Underbed storage area

[Barbara]

View attachment 55478
Kitchen table

View attachment 55479
Lower parcel shelf (resting on the wheel arch trim)

View attachment 55480
VW Comfort Mattress support

The bench can be lowered into the bed with the table in-situ. Once the bench has been lowered for the bed the table cannot be removed, but anything stored below it can be slid out.

Where did you get the table legs? Do they come in a shorter version that I could use to make a bed. When alone with my bike in the van it is best for bike storage to have 2 single seats not the bench seat. At present I put a bed made form folding form on the van floor but I would kike to be a bit higher. Do not use roof bed- no fun putting it down in wind and when I am away from site. Also I am a bit too short.

 

[Amarillo]

Where did you get the table legs? Do they come in a shorter version that I could use to make a bed. When alone with my bike in the van it is best for bike storage to have 2 single seats not the bench seat.

Gemini Square Tube Folding Table Leg for caravans and motorhomes

Gemini square tube folding table leg in 660mm or 700mm, used in caravans, campervans and motorhomes.

www.rainbow-conversions.co.uk

They come in 650mm and 700mm heights.

You could overlap the legs to make a shorter table.

 

[Trevor Brown]

A pocket hole jig would be a help for joining - Kreg or other

 

[jimmywease]

I've always thought of the Bench seat having three modes: table (bench seat folded forward), bench (bench seat in normal seating position) and bed (bench seat folded back). I don't know where the term "table mode" made it into my brain.

Both Clare and I have slept on the bench seat in bench mode a few times with the child seats stuffed into the front passenger footwell, and the other adult plus two boys in the roof. I'm a large 6' so it's not very comfortable. Perhaps table mode would have been better, but we had luggage piled to the ceiling above the multiflex. But now we can have a fixed 150 x 100 double on the multiflex and multiflex extension for two boys, child seats can remain in place, and clare and I upstairs. We also know how to pack and what we do not need to pack, and I reckon all our luggage for a two week holiday, except residence room, will fit under the multiflex, multiflex extension and in our window bags. Arrival at parking spot at 10pm and departure at 8am should be dead easy - haha. Perhaps we will trial it for the first time at the Dorset Club Meet at the end of September.

Thank you for this ‘table mode’ gem, Amarillo. I was racking my brains for a suitable one-night pit-stop sleeping arrangement for two adults, two children and one dog. Up to now, I have had two choices:
Tidy the van, kick out the other passengers and make-up the downstairs bed (including moving any camping equipment off of the multiflex and onto the front seats) OR
One unlucky adult sleeping across the bench seat (I’m 6’1” with a sore back), then three people upstairs.
Using the ‘table mode’, with the comfort mattress square sections pulled over the top, our daughter (11yrs) can use it as a single bed (across van width) with dog on floor, leaving me & Mrs Wease to sleep upstairs with the boy(8yrs & cuddly). I’ll probably top&tail the other two, for shoulder-space.
The difference might not seem huge but this could be a game-changer for us, in terms of stress and sleep quality. At least until our daughter grows above 150cm!

 

[Tarquers]

Got the multiflex extension or kitchen work table cut today from 18mm ply. In fact, I got two cut: 1500 x 380 mm and 1500 x 450 mm. This gives a fixed rear bed size of 150 x 96 cm or 150 x 103 cm. I’ll try the two boys out on it tomorrow.

I’ve ordered four folding legs for one of the MF extension/worktop tables. The board fits snugly on top of the two trays, but with the legs correctly attached it will be held securely in place with the legs tucked neatly within the tray cavities. The board sits 1 - 2 mm lower than the top of the MF, but once the trays and board are varnished this small drop should be even smaller.

Crates to pack under the multiflex and multiflex extension.
From top to bottom:
Two 540 x 480 plywood crates
Two 750 x 380 plywood trays
Four muji drawers
Gas box for two 907 bottles
Double gas burner and grill

Under the MF extension
Two varnished crates supporting two unfinished trays, with a gap between the crates for the gas box.

The two trays seen from above between the bench seat and multiflex. The bench seat is positioned so if dropped it will make the standard bed without the bench needing to be moved fore or aft.

The MF extension in position.

The boot fully packed with everything seen in the first photo.


Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

Tom - just reading and re-reading your designs and popped to the garage to experiment. With the seat in the bed position, and your extension in place, folding the seat to “table” gave an instant bed that is slightly shorter than the conventional bed but allows to leave your extension in place.

please tell me I am not mad at that and work with your extension in place. If so I think I would go for a longer drawer slide to access the whole storage (maybe a water tank behind the seat) and access if it doesn’t slide the whole way out by lifting up the multiflex on the existing hinges???

 

[Amarillo]

Tom - just reading and re-reading your designs and popped to the garage to experiment. With the seat in the bed position, and your extension in place, folding the seat to “table” gave an instant bed that is slightly shorter than the conventional bed but allows to leave your extension in place.

please tell me I am not mad at that and work with your extension in place. If so I think I would go for a longer drawer slide to access the whole storage (maybe a water tank behind the seat) and access if it doesn’t slide the whole way out by lifting up the multiflex on the existing hinges???

I hope I understand what you are proposing.

Making the bed by using:
The multiflex
An extension (about 380mm)
The bench in table mode

Under the multiflex and extension you want a very deep sliding tray that would pull out maybe 70% of the way, and you ask if the remaining ~30% can be accessed by lifting the rear flap of the multiflex?

I can see this working if you can build the multiflex extension to be self supporting on legs which fit in the tiny gap between the floor rails and wheel arch trim or on top of the wheel arch trim. I don’t think it would be easy.

 

[Tarquers]

I hope I understand what you are proposing.

Making the bed by using:
The multiflex
An extension (about 380mm)
The bench in table mode

Under the multiflex and extension you want a very deep sliding tray that would pull out maybe 70% of the way, and you ask if the remaining ~30% can be accessed by lifting the rear flap of the multiflex?

I can see this working if you can build the multiflex extension to be self supporting on legs which fit in the tiny gap between the floor rails and wheel arch trim or on top of the wheel arch trim. I don’t think it would be easy.

yep I think that sums it up. I have not looked into the mechanics yet, I may just go for a storage "box" with a lid (where your arrangement sits) and a shorter slide. I think with your current setup you could just go to table mode with leaving everything in, ideal for an overnight stop in transit for example.

I have been trying to find the post from earlier this year where someone replaced the whole multiflex with a new construction, this may be an easier option.

Found it here: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/beach-3-seater-bed-and-storage-improvement.39156/ seat folds forwards. Looks like I need to start designing.

 

[Tarquers]

I hope I understand what you are proposing.

Making the bed by using:
The multiflex
An extension (about 380mm)
The bench in table mode

Under the multiflex and extension you want a very deep sliding tray that would pull out maybe 70% of the way, and you ask if the remaining ~30% can be accessed by lifting the rear flap of the multiflex?

I can see this working if you can build the multiflex extension to be self supporting on legs which fit in the tiny gap between the floor rails and wheel arch trim or on top of the wheel arch trim. I don’t think it would be easy.

so current plan is to place something like this behind the seat and in front of the multiflex to fill the gap between the multiflex board and the seat back. installing a board will allow for access from the top to storage and will be part of the bed base when the seat is in table mode. Just need to check the dimensions before purchasing, or I will look for a local fabricator. this would allow a longer drawer under the runners and keep the seat in a fixed position.