*Watch Next* >> How I Use The Toilet in the minivan camper ua-cam.com/video/61V3hTasCdw/v-deo.html and FULL TOUR of the Minivan Camper ua-cam.com/video/FsCz8USgvJg/v-deo.html
I have watched a lot of videos on van bed builds and this is one of the best explained. I am not at all inclined to do woodworking but you have given such detail that I feel I could tackle this.
Leslie Leslie Leslie what can I tell you, this has been the best and the most helpful video I came across of the bed layout with dimensions and details. I have watched quite a few videos last two weeks including Eric enjoys earth. I can now definitely start building my Sienna. Thank you so very much, greatly appreciate your hard work.
Hey Melissa, Yesssss Girl! He's one of my heroes! And have you seen Bruce Parks' van? Also awesome... Are you building out a van, or are you currently a casual observer?😃
Thank you so much Leslie. Starting October 2021, I will be living out of my Kia Rio for 1 year, to save for a Dodge Grand Caravan and my bed setting will be exactly like yours. Solo woman 59 and so excited to start a new venture as full time vanlife. Thank you, you truly inspire me and I feel that woman like you make a huge difference. I also like Eric, a Quebecois just like me. Be well.
Christine! That van is gonna feel like a palace after a year in your Kia Rio. That's super ambitious and I'm sending good vibes your way, hoping it all goes to plan.
You are awesome! Love the way you explained how you made the bed frame etc. I had been watching videos to try to figure out the specifics. This is the first I have seen that really lays things out in a straight forward way that is easily understood. Thank you!
Great job! I bought an Odyssey this week to convert like this. After 30 years in the furniture repair/upholstery business, I'm getting lots of good ideas for my van from YT videos.
Wow, you have great skills! Your van is going to be amazing, I know it. If it weren't for YT, I would just have an air mattress in the back of the van, LOL!!
Thank you SO much for this video! Much more in depth than others like it out there! I am starting my bed build in my '08 sienna now! So excited to have stumbled upon this video!
@@TheVanThatGotAway also a small sink/kitchen area with a swivel cutting board are in my plans! I have a question, what thickness of plywood did you use here?
I was thinking of a no build, then comes Leslie's video! This is so detailed! I don't have the same van, so I will follow your design style and adapt it to my Cara-Van. When the Pandemic shut me in, I realized my travel plans need to be NOW. I have a 3 month window to get cozy for The Mardi Gras! I live 8 hrs from New Orleans. I plan on touring the south then up the East Coast! Your van is stylin' girl! Hope to share my journey as well. Super thanks!
Thanks for this, still debating between a 3 or 4 panel bed but I really appreciate how you went through the why and how of every detail. I've watched a few videos actually a lot of videos that never explained how they attached their platform! The only thing I have yet to see covered is the wood choices people make with their beds🤔 keep wondering if any type pine or composite or whatever is preferable. Also so many types of plywood to choose from. That's just me thinking out loud... Anyway thanks again for this
I recently traded into a 2016 Odyssey, that is nearly identical to yours. After installing a 2" lift kit (needed for camping out west), I happened across your channel, and have shamelessly copied your bed design. I love your channel! Your videos are entertaining, as well as informative. I plan on continuing to shamelessy borrow ideas (with a few tweaks of my own). I cannot WAIT to get this thing out to Utah!
Hey Zardoz! Glad to hear some of my info is coming in handy. Copy away, my friend, LOL!!! Now what about this 2" lift? Is this a recent install? Did you DIY it or have a pro do it?
Good work you did there congrats on your actions, and now I did some action I bought a caravan now I started the bed my next step is mattress. Hope to see your how to on that mattress thing. Anyway thanks for your nice words.
@@TheVanThatGotAway I appreciate your energy and the fact that you are an english-speeking native... Nevertheless, I believe it would be fair to give this information right in you video description to aknowledge your "source of inspiration" since this part is copy-paste from Eric enjoys Earth UA-camr (french native puting efforts in publishing in english)... same acknowledgement applies to Bruce Parks - no firm copy rights but it would be fair
@@cotejohtelmobile5640 Hey Cote, I originally did but something glitchy happened and another version of the description must have got saved. Thanks for the heads up, I got it fixed.
Thank you for this video. I just found you and subbed. Going thru your vids now. I LOVE this bed. I had a '61 VW camper many years ago. It had this bed design and it's such an easy bench to bed conversion. I want a camper van I can park in my garage for weekend trips to the coast, and for travel to visit friends. I loved the floor plan of my vw, and having these instructions will help me replicate that. 😊
Hi NYCH, I'm glad you mentioned parking in the garage. I forgot how much I love being able to do that, LOL! Thanks so much for subscribing and thanks for being here.
Hi Leslie, This video with detailed info is very helpful to me. Great instruction! Thank you! Can you please answer a couple questions? At 6:24 the photo shows both 2x6 and 2x4 are cut the same length 44" plus the 3" from the long sides at the joints, that would make the width of the bed frame 45" wide, right? If I was building this for a 2010 Sienna what factors should be considered? How much allowance did you give from your Ody's inside dimensions to arrive at 45" width of the bedframe? I imagine your van must be a bit wider than 45" to allow the horizontal wood to hold the storage cabinet legs.
