Neat bed/sofa option.

[kirkman]

For those of you that are doing a complete gut remodel job. I saw this and thought I would pass it on.
DIY RV Sofa Bed Designed by Ian and Mad Mumsie

[honda03842]

Very nice. We had a SUnline trailer and it worked very similat to this, part of my favorite trailer layout.

[Bob Miller]

That's a clever idea and, after doing several similar projects for FGRV's, I can add the following tips:


Rather than the fairly complex slat system, you can use 3/8" plywood that overlaps when pushed in for storage. If it flexes, three reinforcing ribs on the bottom helps.


Comfort is all about the mattress. IKEA makes super comfortable FUTON mattresses that are designed for every night sleeping use (not just for guests etc.) And (at least IKEA) futon mattresses are permanently joined at the center so there is no cushion separation when in use.


I believe this is the one I am currently using. Note it's length & width (55" x 74"). Fit perfectly in a Compact-II anyway.
LYCKSELE LÖVÅS Mattress - - IKEA

[Kai in Seattle]

Very interesting, lots of good photos. We had come to the idea of putting a sofa/bed combo across the back already...This system looks quite complex, though Paul says the slat system is do-able, I think it's more likely to get done with the plywood Bob Miller suggests. As for that, what kind of a "double" bed is six feet wide?
The IKEA futon idea is good if you've decided you're never going to want to cut it to make a traditional dinette area...which we're pretty close to deciding...we already got a twin, all-foam, 7" IKEA mattress in the clearance area which will be on the front gaucho bed as a bed only for a while, then cut to make a bed-length sofa in the daytime. the back bed will be the same, with a slide-out gaucho section added and better lids and interiors for the original storage "bins" under the dinette seats/back bed. Neither area is standard for twin (front, length too short) or double (back, width too narrow) but since we gutted the shell, we'll rebuild the "furniture" to make things more standard. Eventually we'll have a folding 4' table for the back and there will be two sofas during the day. Naturally, the covers will be removable for washing (with two pug girls, it's inevitable) and we kept the beautiful, super long, heavy-duty zippers from the old upholstery covers--the PO had something like 9 or 11 cushions to make up a complex of two beds...neither of us ever managed to figure out exactly what configuration got us to proper...so my design has only four cushions at most. The covers will be joined but removable for ease and washability without wondering which goes where. Interesting about the height--we may want ours to be "lower" than before--would be better for the pug girls, too, but we'll see.


All the optional configurations shown in the link are very interesting...very. Probably going to keep ours more like original amerigo except for very rear sofa config...nothing fancy, my mind just doesn't wrap around that any more, and Paul's carpentry is good but basic.


Still, good to see, thanks for sending it on!

[Bob Miller]

The example shown was for a couch/bed, not a dinette bed


Actually we can just flip back 1/2 of the Futon mattress and put up a 1/2 size table and we have a dinette for two and, in a Hunter, that's about all you will ever need.


.

[Gilda]

'Very clever and very European as beds in Europe often do not have box spring mattresses but do have a bowed slat base. I think the reference to "double bed" simply means it can accommodate two people. Here's an interesting bit on bed size comparisons between the U.S. and other countries. Even sizes at IKEA don't always fit U.S. beds. https://www.novosbed.com/mattrepedia...attress-sizes/ Motto: "Don't buy sheets as souvenirs." Of course, no one makes sheets that fit our varied sized camper beds!