable. Foam came with the van. PO had made a version 1.0 of this setup, with just two pieces of foam, but it wasn't well thought out, so I re-did it to hinge like this and have 3 pieces so you could have the seat, back, and filler piece.

 

[Michal740]

Just finished up my bench bed. I don't have a write up on this,but 4 part video that shows how it works. Now I have headroom while sitting down and sleep comfortably.
I added little tailgate strut underneath for assisting the bed lift. That way is light enough for one person to unfold and fold it back. I will upload some pictures that shows the details.
https://youtu.be/Mlw2uhqCV2s
https://youtu.be/7KpJao2Msl4
https://youtu.be/ax4CLxM-1TM
https://youtu.be/8eyRt_55EyA

 

[WVI]

Very interesting idea.

 

[ohpyramids]

Here is the original walkthrough style bench/ bed I built. It was a mix of 3/4”and 1/2” Prefinished Baltic Birch plywood. It was the first furniture we had in the van and made everything super useful. Eventually I found a poptop, and with the annoyance of having to make/unmake the bed everytime I needed to access storage, it got sold.

Here’s my current bench/ bed/platform. The back and butt both lift up using a huge piano hinge on a 3”wide spine. Used 1” thick baltic Birch plywood. It works much better and the storage is way more useful.

Thinking about a partial rebuild of the bench using metal instead of wood. I want to add seatbelts for rear passenger safety.

 

[WVI]

I've seen the pics of the first build before, and liked it. I've thought about a version like your second build. If it had some of the etrack (?) on it, it could have stuff stacked on it and strapped down.

 

[Mxkutch]

Just bumping this back up to see if there are any other DIY bed/ couch or dinette set ups.


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[GRTvan]

Here is what we did in our van. Welded this out of 1" 18 GA tube. I only made it 5' long, wish I would have made it a bit longer.