First: ***awesome*** series; you are a great explainer. You make me feel like I can do anything :-) Second: in bed mode, is there anything supporting the hinge between panel 1 (the forwardmost panel of the bed platform) and the one directly behind it (panel 2)? The legs and crosspiece on the leading edge support the front edge of panel 1... and the side pieces of the frame support panel 2... do you need anything under that hinge? Or am I overthinking this?
Hey, good to see you again HOVV! Welcome to Overthinkers Anonymous 🤣 There is no crossbar that supports the hinge between those 2 panels. The 2x6's that cross the frame are for support in the bench mode. But it turns out you don't need anything more for the bed mode. Thanks for asking and thanks for the kudos!
Hi Leslie, Great video on your van build! I was wondering ... can you please clarify for me on the cut length of the short cross pieces of bedframe? At 6:25 the photo shows the short pcs butt joined the long side pcs. That would make the width of the frame 3" bigger. Are the short 2x4 and the two 2x6 cut at 42 (making the frame 45" wide) or 39 (making the frame 42")? At 5:43 the drawing of the frame shows 42. Does it include the 3" gained from the butt joint?
Thank you so much. Since I'm alone I'm thinking 24 or 30 wide. I assume I need to keep the length the same to be able to fold into a bench? Thanks so much.
Hi Kathy, I actually haven't experimented with different lengths. But I think bed lengths are pretty standard, like 75 or 80 inches. I don't see why you couldn't just customize your bed to whatever width you need. Let me know how it comes out!
First off, you are an excellent and detailed instructor!!! I however, am a solo traveler and I only need half of the width for a bed. Any ideas on how I could figure out the build for a single size bed? I am not good with measures and carpentry, but you inspire me to want to try. (My vehicle is a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan)
Hi Jo Ann, thanks for asking. For a narrower bed, you could probably use this design and customize the dimensions but you also have the opportunity to consider a lot of other designs. And if you're not feeling like a SuperCarpenter , you could most likely find an easier way to implement the bed. Are you thinking about folding yours up into a bench?
@@joannsjourneys5904 I'm building a removable camper setup in my Sienna for solo adventures-- it's very similar, but I am building a narrow storage "wall" from floor to ceiling along the driver's side of the back half of the van. (Eric Enjoys Earth has this in his van too, so I'm following the idea of what he's doing there). This will make my mattress cushions 41" wide; it's still wider than a standard twin bed (which I believe is 37" wide), but I like the idea of having a bench that feels more like a loveseat than a chair, if that makes sense.
@@joannsjourneys5904 it exists only in my mind at the moment 😜 but if you check out Eric Enjoys Earth’s UA-cam channel you can see his van. Bruce Parks also has an awesome setup in his Sienna (he has a UA-cam channel too) but he’s way out of my league!
You must be psychic...I am working on my build tomorrow and was hung up on the measurements. Getting someone else's perspective and actual measurements is quite helpful. What part of Florida are you in? (I am in Central Florida.)
Yaaas, Alis!! I always find it way more helpful when someone gives me the dimensions they used, then I have a starting point if I'm modifying. Best of luck with the build, are you posting your progress somewhere?
When you lay it out, under the first panel by the hinge, is there anything that supports it? All the others I see have this beam of wood sticking out but yours doesn’t.
Leslie I really like the way you explain things in your videos. I am getting older and my motorcycle camping days are coming to an end. I recently bought a 2015 Honda Odyssey and want to build the bed you have. Your videos are great but I just have a couple of Qs. 1. Since I have basically the same van as you, how long are the three sets of legs for your bed frame? 2. With the bed in sofa mode is it possible to install the 2nd row seats? I too will be using the van for other things and it would be nice to have the 2nd row seating in without removing the sofa/bed. Thanks for your inspiring videos. Interestingly enough my wife is a better "handy man" than I am and she will be the one actually building the bed, with me doing the more mundane things like bolting things together! Thanks for the great videos!
Sorry Leslie - Q2 is pretty stupid - once I got in there and removed the third row seats it became pretty obvious that the second row has to come out too in order to accommodate the bed frame! I told you my wife was the brains of the outfit!
Hey Wade, Congrats on taking the leap from motorcycle to minivan! I'm glad you asked about the 2nd row seats b/c I purposely chose the length of the bed frame so the seats could be installed when the bed's in bench mode. The only 2nd row seat I CAN'T install is the one that goes behind the driver's chair, since I installed the pantry cabinet there. That leaves me the ability to install the seat behind the passenger's chair as well as the half-sized seat that makes up the middle of the 2nd row. Re: the bed frame height, the top of the bed including the height of the platform comes to about 12" at the front of our bed and to about 18.5" in the back where the legs sit into the storage well. Since I used 2x4's for the frame and 3/4" plywood for the platform, that made the legs about 7" at the front of the frame and about 14.25" at the back. Is that helpful? Thanks for taking the time to check in.
