Hello.
I bought my previa for camping and skiing and knew I'd need a bed setup inside the van for full anywhere-camping ability. Here is what I came up with. My lady and I have used it for about 5 nights so far and it works great. It is a nice big full sized (72x53) bed that is flat. The bed comes apart and stowes away while driving. It takes about 5-10 minutes to set up.
The palace in the wilderness! With your head by the rear hatch you can watch the stars while you fall asleep. I have found that a down comforter and sheets is more cozy than nylon sleeping bags. The night this was taken it went below freezing so we threw in an extra comforter and were plenty warm. This night I set the bed up at home before we left which was super convenient when we arrived at the campground after dark.
Real milk crates from the dairy or grocery store are way more stout than those at biglots etc. but they will work too.
You can just do a single bunk if you are on a solo mission.
I put some pieces of cardboard directly over the slats. This may or may not be necessary. I just didn't want to sink a hand through the slats in the middle of the night.
There is enough space to get in and out of the bed or put the cooler in the van with the bed up. I usually just move the cooler outside by the picnic table when we get to camp.
You can lift the bed up and shove the cooler under while driving if need be but the bed will not be level sitting on the cooler. You can fit camp chairs back packs etc under the bed.
I hang a closet shoe holder from the grab handle to give some cubby space for shoving things.
This is what it all looks like put away for daytime use. The bed slats and bedding get stuffed behind the back seat.
Here is what I used:
3 - 2x4s (cheapest). Another options would be finished wood to avoid splinters
3 - milk crates
1 - 25' roll of industrial adhesive backed velcro
1- Full Size ikea "sultan lade" slatted bed base (
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/95844509)
another option would be the Full size Sultan Luroy which is thinner and may be less cumbersome.
another option would be to cut your own slats
Youll need to remove the middle bench or captains chairs.
see the pictures to make sense of my directions.
1- cut the 2x4s to 72 inches
2- lay them flat side by side
3- stretch out one strip of the bed slats over them and pencil in where the slats will sit
4- cut 2 pieces of the furry velcro for each slat. cut pieces as long as the slats are wide (roughly 2-3 inches)
5- with the 2x4s laid flat side by side and striped to indicate where the slats will lie, stick a piece of the furry velcro on the outside top edge of the right and left 2x4 where the slats will sit. these will be your outside supports and go along the wall of the van with the velcro facing up on the wall/sliding door side of the van.
6- put 2 strips of the furry velcro down top edges of the center 2x4 where the slats will sit. This will be the center support of and go right down the center of the van.
NOTE: you could save some time by buying an exta roll of velcro and just run two strips all the way down all three 2x4s so they are interchangeable. And, you don't have to cut a bunch of velcro which was the most time consuming part of building the set up. If you go this route, you may want to reinforce the adhesive on the strips with staples or nails.
7- cut 2 1x1 pieces of the prickly side of the velcro for each slat
8- stick 1 of these pieces on each end of the underside of each slat You just want enough velcro on the slats to keep them in place. Too much velcro makes it harder to set up the bed because it sticks to everything.
NOTE: you may consider ripping off the ribbon that holds the slats together and just place them one by one. They are a bit unwieldy when they are all stuck together. I have not done this yet but may in the future. The Sultan Luroy is made of thinner cambered slats that weigh much less and may be easier to handle with the ribbon attached.
Next I need to figure out some interior lights. . . and a cool rug.
Let me know
