Click-clack couches/futons

[Mackerous]

When I outfitted my van, I opted for a "click-clack" futon to run down the driver side. If you're unfamiliar, this is a futon that lays down by pulling the back forward til it clicks, and "clacks" back down I guess. Think of a beach chair. Unfortunately, the one I got is pretty awful. Several of the springs have broken, though the back portion is still good. Does anyone have experience with these if if there's a good model out there? I really love being able to sit up properly, especially if I have the cargo doors open at a lovely little spot. I want to stuck with a futon but don't want to make another $150 mistake.

 

[MrNoodly]

My philosophy is that if you wouldn't sleep on something when it's in a house/apartment, then don't sleep on it in a vehicle. An uncomfortable bed will make van dwelling miserable. So, do you really like futons? (Assuming they're not in bad repair.)

 

[Mackerous]

Good philosophy but yeah, I've slept on many a futon and don't mind it at all. I've slept for long stretches of time on a couch, even in my own home, and even more when traveling the world. This one was alright to BEFORE the springs broke. Hell, I slept in it when I bought it and had a loveseat in there. Forced me to sleep on my back, which is better anyway.

When I was younger I had a cheap futon frame but with a nice mattress, springs but still bent. Would love that but laying it down would be a pain I would think, as well as it being a bit big.

 

[Blue]

Agree with Noodly

I'm a bigger guy and a little padding just isnt going to do it as a sleep surface for me. Side note: I had a huge mattress that went on the bed frame I use, I realized I couldent get the TV where I wanted it (frame+mattress=too high) so I got rid of the huge mattress, then got a 4 inc memory foam mattress topper from the walmarts then put a down feather bed topper on top of that... it only takes up about 5.5 inches (and scrunches down a bit when your on it) and I havent had a more comfortable sleep yet... so theres that... maybe look into covering your futon with something? PS... I use a mechanical hospital bed, lets me remote control sitting up, raising feet, going into a near zero G position for watching TV etc... its like a 3,000.00 bed I found for 100 bucks on craigslist ( had been on there forever and she even delivered it to get rid of it.... guess nobody else liked the idea of sleeping on something somebody's grandpa died on)

 

[user 423]

I really love being able to sit up properly, especially if I have the cargo doors open at a lovely little spot.

A swivel or reversed passenger's seat makes a decent recliner. I'm on the lookout for a CL deal on a really plush and comfy captain's chair out of a fancy Class A.

 

[Patrick46]

After our daughter moved out, we turned her bedroom into an office/guestroom, and the wife wanted to put a futon in there.

So we went shopping all over the place, and all we could find was really cheap ones (like you'd find at Walmart), or super expensive ones at deluxe furniture stores. Noone offered a nice, basic unit that would last longer then 1 or 2 uses.

but then we checked Craigslist...

we found a really nice ALL WOOD model with a good quality mattress (for a futon) for less than $200.

I'd check out Craig's

 

[MrNoodly]

A swivel or reversed passenger's seat makes a decent recliner.

It depends on the van and the seat. I tried turning the passenger seat of my '07 Chevy around, but it could barely recline, and it blocked the side mirror and part of the windshield.



I could have fabricated some sort of mount to reposition the seat, but I decided to remove the seat and install a cabinet in its place.

 

[Blue]

I dont think theres enough room in my Dodge Caravan for a captian's chair from a class A on the passenger side (with my battery box being inbetween the seats) I'm not even sure a swivel would work (I think you'd likely have to pull it outside to turn it around) but its really the last thing on my list.

 

[Mackerous]

I would love a captain's chair, but I would consider it a separate issue. I may be trying to have my cake and eat it too with the futon, but hell, what good is cake if you can't eat it?

Cheap futon frames work better than you think. I was using a $60 metal Walmart one for a few years. The difference is in the $200 8" mattress I got. I would go this route again but the space you need to convert it from couch to bed just wouldn't work in a regular E150.

I'm thinking of just ripping the bottom of the one I have apart and seeing if I can't figure out some way to make it more comfortable or at least replace those springs (attempts to do so already have only lasted a day or two.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

The only futon i found i could stand are the more expensive ones made completely out of wood, with wide wooden slats, and the futon itself is nice and thick. My ex and I got one from her work that was used in a lobby or something and it was awesome. After it eventually started to break i kept gluing and reparing it so many times my wife told me she had enough and made me throw it out. I think i teared up a little lol

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

If you're happy with it, other than the broken springs, then you should be able to find replacement springs at an upholstery shop.

They are usually much easier to replace than to repair.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man