How To Build A Removable Van Bed
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- Опубліковано 31 січ 2025
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I love all the description of the verious methods and material used, it is great education for any prospective DIYers.
Cody, it looks great! Someone may already mentioned the idea (I have not read all of the comments, so I am sorry, if I am repeating); and you may already have a better idea, too.
When you need more room, use one bed panel, as the back of a couch, at the very back
of the van, and store the other panel on the wall for a back rest, or store it above the one
used for the back, if you already have another use for the wall. Hope this made sense.
really like this whole concept. The idea of using it for other things instead of just camping is good to. lots of variety with the portable bed, keen to see the finished product!
When the series began I wasn't sold on upfitting a stock van into an sportsmobile vs. purchasing an RV for overnight trips. After seeing how the bed came together I'm full supporter. Those three removable panels will be so versatile for the outdoor activities you mentioned. You're basically packing a full locker room & equipment room in your vehicle. This will end up being a perfect van for weekend adventures... I guess that's where the name 'ADVENTURE VAN' comes from. As an avid RV'er there a many things I'd like to change in my travel trailer with the main one being the bed. It takes up a third of the space in my 18' trailer and I would love to convert it into a murphy bed to add room for seating.
I dont know if im just over-analyzing, but i feel like your energy, enthusiasm and overall video quality has gone up alot in the past couple of videos. You had a bit of a slump for a while, but the content you put up now are just as in the early days of this channel. Keep up the good work and i wish you good health for yourself and the family.
Cody, this adventure van conversion should be in a book you write. So many great ideas in a single video series.
Looks great! Btw, you might be able to hook up a 12v pump to that water heater. That way, if you are near a lake, you could pump up lake water, heat it up and use it to shower. That way you wouldn't use any of the drinking water. Just a thought.
Great work and lots of space inside! It looks great! Will you also build in a kitchen?
We built a Volkswagen T4 last year and drove through sweden for around 3 weeks, in the north it was still winter and i was so happy about my heating system. If you use it in the winter, think about a good insulation of the large metal parts to keep the heat inside. Armaflex is such a great material for it. It's has a glue side, just cut it in pieces and stick it on the walls. We used our heating system at -1°C just with ~800 watts for around two hours the whole night.
I'm a huge fan of eberspacher, both the circulating water version and the D2 hot air heater. They also do an amazing stove and with it be exhausted to the outside unlike propane instead of increasing condensation it can actually help to reduce it.
Glad to see more video of the van project! That fabric work is very high quality.
Cody, you should think about adding the I channels along the roof of the van so that you can add hangers for skis, rifles, shelves, and bags off of the floor. It would de clutter the van during adventures and be easy to remove. Plus, you would have tiedown points up high for awkward loads.
Cody you should round off the corners of the edge of the panel rails where plastic goes. As you were putting it in the van, I was crossing my fingers that it wouldn't damage the upholstery! I imagine they're not sharp but it still looks like a pretty pointy corner.
I used an Espar forced air diesel unit on my 40' boat for years. Very reliable, sipped fuel and it would run you out of there even in 15 to 20 degree weather. You'll like it.
She did an amazing job. Tbh. i am somewhat glad you choose to have a professional do it, instead of messing around yourself. I will have to keep that in mind for some of my own projects. Think that also made the difference in regards to the 'wish i had done something different' factor ... Looking forward to lighting up the forge ...
Good design, like all the little extras you put in to make your life a lot easier in the long run 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
looks really nice,Cody! An old makers adage you might want to consider, 'Never make a one off, same work to make a dozen.' Ready made sale stock.
Very exciting project! I really look forward to seeing how the heater works with the heat exchanger. 1 gal a min of hot water out of the equivalent of a big beer can is awesome!
That van needs a crescent moon shaped window in the quarter panel on each side. A little throw back to the 60's and 70's. :)
You cant picture Mr. Wranglerstar with long hair and a tie dye tee shirt. lol. Yeah me either. :)
Top shelf work Cody! I'm glad you have the resources to put the right equipment on the rig.
this series takes forever, but the content is good and i like the idea of a van that can be dissembled and used as a working van when not on holiday. i would love to do this one day
Great job, the van is coming out very nice. It's definitely going to be the ultimate ski trip vehicle. Can't wait to see the 4wd conversion!
