what is comfortable height space for feet while sleeping?

[tearbert]

Hello teardroppers -

I discovered this forum this past summer (2012) and have just begun my first build. What height space are people comfortably allowing for their feet between their mattress and galley construction above their feet that intrudes into the cabin. I had settled on a 14 inch space for my feet above my mattress . Now I may consider reducing to 13" for various construction/mattress considerations. My feet are not big but I would like to have an adequate space for taller people in case I ever sell my trailer...to make another of course. What have others found to be a good height for comfortable feet space?

Thanks,

Robert

[rmclarke]

We've got 14" over about 7" of foam mattress...more than sufficient room. And if you want to go with deeper foam, you've got the room. I think 13" would be more than adequate also.

Richard

[dguff]

It's not just your feet, it is also your shins/knees when you turn over. Depending on how far the cabinets intrude into the sleeping compartment I like to have about 16" of space.

Jerome

[bobhenry]

Guess I am in the middle 15" from the top of the mattress for my size 13 d feet.

[aggie79]

It's not just your feet, it is also your shins/knees when you turn over. Depending on how far the cabinets intrude into the sleeping compartment I like to have about 16" of space.

Jerome

I echo what Jerome says.

My wife is a back sleeper, but I sleep on my side and toss and turn. I have 14" clearance over my feet, which is fine, but I had to "step up" my interior cabinets to 16" so I could bend my knees and not hit the interior cabinets.

Tom

[tearbert]

Richard thanks for the affirmation that I'll probably be fine with 13". It's one thing to lie on the floor with a tape measure but quite another to sleep all night moving and turning. And Jerome and Tom that is a good point about the knees and shins. My design will also step up a couple inches or so for my cabinetry. So I'll have 13 or 14 inches of height at my feet depending on my foam mattress thickness and moving back from the lower bulkhead it will grow to 16 or 17 inches where my cabinetry begins. I think my shins and knees will appreciate the step up.

Bob Henry your 13 D's might be just a little cramped with my dimensions.posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=52463#http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=52463#


Thanks all. I hope to start a build journal soon.

Robert

[tearbert]

Hmm, let me try again to post these little smilies. Sorry for the leaky HTML in my previous post.

[bobhenry]

Bob Henry your 13 D's might be just a little cramped with my dimensions.
Robert

Our teardrop is a bit different in that my galley wall holds no cabinets and we sleep feet forward. The small 12" deep front cabinet barely extends above my ankles. The sleepy side is quite spacious. The only reason I know the answer to this is I had to move the cabinet up 2 inches because when I turned my feet felt trapped. I also had to move the galley wall 5 inches rearward to get to stretch out to my likings.

[rmclarke]

Tom,

I think Jerome and Tom(aggie79) make valid points....it will matter how far your shelf/cabinets extend into your cabin. For us, the 14" works fine, but like BobHenry's build, ours is a bit different. This is the only pic I have of it; our shelf/cabinet intrudes only 13" into our cabin

(That cushion under there is a back rest ....you can see the foot clearance on the right)
It works for us....other's results may vary.

Richard

[Woodbutcher]

One other thought. The further your cabinets come out and the shorter the space you leave, the harder it is to make the bed. It is a wrestling match to say the least.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I have 18" from floor to underside of shelf. But there is also a 3/4" x 1-1/2" board that helps strengthen the shelf, so at that support I only have about 16-1/2" from floor. Plenty of room for me. I have a 4" mattress now.

I'll be upgrading to at least a 6" mattress before next season, and I'm sure I'll still have plenty of room.



With 4" mattress:

[rowerwet]

I can hit my shins on the shelf at the foot of the bed if I raise my knees, but since I don't sleep that way and it doesn't interfere with any bed related activities I haven't bothered to change it.
I was using a stadium seat cushion/back set on the bed to use my shelf as a desk for typing, If I raise the shelf it will be to high to use the computer comfortably.

[suckerpunched]

Going out on a limb here.....but I'd say,,,at least a foot....

[Riptide]

Zack,
I really love your treatment of turning the cabinets in the sleeping area into a shelf with rails! This seems lighter and will give a much less closed in feel to the inside. That is one item that I will borrow for my in progress build.

I have learned so much and seen so many good ideas on this forum....I really owe a big thank you to you all!

Thanks,
Kerry