Electric bed?

[She]

Does anybody use the bed the van came with. My oldie comes with it(its electric) and Im not sure if I want it or not. Its going to be a pitta to remove. I wonder about  storage. I can put crates behind and underneath(I think). Was it a pain or a plus for you?

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<FONT color=#00ffff size=3><b>She</b></FONT>, what is an electric bed?<br><FONT color=#ff00ff><b>Dragonfly</b></FONT><br>

 

[She]

Its the rear seat in the van. The bench? It folds out into a bed when a button is pressed and then folds back into a bench seat. I hope Im explaining this right. New to me.&nbsp;

 

[She]

Good idea. I was going to put my own bed in there ,then a friend says why would you do that with a bed and couch build right in? good question and i had no answer. Strange for me...I always have an answer. LOL Anyway I'll do that. Thanks&nbsp;<div>BTW i have a name for my new oldie. Frank ,for Frank Sinatra. if I could make it in NY I can make it anywhere...as Frankie sang. If this van can make it in NY it can make it anywhere!! LOL</div>

 

[VanFan]

Does anybody use the bed the van came with. My oldie comes with it(its electric) and Im not sure if I want it or not. Its going to be a pitta to remove. I wonder about &nbsp;storage. I can put crates behind and underneath(I think). Was it a pain or a plus for you?

<br>Ah yes.&nbsp; The James Bond Bed.&nbsp; For us, it turned out to be a major pain, although I liked the <i>idea</i> of it very much.&nbsp; It took me a long time to finally let it go, but I am very glad I did.<br><br>It was never comfortable to sleep on in bed mode.&nbsp; We tried lots of things to make it decent, but by the time it was, we'd piled so much on it our noses nearly bumped the ceiling.&nbsp; Then all that stuff had to be stored to use it as a sofa.&nbsp; (For one, it was okay to sleep on width-wise in sofa mode, but not great.)<br><br>Yes, you can put crates behind it, but getting to those things from inside is another story--especially with the bed down if you have the three section version.&nbsp; I think you will find the available storage underneath to be quite limited, too.&nbsp; If/when you take it out, you will need to consider how to keep things from moving around inside the van.<br><br>Removing mine wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be*, BUT:<br>1)&nbsp; It was very heavy.&nbsp; (My mpg improved!)<br>2)&nbsp; It was necessary to remove one of the middle row captains seats because it was too wide to go out the back doors and too long to turn lengthwise with both middle seats in.&nbsp; (My middle seats are on quick-release bases, so no big deal, but it pays to think ahead.)<br>3)&nbsp; Speaking of thinking ahead, if your bench moves back and forth using the electric switch, be SURE to have the seat centered over the base before removing it and disconnecting the wiring.&nbsp; If you don't, the unit will be unstable when sitting outside of the van.&nbsp; (Ask me how I know.&nbsp; <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">.&nbsp; We had to run a temporary wire to cure that ill.)<br>4)&nbsp; If the nicest furniture in your stick-n-brick came out of your van, you just might be a Red...&nbsp; Never mind.&nbsp; The leather James Bond Bed lived in a back bedroom for over a year before we set it on the porch and ran a Craigslist "free" ad.<br><br>*A torque wrench is a girl's best friend!&nbsp; Who knew?&nbsp; <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">.<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

 

[johnny_canuck]

I made2 fold down beds. Lots of storage each side. Bought tri fold 3" thick mattresses. Fold one 2' section of the mattress to access the potty. Easy for me to get into my cap with both rear bed sections in the upright position. Questions?

 

[She]

I made2 fold down beds. Lots of storage each side. Bought tri fold 3" thick mattresses. Fold one 2' section of the mattress to access the potty. Easy for me to get into my cap with both rear bed sections in the upright position. Questions?

<div><br></div><div>Step by step directions. LOL Cute little puggles.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></div>

 

[She]

Does anybody use the bed the van came with. My oldie comes with it(its electric) and Im not sure if I want it or not. Its going to be a pitta to remove. I wonder about &nbsp;storage. I can put crates behind and underneath(I think). Was it a pain or a plus for you?

