Lifting roof XPStream - making improvements

[dales133]

Electric carving knife or hot wire

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[OP827]

I started to have some doubts about the 6" foam mattress and these ikea slats combination. I wonder if the mattress will be pushed between the slats since it is not like 8" or 12" mattress that these slatted bed bases are used for. Anyone has experience with 6" foam on these slats?

[S. Heisley]

If you have a couch with foam cushions, you can probably find out quickly. Most couch foam cushions are about 6" thick. Take the cushion out of its cover and put it on top of the slats and sit on it for a while. Squirm around a bit on it, too. Then, get up and take a look at what it did. Or, call the manufacturer and ask them. Companies used to make patio furniture with slatted plastic straps that we sat or laid on without any foam on them; but, your slats appear to be wood, which might make a difference.

[OP827]

Sharon, thank you for advice. I decided to go for it and if I feel these slats in any way, I can add more foam or dense fabric on the bottom of the mattress. It will be fine.

Here I am gluing the rails(birch) for expandable bed frame:



Then I cut all the slats for needed length and placed them on the rails. Need to screw them down later:

[me&z]

The Ikea mattress sold with this set up (similar to what you are building) is under 5". I'd assume that your 6" foam would work too.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/produ ... /S59185365

My guess is that fabric cover probably helps to bridge the gaps. Uncovered foam might very well get squished in between the slats.

Forgot to add: you can cut foam with just a normal box cutter. Probably not as neatly as with a hot wire or electric knife. But if the foam is inside a cover, you won't see the raggedy cuts. If you decide to use a box cutter, use a couple of boards to compress the foam as much as possible. It helps. I stood on a 2x4 while my husband used it as a cutting guide.

[OP827]

Me&z, thanks for the information, that is good to know. I looked it up and yes, that bed uses firm, but only 3-7/8" thick polyurethane foam for a mattress. I think that strong and tight fabric cover also plays its role. We will do a strong cover for our mattress and it should be fine then. I will report the sleep test results if I will remember to do it in the future.

[OP827]

Just some pictures of the bed base finished today.

[KCStudly]

Nice job. Looks great.

[dales133]

Ye sir
Looks great

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[greygoos]

I started to have some doubts about the 6" foam mattress and these ikea slats combination. I wonder if the mattress will be pushed between the slats since it is not like 8" or 12" mattress that these slatted bed bases are used for. Anyone has experience with 6" foam on these slats?

Being a fat guy I did use a similar setup and yes the foam mattress was starting to poke through a bit. I solved the issue by putting a futon cover on the mattress first.

[Atomic77]

OP your craftsmanship is stunning! All that birch looks beautiful! Very well done and super impressive.

[S. Heisley]

Nice job. Looks great.

It does!

[OP827]

OP your craftsmanship is stunning! All that birch looks beautiful! Very well done and super impressive.

Thank you very much Michael, I take it as a huge credit from a great Craftsman you are, indeed.

To my eye, a somewhat darker yellow birch hardwood and a lighter white birch look nice in a work piece together. This is my first such long woodwork (and of course, foam) project. Without much experience, I am trying to do a decent job so you my friend, and all here would have a good feeling while watching how this build comes to life.

Thank you Michael, Dale, KC, Sharon, greygoos for your kind comments and information!


Imagination is more important than knowledge... (A.Einstein)

[dales133]

Your welcome bud.
Bed looks great too

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[OP827]

A little update. Last two days I was finishing design(:)) and building my so-called "bathroom" area. The reason it is called that way is because until now I am still thinking of whether it will be a curtain or a transforming and folding hard walls to separate that bathroom from the main area. Its space will be shared with common trailer space when bathroom is not used. For now I am done with building of the bathroom, need to focus on exterior and doors. Porta potty or other type of device will fit in a dedicated and isolated compartment under the sofa/bed where you see the gray bucket in the photo.. Anyway, the whole idea is to have more room to move around inside the trailer during the day. The photos are of a dry fit, will glue it later.



On another note I will have to travel for contract work to another province (can't take the trailer and tools with me..) and then perhaps move my family there if I am successful, so it means I will not be able to work on the trailer until I move the household, which can be many months. Life happens..