Optimum Bed Height?

[PastTense]

Was it the optimum bed height? Perhaps some people can share the distance above and below the bed in their van (out of what total height?).

On one hand the higher the bed the more storage space you can have below it. On the other hand there are considerations about sitting on the bed, feeling claustrophobic if too close to the roof, watching TV or reading while lying on the bed.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[caseyc]

A lot depends whether you have a low top or high top roof vehicle. If a high top, then you have more options. But if a low top, then I consider the ideal height to be such that you can easily sit upright on the bed without hitting your head on the ceiling. At the same time your bed (and bedframe) height should offer around 6 to 8 inches of floor clearance so you can store medium to large size plastic containers under the bed. I sometimes see pictures of beds that are raised so high to the ceiling (to offer more under-bed storage) as to severely sacrifice the ability to sit upright. I personally don't want to bump my head on the ceiling every time I enter or exit a bed.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Back when I built out a van I used milk crate type containers under the bed for storage. I think it was 13" from the floor to bottom of the frame, can't quite remember. As I recall, I had plenty of sitting height.
Some I've seen use 16" tall storage totes under the bed.

 

[corky52]

A better question might be, how much space between the top of the sleeping pad and the over head.

I currently have a loft arrangement with work space and storage underneath. I find that about 30 inches is what I need for comfort.

Corky

 

[wagoneer]

With my hi-top the bed is about 3 feet up with a lot of stuff under I can sit up and stretch but I do carry a lot of flea stuff so it will be different for other folks.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Corky, I'd feel like i was in a coffin with 30" of space. I don't like cabover sleepers at either.
There is no right or wrong way. Depends on your own needs.

 

[wagoneer]

I just now measured I got 3 feet under my bed and 3 feet from the bed to the ceiling

 

[corky52]

Jay,
I agree, I've been moving my sleeping around and seeing what works for me. I found I couldn't sleep well with less than 30", but beyond that it didn't seem to affect me. I think that when I get to building the final bed, I'' go about 33 inches, that will give me lots of storage underneath.


Corky

 

[Stargazer]

As others have said, it is all a matter of personal preference. I cannot sit on my bed with a 9" thick mattress and lots of storage underneath. But...to me, a bed is for sleeping only. It is close feeling but I like that. It's my cocoon. It also affords me more room for living.

Think about how you plan to use the bed, along with the rest of your space, and do whatever works for you.

 

[compassrose]

Start from the top down.... sit on a hard surface. With a metal tape measure, measure from the top of the hard surface you are sitting on to a few inches above your head. If you will be brushing your hair in bed or you normally yawn & stretch upon waking then factor the space to do those things into your headspace. Don't forget to add room for other activities you do in bed. How thick will your mattress be? We sleep on an air mattress with a topper on it. That adds up to 14" (ignore the "inflated" size measurements on air mattresses as we have found these things tend to grow after being inflated for a few weeks). With a plywood deck, you do not need a set of box springs. But you will need a good thickish mattress because you do not have the extra springyness of the box springs. I suggest you allow 3" or 4" for adding a foam topper even if you think you don't need one. Add 1/2" plus the thickness of your horizontal support material if used (if you use vertical plywood every few feet to support the plywood, you won't need horizontal support). Even if you think your "milk crates" will support your weight, cut a piece of plywood/OSB (not particleboard) slightly taller than your crates and the full width of the bed. This will allow you to pull the crates out fairly easily. Other crates will hold the plywod/OSB upright. I keep a small rake to pull things out from under our bed. Look at home hardware stores, in the long handled garden tools section. You are/ looking for a small sturdy rake like a garden cultivator. Handy little sucker. You can also use to gently clean out firepits among other things. If you get a metal garden bow rake, those can not only pull out your bins and clean out firepits but rake/smooth gravel/sand rv pads. Don't get a rake wider than your bins and don't get a leaf rake to pull your bins out. I've used our rake to also smooth gravel into the "holes" left in a site from large overweight rvs and holes dug into the pad by pets, people.

 

[MrNoodly]

From the floor to the bottom of the bed frame is 12.5" in my van. That's just right for a 58 quart Sterilite container, a 2 gallon Arrowhead water jug, or a 24 pack of Diet Coke on its edge to slide in and out.

On top of the frame I have 12 inches of foam mattress that leaves 28" to the roof. But when I sit on the mattress, it compresses so that I have 35" of headroom, which is just enough for me to use it while a fold down door on the cabinet serves as a desk.

 

[christine]

Optimum bed height is different for everyone. Personally, I need to be able to sit up in bed, so I need at least 30" between the top of my mattress and the ceiling. I'd recommend mocking up the vertical space before committing to it.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

I wish I made mine a little taller to get the taller water jugs under. Bottom clearance is the key. 2 inches makes a lot of difference.

 

[accrete]

I've included an image of our DIY Chevy 1500 AWD van conversion's interior. This is showing our bed platform with froli sleep system (~3" high) and six inches of blue gel foam toppers (2 x 3"). Underneath you can see two 80 quart Engel Deep Blue coolers (~19" high). Our heads are toward the rear under a rear shelf that is about ~24" above our heads on pillows. The overhead shelf is the outer roof of original roof from rear doors to the first pillar that we left for this reason and also support/integrity. We have no issues with being claustrophobic or bonking our heads. The underneath storage also allows for the stock "Action Packer" style ABS storage boxes. Plenty of storage space and room above.

more over at my Sportsmobile forum build thread

Cheers,
Thom

 

[steamjam1]

I used 15/32 sanded plywood to make a platform 15" tall to sleep on with storage underneath. I found that a bed 15" tall was the perfect height in a standard roof Dodge B series van. I can sit up while in bed (I'm 6"2), and when I'm not asleep on top, I can use the surface as a desk which is a pretty good height to use a laptop or to cook on.