Nice one. I was planning on attempting this style of bed for my upcoming van conversion. Watching you build this has helped me to de-mystify the process. So, I will probably have a go now. So, well done,- and thanks!
Hello Codi great video again. But maybe you should also reinforce the second panel in case you get the first out to make more room and sit on the second. Greetings from Holland
i’m looking forward to the colder weather, you seem to do more videos on antique restorations during the cold weather. Also, i would like to know your thoughts on tree trimming. When, how, where and why.
Are you planning on setting up some extendable jack system underneath the van? I noticed when you popped the bed in, the entire van shook. As somebody who owns a camper it's impossible to sleep when simple movements continue to shake the compartment. With jacks you can stabilize everything and won't have to worry about all the movement.
Hi, great to see another in this series of videos... I've been waiting patiently. :)
I wanted to just raise a point on something you mentioned... perhaps it might help? You mentioned the little furnace/generator you intend to install, and it sounds like a great idea. I was however wondering about the fuel issue you mentioned... not burning past 3/4 of a tank. Will this mean that the fuel tank will always have to be more than 3/4 full in order to run your heater? That seems a little impractical, unless you plan on camping very close to a filling station... if that is indeed the case you might consider extending the tube, to use fuel lower in the tank? Just a suggestion based solely on your description of the furnace... I hope this helps.
Great work on the bed. Happy to hear you're gonna do a 4x4 conversion. We have quadvan on our transit and it turns into a tractor on snow...
I wonder if you tilted up the front two bed panels onto the rear one if it would make a sofa with a lean-back across the back.
Looking forward to learning about the heater. Sounds really interesting.
Cody, as usual you attention to detail pays off, well done!
It is kinda of nuts that it has taken this long for the mighty Ford Transit to make it to to the USA, don't you think?
The Tankless on demand water heaters are the way to go, we use them about 98% of the time here in Japan.
I can't wait to see more work done on this van.
Cheers!
Turned out great! Looks like you may need to round off those sharp corners of the aluminum from so they don't accidentally rip your pretty upholstery.
If your going to install a heater what kind of insulation are you planning on doing? Maybe you should fill all the internal body cavities with foam. Just a thought.
Have you thought about turning the bed panels into shelves by applying a hard panel to the bottom and then placing mounts on the van sides. This being done the bed segments go from being stored when not in use to being storage when not in use.
It's really cool that you are going to convert it into 4x4! I feel like it's a must for an adventure van. It is coming together well!
Can't wait to see more on the van transformation. I really like the design you came up with on the bed I've been thinking about maybe doing this in the future. So I'll be watching for updates. Another great video Cody.
Hi Cody, great work. It is so good to see a craftsman who takes pride in his work.
That's a nice clean installation. We prefer a very firm mattress, also.
Marvelous build! I cannot imagine what that build would cost in the commercial marketplace if it were even available. I love the idea of the LED lights under the bed area.
I do have one concern though. In my limited experience, aluminum gets a dark tarnish that could transfer to the upholstery fabric should they be stacked against each other. Is the upholstery cleanable or is there a coating that can be applied to the aluminum to prevent the tarnish? I hope someone can address this concern for me. Love your videos!
Nice job...suggestion, make the first panel capibible of turning into a couch back...dual purpose. (Slanting back over the last panel making the middle panel the couch seat)
My god this is looking amazing! Really great job with the design and build. So many ideas running through my head now. Can't wait to see the little genny.
I forwarded this to my mechanic as a good business opportunity to do some of those 4x4 conversions out here in the north east.
looks great. if you where able to take one of the bed panels off and turn it on its edge against the back door you would be able to have a couch/lounge area.
sweet set-up and future plans. that little generator/heater must only sip gas...but i'm curious to see how much it takes to run 8 hours. for 3 times the price you could probably get a remote start that works through a phone app.
Hi from Palau! We could just sleep on logs on the water here in Palau but I still enjoy all of this!
