Need some input on bed / couch

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Good morning...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">A&nbsp;change to the bed&nbsp;has been on the mind tonight.&nbsp; Here's what I have now and what I would like to do...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">First, the van is a standard Chevy Express &nbsp;- that makes it a little more difficult to be creative due to height restrictions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The existing bed runs down the length of the van on the driver's side.&nbsp; Being a bigger guy, I've been using a twin bed mattress (36" X 75") on top of a basic wooden frame (with dressers underneath).</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I wish to have more of a "couch" type of thing.&nbsp; As it is now (with the mattress) the bed is too thick to allow me to sit upright&nbsp;and watch TV.&nbsp; I would not mind sitting on the wooden bed platform even without a cushion.&nbsp; At least the&nbsp;head won't hit the roof! &nbsp;Just to sit up and eat meals, watch TV, etc. would be very convenient.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I'm a 290 lb guy so whatever used needs to be reasonably robust.&nbsp; I've toyed with using couch cushions and replacing the foam rubber.&nbsp; I'm also wondering about some kind of outdoor cushions.&nbsp; It's just a thought at this point.&nbsp; Does anyone have any ideas?&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">One more thing - I did use an air mattress but it didn't work out too well.&nbsp; It was comfortable but problematic.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The twin mattress has worked very well so far... It's just the part about having to lay down to watch TV that kind of sucks.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[drakelouis29]

the main problem is that you are a heavy guy so according to me whats the problem in having a cushion mattress. any kind of cushion or mattress will low down with sometime of frequent use. sorry but i cant figure out your problem. <br>

 

[akrvbob]

I know several people who turned their passanger seat around so it aims back into the cabin. They sit in it very comfortably and only sleep on their bed. Is that a possibility?<br><br>So basically your bed is too tall. There are two ways to make it lower, (A) make the legs shorter (B) make the mattress thinner, or both. So tell us how high are the legs and how thick is the mattress. <br><br>I got my mattress form an upholstery shop. It is high quality furniture grade foam. it is 5 inches thick, but only becuase he had some scraps he glued together to fit my&nbsp; bed for cheap. Otherwise I would have used a thinner mattress. It is so high quality it can be as thin as 3 inches and still be very comfortable. <br><br>Do you mean there is literally a dresser under the bed? How high is it from the floor? Could you lower it? Bob<br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks for the tips Bob,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The bed has two 11" tall plastic dresser drawers that slide under the bed platform.&nbsp; They provide fantastic storage so I'm a little reluctant to lower the bed.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I am kind of leaning toward making some homemade foam cushions that can be moved/ stacked to use the bed like a couch, then placed together for sleep mode.&nbsp; The task this afternoon is to pull the mattress out and sit on the wood platform to see if it would make a comfortable place to sit.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Unfortunately, due to the bulkhead wall, it's not really an option to turn the seats around.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">If I had bought a high top van, this discussion would have been a moot point.&nbsp; I still like the cozy Express van, but oh, how nice a higher ceiling would have been!&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">At some point, the plan is to buy a cargo trailer to use as a second room.&nbsp; It might be a candidate for the bed/couch thing and then use the express van more like an office and kitchen.&nbsp; It's fun to dream about all the options.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">VT</p>

 

[Lucy]

I'm planning ahead for that. Since I'm using the rear bench seat but in a permanently down position, I knew I'd want to sit upright and watch TV and eat and all. The answer was simple: I got a meditation cushion. I can keep it on the floor of the van, and sitting on it and leaning against the bed is seriously comfortable. At least for the short times I've tested it out. I'm not exactly a lightweight myself, but these cushions are thick and designed for long-time sitting. It is big, so space might be an issue, but I have enough open floorspace that it isn't a problem for me.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>The cushion is on the floor in this picture:</div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Sitting low may be comfortable, but the pain (bad knees) of getting up would not make this a good solution for me.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>

 

[Terry]

I have a lot of "bad" joints and I have to have something to grab on to to get up or push myself up from wherever I'm setting. Some strategically place straps mounted around the van will help with getting up from low places. I over paid for the van I have but it has the hi-top and thats the main reason I bought it.<br>

 

[silverstreak]

<p>Hi Vantrekker. have you thought about a folding chair,like those you get that come in their own storage bag? They are lightweight,don't take up much space most have armrests and a cup holder.</p>

 

[yesican]

<p>What about putting a high top on your van?&nbsp; </p>

 

[WanderingRain]

I have a futon bed with the frame in mine. But I ripped out the mechanism and the metal framing. Just kept the futon frame to hold it together. So now I have a basic couch I can use into a bed. To support the now hollow bottom, I have 8 plastic crates down there and on top of that is a piece of plywood.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div><a href="http://rodwanderer.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-new-futon-arrangement-i-took-out.html" target="_blank">http://rodwanderer.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-new-futon-arrangement-i-took-out.html</a> </div><div><br></div><div>I know it's rinky dink, but I am proud of it and what I crammed in there...&nbsp;</div>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks for the ideas.&nbsp; I can afford to do the high top but would prefer to keep&nbsp;the roof&nbsp;intact (I have a solar panel up there).</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">More than likely, I will be doing a futon or trucker mattress type of thing...&nbsp; It's still up in the air - no&nbsp; hurry.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I do have a bagged folding chair and will try setting it up in here.&nbsp; That might work in the short term.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The&nbsp;next change will be to add a better capability for storing clothes.&nbsp; I think I might build a storage cupboard near the ceiling above my feet (my head is by the back door and feet are toward the driver).</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks again for the suggestions.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">VT</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[giulialatini]

I say go for a bean bag next to your bed with a rope attached to roof to pull yourself out. As for the storage, take out the passenger seat and put in a cabinet with drawers in it's place. I have a 12' Econoline extended cargo van so this seems like a good design to me, but I'm not sure about the space you have to work with.

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>I have a regular Dodge B250 with 13" under my custom bed with a 4" foam mattress and plan to use the turned around passenger seat.</p><p>I will install a platform, that will elevate a person's torso to approx. 45 degree to accommodate TV watching.</p><p>Of course, the best solution would be exercising more and losing weight. Cheaper and long term benefits.</p><p>Van</p>

 

[She]

<p>Of course, the best solution would be exercising more and losing weight. Cheaper and long term benefits.</p><p>Van</p>

<div><br></div><div>From my understanding from his blog he has lost 52 pds already!!&nbsp;</div>

 

[magentawave]

I guess this won't help you with a couch, but I've been sleeping on one of those generic foam "Tempurpedic" style mattresses (Spa Sensations) at Walmart http://tinyurl.com/cms3rx5 for the last two years and it is by far the most comfortable mattress I have slept on in my entire life. Two years later it is still as comfortable as the day I got it with no deformation of the foam or whatever. They come in 6", 8", and 12" thick.<br /><br />Steve