Custom twin bed builds, storage galore and weight savings!

[Dano]

I only used 1 1/2" x 3/4" for the entire build. I bought 1x10 (3/4" x 9 1/2") cheap pine shelves at Home Depot and ripped each strip down to an inch and a half wide. Tried to keep it as light as possible and they are plenty strong enough at about 12" on center. Additionally, the bead board adds to the strength but it's gluing it all that helps the most in my opinion. Just as aside to your table bracket, the storage spots under the driver's side bed will hold two TV trays on top of each other if you want to keep everything as neat and tidy as possible, also, very light. I measured carefully for that since I think that's the way we will go with ours

[Dano]

In addition, by taking out the dinette, it increases the bed length by 4" since the mattress can go tight to the pillar beside/behind the passenger seat, the dinette can't follow that contour and is shorter so that's another small bonus....

[SMan]

Nice looking Dano. I'm intrigued. Looking forward to watching to completion.

[Blue~Go]

Neato! I'm looking forward to getting home later so I can see it on the bigger screen. Right now I can see the concept, but not the details (tiny screen in the sun ).

Funny, but (on my small screen mind you), I also thought it looked like "big" lumber. Did you have trouble with the wood splaying out when you ripped it down? (I have in the past).

BTW, an official twin bed is 39" wide (vs. 36"). I suppose it's all in what you are used to, but I have my couch base so that I can slide it out to any point I want (between about 23" and 43") and I tend to pull it out to around 32" of exposed mattress. Seems luxurious after years of 24" bunks I slide it back during the day because I am spoiled by wide aisle. Plus, with your design, one could always make a filler and then make it one huge bed (or mod it later if preferences change).

I have thought about making my design more like yours. If I want my feet to comfortably hit the floor though, I wouldn't have nearly as much storage. 12" platform and 4" mattress would be about it. Here it pays to be tall!

Okay, back later to really see the details.

[HoosierB]

Dano,
Any concerns of mold building up between the solid plywood platform and the thick foam mattress? I've read about similar builds that have resulted in moisture retention due to lack of air circulation. Solutions included drilling a series of small diameter holes in the plywood platform, or using inserts of thick pegboard within the ply frame.

[Dano]

We had an old trailer that had a similar setup foam on solid surface and there was never any issue. I guess it will pay to keep an eye out I suppose, good tip. Maybe add a few holes on the front sides facing the seats out of view? That would allow some airflow in and out and keep air moving from below? Manufacturer also sates it has an "an air flow base layer to prevent heat build ups", hopefully that will be enough...

[HoosierB]

What was the name of the mattress supplier (website?)?
Did you have "seat backs" made as well?

[Dano]

Walmart here in Canada: https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/zinus-6-in ... 0197846138
Curved top seat backs have already been made. I went a little wider than stock, about 26" although I haven't made my final width cuts yet. Pillows are about 22"-24" wide so want to make sure our backs have something solid to lean against. The originals were cabinet depth/width and I think I will go wider. I'm at 28" now but will trim it back a few inches, since the wider it is, the more it clutters that nice long view from the back. Going to try and find a good middle of the road solution. Oddly, the better position to sit in is with your pillows and back against the front seats since they can recline to a better angle but that won't work for watching TV...

[Dano]

I think I misinterpreted what you meant by seat backs...Do you mean against the windows? If so, IKEA makes 12" tall x 26" wide pillows that come "just" about the bottom window edge and they will be our three wide seat backs. I think of seat backs as the panels that go next to the kitchen sink cabinet or the stove since I will likely always be lying down looking forward. Hope that's not too confusing...

[Scott]

That's going to be nice. Good job. Man, you put in some hours!

I basically built the exact same layout right after getting my Chinook. Much more usable/comfortable for the two of us plus a dog. And with the additional storage, life is much easier for us. It really makes it feel roomier as well.

Not that you need suggestions, but I learned that cutting memory foam is a breeze with an electric knife. Makes it easy to shape it to fit the pillars.

Just to add to your list of advantages: You don't have to climb over/disrupt the other person when nature calls .