Great build! I'm in process of making the same bed and have all the wood cut and ready to assemble. Then I went to buy the brackets to screw everything together. One question: did you use 3" or 5" triangle brackets to attach the legs? Thanks!
Hi Michael, I used 3 inch. Along with all the many, many other braces I used (probably TOO many🤣) I wasn't looking for the biggest and baddest. And they work great! Thanks for asking.
When the bed is in couch mode, is it possible to use the second row seats or do they have to be removed entirely or just left in stow n go mode? Thanks.
Hey Cindy! In our van, the second row seats don't stow away in the floor. They're either completely in or completely out. Right now they're wrapped up in plastic and stored in the garage. When the bed is in couch mode, I can actually reinstall the second row seat on the passenger side and the little half seat that goes in the center. Because of the pantry, the 2nd row seat behind the driver can't be installed. Everything is a trade off, right? Thanks for asking 🙂
So sorry about the mess in your neighborhood! I grew up in a new subdivision with its piles of dirt, ditches and open basements. Heaven for kids but a nightmare for adults, I’m sure. We are attempting to use your bed plans to convert one we purchased from another UA-camr. Wish we had seen yours first; it would have been easier and cheaper to start from scratch! Anyway, I want to make sure I understand some details of the bed build. Is the total length of the frame 54” even though the matress is longer? Thanks for the help.
Hi Gigi! Yes, the bed frame is not as long as the platform that supports the mattress. The platform will have its own legs that will hold up the front end, so you don't need the bed frame for the full length. Trust me, it works😉 Thanks for asking. How's the build going?
@@TheVanThatGotAway , It’s coming along. We’ve partially deconstructed the bed frame and are going to cut one section of our bed platform to add another hinge. It won’t be a thing of beauty but if it works we’re happy. I really like your kitchen on the side and we’ll use it as a model. I’ll need to cut down on what we carry, and use the space differently. We generally don’t eat out when we camp so we carry more food, and we’re coffee drinkers. But I’m willing to rethink some things. I’m eager to see your future videos with more of your creative ideas, especially for storage. Thanks, and bless you.
At video time 9:10 there appears to be another wood piece coming out of leg to the right. Is that correct? Or is that just another wood structure standing behind the leg?
Hi Donna! Your eagle eye didn't miss a detail. That wood piece in the back of the bed frame is part of how I secured the shelves to the frame. I give a thorough explanation of how that works in my shelf video here, if you really want to geek out on shelf building🤣 ua-cam.com/video/fkGRYmyP4WI/v-deo.html Thanks for asking and also thanks for taking the time to chat!
So thankful to have found your bed video! We wanted this type bed for our van but had not found (your very clear) instructions until now. Wondering, though, what you do about bed linens for sleeping. Do you use some sort of fitted sheet over the mattress? Thanks!
Hi Susan, and welcome! It's great to have you here 😃 Yep, we use a full-size fitted sheet (with those little elastic straps clipped under the corners, 'cause I cut the mattress down.) If it's colder we don't bother with the sheet, we just use sleeping bags. Are you building currently? Still planning?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thank you for your reply! We are just about ready to do short camping trips in our van, just finishing up the DC power ( I use a CPAP at night). Right now we have a double bed in there, but after a couple of shakedown trips we want to take out the double bed and put in a sofa bed so we can do long trips more comfortably.
Hey lishana, I love your questions. Yep, you can push the seat of the bench further in, which gives you a steeper angle for the bench back. If you pull the seat of the bench further out, you get a flatter angle for the bench back. Just make sure you can secure the seat so it doesn't slide around.
I did my bed with very similar measurements. I wish I had done my strip at 3" and not 6" 😂 I'm going to "steal" the strap hack because putting it into bench mode is a pain without it.
@@formedbygod The "4th" plywood board, the one that accesses the rear cargo seat well/trunk, is cut in two pieces. So if your cutting all 4 of your boards at 18 3/4 inches (18 3/4 x 4 = 75 in, the length of a twin mattress) the 4th board would be 15 3/4 and 3 in. You would then put 4 (total) screws in that board to prevent the plywood from moving on the frame when you raise/lower the bed.
Would you not have enough room for the bed if you were to take the back well that the last roll of seats were at and use that for your toilet/bathroom..
Hi Audrey, I've seen that done in a van for one person who was city-stealthing. But since we're usually camping near facilities and we want all the bed space we can get, this works better for our situation.
Wondering what thickness is the plywood and if you were to do it again would you go thicker or thinner? Mine will be for a single person... I'm also thinking of putting holes in it to lighten it up just a bit . . . Thoughts?
Hey Patty, If you're building a narrower bed for one person, you could probably go to a thinner plywood for the platform. I used 3/4". And I also thought about cutting holes to make it lighter! But then I never got around to it. 🤣 Thanks for asking.
