not a huige help to ya smedg, but i saw it on a video once... 10k i think it was called. Find that for some inspiration.

What you need is a platform. How's your carpentry?
Here's mine, tools below and kite stuff above here.
Foam mattress is a good call.

heres mine
managed to get all the materials for free so it cost me nothing
my carpentry isnt great but it does the job
i also made up a plywood floor so to clean it all i hav to do is brush it out





hope that gives u some ideas

cheers

damn, you've made me want to go and get a van! deck it out all comfy and stuff. just don't forget the spot for the fridge! the beers don't get cold on themselves!

Just make sure everything has a place. Nothing goes "on the top". I have stolen crates from Coles (3 in total ) that fit in like draws. and every other thing has "a place" like the table (used as the bed middle section) fits between the seats and the box.


I still do not know what to do about the mattresses as they take up a lot of room, with out spending money options are limited. I also like to be able to see around me so hight is limited. (can't understand how people drive with panel vans, must have blind spot mirrors)



The table needs some blocks for the future but I don't want to put them on as they will be a pain to have.



In real life it doesn't look as good as the photos cus I have that "make **** look better in photos skill"

nice rigs guys!

Ive done the same in my renault traffic van, raised floor to top of wheel arches and put 22mm ply floor over the top, at the front there is a hinged trap door where all my kite kit is at the back another trap door lifts from the back of van where all my tools are. Carpet the ply and hey presto all your gear is on board,and hidden and you have a empty van again. When tools not on under floor then houses bbq and all camping gear as I have a large awning that fits to side of van for weekend away. Booootiful. Ive put in 2 leisure batteries on a split charger to run my eski for 2 days all hidden.

Cheers. Thanks again for the help everyone. I've gotten nowhere yet. spent about 2 hours in the rain today peeling all these company stickers off the van (there were a lot). Then spent about an hour in the rain at the beach watching the wind squalls swing between side shore and cross off gusty crap. ended up watching role models at the movies. funny ****.

My usernam, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "I would put two vertical stringers under the floor for support." Does that mean two sheets running the length of the bed standing one their edge between the floor and the underside of the bed instead of using legs? ( I don't know what stringers are. PS should have read your reply before talking to a mate. I got laughed at.. haha. Apparently its obvious that marine ply is expensive and only needed for marine purposes. haha.

PS what should I clean sticky crap off with, from where the stickers were? hot water and dish soap didn't cut it and I don't want to wreck the paint. I've got all this truck wash left that got off a mate once when we used to ride dirt bikes. If i mix that up a little weak is that good to clean cars with or is it too harsh. it used to clean baked on mud and cow **** off engines and exhausts in no time. think it was called CT 18 or something.

PPS I'm hoping not to need to put wood across the floor that gets in the way of taking things in and out. tobes platform may be a hassle to get kite stuff in and out of all the time as the boxes you you put stuff in would have to be smaller than the openings at the back. I was dreaming of having enough height underneath the bed to fit my surfboard on its side. (to save space) This would make the bed base quite high but I'll need to measure more closely as I think I can do it and still have a foam mattress sit just below or in line with the bottom of the windows. Also, how long does fisholene stink for and are there alternatives? Thanks again.

could fit a tonne of gear and plenty of room for 2 to sleep.even had one sleeping underneath on snow trips.

@ rob 1977. That's exactly how I want mine. No wasted space. perfect. Does the ply sag much in the middle when you lay on it? Do you still have enough room to sit up in bed (assumming you are on the top bunk )

Not sure if anyone other than me is still interested but I used some citrus scented stuff called ooomph from bunnings to clean sticky crap off. worked instantly and easy. Also I tested some different sized plys and they all sag too much over the 1530mm width of a queen bed (and the distance across the back in the van) if not supported. I'm thinking of forking out for some form ply which was way better in the sag department. Still planning on building legs instead of joining anything to the van at this stage.

Anyone know where I can get a whirly bird from? (one of those spinny vent things)

Sticker glue remover: acetone

Window blackouts: Custom cut padded silver sunshades (curtains hang straight, not as good)

Mattress: Try an Ikea sofa bed one - they're pretty comfy and fold easy, reasonable price

Padding / soundproofing / flooring / insulation for wall and ceiling cover: 1/2" Thick foam floor matting - cheap, interlocking tiles, can cut to fit

Space arrangement: I'd put the bed right up the front. If you've got a lift up back, that will give you some shade / rain cover and you can set up your kitchen, seat, etc on the tailgate. If you're getting fancy, try the boat fitters for ideas - I saw a van in Germany once, it was a-may-zing. All mod cons in a kombi!!! Fold down shower well, etc, etc!

Secret / locked spot: Don't forget to build this in for your valuables

Make sure you post some before / after photos!!

There is a product from Dotmar Plastics called "Uni Board" there are a couple of types Uni board Eco and uniboard ultra stiff. These are Polyethlene and Poplypropylene blended products. http://www.dotmar.com.au/products/uniboard/uniboard_main.htm
This stuff is ideal to use, as it is stronger than Plywood also much lighter (about a quarter of the weight)and easier to cut. Does not get water logged and swell. Doesnt go mouldy and it easy to clean. The price is a little more expensive but it is really good stuff. Comes in sheet form and has a really nice finish(Black to match your carpets). The 20mm ultra stiff would be ideal for the bedbase and the 10mm eco for everything else. Worth a look.

Spent today filling holes in the floor with sicaflex (like silicon). Its an ex Telstra van, so under the carpeted ply floor was a floor with heaps of holes from all the Telstra shelving. Hoping to get some time to spend thinking about or making the bed tomorrow or the next day. Can't wait. Here are some before pics. Its a '99 2.4L petrol Express. (the biggest one I think)

rob1977 said...

Smedg said...

@ rob 1977. That's exactly how I want mine. No wasted space. perfect. Does the ply sag much in the middle when you lay on it? Do you still have enough room to sit up in bed (assumming you are on the top bunk )

hey smedg. i had angle iron screwed to the sides. you coud prob use timber as well. i had 6 timber slates going across screwed to the top of the angle iron then ply screwed to that. was very strong.
i had mine pretty high to fit lots of gear in underneath and you could also sleep someone underneath as well. if you wanted to you could make it lower for more head room.

Rob1977.. Your posts are messing with my head. I was planning on not joining anything to the sides but yours looks exactly how I want mine.. Can you tell me what size angle iron and screws you used on the sides? I've got zero experience with body work. Do you drill pilot holes and use self tappers with the rubber washers on them? Really appreciate all your help. I totally can't decide at the moment between your method and something like Tobes suggests.


@ Tobes.. You said,

"for example screwing a few 70 x 35 pine battens on flat to the underside of 12mm plywood."

This would decrease the sag even if the pine battens themselves don't sit on any supports, wouldn't it? Or did you mean having them sit on something at the sides of the van?

Thanks again for such great help!!