Given the interior volume of that van, I'd be laying Dynamat all over the panels, particularly those before you lay ply, coverings, etc over. May be more expensive than some but its NVH improvements are truely excellent, takes all of the "drum" out of those panels and will make for very good insulation as well.
The upholsterer did a really nice job on your bed panels that takes skill to do that, the van is slowly coming a long.
Awesome awesome work! Wish I had half your inventing genius Mr. Wranglerstar! I have a suburban and go X country skiing, your probably talking downhill, but either way you need the room. But very well laid out and executed! Well done.
Definitely hitting the thumbs up on this one! That bed looks great cody! Ive been waiting to see the finished product!! All those hours building it really shows in the end! Great job
Great video Cody. I went to the proving grounds 3 years ago when they were working the final bugs out. We sat in one of these and they dropped the temperature outside the van down to -60 degrees. Even at them extreme temps the van started.
I know you guys are more interested in the cold weather, but I'm curious what you are planning on for hot weather? Are you planning on an aftermarket AC unit to go along with the little furnace?
In Belgium, we can buy the 4x4 version at the dealer, comes out of the Ford factory, so thats wierd that it's not possible in America. Nice work you all ready have done on the Van
We only can buy diesel, no other fuel possible at this moment. Never know that there would be such difference between America and Europe.
which diesel is available for you? In America I think we only have 6.7l which has a lot of problems, and also vents the exhaust fumes during regen cycles into the passenger compartment, often resulting in the hospitalization of the occupants. but its a very powerful engine.
EcoBlue 2,0-liter TDCi, with 105 HP/360 Nm, 130 HP/385 Nm and 170 HP/405 Nm. A 6.7l engine is not done here, this because of taxes and consumption :) diesel is around 1.3€ (1.5$) for 1 liter (0.26 gallon).
Agricultural Life that makes sense lol. Turns out I was wrong, apparently they never offered the 6.7 in a transit, but we do get a 3.2 diesel here.
Until you get the 4x4 installed Cody, add a rear diff locker. (electric) and that van will still go most place 4x4 will. You will be so glad you did, as glad as you are for the 3 piece mattress.
Cody, what about side brackets to make one panel a backrest for a bench seat. Just a thought.
Looking forward to the heat exchanger - wondering if it could be made to work with a Propex :) The heat output ducting is virtually identical to the Espar / Webasto.
Have you thought about putting some sort of rack on either side of the bed so that you could hang the panels up like ladders? Might make some easy storage for the panels instead of stacking them in the back, leaving the last panel as a couch of sorts for putting on boots and whatnot.
That is going to be a very nice vehicle when you get it done. You should have a lot of fun with it. Nice going.
You should put some railing support like you did for the bed on the supports of the back doors so you can make it a couch for more comfort and space saving. So instead of stacking the front panel, you could just make it a back support for the rest of the mattress.
Awesome Cody, nice job! I imagine that bed actually helped the structural integrity of the box portion of the van.
Any chance of getting an overview/introduction to the van conversion project as a whole? Insight into your plans would be phenomenally beneficial.
The finished bed looks beautifully professional! Good job! Of course the upholsterer did a very good job.
Fantastic. An absolute dream to have a practical spacious van.
Okay, a few questions/requests:
1. Can we see how well you fit laying down on it?
2. I can't remember, can you lock each section of the bed into place so it doesn't move?
3. Can we see how tight the fit is when you close the back doors?
Thanks!
I like how you built your bed. What size aluminum tubing did u use...1"x 1"x 1/8" ?
Wow, thats a very high end job on those panels! !
I'm in the process of making my fiberglass camper shell into a slimmed down RV of sorts, much like your van. You really got my attention with the announcement of the furnace/heat exchanger and I want one. I tried to find it but struck out. Hope you can give us an update on that soon, I will be very impatiently waiting :D
I would look at private jets seats for inspiration. Two facing seats make one bed. the electrical have one battery for the engine and the rest for living so you are not stuck at a camp spot.
Extremely clean work. I’m thinking of doing something similar in my suv. But make it more of a permanent structure.