Great stuff Leslie! I know you mentioned you'd be doing another video for the mattress, but I was just curious about the sizes you ended up going with for your mattress cuts. Did you end up cutting them in 4 equal sizes or are the middle ones shorter to account for the smaller sections?
Hey Beau, Sounds like you overthink as much as I do! 😉 After careful consideration, I went with 4 equally sized pieces. Big picture: it makes everything easier. And no comfort nor convenience is affected. Thanks for asking 🙂
Could you show exactly how you did the front legs for the first piece of the bed. Eric’s show the left and right frames when in sofa mode and your is perfect how did you do it ?
Hey CJ, You know what's not cool? Coming on here throwing accusations. Guess you missed all the many, many places and the many, many times I've given him credit for my build. You should have paid more attention (not cool)
*Watch Next* >> How I Use The Toilet in the minivan camper ua-cam.com/video/61V3hTasCdw/v-deo.html and FULL TOUR of the Minivan Camper ua-cam.com/video/FsCz8USgvJg/v-deo.html
You got my attention. Your video couldn’t be any clearer. Thanks so much. My 2011 Sienna is going to have a new bed that works.
Best video on the subject, hands down. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Oh Bless you lol, I love Eric but I need detailed info I mean detailed lol. Again thanks your a gem
Thank you! So thorough using Eric enjoys Earth design model which intimidated me.
I have watched a lot of videos on van bed builds and this is one of the best explained. I am not at all inclined to do woodworking but you have given such detail that I feel I could tackle this.
Hey MJ, Sometimes you just need to know there's a path to the end result. Think you'll try this?🤔
Ms. Leslie you and that great math saved me a bunch of heart ache and pain. Now I’m going to riffle through your channel for the mattress video.
Love the way you show us how to contract this bed frame. Clear, concise and easy to understand.
Thanks, W! I hope it's of help. I appreciate your taking time to send along encouragement. 😀
Leslie Leslie Leslie what can I tell you, this has been the best and the most helpful video I came across of the bed layout with dimensions and details. I have watched quite a few videos last two weeks including Eric enjoys earth. I can now definitely start building my Sienna. Thank you so very much, greatly appreciate your hard work.
Oh this is Exactly like "eric enjoys earth" video from 2 yrs ago. When i seen his video a few months ago, i thought wow what a cool idea!😍❤✌
Hey Melissa, Yesssss Girl! He's one of my heroes! And have you seen Bruce Parks' van? Also awesome... Are you building out a van, or are you currently a casual observer?😃
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THIS!!! I have FINALLY decided on my bed because through THIS video I feel confident I can do it!!!! Thanks again!!!
Yes, Patty! You got this. 💪😃
Thank you so much Leslie. Starting October 2021, I will be living out of my Kia Rio for 1 year, to save for a Dodge Grand Caravan and my bed setting will be exactly like yours. Solo woman 59 and so excited to start a new venture as full time vanlife. Thank you, you truly inspire me and I feel that woman like you make a huge difference. I also like Eric, a Quebecois just like me. Be well.
Christine! That van is gonna feel like a palace after a year in your Kia Rio. That's super ambitious and I'm sending good vibes your way, hoping it all goes to plan.
Sparkling clear instructions. Thanks!
Thanks Leslie! We bought ourselves a 2017 odyssey and we’ll be converting it using many elements of this design.
William! Omg, omg!! That's so cool. Let me know how your build is going, okay?
@@TheVanThatGotAway
I will! I already have the 3rd row seats out.
Nice job with the extra mods
You are awesome! Love the way you explained how you made the bed frame etc. I had been watching videos to try to figure out the specifics. This is the first I have seen that really lays things out in a straight forward way that is easily understood. Thank you!
Hi MK, Thanks for the nice words. I'm happy some of this info is of use😊
Excellent info, very thorough. My favorite part is how the rear can fold up; making curbside pickup for groceries an easy possibility.
Hi Jimmy, Yep, multi-tasking is the best. Groceries, beer, small children, anything can fit in there 😄
Wow!!! That was AWWWWWWWsome!!!!
Aw shucks, thanks! 😊
Bravo Leslie!!!
Thank you, George. I love applause! ☺️
Great instructional video for the bed thank you!
Have seen this done before but not in such detail, thanks
Hi Topi, "Detail" is my middle name! 🤣 Thanks for stopping in.
Awesome bed build. Safe and secure. Comfy too
Amazing. This video is awesome and you did a fantastic job explaining everything.
Aw, thanks Roxy! You're awesome.
Great job! I bought an Odyssey this week to convert like this. After 30 years in the furniture repair/upholstery business, I'm getting lots of good ideas for my van from YT videos.
Wow, you have great skills! Your van is going to be amazing, I know it. If it weren't for YT, I would just have an air mattress in the back of the van, LOL!!
Thank you SO much for this video! Much more in depth than others like it out there! I am starting my bed build in my '08 sienna now! So excited to have stumbled upon this video!
Omg, Abigail! That's so cool 😀 Congrats on starting the bed build. I'm glad my little video could be of help. What else are you building in your van?
