[Hondamade4dogs]

Couldn't you just go to Lowe's or Home Depot, or Lockes and buy your pvc pipes and connections. You can usually get a bag of five t's for $2.69 and 8 foot pipe for $2.99

 

[lefty]

Couldn't you just go to Lowe's or Home Depot, or Lockes and buy your pvc pipes and connections. You can usually get a bag of five t's for $2.69 and 8 foot pipe for $2.99

For the PVC pipe and "standard" fittings I did go to Lowes but for the special fittings like the 3-way corner and 5-way, one needs to get them elsewhere like I did because hardware stores do not carry these fittings. These are special fittings not made for plumbing but for PVC (hobby) projects like this or making furniture. There not absolutely necessary but I like them because they give you a cleaner design.

 

[pookSter]

Al, I found the plans on page 7

 

[TracyDP]

This is a really fantastic idea, the only problem for me is that we will be traveling/camping with a child so we will have to have at least one back seat in the car. I love the platform idea but I don't think it will work for us. I'm bummed :-(

 

[lefty]

I don't think it will work for us. I'm bummed :-(

How so? The PVC can be made to just about ANY configuration you want. In your case (one rear set in) it would be more of an L shape around the seat.

 

[rhythm_ace]

Many people design them so that they have sections that assemble when needed and disassemble for storage. If you fold up the rear seat when you've stopped for the night, maybe? Or, could you take out the seat and put it in the front while you're sleeping?

 

[pookSter]

This is a really fantastic idea, the only problem for me is that we will be traveling/camping with a child so we will have to have at least one back seat in the car. I love the platform idea but I don't think it will work for us. I'm bummed :-(

My plans come apart so it can be easily stowed along one side, while leaving a seat on the other. It would just involve a little more time everyday deflating the bed everyday.

 

[rhythm_ace]

Yeah, if you need only one rear seat, you could travel with the frame disassembled and stowed on the vacant side. If you design it right, you could later remove the rear seat, set the seatback so it's flat, and slide it under the assembled frame. Cuts into your storage space, but...

 

[lefty]

Finished!

FINALLY finished my platform and thought I'd throw up some pics in case anyone's interested. I still have to tweak it here and there but for the most part it's done. Pretty happy about how it came out. I climbed up on top and it creaked a bit but hey, I go 235lbs so I expected that... LOL Still gonna cross brace the middle two legs in the center though. Gives me TONS of storage underneath and more than enough room on top for me and my dog to sleep. Tomorrow I start on the always-on outlet in the rear and adding 2 additional outlets in the cubby holes on either side of the steering wheel.

 

[rintould]

Snarf's E bed Frame

Just built the frame and was trying it out - a couple of questions. Seems the cover for where the drivers back seat cover where it hinges in has to be left off - right? Also, in order to move the seats back for driving means the air mattress has to be deflated every day - is that right?

 

[pookSter]

Just built the frame and was trying it out - a couple of questions. Seems the cover for where the drivers back seat cover where it hinges in has to be left off - right? Also, in order to move the seats back for driving means the air mattress has to be deflated every day - is that right?

I know when I was designing mine, I chose not to make the frame hinged to extend beyond the floor supports behind the seats as there really is no reason to do it. This just adds an extra step in the morning to get going and if there is anything on the bed you have to clear it off. The mattress that extends beyond the floor frame towards the seats is stiff enough when inflated and is such a short distance that you really need nothing under it.
In the morning, all I do is deflate ONLY enough so that the seats return to the full back position, then at night it is a matter of reinflating for about 45 seconds to get back to the night position with the seats forward.

 

[rintould]

Snarf's E bed Frame

Thanks PoolSter for those hints - makes sense. The other question I had is about the extension just inside the back door on the drivers side which I assume is there so when getting in (and from what I read that is the side to access the bed from) you have something firm to get up on the mattress on. After taking the seats out I put the covers back over the side connections the seat flips up out of the way on but had to remove the one on the drivers side as it wouldn't fit. Do most of you just leave those off when bedding?

 

[jurneez]

This is a nice setup.Those of us that have lightweight wood and melmaine platforms have cut away a katy corner behind the drivers seat. We discovered that camping in rainy weather it's a difficult spot to have no place to put your feet befor you're actually out the door. My friends and I go in and out the drivers side to our platforms.

But my dog needed and extra step thus we realized it came in handy for us as well. You can actaully sit up and have your feet down on the rear floor befor reaching to get out. (to step down on the frame or running boards)

Very convenient.

This is a clean job too!
jurn

 

[pookSter]

Thanks PookSter for those hints - makes sense. The other question I had is about the extension just inside the back door on the drivers side which I assume is there so when getting in (and from what I read that is the side to access the bed from) you have something firm to get up on the mattress on. After taking the seats out I put the covers back over the side connections the seat flips up out of the way on but had to remove the one on the drivers side as it wouldn't fit. Do most of you just leave those off when bedding?

I just take the seats out. I leave everything else where it is. When my wife and I crawl in, we tend to crawl in doors closest to the back, thus not needing supports. Our heads are always under the sunroof...lots of fresh air

 

[webwevers]

PookSter's bed Plans

Hi all, I found this and would like to know if anyone has PookSter's plans, I have the cut list but need to know what size of pvc is used. If anyone can send me the plans here is my email kalbrecht@cvag.org Thanks

 

[grantwh]

Plans are sent

Hi all, I found this and would like to know if anyone has PookSter's plans, I have the cut list but need to know what size of pvc is used. If anyone can send me the plans here is my email kalbrecht@cvag.org Thanks

I sent you an email with two different plans that I had saved on my computer. Let me know how it goes. I think I did Pookster's plan but I thought about modifying it since I have first started and cut the pipe.

 

[torags]

How does one get out of the rear cabin?

 

[Farther]

I sent you an email with two different plans that I had saved on my computer. Let me know how it goes. I think I did Pookster's plan but I thought about modifying it since I have first started and cut the pipe.

Please send me the plans too. Below is my email.
JohnHenryEllis@hotmail.com

 

[paulj]

I normally lean forward and open a front door.

It is possible to install a means of opening the rear hatch. The simplest is to drill a hole in the plastic at just the right spot. But I don't use that very often. For one thing, I sleep with my head toward the tailgate, so it just seems more natural to get in and out at the 'foot of the bed'. Others make more use of their tailgate opening.

The simplest way of opening the tailgate from the inside is to lay a dirty sock over the latch mechanism on the lower tailgate. Then the upper one will close, but not latch.

Also in warmer weather I leave the upper tailgate open, and cover the space with bug netting. But even with that in place, I don't usually use the tailgate as an exit.

paulj

 

[Farther]

The simplest is to drill a hole in the plastic at just the right spot. paulj

Do you have the measurments for this such as hole size and location on the upper clam shell?