does anyone one have one of these conversion vans with the electric bed? i have a 1999 savana conversion. I am trying to decide if i should keep it as is or build a new platform bed. What are the pros and cons of the electric beds vs putting our own bed in? I am new here so please excuse me if this sounds like a silly question. I am planning a cross country trip from tampa to seattle. Thanks!
chevy conversion van electric folding bed question.
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Almost There
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picker said:
I don't have one but the best way to find out if the bed is for you is a) sleep on it for a few nights in your driveway and b) figure out where you're going to store all the things you want with you and if you need the under bed storage that a platform bed would give you.
In general, the fold down beds aren't as comfortable as a platform bed for most people. Adding a mattress topper seems like a good thing until you figure out that you have to store it someplace when the bed is made into the sofa. Also, all the metal framework and the electrical stuff on the existing bed interferes with a lot of peoples' storage plans.
OTOH, if all you're doing is a fast cross country trip you might be okay with the bed as it is.
If there's just one of you, you might be able to make do. Two on the sofa bed usually means that both of you are falling into the middle where the two parts meet...
My parents bought one with the bed in it and us kids talked them into trying it out..they lasted until about 2 AM and moved into a real bed for the rest of the night. Construction commenced immediately... 
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If you are going to live in it, or travel regularly in it, then you want a platform bed.
Bob
Bob
WheelEstate USA
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Those aren't very comfortable and I'm too tall and there are 2 adults in our rig.
We have a full size bed on a modified steel bedframe with plywood platform. Its set to the height we wanted by using metal conduit slipped (toss the caster wheels) on to the legs.
Bolting it to the ribs on the driver's side holds it solidly in place. the steel fame is lighter than a bunch of wood and its profile is fairly slim.
Oh...get rid of the funky clamps that hold a frame together and drill/bolt it together.
Worked out better than our old wood frame.
We have a full size bed on a modified steel bedframe with plywood platform. Its set to the height we wanted by using metal conduit slipped (toss the caster wheels) on to the legs.
Bolting it to the ribs on the driver's side holds it solidly in place. the steel fame is lighter than a bunch of wood and its profile is fairly slim.
Oh...get rid of the funky clamps that hold a frame together and drill/bolt it together.
Worked out better than our old wood frame.
highdesertranger
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also keep in mind that sooner or later the electric gizmo is going to quit working. according to murphy it will happen at the most inopportune time. highdesertranger
Magicwolf
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I have a 1995 GMC conversion with the power couch. It is super-uncomfortable folded down. The section closest to the mid-van area sags down a bit and the seat is leather so bedding slithers right off - and don't get me started on the pillow shooting out from under your head and into the back at 3 am due to this same thing.
Weirdly enough, the seat is much better in the upright position. I'm rather vertically-challenged so I can lay on it crosswise and grab a nap comfortably. The motor is a little sluggish, I've been told that a track & motor cleaning usually takes care of a lot of that.
If I didn't have a trailer I'd be pulling that seat for a proper bed, but since I do I'll be leaving it as is for the time being.
Weirdly enough, the seat is much better in the upright position. I'm rather vertically-challenged so I can lay on it crosswise and grab a nap comfortably. The motor is a little sluggish, I've been told that a track & motor cleaning usually takes care of a lot of that.
If I didn't have a trailer I'd be pulling that seat for a proper bed, but since I do I'll be leaving it as is for the time being.
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My jackknife 3 section sofa bed became a nightmare, but I managed with it for several years. In that time I had re enforced the bent portions, tightened the springs, replaced the foam rubber, raised it further off the floor for more storage underneath.
The electrical portion used a central electrical motor with some speedo cables running to screw jacks on either side. These cables were in a position to easily get pulled out of place when storing things under the bed. When one side was pulled out, the bed would lower or raise cockeyed and get stuck
Fixing it required exactly 53 curses and 6 thrown tools. Whether any witnesses fled for the hills depended on their alcohol intake at the moment.
Eventually I quit ever turning it back into a sofa and left it flat and pulled the fuse.
It was a happy day when I pulled off the screw jacks, and the foam and busted out the sawzall cut it into pieces and sent it out in the recycling bin. I replaced it with a platform bed designed for maximum storage and ease of removal.
I retasked the actuator motor and one screw jack to electrically open and close one of the sliding conversion van windows behind my compressor fridge.
The electrical portion used a central electrical motor with some speedo cables running to screw jacks on either side. These cables were in a position to easily get pulled out of place when storing things under the bed. When one side was pulled out, the bed would lower or raise cockeyed and get stuck
Fixing it required exactly 53 curses and 6 thrown tools. Whether any witnesses fled for the hills depended on their alcohol intake at the moment.
Eventually I quit ever turning it back into a sofa and left it flat and pulled the fuse.
It was a happy day when I pulled off the screw jacks, and the foam and busted out the sawzall cut it into pieces and sent it out in the recycling bin. I replaced it with a platform bed designed for maximum storage and ease of removal.
I retasked the actuator motor and one screw jack to electrically open and close one of the sliding conversion van windows behind my compressor fridge.
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