@@TheVanThatGotAway also a small sink/kitchen area with a swivel cutting board are in my plans! I have a question, what thickness of plywood did you use here?
For the bed, I used a 3/4 inch ply. Probably could have gone with 1/2 but why take chances? LOL!
Great explanation using sequence to make it a clean step by steps. Very impressed.
Great explanation of why you chose your bed design. Lot’s of thought, and it came out nicely.
Hi OGA, You said it, "Lots of thought" just about drove me nuts. It was great to build it and have it finished. Thanks for being here😃
I just wanted to say " Thank You " for taking the time for Sharing this information . I really needed That😌
My pleasure, Carlos. How's your build going?
Thank you for sharing this, you look like a good teacher 😊
Thanks Amr, And thanks for checking it out.
Excellent instructions and production! Always thumbs up from the 641..
Thanks, Mike. Glad you enjoyed this one!
You're a saint!
Thanks Leese, but I'm just a stubborn girl with a dream and some tools 😊
Very nicely covered. That bed frame is bulletproof with all that hardware you used! Good work.
Hi Roy! Yep, I got a lot of teasing from my brother about that, too. But I say, if it's worth doing it's worth overdoing. 🤣 Thanks for watching.
Thank you, great tutorial!
I was thinking of a no build, then comes Leslie's video! This is so detailed! I don't have the same van, so I will follow your design style and adapt it to my Cara-Van. When the Pandemic shut me in, I realized my travel plans need to be NOW.
I have a 3 month window to get cozy for The Mardi Gras! I live 8 hrs from New Orleans. I plan on touring the south then up the East Coast! Your van is stylin' girl! Hope to share my journey as well. Super thanks!
What a great channel! Just discovered you. You are a good teacher. Thank you!!!!!
Aw shucks, thanks Milo! Good to have you aboard. Are you currently building out a van camper?
Brilliant
Thank you for posting this video very good blueprint instructions easy to see and read to .
My pleasure! I hope it's of use. Thanks for being here 🙂
When is your mattress "How to" coming out? I'm so glad I found you!
Hi Martha! Hang tight, I gotcha.
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thank you!
Thanks for this, still debating between a 3 or 4 panel bed but I really appreciate how you went through the why and how of every detail. I've watched a few videos actually a lot of videos that never explained how they attached their platform! The only thing I have yet to see covered is the wood choices people make with their beds🤔 keep wondering if any type pine or composite or whatever is preferable. Also so many types of plywood to choose from. That's just me thinking out loud... Anyway thanks again for this
great job, thanks for sharing the details and measurements, could you tell me how thick the board you used is?
Just found your channel. This video is amazing and super helpful. Thank you so much! 💗🤗
Well thanks Rose! Welcome.😀 So glad you're here. Thanks for taking the time to chat 😊
I’m your new subscriber awesome video I got learned from you thank you!
Hey John, Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to subscribe, I'm so jazzed that you're here. Cheers, Leslie
Always great content miss! Looks very cozy. Great job.
Glad you enjoyed, Tony. Hopefully someone gets some use from all this.😃
I recently traded into a 2016 Odyssey, that is nearly identical to yours. After installing a 2" lift kit (needed for camping out west), I happened across your channel, and have shamelessly copied your bed design. I love your channel! Your videos are entertaining, as well as informative. I plan on continuing to shamelessy borrow ideas (with a few tweaks of my own).
I cannot WAIT to get this thing out to Utah!
Hey Zardoz! Glad to hear some of my info is coming in handy. Copy away, my friend, LOL!!! Now what about this 2" lift? Is this a recent install? Did you DIY it or have a pro do it?
Good work you did there congrats on your actions, and now I did some action I bought a caravan now I started the bed my next step is mattress. Hope to see your how to on that mattress thing. Anyway thanks for your nice words.
Christian!! I'm so jazzed for you! How's the bed going so far?
Awesome videos~ Thanks so much for the info~
Have you seen Eric enjoys Earth UA-camr? Almost identical builds~
Hey Dakota, yep. He is my inspiration for this. For other parts of the build I got ideas from Bruce Parks. Are you doing a build-out as well?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I appreciate your energy and the fact that you are an english-speeking native... Nevertheless, I believe it would be fair to give this information right in you video description to aknowledge your "source of inspiration" since this part is copy-paste from Eric enjoys Earth UA-camr (french native puting efforts in publishing in english)... same acknowledgement applies to Bruce Parks - no firm copy rights but it would be fair
@@cotejohtelmobile5640 Hey Cote, I originally did but something glitchy happened and another version of the description must have got saved. Thanks for the heads up, I got it fixed.
Thank you for this video. I just found you and subbed. Going thru your vids now. I LOVE this bed. I had a '61 VW camper many years ago. It had this bed design and it's such an easy bench to bed conversion. I want a camper van I can park in my garage for weekend trips to the coast, and for travel to visit friends. I loved the floor plan of my vw, and having these instructions will help me replicate that. 😊
Hi NYCH, I'm glad you mentioned parking in the garage. I forgot how much I love being able to do that, LOL! Thanks so much for subscribing and thanks for being here.
