RonAllen
Florida
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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We just returned from a shake down camping excursion tired after only one night. Canceled our second night.
We tried to use the bed that is normally in a conversion van, a power bed. That was one miserable experience.
What are some good options others have tried that work? I know the bench seat/bed is on it's way out of our van. Wish also there were some simple plans out there for adding convenience to conversion vans to make them more user friendly. Possible using items from Lowes/Home Depot.
We did buy a "First Up" Gazebo from Wal Mart and it worked out well to store the gear in.
Ron
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Coalminer UG
Grande Cache Alberta
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Joined: 09/21/2008
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What brand name of unit and why was bed so bad?
Ches and Marie
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rvnetter
Stewartville, MN
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Joined: 02/27/2005
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We have a sofa bed in our conversion van also. What we do is allow the sofa to slide all the way forward then put it in the down position. This makes for some extra space where the headrests are, so we placed a 3/4 thick board which rests on top of the headrests and fills the rest of the space to the rear of the van. Now the bed is just the right size for the placement of a futon mattress, which we use as the bed is always in the down position. The mattress allows for a regular double size fitted sheet, bed sheet, blanket, then comforter. It makes for a quite comfortable bed without taking the sofa out of the van. We take out the passenger seats, which allows for plastic bin crates from Walmart, this allows for plenty of storage. There's also extra storage under the bed from the rear doors, and also from the front end inside the van. Don't give up, just look for better solutions.
Happy Trails to You! 
The Tin Tent
2000 Chev Conversion Van HiTop
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landyacht318
Near a large body of water
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Joined: 07/11/2007
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I dealt with the conversion van sofa bed thing for years.
Falling in the cracks, losing my sheets down the cracks. Having the metal bars act as separators digging into hips, shoulders and neck.
I replaced the foam, tightened the springs, reinforced the bent metal and I finally took a sawzall to the thing and sent it out in the recycling bin.
I wound up building 2 storage wells over the wheel humps, and have a steel reinforced piece of plywood that bridges the 2 wells. It has 2 piano hinges so I can lift the front and the rear at the same time. I can remove 2 screws and remove the hinged plywood platform from the Van.
Here's a picture of the platform, before I added the second piano hinge and added the screws to keep the removable center in place.
I built 2 boxes which fit closely under the bed, they both slide forward or back, and I slide in a long white oak wedge to keep them in place when I drive. Significantly more storage than before, and much better organized.
I ordered a 5 inch thick Firm foam mattress from this place:
Custom foam products
I got it with the custom denim cover, and had mom modify 2 pair of sheets to fit tightly to the new mattress.
It is ridiculously comfortable.
Here's a picture of the platform, before I added the second piano hinge and added the screws to keep the removable center in place.
The lighter wood is the sliding storage boxes.
The following is a photo with the front portion lifted and held up with an adjustable rope. Food/ kitchen box on the right, hand tool in the left.
I lowered the areas at the head and foot of the mattress so that when I sleep on my stomach, my feet hang freely over the edge of the mattress without my toes touching. The pieces covering these recessed areas also span the area over the storage boxes, so when I have company, I pull the mattress away from the back doors and get more room for 2.
I can also lift the back end vertically and the full width (48") of the mattress slides forward into my mini closet, and I get a lot of storage space , the Items held in place with the back platform, and still have a full size bed. Very handy for when I need to travel cross country will all my tools.
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bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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Here are a few guidelines if you choose to create a replacement bed:
My DIY camper has flat, level sofa cushions that use 2" of high quality seat foam. Seat foam is relatively firm--too firm for most people to sleep on.
We roll out a 2" medium density (4lb) memory foam mattress over it for bed use. Wonderfully comfortable.
My first version used an inexpensive 1.5" lower density memory foam topper (3 lb?) from WM. That was pretty good but the more expensive, better quality 2" topper that replaced it is more luxurious.
They do make firmer 5 lb foam toppers if you prefer that. I think the best freestanding mattresses are a composite of firm support topped with a memory layer. I do not think it is necessary to go for more than 5" total. I like our system since the sofa cushions are useful for sitting on and the 2" topper stores easily. We turn ours into a backrest and avoid separate storage.
Good luck in your search for sweet dreams.
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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LOL landyacht318...
I can see you're also a 'Midnight Snacker'...
2006 DIY Dodge Badged Sprinter Conversion
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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RonAllen wrote:We just returned from a shake down camping excursion tired after only one night. Canceled our second night.
We tried to use the bed that is normally in a conversion van, a power bed. That was one miserable experience.
What are some good options others have tried that work? I know the bench seat/bed is on it's way out of our van. Wish also there were some simple plans out there for adding convenience to conversion vans to make them more user friendly. Possible using items from Lowes/Home Depot.
We did buy a "First Up" Gazebo from Wal Mart and it worked out well to store the gear in.
Ron
These plastic drawer thing-ee's are great...
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landyacht318
Near a large body of water
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Joined: 07/11/2007
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When I had the conversion van sofa bed, with the loose fitting plastic boxes underneath, I'd wake up mysteriously covered in cookie crumbs. The new system pictured above makes that much more difficult.
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RonAllen
Florida
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Quote:
My DIY camper has flat, level sofa cushions that use 2" of high quality seat foam. Seat foam is relatively firm--too firm for most people to sleep on.
We roll out a 2" medium density (4lb) memory foam mattress over it for bed use. Wonderfully comfortable.
Our conversion van seat kinda tilts toward the back a little and not completely flat. The back of the seat tilts back. We tried sleeping cross the van and fore and aft. Finally found across the van was the most comfortable even though we had the tire wells to deal with. From the best I can tell, looks like folks sleep both ways. Not sure if only memory foam would would work in our van. I really appreciate all the suggestions, gotta make this work. Ron
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RonAllen
Florida
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Great idea... on my shopping list. Ron
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