My own CT build is a ways off, since I've a nearly-complete Solar Home I designed to finish first. I'm planning a CT build that allows off-grid, long term stays on BLM land; $$$ saving urban stealth camping; and serving as cushy Guest quarters for friends with a sense of humor.
Design concept #1: make a 1 piece Murphy bed that has a fold-down plywood bench seat underneath that deploys when the Murphy is folded up securely. The Murphy bed bottom will be the back rest part of a couch with detachable cushions for the seat and back that Velcro on while sitting out of inclement weather. Sans the couch idea, the foam mattress Murphy Queen bed I built for a small Tuff Shed we had on mountain property worked very well. The dog slept underneath it. A stout 'space blanket' we put under the bottom sheet made a bit of noise when turning over, but kept us comfy w/o electricity when we could see our breath in cold CO weather at >9,000 ft. elevation. Here it is 16 May, and we're still getting snow in places.
While this idea won't allow for tote bin storage under the Murphy bed, it will make for open daytime space. If I store the Murphy bed up at greater than a hard 90 degree angle, the back portion will tilt back some and should be a comfy back rest when used in couch mode.
Design concept #2: make a 2 piece Murphy bed/couch seat that folds down from one CT wall. The other bed half folds down from the opposite wall. Storage pouches could mount on the bottoms, etc.. Make up each half with single bed bottom sheets. The second half mattress could detach and Velcro on the wall to become the sloped couch back. Couch seat covers with elastic edges like bottom sheets could fit on mattress halves quickly.
A 1x4 secured length-wise and sticking out 1.5" from the bottom of one half could have the other bed half rest on it as a support 'ledge'. It could have removeable or hinged 2x2 legs to support the bed middle. I've used this leg idea before. This idea permits storage bins - and kids and dogs - to fit underneath since each half could mount at couch seat heighth.
I've slept on plenty of Trailer mattresses comprised of several cushions [as in my 31' Avion used while building], and the lateral seams in them just don't float my aging boat anymore. Memory foam on top would cure this, however. This 2 piece Murphy bed idea has one seam running length-wise down the middle. IMHO, high end air mattresses are OK, but can't match dense foam. I also really like the sound of what 'deceiver' above is using with built-in memory foam.
For several platform Beds I've built, we've used foam mattresses that are like 'ice cream sandwiches'. There's very dense foam in the middle, and less dense 1" foam on either side. You can then flip it over to extend mattress life. Vertical 1x6s glued and screwed 12" apart laterally sitting on glued and screwed 2x2s allow clear spans under these 6' wide beds. The 1x6s act like very strong airplane wing struts when notched and placed on edge-mounted 2x2s on the bed frame. 1x6s would be overkill for the 2 piece Murphy bed concept, but properly-sized 1x? struts allow for thinner, weight-saving plywood under the mattress. The CT rear would be the headboard.
We have a convertible couch Futon for a temporary guest bed in our new House I was given for free. It weighs a ton and is very unwieldy. Dense foam mattress weight is manageable. Cut them in half length-wise with a bread knife if necessary for flexible configs.
A Class C RV we rented on the CA coast last Fall had a 'Sleep Number' bed with separate controls for each side. Too expensive for a CT, but a nice snooze, fer sure.
See some tricked out Trailers here:
http://www.denverpost.com/insideandout/ci_15089212
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 9:55 pm
