Murphy bed in a van?

[MrNoodly]

I had been doing some mental engineering about how to do a lengthwise fold-down bed in a van. Sure, I could hinge one side of the frame and have some kind of latch to hold it in place. But is there a better way? Could it be rigged so the wall side of the bed went down as the free side went up? What would the geometry of the pivot arms need to be?<br><br>Then I remembered Murphy beds -- the classic fold-down. So I did some searching and discovered there are several types of Murphy bed kits. Hmmmmmmmmm.<br><br><strong style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-shadow: none;"><span style="text-shadow: none;"><a class="smarterwiki-linkify" style="text-shadow: none;" href="http://tinyurl.com/d9lae9r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/d9lae9r</a></span></strong>

 

[psytechguy]

Here ya go!&nbsp; <br><br>http://www.blazinbelltech.com/furniture.html#<br><br>

 

[Scoundrel]

Have a look at this thread.&nbsp; Coolest bed I've seen.<br><br>https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Twist-on-a-Murphy-Bed-6230207

 

[Ballenxj]

psytechguy, those are some COOL options. Nice ideas. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[psytechguy]

That site got me to thinking about how to modify one of those standard back seat/beds that come in most conversion vans. You could turn it into something like their fold up couch/bed that runs down the side of a van.<br><br>I'll bet you could break one down and then re-assemble it (with a few mods) into something workable.<br>Maybe just use the framework and then re-upholster it with your own cushions/mattress. Those stock conversion van beds are notoriously uncomfortable.

 

[bpeck]

Check this guy's setup for inspiration:<br>http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&amp;t=6098

 

[psytechguy]

I'm getting this error:<br><br>"The requested topic does not exist."

 

[MrNoodly]

Check this guy's setup for inspiration:<br>http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&amp;t=6098

<br><br>That bed looks only slightly more comfortable than the floor.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Hi MrNoodly,<br><br>I'm almost finish with the mattress part of&nbsp;our bed/couch. I took 3 foam and wrapped them with fabric, then I sewed the pieces together in an accordion fashion; one seam on the bottom one on the top&nbsp;like so:<br><br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsY/oLjqB-VHEkc/s640/100_4805.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><br>It very comfortable and take little space during the day<br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsA/kYQPA8ZJ0m0/s640/100_4802.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br>The base/storage design is not quite decided yet<br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsI/ujO09rTBdh0/s640/100_4803.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsQ/zyMlS-awT_c/s640/100_4804.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br>Not a Murphy bed but that will work just fine for us.<br><br>Blue Skies.<br><br>Nicole

 

[jjandtheworld]

HI! 

My name is Jennifer & I saw your van in 1 of the threads I was reading & noticed you have screens on your doors. How did you do it???

Thanks! 
Hi MrNoodly,<br><br>I'm almost finish with the mattress part of&nbsp;our bed/couch. I took 3 foam and wrapped them with fabric, then I sewed the pieces together in an accordion fashion; one seam on the bottom one on the top&nbsp;like so:<br><br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsY/oLjqB-VHEkc/s640/100_4805.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><br>It very comfortable and take little space during the day<br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsA/kYQPA8ZJ0m0/s640/100_4802.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br>The base/storage design is not quite decided yet<br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsI/ujO09rTBdh0/s640/100_4803.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 32px; top: 16px; width: 640px; height: 480px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAExsQ/zyMlS-awT_c/s640/100_4804.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br>Not a Murphy bed but that will work just fine for us.<br><br>Blue Skies.<br><br>Nicole

 

[DannyB1954]

here is another interesting system.

The problem I see with Murphy style beds is you gain floor space at the cost of losing storage. With other beds, you can have storage under them and above them. Hard to do with a Murphy.

 

[TrainChaser]

One advantage of a Murphy-type bed is that you can lift it easily to get to the storage beneath it. And, if you have to make some temporary changes (like fitting a Harley inside), you don't have to do any major engineering.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

I like the design style of a fold-up. One down side, for me, wouldn't have a super comfortable bed (my hybrid at home is hard to beat). So a hybrid style bed must lay flat. Bed is sooo important for a restful sleep.

 

[PathofAsha]

The new Wonder by Leisure Travel built on a Ford Transit has a lengthwise residential queen murphy bed setup.  Very cool.

http://www.leisurevans.com/wonder/video.html#anchor

I have 2 extra long twin metal folding bed frames in storage. I was planning to use them as a murphy bed lengthwise on either side of my future van. When folded down would make a king bed if needed. When folded up the metal frame and a few carabiners could hold whatever gear/backpacks.

