Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Have been trying to decide which way i will go with a bed. Have been reading all i can, and searching everywhere i can to see choices. Honestly not sure if i want a regular bed steel bedframe, frame that folds up, or something that slides out and can be used as seating when not sleeping.

For the possibility of having my ole lady and dog tagging along from time to time a Queen bed would be best case scenario, but a full size bed may work... Time will tell which size will work, but stumbled across a pull out/sliding frame. Seems to be use in smaller Van conversions, and have search a few different things but didnt find it on here.

Anybody used this particular type of style bed? Would it be able to support two people and a dog when extended? Thinking may need a few more supports due to width of full/queen size bed

Looks plenty sturdy, plus have some storage underneath. Only thing is what to do with mattress. Probably need to go with foam and roll it up. I just installed the Liftco twin folding bunk beds. Will be doing a full fold up bed based on engineering of the Liftco beds.

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I'm going to build a version of this design because you can lift it up when it is collapsed and get to what's underneath.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/356839970452031822/

I shud have screen shot the one with hinges, like said above, foam mattress will be used and stored underneath. I will keep an eye out if you go that route and see how u like it

Bed's take up a lot of valuable real estate in the camper and are only used 8 or so hours out of the day. If you are building just a camper... multi-use as couch/ bed/storage like shown above is very good. In my case, I need open floorspace for motorcycles, so I am building a queen size bed that raises to the ceiling and can be lowered for sleep. When the bikes are out, then the entire floor (7'*8')will be free free for living space even when the loft bed is deployed. It is the best use of space for that purpose.

You just need to think about how you want to use your trailer and what is important to you. Good luck on your decision

A bike is in my future, but this will be used for camper/shelter during hunting season 90% to begin with. I have a 10 ft trailer for hauling needs and ATV can go in truck if needed.

Bed will be down 100% of time if hunting, but if camping then would like the extra floor space.


flboy, are u goin to use manual winches with a platform? And will it stay suspended while down, or just drop it to the floor? Cant wait to see that finished product

Donut757 wrote:flboy, are u goin to use manual winches with a platform? And will it stay suspended while down, or just drop it to the floor? Cant wait to see that finished product

I am going to use tracks to guide the bed and gas struts to make the bed about neutral from a weight perspective. I will build the platform from steel that will hold the mattress. I bought my trailer 7.5 feet tall with the idea that the bed will go down about 3 feet and stop. Even though the bed will stop at 3 ft.. I intend to have the tracks go to the floor to take the weight of the bed, my wife ,and I, so the walls do not have to bear the weight.. The weight should mostly transfer to the floor.


The 4.5 feet below is enough to clear the bikes and 3 ft. is enough room to get in and out and not feel like the ceiling is in your face all night. I want to be able to use the bed if I pull off the road at night without unloading motorcycles. Also, I figured when I am at camp and if the bed is down, the 4.5 ft. will still allow for setting and lounging below. But unless I or my wife are in the bed... it will raise to the ceiling by pushing up from below.

I have the bed design in my head... I may draw it up as I build it in case is works well and others want to replicate.

This is the choice I am looking at. Split so that you can make a L shape couch or dinette as well as a bench or a queen size bed. Pushed in still leaves enough room for the quad to fit inside.

Here's another option for a split bed system?

Pretty simple to make into a bed and easy access to storage underneath.

http://empowersites.com/edsvan/projects/building-and-installing-couches/

http://empowersites.com/edsvan/projects/installing-folding-couch-tops/

I'd probably modify the design. Extend the tops so they come together in one big bed. That would also give you taller (wider) cushions for back rests. If you extend the tops much wider though, you may need to also have a support of some sort to keep them from sagging.

There are inner spring futon mattresses available in queen size that are very comfy (compared to the lumpy cotton ones). Since futon mattresses are bendy you can use the sliding frame design still... just grab the edge of the mattress and pull up while sliding the frame in to push the half of the mattress up the wall. Adding a lip to the edge of the slider would keep the mattress from sliding back down. However those futon mattresses aren't light and the size makes it a little awkward, so converting to couch mode might require 2 people.

Ikea makes one very similar to that we put in our trailer:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40228708/

Ikea makes one very similar to that we put in our trailer:

Nice option and at almost 76" it'll even work for tall folk!

thats ikea bed is one of the options I was looking at. For the mattress I would either use two separate pads like Ikea, or one that can be layed up into position like a futon, with the hinges to get under for other things.

Been putting some ideas to paper....

If i wasnt ashamed of my drawing abilities i might wud share them... I may anyways but not sure if other cud understand them

If you are talking about laying out the trailer, I used a free program called sweet home 3D to mock up my trailer. Helluva lot faster than hand drafting - I probably had a dozen different layouts to see what I liked - seeing if certain beds and items would fit. There are some other free programs out there too - I think google has one but its been a while since I used it