The bed for the adults

A minimal viable van conversion, part 3: gas stove and running water

July 26, 2019

From MVP to version 1, the van build checklist

May 29, 2020

The bed of for the adults

This was the toughest nut to crack because it has the most impact on the layout of the van. We had 4 options when it came to our own bed each creating new issues.

Option 1: make a loft bed

Create a bed at the end of the van sleeping in the width of the van. Since the width of the van is 180 at it's widest, Mark would only fit under an angle. The kids could sleep either beneath us on the bottom of the van sacrificing the garage or above us which meant they would have far less space because the van becomes narrow quickly once you go higher up. You also lose cabinet space nearing to top if you choose the latter and you would not be able to convert the bed of the kids into a couch.

Option 2: make a ... loft bed

Create a loft bed at the end of the van with the kids sleeping in the width of the van and us sleeping in the length. We would still have a garage, we would all fit and have enough space but we would lose a lot of cabinet space. We would also be unable to convert the bed into a couch unless we could make the bed "liftable" to the top of the van during the day.

Option 3: make the seating area convert into a bed

This is an option that is chosen a lot. We would have a totally different seating arrangement in the front of the van which would be convertible into a bed at night. It was likely that the kids would either travel in the length of the van or travel backwards and we would also lose more space to the seating area. It would also mean we would have to build a bed every night, which we were not looking forward to. We would really like fixed beds.

Options 4: make a bed above the seating area in the front

The biggest thing we did not like here is that we would sleep very close to the ceiling of the van. It also would leave very little headroom unless we made the bed liftable. We would lose the storage area above the driving area and the cabinets above the seating area.

With these four options on the table, we decided to go for the option that would use the least amount of space and would make the van feel as much as a home as possible and this was option 4.

A construction

Now it was time to think up a construction that would leave as much space as a possible and that was making the bed liftable. 190x120 would be the minimum we would need and 130 was preferred. Where the top of the van is wide enough for a 120 bed, the rails for the sliding door curve at the end making it impossible for a construction to go down far enough to make a bed. We construction would also have to be light enough for Yvanka to lift.

With these parameters in mind, we wend to a company which does metal works and they came up with the aluminium construction we have now.

Hi-entry, space for cooking

The axis of the bed is on the opposite end of the sliding door which means we still have a hi-entry and you don't bump your head while you are cooking. It also lets in a lot of light. The frame has room for two slatted bases and we build an extra construction above the driving position to make the mattress breath there as well. During the day we can store sun/isolation screen of the front windows there as well and at night we take there, place them in from of the windows and lower the bed when we go to sleep. We don't have a ladder yet so we step in using a stool and the kitchen, which work fine for now.

Not that much headspace

We hole thing did take some getting used to and the first night felt a little claustrophobic. That went away the second night and we have been sleeping well ever since :) And if we would do it again we would still place the bed in the same position. Especially since the bed that converts into a couch is the kids favourite part of the van.

What we would improve

There are some things we would improve. The bed is actually a little too long. I think it could have been 15-30 cm shorter without losing sleeping comfort. Don't think you can use the entire space. Your feet still need room to go up into the air ;) The bed could also have been 10cm wider which would have added to the comfort of sleeping. It's not something we are going to change but something to check thoroughly when you're building your bed.