The build continues...need ideas on new bed design!!

[willie1280]

First some background...
This is the camper i bought:


This is it stripped down:


This is the steel studding going on:


This is it all skinned with steel siding, insulated, etc. :


The shack is carpeted, pine t&g ceiling, 3 fish holes with covers, ProCom propane heater and just this weekend i installed oak cabinets and electrical:

[willie1280]

So last year i just used a cot, which obviously didn't meet the comfort standards i have built in the shack.

So this is what I came up with and am proceeding with:



I plan to put a storage compartment under the bench/bed similar to what you would find in a camper.

The question is, how do i go about padding this?  If you look at the next photo closely, you will see there is a "recess" in each section of the frame where i laid the 2x3's flat. I planned on getting some nice 3/4" birch and laying it inside of there which is what i could mount foam to and stretch fabric over.  However, then there would be 3-4" gaps at the hinge points:


Any ideas?

[Doc_Kraken]

What about just using the pads that were in the pop up? Comfy enough for me in the summer I guess and it should easy.

[rrw]

flip it over put recess side down

[willie1280]

What about just using the pads that were in the pop up? Comfy enough for me in the summer I guess and it should easy.

INterior of camper was gutted already when i bought it.

[willie1280]

flip it over put recess side down

That was the original thought, but i was worried that the thickness of the backer board, foam and fabric would cause some issues at the hinge area if i bump the pad sections together.  Make sense?

[Lavman]

Use a foam, one piece pad that will tolerate being folded to a 90* angle when the bench position? You could double up the seat portion so when you fold it out into bed the pad fits. Would not be a very thick pad though.

Other idea: Make the pads in three pieces that secure to the frame with velcro, this way you could butt them up tight to each other and they would not spread apart when you lay on them.

[Lavman]

Oh and nice looking shack!! 

[laclabiche walleye hunter]

Looks like a good shack like the idea for the bed looks like it will work great.

[campingonh2o]

Looks like a fold down bed i had in an old camper, it had 3 pc of 1/4' luan that would be spread out when the bed was layed flat. It also had 3 cusions one was the width of the seat when up with 2 cusions that were narrow and used as a back rest. When you layed the bed down the 3 cusions cover the entire bed area. I would think the sma esystem would work for you. Oh and the 1/4 luan worked well as it was supported every ft or so. I am 250 lbs and slept on it all the time with no issues.
 The only differance was the seat was wider in my case yours appears to be the same in all 3 sections
Hope this helps or at least give you an idea.

[da man cave shack]

Air matres! Just put the pading on the sides for the bench and then when you bring it out into bed form inflat and air matres on top.

[propaganda]

Willies I have a pretty good bench design, uses 2 foam pads, when it's upright it uses one pad as backing, foleds down to 40" and you can do it any length.

[low277]

Nice bench / bed design, any more details?

[propaganda]

Nice bench / bed design, any more details?

I have a hand sketch drawing at the shop I will scan it up. The biggest cost are the locking fold up hinges they are rated 400 lbs each, but will never fail, I use 4 per bench on a 76" run.

[low277]

If you don't mind my asking, what type of hinges are they and where might someone buy / order them from.

 Now that I look at it closer does the front portion drop down?  Are the hinges the folding shelf style?

[propaganda]

Hinges are from Lee Valley, the seat pulls forward and the back drops down, I have stoppers both up and down to stabilize it.

Here is a pic in the up position