In Persuit Of The PERFECT Van Bed Set Up

[Solar]

This Forum has helped me out immensely. So, in the spirit of giving, I wanted to contribute what I think is approaching the perfect Bed set up in a van.

Qualifications for the “perfect” set up is to be as big and comfortable as possible, light as possible, versatile as possible, and removable within 10 minutes.

Last time I drove I just threw a mattress on the floor. The advantages to that is you pick it up and put it on it’s side, and you have 100% of your van’s space for potential earnings. Pack those loads all the way to the back of the seats.

Negative is on the floor when it’s hot, that mattress is REALLY Hot, and when it’s cold, that mattress is REALLY Cold.

So a cot seems almost ideal, except they’re generally not comfortable nor very wide.

A friend drove a van with a flip up bed. It was big, comfortable, but it was mounted so it wasn’t going anywhere. I wouldn’t call it wasted space, but it couldn’t be used for earning.

So, I’ve created this. I will post pictures as it gets put together in the van, have to get a floor in first.

This frame will hold a full sized bed (Going into a Promaster). The van can have the bed down and hold 1 skid.

The Frame folds near the middle. This will allow you to move in a second skid, and rest the excess mattress on top of the freight. So you can still have enough room to lay comfortably.

Lastly, you can remove the bolts held by wing nuts to the mounted frame, fold it up to less than 6 inches wide, move it and the mattress to the side, and have full earnings potential of your van, putting in freight all the way to the back of the seats.

This is, of course, hard to see with this picture of a empty frame on my living room floor, but I’ll show it all in due time and process.

 

[ntimevan]

Alot of Variables need to go into consideration before building of bed .
Personal perference , do you want a permanent or foldup bed.

COMPANY Floor space requirements::: nowadays most require 144 " length and 48 " wide .(3 skids) also consider average "common size" load . Example previous Carrier alot of 1 skid loads , current Carrier mostly 2 skid loads (so far , ) Also some Carriers require some type of Freight retaining wall to Prevent freight from ever shifting into Drivers compartment/seats .

Heating and Cooling ... how will your Bed /sleeping area affect this ..

How will you use this area when Not under a Load.
Just for sleeping..?
Van Cave ..? Internet /TV / Battery Banks , etc.

Just a few extra things to think about I M O ..

U run the Miles
I run for the Money

 

[Solar]

Permanent or fold up?

This one is both.

You are 100% correct, a Full Sized Bed will only fit in sideways in a Promaster (75.6” wide). Transit is too narrow.

And that is why you want a removable bed, use full potential of van space (Promaster 145.9” Load Floor Length).

 

[Turtle]

To me, the perfect bed is one that is always available, loaded or unloaded. I learned that hard lesson many moons ago when the van's cargo space was stuffed and I had a run from Chicago, IL to Oakland, CA, with no place to sleep for 3 days. The lesson was further reinforced when I had a load that filled the van and I picked it up on Friday afternoon in Davenport, IA and could not deliver until Monday morning in Burlington, IA, 75 miles away, with no place to sleep for 3 days.

One other thought... I don't know if I'd recommend using customer's freight as storage space. In fact, I recommend against it.

 

[Solar]

I agree with the notion of a permanent bed being the ideal situation, but with a 144” requirement, and only 145.9” to work with, I don’t see permanent being possible. If you know a way, I’d gladly throw this frame in a trash can and build a permanent one.

That said, I truly believe that this will approach permanent as closely as one possibly can.

One other thought... I don't know if I'd recommend using customer's freight as storage space. In fact, I recommend against it.

?


I’ve dealt with what you’re talking about though, loads with nowhere to sleep, on more than one occasion. If I get a tall load taking up 144”, then I will not have a bed. That’s something I believe I must accept.

But with the double folding frame, I do have the ability to set up my frame higher than normal. This gives more potential for freight to be below the bed.

It’s not 100%, Permanent, but it’s closest I know how to get it.

 

[ntimevan]

I agree with the notion of a permanent bed being the ideal situation, but with a 144” requirement, and only 145.9” to work with, I don’t see permanent being possible. If you know a way, I’d gladly throw this frame in a trash can and build a permanent one.

That said, I truly believe that this will approach permanent as closely as one possibly can.



?


I’ve dealt with what you’re talking about though, loads with nowhere to sleep, on more than one occasion. If I get a tall load taking up 144”, then I will not have a bed. That’s something I believe I must accept.

But with the double folding frame, I do have the ability to set up my frame higher than normal. This gives more potential for freight to be below the bed.

It’s not 100%, Permanent, but it’s closest I know how to get it.

With the measurements you gave ... I am guessing you have a Promaster 2500 . My first one was that and 1 quickly learned the 3500 being 13 inches more cargo/floor space gave more options. I give my leased Carrier 148 inches in length for cargo , thus leaving 10 + inches behind seats for like battery bank , personal items. Also mine is mounted 30 inches off floor to allow freight under bed .. Its now less than 30 seconds to fold bed forward towards seats and take 3 skids .
So bed down ... 106 " x 54 " for 2 tall skids plus 1 shorty under 30 " ..
Bed Up.... 148" x 54 " x 68 " for 3 tall skids ..
Not Perfect by any means..

When i am not on a load , i am sleeping , when loaded i am Driving..
I DO NOT live in my Van , meaning i don't Cook , Go on Internet , or Binge watch 8 seasons of NCIS .
I Mall Walk , spend time in Lowes / Home Depot walking and Casinos Walking (and gambling) . Thus getting out of Van and Exercising.
Here is a couple pics of my current setup . (Far from perfect )


U run the Miles
I run for the Money

 

[Solar]

Here is a couple pics of my current setup . (Far from perfect )

I have seen your van on my other thread. I really love the setup.