I have been following someone who makes exact same bed. Im almost there. Great others like design.
Hi Mollie, Congrats on almost having a bed! So you've got light at the end of the tunnel? 🤣
awesome instruction video , thank you for being so precise , WELL DONE .
Thanks, Mohawk! "Precise" is my middle name. 🤣 Thanks for being here.
Thank you for the DIY tutorial.
My delight, April! Thanks for watching.
This helped so much my own build, thank you for the details 😀
Yaaaaassss, Joanne!!! I'm so thrilled that it helped. Congrats on doing your build out. When are you hitting the road?
@@TheVanThatGotAway next Friday for a 3 days trip 😃
Awesome!😃
Awesome and very detailed. Thanks!
Hi MJ, I hope this helps inspire some awesome projects! Thanks for checking in 🙂
Thanks so much for all the details! Great bed design!
Hi Debra! It's my pleasure. Hope all this is useful.
Very clear instructions.
Aw, thanks. I hope it's of use.
Good job
Aw, thanks Henri.
Thanks. I was thinking of doing the same thing. But I don’t need the seat looking out of the back. Any thoughts? I watched all of Eric’s videos.
Do you by any chance have a “grocery list” of all these things I’ll need at home depot?
Hi Leslie, This video with detailed info is very helpful to me. Great instruction! Thank you! Can you please answer a couple questions? At 6:24 the photo shows both 2x6 and 2x4 are cut the same length 44" plus the 3" from the long sides at the joints, that would make the width of the bed frame 45" wide, right? If I was building this for a 2010 Sienna what factors should be considered? How much allowance did you give from your Ody's inside dimensions to arrive at 45" width of the bedframe? I imagine your van must be a bit wider than 45" to allow the horizontal wood to hold the storage cabinet legs.
Hi Leslie! Thank you for the detailed bed build. Where did you purchase your third row cargo liner?
Hi Diane, That actually came with the van.
That was an excellent tutorial. Very nice work.
Thanks, Donald. I sure hope it's useful for someone. Thanks for watching.
First: ***awesome*** series; you are a great explainer. You make me feel like I can do anything :-)
Second: in bed mode, is there anything supporting the hinge between panel 1 (the forwardmost panel of the bed platform) and the one directly behind it (panel 2)? The legs and crosspiece on the leading edge support the front edge of panel 1... and the side pieces of the frame support panel 2... do you need anything under that hinge? Or am I overthinking this?
Hey, good to see you again HOVV! Welcome to Overthinkers Anonymous 🤣 There is no crossbar that supports the hinge between those 2 panels. The 2x6's that cross the frame are for support in the bench mode. But it turns out you don't need anything more for the bed mode. Thanks for asking and thanks for the kudos!
Me too!!!
Super! Wie wird die Rückenlehne fest gemacht, also dass sie stehen bleibt? Oder geht das von alleine?
Great video! Thanks!
My pleasure, Susan! Thanks for being here and taking time to check in.
Hi, can you do multiple couch modes, like push it back so the back is mire upright then pull it out more to have it be more reclined?
Thanks for this very interesting !
Cool, Don. Thanks for watching and taking the time to check in.
The instructions are so clear! Thank you for posting.
My pleasure, LN. I hope this comes in handy🙂
Hi Leslie, Great video on your van build! I was wondering ... can you please clarify for me on the cut length of the short cross pieces of bedframe? At 6:25 the photo shows the short pcs butt joined the long side pcs. That would make the width of the frame 3" bigger. Are the short 2x4 and the two 2x6 cut at 42 (making the frame 45" wide) or 39 (making the frame 42")? At 5:43 the drawing of the frame shows 42. Does it include the 3" gained from the butt joint?
Thank you so much. Since I'm alone I'm thinking 24 or 30 wide. I assume I need to keep the length the same to be able to fold into a bench? Thanks so much.
Hi Kathy, I actually haven't experimented with different lengths. But I think bed lengths are pretty standard, like 75 or 80 inches. I don't see why you couldn't just customize your bed to whatever width you need. Let me know how it comes out!
First off, you are an excellent and detailed instructor!!! I however, am a solo traveler and I only need half of the width for a bed. Any ideas on how I could figure out the build for a single size bed? I am not good with measures and carpentry, but you inspire me to want to try. (My vehicle is a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan)
Hi Jo Ann, thanks for asking. For a narrower bed, you could probably use this design and customize the dimensions but you also have the opportunity to consider a lot of other designs. And if you're not feeling like a SuperCarpenter , you could most likely find an easier way to implement the bed. Are you thinking about folding yours up into a bench?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Yes, I would want to have the bench option. Your design is so simple and perfect, I just need it to be narrower.
@@joannsjourneys5904 I'm building a removable camper setup in my Sienna for solo adventures-- it's very similar, but I am building a narrow storage "wall" from floor to ceiling along the driver's side of the back half of the van. (Eric Enjoys Earth has this in his van too, so I'm following the idea of what he's doing there). This will make my mattress cushions 41" wide; it's still wider than a standard twin bed (which I believe is 37" wide), but I like the idea of having a bench that feels more like a loveseat than a chair, if that makes sense.