 

[TrainChaser]

CautionToTheWind:  "I like the design style of a fold-up. One down side, for me, wouldn't have a super comfortable bed (my hybrid at home is hard to beat). So a hybrid style bed must lay flat. Bed is sooo important for a restful sleep."

Right!

Unfortunately, many people who build things like folding beds simply don't think the design through completely, and then they have to 'adjust' the arrangement by using a cheap, thin mattress, and comfort goes out the window.

If you go to Google Images and look for folding beds for a van, you will see the same design 99 times out of 100:  They measure the WIDTH of the mattress, make a platform exactly that wide, attach it with hinges to fixed parts of the wall of the van; then they realize they didn't leave room for the THICKNESS of the mattress.  So they find a thin piece of foam that they can squash against the wall of the van and call it good.  I don't call that 'good', I call that 'sloppy'.

Someone on this site posted a good drawing of how it needs to be, but I can't find it because the internal search engine will only seems to search for single words. If someone could post the picture or the link, that would be wonderful.

But if you look at this make-do photo:  https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/92/df/17/92df175a102fd90afe8dbebdd967a6c0.jpg you will see what looks like a 2x8" plank fastened in place directly to the wall.  Mind you, this is for a table, where everything folds down, so you would need to put the hinge on the top outer edge so the bed can fold up.  YOU NEED THIS PLANK (even if it's made from 1/2" plywood), and it needs to be the thickness of your mattress when it's fully made up (minus pillows).  Most twin mattresses are 38" wide, and the thickness can range from 5" to 20", so you'll have to measure your own, and make that solid piece at least the thickness of your mattress. 

And then you make the actual platform, which is the same width as the mattress.  If you have a twin mattress that is 38" wide and 7" thick, the total distance from the inner wall of the van to the edge of the bed would be 42", minimum, NOT 38".

When you fold down the bed, you will have a little shelf on the wall side.  And don't plan to fill that portion of the wall with hooks or shelves.  It is strictly for the mattress.

 

[gargoyle]

The new Wonder by Leisure Travel built on a Ford Transit has a lengthwise residential queen murphy bed setup.  Very cool.

http://www.leisurevans.com/wonder/video.html#anchor

I have 2 extra long twin metal folding bed frames in storage. I was planning to use them as a murphy bed lengthwise on either side of my future van. When folded down would make a king bed if needed. When folded up the metal frame and a few carabiners could hold whatever gear/backpacks.

That's a nice ride and cool set up.

 

[Headache]

If you have a twin mattress that is 38" wide and 7" thick, the total distance from the inner wall of the van to the edge of the bed would be 42", minimum, NOT 38".

When you fold down the bed, you will have a little shelf on the wall side.  And don't plan to fill that portion of the wall with hooks or shelves.  It is strictly for the mattress.

Not necessarily.  If you build your mattress base to include the 7" space the mattress is stored in it will only end up being as wide as the mattress itself.  You just slide the mattress into the storage space when open and slide it back out a bit when you fold up the bed.  I had one similar in a camp shed.

 

[TrainChaser]

Headache: "If you build your mattress base to include the 7" space the mattress is stored in it will only end up being as wide as the mattress itself. You just slide the mattress into the storage space when open and slide it back out a bit when you fold up the bed."

You're going to have an extra 7" of platform no matter which edge you put the mattress on, when it's lying flat, unless you omit the mattress thickness from the width of the folding part of the platform. The only platform like this that I've ever seen in person, the owner had a strap that wrapped around the mattress and the platform. He said it helped to keep the mattress from shifting front to back, and also prevented him running his shins into the plywood corners.

 

[John61CT]

The platform can be an inch smaller than the mattress, and 1.5-2" velcro sewn to the underside, say a foot in from the edges will keep it in place.

That shelf between the mattress and the wall is nice for comfort and charge outlets, resting cups, stashing books & toys, hot water bottles, spare pillows etc.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

CautionToTheWind:  "I like the design style of a fold-up. One down side, for me, wouldn't have a super comfortable bed (my hybrid at home is hard to beat). So a hybrid style bed must lay flat. Bed is sooo important for a restful sleep."

Someone on this site posted a good drawing of how it needs to be, but I can't find it because the internal search engine will only seems to search for single words.  If someone could post the picture or the link, that would be wonderful.

Is this it???

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Murphy-Bed-Design-Installation