I didn’t know if having a 3500 would put me over the 10,000lbs carrying 3,000lbs.

I been reading a bunch of threads about beds on here, and the setups are amazing. I love the speed you can lift up your bed. It’s amazing how thoughtful planning can make life so much easier.

I guess I should have said “perfect for me” bed, because our needs are all so different.

Still, I think the search for the perfect van bed set up is a healthy discussion that shares many great ideas.

 

[Solar]

Btw, how thick is that board holding up your bed? Does it bend in center when laying on it?

 

[ntimevan]

Btw, how thick is that board holding up your bed? Does it bend in center when laying on it?

5/8 plywood, and i am around 190 lbs..... right at 59 " in between side supports..

U run the Miles
I run for the Money

 

[Solar]

Btw, how thick is that board holding up your bed? Does it bend in center when laying on it?

5/8 plywood, and i am around 190 lbs..... right at 59 " in between side supports..

U run the Miles
I run for the Money

Thank you.

 

[Moot]

Are those marijuana plants sunning on your dash?
.

 

[ntimevan]

Are those marijuana plants sunning on your dash?
.
View attachment 17974

I seen that when i posted those pictures... it made me want to call the Ghostbusters ..

U run the Miles
I run for the Money

 

[robin280]

I have a Transit High Roof Extended Length. I have 14 feet behind my seat. My bed is across the van and it flips up like a Murphy bed, mattress and all. I store my belongings in rectangular laundry baskets and totes that I stack behind my seat. That leaves 12+ feet for cargo. I took my passenger seat out so I also have that for permanent storage.

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[Andyinchville1]

I like the set up (but as a potential improvement) how about some higher rungs so the bed can be set up higher in case the pallet under the bed area is taller than the space available now?

The lower rungs for the lower bed position(s) could be used as a ladder to help you get up to the bed when the bed is in a higher position plus with winter coming being higher up may have advantages since heat rises..

Just some random thoughts ....

 

[Solar]

I’ve been doing final assembly on the bed and polyurethane the floor, so I haven’t quite got it ready for the test runs.

That said, the loose estimate is the frame will be 33” up off the floor.

I have seen something similar to what you are saying, I think. Guy had 4 corners of a bed frame connected to 4 hooks in the ceiling, held by 4 straps. Would put it all the way to the ceiling picking up a load, then let it down just above freight.

I just don’t see that as being practical if you team drive. If you’re going to do that, you may as well just buy a hammock.

 

[muttly]

I used an inflatable mattress in cargo area when there was enough room. I had a padded ottoman in between the two front seats along with extra pillows and layed across all three in the front area.

 

[Solar]

I just completed the assembly of the frame.

Still putting coats of minwax on the floor. Full assembly should be just around the corner.

 

[Solar]

Short story, my “perfect bed” is a bust.

Long story, the frame came together, but the mounting piece would be 2 2x4s bolted down with an L frame. While it was more than strong enough to hold up the frame, the length being 32” tall, gave it way too much ‘wiggle’ at the top.

So, as I mounted the other legs and got it set up, the whole frame wobbled like crazy. I used a LOT of bungee cords to try and calm it, but it still was all over the place.

Also, I used 5/8 plywood on the frame, and while I did lay on it, it just gave in too much on me.

I know that eventually I will want a second battery to have that extra power, and I’m checking out everyone else’s designs for future efforts. Right now, I’m exhausted, and kind of down it didn’t work. I have a LOT of experience on what not to do.

*If you’re building a taller bed, the frame needs to mount to the wall of the van.

*Unless you’re really light, 5/8 plywood isn’t enough to hold you up, you’ll need some underlying frames.

So, at this moment, my “perfect bed” is throwing my mattress on the floor, picking it up whenever I get a load.

 

[Ragman]

Short story, my “perfect bed” is a bust.

Long story, the frame came together, but the mounting piece would be 2 2x4s bolted down with an L frame. While it was more than strong enough to hold up the frame, the length being 32” tall, gave it way too much ‘wiggle’ at the top.

So, as I mounted the other legs and got it set up, the whole frame wobbled like crazy. I used a LOT of bungee cords to try and calm it, but it still was all over the place.

Also, I used 5/8 plywood on the frame, and while I did lay on it, it just gave in too much on me.

I know that eventually I will want a second battery to have that extra power, and I’m checking out everyone else’s designs for future efforts. Right now, I’m exhausted, and kind of down it didn’t work. I have a LOT of experience on what not to do.

*If you’re building a taller bed, the frame needs to mount to the wall of the van.

*Unless you’re really light, 5/8 plywood isn’t enough to hold you up, you’ll need some underlying frames.

So, at this moment, my “perfect bed” is throwing my mattress on the floor, picking it up whenever I get a load.

Hey! At least you tried. Ya had a thought, and tried.

Remember, Edison found 1000 ways not to make a light bulb.

 

[xmudman]

Hey! At least you tried. Ya had a thought, and tried.

Remember, Edison found 1000 ways not to make a light bulb.

Actually, I’ve heard it was 8000

Either one is some next level perseverance, tho!

Another good story of perseverance is Harlan Sanders. Forty years of struggle in hardscrabble Corbin, KY. At the end of it all, little to show for all of his work. Took one last shot with part of a social security check. That last shot became KFC


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