Bed Idea: folding table?

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1271405366">How about a plastic, folding table from Costco for $50.&nbsp; It's thin, so space saving. It's high off the ground, so plenty of space underneath and can double as a work desk while sitting in a regular chair w/o having to slouch down. Less headroom though when you're in bed. Supposed to hold 500 lbs yet very light &amp; folds into a small piece.&nbsp; I would get some nice memory foam for the mattress. </span>

 

[Journeyman]

That's a good Idea.

 

[Guest]

Over time those plastic tables ( esp. if being used as a bed) will bow / sag in the middle. They sag in the middle after awhile if you keep boxes on them.<br>Maybe a table / bed that flips up, secures against the wall and has storage underneath?<br>Same deal, more secure, cheaper, easy to make, lasts forever and you can still throw a futon or sleeping bag on top.<br>I made flip-ups in my Chevy and my cargo trailer. The one in the Chevy is made of cheap 2x4's s and cheap 1x3's. The one in the cargo trailer is #2 (builder studs) 2x4's and 3/4" plywood; but it has to double as a work bench. I've had a V8 engine block on it.<br><br><br>

 

[Les H]

4x4, that is how I made the bed in my bus. I screwed a ledger board to the wall and built a hinged platform to hold an air mattress. 3 reclaimed door hinges, a few 2x4 pieces and a sheet of 3/4" plywood left uber from a building project. A padlock hasp with a cotter pin holds it tight to the wall when it's not in use or I need my bus for cargo space.

Les

 

[johnny_canuck]

<div>Take a look at my set up. Questions</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/file?id=1155030"><img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/file?id=1155028"><img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/file?id=1155032">

 

[MK7]

Over time those plastic tables ( esp. if being used as a bed) will bow / sag in the middle. They sag in the middle after awhile if you keep boxes on them. <br><br>

<br><br><br>Excellent advice. I didn't even think of the sagging. Guess I was looking for a shortcut. Looks like building a bed is my best bet. Some very nice pics/setup here. I like how you guys made it pretty high to maximize storage space underneath.&nbsp; <br><br><br>

 

[johnny_canuck]

I did all my work in the parking lot of Home Depot. You always need an extra bolt or different size screws, so just go in. I even did my interior painting there. I have 2 large power packs with 12 volt and 110 outlets that are charged with a solar panel. So I can use power tools. The plywood is 1/2 inch cut by Home Depot. The framing is 2/2" pine cut with a jig saw.&nbsp;Everything is screwed together. The seats/bed are 17" high same as a chair height. There is 9" between the beds. The mattresses are a trifold, 3" high density foam with removable covers. This way you can fold the mattress up, fold one section of the bed and use the toilet. Plastic milk boxes fit underneath along with my power boxes and toilet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[MK7]

I did all my work in the parking lot of Home Depot. You always need an extra bolt or different size screws, so just go in. I even did my interior painting there. I have 2 large power packs with 12 volt and 110 outlets that are charged with a solar panel. So I can use power tools. The plywood is 1/2 inch cut by Home Depot. The framing is 2/2" pine cut with a jig saw.&nbsp;Everything is screwed together. The seats/bed are 17" high same as a chair height. There is 9" between the beds. The mattresses are a trifold, 3" high density foam with removable covers. This way you can fold the mattress up, fold one section of the bed and use the toilet. Plastic milk boxes fit underneath along with my power boxes and toilet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<br><br>Good stuff, thanks. I saw some dude who replaced his V8 conversion van with a Toyota 4-cyl truck with a camper to get much better gas mileage. Like from 14/19 mpg to 22/30 mpg. <br>

 

[Guest]

You guys have out-classed me. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>Lowe's? Brand New Shiny hardware?! <br>I get all my hardware on trash day. I carry my cordless screwdriver and take hardware off broken down furniture &amp; stuff ppl throw out for the garbage men.<br>Meh, might not match, but it works.<br><br>I LIKE waht you guys have built. Quite nice. Someday I'll have a bigger Cargo Trailer and I'll be using your ideas! Thanks for the great pics, they're saved to my LT<br><br>

 

[Les H]

Mk7 wrote "
Excellent advice. I didn't even think of the sagging. Guess I was looking for a shortcut. Looks like building a bed is my best bet. Some very nice pics/setup here. I like how you guys made it pretty high to maximize storage space underneath.  "

Mk7, my father in law was a route milkman, and I inherited quite a few of the serious duty milk crates, the older ones you can stand on or park a truck on , lol. That was my standard of measurement that dictated the height. Plus, I have an aux heater with a blower fan plumbed into the radiator that was already there when I got the bus, and I didn't want to remove it.
Les