@@heartofvermontvet I would be curious to see a photo of the storage wall.
@@joannsjourneys5904 it exists only in my mind at the moment 😜 but if you check out Eric Enjoys Earth’s UA-cam channel you can see his van. Bruce Parks also has an awesome setup in his Sienna (he has a UA-cam channel too) but he’s way out of my league!
You must be psychic...I am working on my build tomorrow and was hung up on the measurements. Getting someone else's perspective and actual measurements is quite helpful. What part of Florida are you in? (I am in Central Florida.)
Yaaas, Alis!! I always find it way more helpful when someone gives me the dimensions they used, then I have a starting point if I'm modifying. Best of luck with the build, are you posting your progress somewhere?
Me too (..in CF: NW Orlando)
When you lay it out, under the first panel by the hinge, is there anything that supports it? All the others I see have this beam of wood sticking out but yours doesn’t.
Leslie I really like the way you explain things in your videos. I am getting older and my motorcycle camping days are coming to an end. I recently bought a 2015 Honda Odyssey and want to build the bed you have. Your videos are great but I just have a couple of Qs. 1. Since I have basically the same van as you, how long are the three sets of legs for your bed frame? 2. With the bed in sofa mode is it possible to install the 2nd row seats? I too will be using the van for other things and it would be nice to have the 2nd row seating in without removing the sofa/bed. Thanks for your inspiring videos. Interestingly enough my wife is a better "handy man" than I am and she will be the one actually building the bed, with me doing the more mundane things like bolting things together! Thanks for the great videos!
Sorry Leslie - Q2 is pretty stupid - once I got in there and removed the third row seats it became pretty obvious that the second row has to come out too in order to accommodate the bed frame! I told you my wife was the brains of the outfit!
Hey Wade, Congrats on taking the leap from motorcycle to minivan! I'm glad you asked about the 2nd row seats b/c I purposely chose the length of the bed frame so the seats could be installed when the bed's in bench mode. The only 2nd row seat I CAN'T install is the one that goes behind the driver's chair, since I installed the pantry cabinet there. That leaves me the ability to install the seat behind the passenger's chair as well as the half-sized seat that makes up the middle of the 2nd row. Re: the bed frame height, the top of the bed including the height of the platform comes to about 12" at the front of our bed and to about 18.5" in the back where the legs sit into the storage well. Since I used 2x4's for the frame and 3/4" plywood for the platform, that made the legs about 7" at the front of the frame and about 14.25" at the back. Is that helpful? Thanks for taking the time to check in.
Lol, Wade! Actually ypur Q was right on and makes perfect sense to me. Plenty of brains to go around in your family 😉
My English is not too good! I would like to know the height of the bed in front without the mattress? Thank you very much!
Great build! I'm in process of making the same bed and have all the wood cut and ready to assemble. Then I went to buy the brackets to screw everything together. One question: did you use 3" or 5" triangle brackets to attach the legs? Thanks!
Hi Michael, I used 3 inch. Along with all the many, many other braces I used (probably TOO many🤣) I wasn't looking for the biggest and baddest. And they work great! Thanks for asking.
This is like the egg and the chicken.
Your video or Eric’s video ??
When the bed is in couch mode, is it possible to use the second row seats or do they have to be removed entirely or just left in stow n go mode? Thanks.
Hey Cindy! In our van, the second row seats don't stow away in the floor. They're either completely in or completely out. Right now they're wrapped up in plastic and stored in the garage. When the bed is in couch mode, I can actually reinstall the second row seat on the passenger side and the little half seat that goes in the center. Because of the pantry, the 2nd row seat behind the driver can't be installed. Everything is a trade off, right? Thanks for asking 🙂
So sorry about the mess in your neighborhood! I grew up in a new subdivision with its piles of dirt, ditches and open basements. Heaven for kids but a nightmare for adults, I’m sure. We are attempting to use your bed plans to convert one we purchased from another UA-camr. Wish we had seen yours first; it would have been easier and cheaper to start from scratch! Anyway, I want to make sure I understand some details of the bed build. Is the total length of the frame 54” even though the matress is longer? Thanks for the help.
Hi Gigi! Yes, the bed frame is not as long as the platform that supports the mattress. The platform will have its own legs that will hold up the front end, so you don't need the bed frame for the full length. Trust me, it works😉 Thanks for asking. How's the build going?
@@TheVanThatGotAway , It’s coming along. We’ve partially deconstructed the bed frame and are going to cut one section of our bed platform to add another hinge. It won’t be a thing of beauty but if it works we’re happy. I really like your kitchen on the side and we’ll use it as a model. I’ll need to cut down on what we carry, and use the space differently. We generally don’t eat out when we camp so we carry more food, and we’re coffee drinkers. But I’m willing to rethink some things. I’m eager to see your future videos with more of your creative ideas, especially for storage. Thanks, and bless you.
