Bed plan with seating option questions.

[2StrokeBloke]

Hello everyone,
I need a little creative help from you 'thinkers' and 'designers'.
I have a non-standard teardrop trailer modeled after an airstream ( think airstream Bambi shrunk down to tear drop size) and the bed area is very similar in sizes and design to pretty much every tear drop I have looked at.
It currently consists of a floor area, some cabinets up at the 'rear' ceiling area, and the side door opens up to the floor area like every tear drop.

What I'd like thoughts and ideas, drawings or references to, is this:

When it's daytime but nasty weather, I'd like to be able to SIT inside the sleeping area and play cards on a table top. Then when it was time to sleep, I could 'drop' the table top and maybe the 'seats' and roll out the bedding/mattress and sleep on it.

I'm thinking of a bed (platform?) that allowed the bedding to be rolled up, or folded up to the rear, and then some sort of lift out 'table' supported by a removable post to the floor, and maybe even round 'seats' also supported by posts to the floor. The table top 'hole' would allow our feet to drop lower than the bed 'platform'. Some sort of system to 'captivate' the posts once 'stowed' for night and travel. Having accessible storage spots under the bed platform would be great as well.

I know on most tear drops, head space is around 4 or 5 feet. Mine is the same. I'm sure it's possible..my 'tear drop' does not have the sloped ceilings to contend with.

Has anyone done something similar and can supply photos of bed and sitting configurations or have you seen something like this and point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions. I know mine is not a 'tear-drop' but it's very similar in function and this is the best resource around.
Thanks.

[depatty]

Take a look about a third of the way down the page at http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=44617&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75 for a great bed/table/seating idea from Tinksdad that can be modified for most any trailer design.

HTH
Dave

[Woodbutcher]

Hi , I am doing sort of the same thing you are. If you use the link below it will take you to my build thread. My solution was to use 2 rear seat frames out of a leisure van. The drop floor is for the table and my feet. Maybe it will spark you.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... automobile

[atahoekid]

I am planning on the same thing you are. The table top would be part of the "floor" with a removable post secured in the footwell for transit and when otherwise not in use. I've found tubular steel posts like that for RV dining tables. Don't recall the name of the supplier, but it was online. I"m thinking of velcro strapping attached to the floor or a small cradle cut from 2 x 4's to secuure it in the footwell. For the mattress to be removable and expose the table top, I plan on cutting a 4 inch foam mattress into sections and just removing the section hiding the table when I need it. But since I dislike the "seams" in a mattress like that, I am also going to keep a 2" foam topper on hand that can be rolled up and put aside when the table is in use. That should keep things comfy
For seating, I just plan on sitting on top of the mattress. I had been toying around with the idea of some folding backrests but I will wait until I get to that stage of the build. My fear is that they would be either too cumbersome or uncomfortable or both. I'll play around with it when I get there. My crude sketches aren't helping me picture things.

Best of luck with your idea search. When I get to that part of the build, I'll post pictures

[2StrokeBloke]

Thanks Dave, Woodbutcher and atahoekid for the excellent starting ideas and places to look. I like the wooden base one..easy enough to build, piano hinges easy to find and nothing to 'come undone' down the road.

I really like the metal frame 'couch' idea but unless they are easily sourced, it may take a summer to find a scrapped camper van with such a setup. Very good find and idea though.

atahoekid, I'm still thinking over the post and table top idea. These I can find at the wreckers..have a look before you pay for one/shipping. I've seen a few camper vans at the scrap yards and even the 'classier' full size vans (like Ford Chateau's) usually had a table/post setup.

My 'bed' area is 75"Lx 52"Wx47"H. I think rather than having the 'table' section run from front to back (long ways) I may just make it the 'width' of the area..open the door and slide in sitting instead of swinging legs over the door side 'bench'. This means the 'seams' in the foam will run width wise instead of lengthwise..I've 'fallen' into seams before and find it annoying. Atahoekid's idea of a thin foam 'topper' would further alleviate any seams. It would be nice if thermorest made a 'doublewide' mattress for couples!

Anyhow, lots to get thinking on for now! Thanks for the kickstart ideas!