Loving your van build, But when you insulate and do the sides of the van on each end of the bed, isn't it going to interfere with removing the bed panels?
Wow, it looks amazing. Always best to do it right the first time.
It would be interesting to a simple cost analysis of this project. We have been looking at buying a travel van. The Mercedes style vans used from 2013 and up come in at around 70K to 150K, none are 4x4. Not including labor is your project going to be a lot less expensive? Great job on all of this looks good.
My buddy has the espar heater in his Semi Truck and it's really great.
Hi Mr W Just an idea, how about putting two up rights so the bed panel behind the jumps seats can be removed and locked in to make a back for a sofa using the second bed panel as the seat .
Cody...can you or have you considered building accessory brackets to use the panel(s) as a bench seat outside the van?
Nice bed - quite simple and yet sturdy. Any more info on the Espar heat exchanger for your hot water?
Excellent job on that bed really coming together
Seems like you could lift those bed panels up in the morning and place them vertically off to the side (maybe on hangers?), thereby freeing up living space that you can use during the day?
Do it right or don't start. Amazing! Maybe make something so the 3rd bed part sits at an angle so the bed turns into a bench? _/_
If you take out the middle and stand the back one up using the back door as brace could make extra searing and like a couch.i like the idea of the gas generator. Can you share the link for tha company
I'm brainstorming a similar bed system to what you have but with wood. Which LED lights did you use? Do you like them?
Looking good. I just bought a 1999 E150 chateau with a 5.4l. It has 4 captains chairs and a solid back bench seat in the back. What did you use to make the seats swivel.
I don't even know why I watch this channel, I don't do anything with this information, but I like this guy and this channel ;)
Make that first panel into a backrest for the middle panel when removed, basically turn it into a couch when you're not sleeping. Not sure HOW to make that happen, but sounds nice lol. Looks good, enjoy.
Nice build looking forward to learning about the S-bar heater BTW check Rockler for a wood version of the rivnut I have had T nuts work loose in a couple of applications. Thanks again!
Excellent work as always. What are you using as the mounting rail on the bed? Did you fabricate this rail or is this something I can purchase somewhere? I am trying to copy your bed build. Thanks for your help.
Awesome setup! Well done. Looking forward to seeing the heater and 4WD conversion!!
As already suggested, use the front bed section as a couch back during the daytime. Store bedding, pillows and PJ's in baskets behind the couch back.
Now that the season's changed how about a look at the bridge you guy's built ??
Vans looking good .
Awesome design and execution Cody!
Love the modifications.
You can tell how much quality and time are put into designing the Ford vehicles by how sturdy it looks when it's driven
I wish I had even half of the knowledge that you have. I'm still young and I hope to one day be capable of creating something of this quality. Excellent job.
I love seeing a new wranglerstar upload! Makes my day
That sure is lookin sharp! Looking forward to more on the sbar generator? That sounds truly innovative.
I can't wait to see the generator / heat exchanger set up.
I noticed that you had not insulated the van yet appear to be using it in the winter. Why did you not insulate before bed construction? Are those noise damping triangles on the sidewalls and ceiling?
I saw a video on an axe that had these spring loaded splitters, have you done a video on that or could you do one? It seems super gimmicie, since a good maul does the trick for splitting wood.
Have you thought of fixing an emergency fuel pick up tube that allows fuel to be used from the main tank past 3/4? Like in case you get stranded somewhere and only have half of a tank of fuel.
Really sweet conversion, you have put some real work into this!
That's funny, a little Asian lady also runs the upholstery shop where I get work done, great work on the bed frame, you mentioned moving the front bed panel for more space, you could slide it back, put it on it's side (little bit of hardware) and use it for a backrest, have yourself a couch.
Hey Cody. As a plumber when people call water heaters, hot water heaters is a pet peeve of mine.
It's just redundant.
No big deal. I'll just leave a comment about it when you say it.
Wow! That is pro level work right there. Reallly, reallllly, nice
Cody can you please show us how the back panel fits up to the back doors? Thanks!
Looks great now you guys go some where for some fresh travail video's .HAPPY TRAILS