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L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:42 pm
by Artacoma
Shelves are semi permanent , hold the tools and stuff I need for work and leave lots of room for cargo,
3 foot x 6 foot plywood slips in to make bed platform , makes 4 foot x 6 foot bed with 12 inches under for slide in drawers yet to be built.With the long wheel base van this still leaves 30 - 36 " to the front seats.
I used perforated angle iron to build the supports and that is bolted to the rear seat mounting points.
With just the shelves in I can still use the rear captains chairs if I need them.
4 bolts and the whole thing can be removed with no marks.
I tucked the rear most seat belts behind the wall panels.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:33 pm
by nxski
Looks like a pretty sweet set-up!
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:56 pm
by RickJ
Nice work.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:42 am
by bionic
That bed platform looks awesome.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:13 am
by BCDelica
Your Deli bed configurations/fabrications are the cleanest, and my favorites, good job again.
Cheers
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:36 pm
by izack98
Artacoma, nice set up. I like how it can be removed easily with 2 bolts.
When you get a minute can you post some pics of how you supported the 3'x6' plywood which spans the center? By the looks of the third pic you have perforated angle iron attached (hope you haven't gouged your leg on that sharp corner). It's hard to tell how you supported the other side (drivers side) of the bed. Did you use 5/8" or 3/4" for the bed?
Cheers
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 5:17 pm
by Artacoma
on the left side I used a full length of angle attached to the shelf, on the right I used short pieces of angle I bent to a z? shape and attached to the middle piece.
I used 3/4" multiply it's a lot stiffer than regular construction ply and it's prefinished on both sides, about $60 a sheet, it should have a
minimum 9 plies for 3/4"
Here's a couple more pics , we are going camping to Tofino this weekend , I'll post some pics of my full camping setup next week.
The perf angle is proving to be great to give a ton of tie down points for odd cargo straps.
I haven't gouged myself yet but that edge is a bit sketchy , I'll soften it somehow.
Cheers
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 10:44 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
Nice job, Rik.
Falco.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 9:22 am
by 1994delicaman
Lookin good there!
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:21 pm
by Artacoma
First trip with this setup went smooth , I think I might get some 4' extension slides from lee valley and add a sliding tray under the bed.
These pics are from the Greenpoint campground at Long Beach Tofino . We had one day of rain and two days of sun.
That folding aluminum table is from Leevalley and it is surprisingly sturdy and packs quite small.
Now I'm shopping for a better 2 burner camp stove .
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 10:06 pm
by obeygravity
What is that awning all about? I'm interested. How does it connect to the van?
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 6:09 am
by Artacoma
http://www.kelty.com/showproduct.aspx?P ... large-2012
Got this from Sierra Trading post a couple of years ago.
I can be configured a few different ways depending on needs
Its made to attach to a roof rack , but I just attached it to a couple of cargo straps, it's pretty sweet.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:07 pm
by Artacoma
I added a removable drawer unit under the bed, 3 feet x 3 feet .
I found that I take stuff in and out frequently when camping and road tripping and last trip to tofino was warned a couple of times to keep everything in my truck when not at the campsite, this included water jugs , campstoves and cardboard a box with firewood because the box may have once held food.
I keep most of my camping gear in purpose built plywood boxes and thats what dictated the size. We keep our clothes and stuff under the front of the bed so thats accessible from inside the van
The key feature for me was to make it easy to take in and out and not take up a lot of storage room when I'm not using it.
The drawer glides lock in and out and there is a little anti tip piece in the back that pivots on a screw (this also adds a center support to the bed for when the van is 'rockin')
I tacked on a couple bits of no slip shelf liner on the bottom which grips to the rubber floor really well.
Also makes a good stove/ kitchen table for roadside stops.
Re: L400 bed + shelves
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:07 am
by cd_photo
This is a great design, Rik. Thinking about adapting it for a rear storage cabinet type thing with a space in the middle for our dogs. Currently they get about 1/3 of the van's interior space, and we can't have that.