Conduit and Rope Bed

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I have slept on this bed every night for the past year. I had to tighten the ropes a few times early on. There is no way to keep them tight enough so that the bed stays flat. It sags a bit but it doesn't bother me. I would recommend this bed.

If the sagging really bothered someone to the point it was interfering with a good nights sleep, you could put a piece of thin plywood between the ropes and the mattress.

 

[TampShawn]

If the sagging really bothered someone to the point it was interfering with a good nights sleep, you could put a piece of thin plywood between the ropes and the mattress.

I slept on a variety of rope beds when I was in India. Most of them were made of a jute type of rope and were quite comfortable... well with one exception. I am 5'8" and the beds were built for someone who was probably 5'2" so the wood hit me on the head and under the ankles. I do think this would be a great alternative to having a heavy bed. 

I have also slept on a hammock quite a bit when I was in South America and also found those really comfortable. Given the weight and space, these save I am surprised more people have not done this. I would love to see someone give the pros and cons.

One pro is that both of these let more air circulate and would be cooler.

 

[John61CT]

You need very strong mount points and to keep a lot of space unused, both vertically and lengthwise for hammocks
It certainly can be done, but a flat narrow mat 6" longer than my body is more efficient in a small space.

Great for outside though!

I like the idea of two paralleled poles with very taut sling fabric like used for patio furniture.

Key is getting four very strong precisely located mount points that don't move when the poles are dis/mounted each day.

Easy to roll up and stash when not in use.

 

[MrNoodly]

There was a time when ALL beds used ropes to support the mattress.

And I think in order to make this bed period-correct, the mattress should be a sack stuffed with straw.

 

[Scout]

A couple of comments:

There was a time when ALL beds used ropes to support the mattress.  That's where the phrase "sleep tight" comes from.

I would have used parachute cord - breaking strength 550 lbs and it comes in 100 foot lengths.  I would have gotten two, and run one across the bed and the other lengthwise, interweaving the lengthwise one over and under each alternate crosswise rope.

Finally to keep it tight, I would have gotten four turnbuckles, like these:

http://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-Gu...TF8&qid=1457805772&sr=8-8&keywords=turnbuckle

One on each end of each rope.

Regards
John

This works good. Ive done this on a long term camp setup but my frame was small sapling trunks and i didnt use the turnbuckles but i didnt tighten it for close to a year and i was sleeping on it around 5 days a week almost every week.i also used a foam pad on top.