Just bought my van.

[NickTheoBennett]

<div>http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9.100000393487340&amp;type=1&amp;l=f84921222d<br><br>Pictures are above, I hope that link works.&nbsp; I'm going to begin drawing up plans for conversion and work on it as soon as the repairs are done.&nbsp; It has no working AC, no stereo, a broken turn signal cover, and a few scratches, but it runs better than any old car I've ever owned.&nbsp; And it only cost me $1400, including registration.&nbsp; <br><br>It has a <span class="gc-message-sms-text">has the 350 with turbo 400 transmission.&nbsp; It is a 94 Chevy Van with only 147k miles.&nbsp; I don't know how the gas mileage is, but I'm guessing not very good.&nbsp; That's okay, I want to stop and smell the roses in my travels anyway, and it is well worth having the extra size to me.&nbsp; <br><br>My only question(right now) is whether to keep the bench seat that folds down into a bed.&nbsp; It's motorized, which is kind of neat, and it would certainly be nice to have a seat with back support when you aren't sleeping, but it also takes up more space than a bed I build would, and has next to no room for storage underneath, which any bed I built would have.&nbsp; It's also fairly comfortable, though I would invest in a good pad to put over it.&nbsp; <br><br>It's pretty much everything I wanted in a van(minus the hi top, but I didn't see hardly any of those while I was searching).&nbsp; What do you all think?<br></span></div>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Hi Nick,</font></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Welcome. &nbsp;...I'm glad that you joined us.</font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Katie</font></span></div>

 

[Les H]

Hey Nick, welcome and good luck with the van!

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>Looks very similar to what I have, but mine is a 1992 Dodge and white.</p><p>Over the years I have used the sofa/bed once or twice, but never was able to get a good night's sleep on it. I was happy to get it out of there a couple of months ago and replace it.</p><p>Keeping yours or not depends on your plans with it. If you're going to use it regularly on overnight trips, I'd replace it with a one-piece, 'full-size' bed, but that's just me.</p><p>Good luck with your conversion.</p><p>Van.</p>

 

[NickTheoBennett]

What a warm welcome!&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you for the advice.&nbsp; I'll have to sleep on the bench bed a night or two and see how it feels.&nbsp; My first impression in laying on it is that it is lumpy. Probably not a good sign.&nbsp; As nice as it would be to have seating during the day, I'm think a built bed would be both more comfortable and grant me extra storage.&nbsp; <br><br>I probably wouldn't do anything fancy, just a plywood box with a foam pad and room for those nice rubbermaid drawer things underneath.&nbsp; <br><br>It's tough, my head is so full of plans, but I have to take care of the repair work first and then work on flooring and insulation before I can think about appliances and that sort of thing.&nbsp; <br><br>

 

[judycmomx6]

Your going to want as much storage as you can get, that's for sure. And if you don't have the under bed storage you will probably really have a hard time trying to find places to put stuff. That area makes a big difference in what you can carry with you in your van. Just my 2 cent's.

 

[gimo76]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><img id="img_spot185896" class="photo" src="http://www.instructables.com/image/FCU5LG0FGF7REER/Cheap-easy-low-waste-platform-bed-plans.jpg" galleryimg="NO" alt="Cheap, easy, low-waste platform bed plans"></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">I saw this on a site&nbsp;http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-easy-low-waste-platform-bed/</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">It was less than $30 and is light weight. &nbsp;He said it worked great. &nbsp;What I did with my last van was used old pallets. I cut one in half then nailed it to the other one. &nbsp;Then I put two two by fours down each side. &nbsp;Put on some legs. &nbsp;the platform area under neath was a great shelf for putting things that you wanted to keep safe. &nbsp;I went to the foam store and had her cut a piece to size after I laid on half a dozen to see how firm I wanted it. &nbsp;Then I put a memory foam on top of that... cozy bed with tons of storage underneath.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">I will use the above idea for my next beds as I want to try and do two singles like a dinette and then have it go to queen if needed. &nbsp;That way we could have a table for playing cards or games etc. &nbsp;But not sure as I don't know how wide of an area my new Van has yet....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">gimo76</span></div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Hey, Nick</b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Welcome to the forum. I agree with the majority that a platform bed with storage under makes a lot of sense and a better chance of sleeping comfort.</b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><font size="4" face="Arial"></font></b>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><font size="4" face="Arial"></font></b>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><font size="4" face="Arial">Bob</font></b></p>

 

[VanFan]

Hey Nick!&nbsp; Congratulations on the van.&nbsp; It took a long time and a lot of trying to make it comfortable before we finally ditched the "James Bond" bed.&nbsp; Like you said, it's kind of neat.&nbsp; In the end, I just had to wonder what took us so long!&nbsp; In order to be really comfortable, we had to pad it nearly to the ceiling, which just created more need for storage than ever unless it was left down and made up all the time.&nbsp; That killed any advantage to have extra seating.<br><br>There are a few "tricks" to removing it that I think I've posted somewhere here before but would be happy to share again if you're interested.<br><br>Have fun!!<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

 

[NickTheoBennett]

I'd love some advice about removal, I haven't even looked at it yet.&nbsp; We have some minor repair/safety work to do before we begin gutting the inside.&nbsp; <br>

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>NickTheoBennett,<br>Very recently, I did just that (sofa/bed removal). I documented it with a lot of pics and you can see it at <a href="http://cargovanconversion.com/?p=240" target="_blank">cargovanconversion.com</a><br></p><p>Van.</p>