<br>Ah yes.&nbsp; The James Bond Bed.&nbsp; For us, it turned out to be a major pain, although I liked the <i>idea</i> of it very much.&nbsp; It took me a long time to finally let it go, but I am very glad I did.<br><br>It was never comfortable to sleep on in bed mode.&nbsp; We tried lots of things to make it decent, but by the time it was, we'd piled so much on it our noses nearly bumped the ceiling.&nbsp; Then all that stuff had to be stored to use it as a sofa.&nbsp; (For one, it was okay to sleep on width-wise in sofa mode, but not great.)<br><br>Yes, you can put crates behind it, but getting to those things from inside is another story--especially with the bed down if you have the three section version.&nbsp; I think you will find the available storage underneath to be quite limited, too.&nbsp; If/when you take it out, you will need to consider how to keep things from moving around inside the van.<br><br>Removing mine wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be*, BUT:<br>1)&nbsp; It was very heavy.&nbsp; (My mpg improved!)<br>2)&nbsp; It was necessary to remove one of the middle row captains seats because it was too wide to go out the back doors and too long to turn lengthwise with both middle seats in.&nbsp; (My middle seats are on quick-release bases, so no big deal, but it pays to think ahead.)<br>3)&nbsp; Speaking of thinking ahead, if your bench moves back and forth using the electric switch, be SURE to have the seat centered over the base before removing it and disconnecting the wiring.&nbsp; If you don't, the unit will be unstable when sitting outside of the van.&nbsp; (Ask me how I know.&nbsp; <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">.&nbsp; We had to run a temporary wire to cure that ill.)<br>4)&nbsp; If the nicest furniture in your stick-n-brick came out of your van, you just might be a Red...&nbsp; Never mind.&nbsp; The leather James Bond Bed lived in a back bedroom for over a year before we set it on the porch and ran a Craigslist "free" ad.<br><br>*A torque wrench is a girl's best friend!&nbsp; Who knew?&nbsp; <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">.<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

<div><br></div><div>Van&nbsp;</div><div>How much MPG did you get for removing the seat?</div><div>Did you need help removing the seat?</div>

 

[cyndi]

<P>ha! I was thinking you meant one of those sleep number beds and I was soooooooooo jealous!</P>

 

[She]

<p>ha! I was thinking you meant one of those sleep number beds and I was soooooooooo jealous!</p>

<div><br></div><div>AWW sorry Cyndi.</div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Frankie and Michelle!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sounds like a good combination.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Congratulations!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>

 

[She]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Frankie and Michelle!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sounds like a good combination.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Congratulations!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>

<div>LOL Thanks Bob&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></div>

 

[VanFan]

<div>Van&nbsp;</div><div>How much MPG did you get for removing the seat?</div><div>Did you need help removing the seat?</div>

<br>It's hard to say how much of the mileage improvement was directly related to removing the seat.&nbsp; I removed the two middle captains at around the same time, and made several minor mechanical improvements that all contributed to better mileage.&nbsp; (Highway mileage is currently around 18 to 19, a modest but still significant improvement over the 15 to 16 I started out with.)<br><br>Yes.&nbsp; I definitely needed help, and my back still didn't appreciate it.&nbsp; One additional caution comes to mind:&nbsp; if your bench has an extension that includes "spring loaded" gas filled adjusters (the term escapes me at the moment), be very careful removing and otherwise handling these!&nbsp; They pack a pretty good punch, to say the least.<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

 

[She]

Gulp!! Thanks for the&nbsp;warning.

 

[VanFan]

Gulp!! Thanks for the&nbsp;warning.

<br>Please don't let my talk intimidate you, okay?&nbsp; Taking seats out will probably not be as hard as you might expect.&nbsp; One thing I have loved about the "older van experience," is the tremendous feeling of accomplishment gained from doing things that I didn't know I could.&nbsp; I have also enjoyed the simple stuff like just plain playing house or sitting inside and staring out the windows.&nbsp; It's almost embarrassing just how much fun I have with the van--even when I'm not going any where!<br><br>BTW, I just came from your blog.&nbsp; Does your van have the sliding windows like the one pictured?&nbsp; If so, I think you'll really enjoy them.&nbsp; You can get a great cross breeze through those little guys!<br><br>Enjoy!<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

 

[She]

Gulp!! Thanks for the&nbsp;warning.

<br>Please don't let my talk intimidate you, okay?&nbsp; Taking seats out will probably not be as hard as you might expect.&nbsp; One thing I have loved about the "older van experience," is the tremendous feeling of accomplishment gained from doing things that I didn't know I could.&nbsp; I have also enjoyed the simple stuff like just plain playing house or sitting inside and staring out the windows.&nbsp; It's almost embarrassing just how much fun I have with the van--even when I'm not going any where!<br><br>BTW, I just came from your blog.&nbsp; Does your van have the sliding windows like the one pictured?&nbsp; If so, I think you'll really enjoy them.&nbsp; You can get a great cross breeze through those little guys!<div><br></div><div>Exact van. Window and all. Just not that color. Green it is.<br><br>Enjoy!<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

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