Bunk questions

[jpau00]

I was wondering if someone could let me know what the Sportsmobile bunkbeds are made of. My van is using 1” plywood for two platforms, which adds a lot of weight on top. I’d like to remake them with something lighter but keep some strength. It will be used mostly for storage and 1-2 children.

The other issue I’d like to fix is the way it is installed. My van top slopes inward, preventing me from tipping the platform up enough to clear the ledge it sits on. It is impossible to remove the platforms unless I pull them forward and bend down the heat shield by the stove. Obviously that won’t work once I get the interior finished. I’d like the bed not to be permanently installed so I can remove it if I need the height.

Any suggestions? Unfortunately, I can’t cut down the platforms any more without them falling off the ledge that holds them. I was thinking of using a piano hinge to extend the ledge and using a narrower platform (see image). Then I can flip up the extension when I want to take the bed down. I’m not sure if I can trust the piano hinge to hold enough weight though.


Thanks for any input!

[REF]

You’ll want some rigidity in a bed platform. What I’ve got and would suggest is using 3/4” ply and cap it with some aluminum C channel on the front and rear edge, you can use some spray adhesive to wrap the panels with some sort of fabric to finish.
It sounds like you might want to make your platform out of a few more panels to be able to more easily move or remove them. Instead of one or two large panels, you can have one larger fixed one towards the rear that you leave in place and have 2 smaller panels up front that can be moved or maybe even 4 smaller panels.

[jpau00]

Thanks, REF. The smaller panels might be the best way. Even if I can't take them out, They'll be easier to stack on the rear fixed one than what I currently have.