Cargo van build-a-bed?

Anyone have plans or pics of homemade bed platform in a cargo van? I'm looking to pick up a cheap cargo van as a tow vehicle to the track, to provide secure storage of tools/parts as well as rudimentary overnight arrangements. Ideally I'd like to have two platforms across, a full width bunk bed, if you will, with the ability to collapse the platform down for storage, and up at night for sleeping.

I have seen a murphy bed type of bunk that folded up against each wall. When dropped they met and formed a full width bunk.

Some of the conversion vans have the bed raised up so there is storage underneath it. Usually accessible from the rear doors. But that style doesn't fold up so you may not want to go that way. Fold up on the side is a good idea like pilotbraden said.

I would look into what the Expeditor type van guys are doing. These guys sleep in the van between assignments and are pretty creative.

http://www.alltypesexpediting.com/suggestedgear.php

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/truck-talk/44065-cargo-van-setup-guide.html

Another option would be to ape the Westfalia design. Not quite cargo levels of utility, but it's pretty easy to find the folding rear seat/bed for sale. I think they're usually called Z beds.

I always thought an Army cot was good enuff.....

Ranger50 wrote: I always thought an Army cot was good enuff.....

It's hard to even take a nap on one of those. You may as well just sleep on the floor.

In reply to rotard:

I've slept on hotel/motel beds that were worse....

If you don't go to the rent a room by the hour places, they are usually OK. My first trip to Trinidad I stayed at one of those by accident. Thrill a minute, I'll tell ya.

The make inflatable mattresses intended for a truck bed, complete with wheel well cut outs. You could use the same I would think. Just a matter of measuring it up.

Otherwise put some eyes, or hooks in the ceiling and hang a bed from the roof on chains. When not in use, the bed can be raised or removed.(a hanging bed can always be level no matter where you park).

I had a friend who built two carpeted benches, even with the tops of the wheel wells of his pickup bed. They were a little wider at the top than the bottom and had a small notch at the top. They were covered with carpet. Then he cut plywood, probably two pieces of 3/4" laminated together, and covered that with carpet too. The plywood laid flat on the floor of the bed most of the time but you could slide it out and fit it into the notch at the top of the benches, making a flat surface the width of the truck bed. With a cap on the truck, he towed a small pop up camper and two kids could sleep in the back of the truck.

I was one of those kids.

Keith had part of the idea right, but I'd mimic the other Westy beds myself. The upper is a cot that folds across to be almost full size. That could be fairly easily mounted to a brace at the front and rear of the van.

The kiddy bed Westy's used was a cot that stretched across over the front seats and attached to 4 corner anchors in the A and B pillars. Add some anchors along the sides, sling an appropriate piece of canvas across, climb in and sleep.

I don't know about the earliest split-window Westys, but the bay window and Vanagon ones with the tilt top have a two-part bed upstairs. Pop the top and unfold the front half, which is sitting on the rear. Might be a hassle to arrange in a fixed-top vehicle and you'd be left with that shelf to deal with all the time.

The downstairs bed is almost exactly the same size, only about 2" different in each dimension. But it's a functional seat when you're not using it.

Wander around in here( http://vandwellers.org/ ) and you'll learn all kinds of things!

I'm in the same exact boat. I have a 99 cargo van that I will use 90% of the time as a DD/truck, but we will be using it as a metal tent for weekend getaways.

I'm looking for a way to add a bed without destroying the lovely 10' of open cargo space we have. That fold-up 2x4 framed bed is a good idea, but I also plan on customizing the interior so it looks nice.

Reading with much expectation......

I'm starting to think you should just put two eyebolts in the roof and hang a big hammock when it's time to sleep. Maximum flexibility, and if you add some little party lights and a plastic palm tree you can pretend you're on the beach somewhere.

For sleeping in a van, definately consider spending the money to add some insulation. Otherwise its like an oven in the summer months when the sun rises. Gets really damn cold in the winter too.

Standard fiberglass roll insulation works fine (the pink stuff for your house), fit it between the ribs of the walls and ceiling and put up some wood strips or paneling mounted to the ribs to hold it in place. Stuff it inside the rear and side doors.

Keith wrote: I'm starting to think you should just put two eyebolts in the roof and hang a big hammock when it's time to sleep. Maximum flexibility, and if you add some little party lights and a plastic palm tree you can pretend you're on the beach somewhere.

This....

And to be real GRM....

A queen or king size bed sheet works perfectly.. Just use some quality rope and tie a 'sheet bend' on either end of the bed sheet. You can experiment with just how to bundle it to suit your needs...

http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/hammock.html

The knot in this one below is 'better' IMO

http://survival.outdoorlife.com/blogs/survivalist/2011/12/survival-skills-how-build-tarp-hammock

But seriously.. The only complaints about hammocks are those you can't get in and out of them due to health, and you can't lay flat...

You can lay flat.. Just lay diagonally in the hammock (your head and feet point away from the attaching points) and you will lay darn near perfectly flat. I sleep on my stomach in the hammock...

I do plenty of camping/backpacking and other than extreme cold weather I have given up on tents.. and if I had my way I would have a hammock setup in the bedroom at home.. well.. uuhhh.. eerrrr...

Last year I pulled my Hobie 16 to Regattas behind a 89 Dodge Caravan.. I slept on a hammock setup inside the van by tucking rope out the windows and tied off to the ladder rack... It works awesome..

Swinging down the road might get weird though if that was the plan

Allpar doesn't like hotlinking pics, so check this out!;

http://www.allpar.com/model/m/1991-voyager.html

There is a picture of it folded up towards the bottom of the page.

I have one of these; unfortunately my caravan is down...

It is essentially a really heavy 3 piece seat with two fold out legs. The seating surface flattens, the seat back folds flat, and a third hinged "cushion" folds up (it is essentially the back of the seat back) and out with legs to support it.

The assembly probably would not be too difficult to make with a seat pivoting mechanism and two cut up bench seats and a welder.

Keith wrote: I'm starting to think you should just put two eyebolts in the roof and hang a big hammock when it's time to sleep.

Ever spent an entire night in a hammock? I always wake up cold and stiff.

And hungover.

I like the idea of hanging a platform from the ceiling, I would like to keep the floor space as open as possible for storage. I'm getting flak from the spousal unit that vans are ugly. This further reinforces that I must have a van to display prominently in the driveway for all to see!

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/2774600112.html

Blow up mattress seems to be the answer. $15 one if you can sleep anywhere. We bought a NICE ($100) one that sleeps better than our $1000 'real' mattress. Honestly has me wondering if we should just buy a blow-up mattress as our DD. Sure it's not all pimpy and cool like the murphy bed setup, but it sure as E36 M3 is the 'easy' button. I like easy.

Done both the Hammock route when I was single fabbing mounts at the rear upper passneger door and the drivers shoulder belt anchor. Worked like a charm I ran the hammock diaganal across the back over top of some of my gear. If you like hammocks it was plenty comfortable.

Once I became part of a couple I went with a blow up mattress on the floor, worked OK but had to put most of our stuff at the track outside so we build an L shape bench that went across the backs of the two front captians chairs and down the drivers side wall. There is storage in the seats of the bench and we fabbed up a table top that fills in the viod making a nice platform for a bed. I guess I should try to find pictues to explain it better.

LopRacer wrote: Once I became part of a couple I went with a blow up mattress on the floor.......... I guess I should try to find pictues to explain it better.

You are a lucky man. My wife doesn't blow anything....yours apparently blows up whole beds.