We'll do some storage videos for you while we're on the road next week! Thanks for asking 😃
At video time 9:10 there appears to be another wood piece coming out of leg to the right. Is that correct? Or is that just another wood structure standing behind the leg?
Hi Donna! Your eagle eye didn't miss a detail. That wood piece in the back of the bed frame is part of how I secured the shelves to the frame. I give a thorough explanation of how that works in my shelf video here, if you really want to geek out on shelf building🤣 ua-cam.com/video/fkGRYmyP4WI/v-deo.html
Thanks for asking and also thanks for taking the time to chat!
So thankful to have found your bed video! We wanted this type bed for our van but had not found (your very clear) instructions until now. Wondering, though, what you do about bed linens for sleeping. Do you use some sort of fitted sheet over the mattress? Thanks!
Hi Susan, and welcome! It's great to have you here 😃 Yep, we use a full-size fitted sheet (with those little elastic straps clipped under the corners, 'cause I cut the mattress down.) If it's colder we don't bother with the sheet, we just use sleeping bags. Are you building currently? Still planning?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thank you for your reply! We are just about ready to do short camping trips in our van, just finishing up the DC power ( I use a CPAP at night). Right now we have a double bed in there, but after a couple of shakedown trips we want to take out the double bed and put in a sofa bed so we can do long trips more comfortably.
P.S. We plan on doing a lot of boondocking, hence the need for DC power for the CPAP.
Yep, that sounds important! 😉
Such a great how-to. Thanks! One question: Is the angle of the sofa adjustable?
Hey lishana, I love your questions. Yep, you can push the seat of the bench further in, which gives you a steeper angle for the bench back. If you pull the seat of the bench further out, you get a flatter angle for the bench back. Just make sure you can secure the seat so it doesn't slide around.
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thanks : )))
Hi Leslie, I am in the process of an identical bed build. What is the length of just your leg pieces in the rear? Thanks so much.
Hi Kimberly, Independent of the horizontal part of the frame, my rear legs measure 14.25" tall. I hope this helps. How's the build going?
How does it all slide out?
I did my bed with very similar measurements. I wish I had done my strip at 3" and not 6" 😂 I'm going to "steal" the strap hack because putting it into bench mode is a pain without it.
Yaaas, that plywood is HEAVY!!!
Peter or Leslie - Which strip are you talking about regarding 3" vs 6" ? Thank you!
@@formedbygod
The "4th" plywood board, the one that accesses the rear cargo seat well/trunk, is cut in two pieces.
So if your cutting all 4 of your boards at 18 3/4 inches (18 3/4 x 4 = 75 in, the length of a twin mattress) the 4th board would be 15 3/4 and 3 in. You would then put 4 (total) screws in that board to prevent the plywood from moving on the frame when you raise/lower the bed.
@2:47 you can see the 3" strip we are talking about. Like I mentioned, mine is 6" and wish I had gone with her size.
@3:37 she has a side diagram too ❤ She really does a great job IMO
Feel free to ask anymore questions.
Would you not have enough room for the bed if you were to take the back well that the last roll of seats were at and use that for your toilet/bathroom..
Hi Audrey, I've seen that done in a van for one person who was city-stealthing. But since we're usually camping near facilities and we want all the bed space we can get, this works better for our situation.
@@TheVanThatGotAway would it be enough room if you ever decide too
How your head did you get brain damage or just a head ache. . gave my regards to 45 in Florida.
LOL, I'm fine thanks. I have a hard head and I won't let that tailgate get the best of me. Thanks for asking 🙂
Wondering what thickness is the plywood and if you were to do it again would you go thicker or thinner? Mine will be for a single person... I'm also thinking of putting holes in it to lighten it up just a bit . . . Thoughts?
Hey Patty, If you're building a narrower bed for one person, you could probably go to a thinner plywood for the platform. I used 3/4". And I also thought about cutting holes to make it lighter! But then I never got around to it. 🤣 Thanks for asking.
@@TheVanThatGotAway thank you again for answering all the questions, your a gem!
My delight! 😀
💌
Great stuff Leslie! I know you mentioned you'd be doing another video for the mattress, but I was just curious about the sizes you ended up going with for your mattress cuts. Did you end up cutting them in 4 equal sizes or are the middle ones shorter to account for the smaller sections?
Hey Beau, Sounds like you overthink as much as I do! 😉 After careful consideration, I went with 4 equally sized pieces. Big picture: it makes everything easier. And no comfort nor convenience is affected. Thanks for asking 🙂
Could you show exactly how you did the front legs for the first piece of the bed. Eric’s show the left and right frames when in sofa mode and your is perfect how did you do it ?
Hey Peter! Thanks for asking. I'll do a video for you, how's that? 😃
Sorry that was confusing without you being hands on
Alrighty👍
You basically stole Eric Loves Earth’s design from 2 years ago:( not cool)
Hey CJ, You know what's not cool? Coming on here throwing accusations. Guess you missed all the many, many places and the many, many times I've given him credit for my build. You should have paid more attention (not cool)