Chateau Ben / Convertible Bench ideas sought for for E350

[scuba]

Originally Posted by IanF

I agree about the hi-top. It's the reason it took about 20 years for me to finally find my van. Extended length, raised roof conversion vans were pretty rare. I am not a fan of pop-tops.

I used to sleep on the rear folding seat/bed in my old E150 conversion van, but it was definitely tight for me at 5' 10". I generally had to sleep diagonally. I'm not sure a 72" wide option exists since the vans aren't really that wide.

Since you have to reupholster the cushions anyway, maybe get the frame out of the salvage van, weld in the additional width you desire, then make new cushions?

Good idea IanF on the potential to extend a conversion-van bed. And just clarify, 72 inches is the "length" I'm looking for, and 58-60 inches in width (wall to wall).

I've been measuring the crap out of my '06 E-150 RB, and my new '13 E350, and the location / shape of the protrusion on driver's-side rear is different (I think this is the rear A/C evaporator). I believe it sticks out enough to be relevant to those of would-be bed/bench builders/buyers. This may be duplicated elsewhere, but as an attempted PSA, I'll post dimensions.

[scuba]

Attached are pics of the driver rear of an EB 350 15-passenger van. (2013).

It would appear that in order to have a wall-to-wall bed (what we want), the bottom of the frame would have to be taller than 16 inches to clear the L-shaped [evaporator?], or you've have to live with driver's-wall -side of the bed terminating about 5-6 inches from the edge of the van.

I've found the magic number to be ~17 inches high for the seating surface of a rear bench in an E-series before my head (connected to my long-torso'd 6'1" (and shrinking) frame) touches the ceiling. So a bed / bench sleeping surface will be ~17", and with a 3-4" cushion, means that the height of the frame bottom will be no taller than about 12 inches.

[scuba]

Update: I bought VanDiesel's bench for the rear bed area. (my interior is stock 15-passenger now).

I'm currently considered an additional full-width folding bench / bed for the 1st or 2nd row position (of the 4 row 15 pasenger). I know that it will partially obstruct the door opening, but I'll really take advantage of the sleeping space for a kid or two (sideways, on it folded flat, with no bed extender, so 57" wide (van-wide) and about 44" fore-to-aft).

Anybody done that? (Put a full width bench in the front or 2nd row of the van?

[ConnieKat]

Hi, Just wondered if you’d seen the folding bunkbeds? They attach to the wall, though I can’t recall if they fold up or down. Very lightweight according to info I saw. Just a thought.....
ConnieKat

[scuba]

ConnieKat, I have not seen any bunk beds in an E-series. Only randomly in an NV and maybe some L-track / flat walled Sprinters.

Let me know if you've got some info-- otherwise will put it on my list to search. We really just need a spot for one ~50 inch tall 9yr old.

[killacks]

Some folks have done a DIY hammock-style bed over the driver/passenger seat. Seen in here and elsewhere online. Something like a suspended cot with rope-like supports that fit between the door and door frame.

Also, if you've got swiveling front seats, you can face them towards each other and set up a DIY bed that extends across the width of the van

Both those might be a stretch for a 9 yo, though. Might make for a temporary fix