Finally gathered up materials and built a bed for my van using only a 18V cordless drill and reciprocating saw.. 48" deep and 66" wide built on 2 x 4 kiln dried white cedar studs framed on 16" centers for support, the bed is free standing and not connected to the walls, the top is 1/4" moisture resistant plywood underlayment, the platform is currently 22" high for my wheelchair but as i add mattress and bedding i will have to adjust the height by trimming the legs, not too shabby for a guy with no legs, eh..

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No, not a bad looking project for anyone, especially those of us who're mostly weekend DIY's on such things. Heck its not that easy having all one's body parts making our ideas into real-world workable end results---congrats for taking the initiative!

I did something similar to a '69 Chevy van, the idea being a combo tool hauler and bunk if/when it needed to be. Great idea but those vans were quite small, I'm a bit claustrophobic so as it turned out 'twas a better idea than anything else.

Hope to see your progress and learn how its working for you. Thanks for sharing!

 

Looks nice! I've always loved how much room are in these vans. What are you planning for heating and cooling?

 

Hi Tom, up here in the Northwest cooling is not that important at least not for me and on those cold nights a couple blankets will do just fine during those mild NW Oregon Winters.. I won't be living in the van persay, just pimping it out for those all too frequent camping trips..

 

Looks good. You might want think about a way that the legs can be bolted down so the thing doesn't bounce around any while you are on the road. You could set it up so it can be unbolted and taken out if you need the space for hauling something. I have always really liked the blue interiors in Ford vans.

 

Sort of planned on doing the same thing, build a platform for the several times a year my son and I camp (getting tired of setting up the tent and some times it gets too cold over night). Cant really do anything permanent since I need all the seats on occasion. Thought up all these plans on hinging the platform so when the seats are in I can fold it on itself, this would also give me a "hidden" area for cargo. Did a lot of measuring, sketches on paper, ran my ideas past friends that are much more skilled in wood working, etc. Thought up ways to make it quick to disassemble for when I need cargo space. Even thought about making special brackets in my garage to store it. Then one day the best idea just hit me, it was brilliant and simple....just buy a couple army style cots! Problem solved! Also would be able to use cots for over night guests if we run outa beds or the kids have a sleep over.

For the windows, partly for privacy and partly because glass is a poor insulator, I cut to fit Reflectix (that insulation that looks like bubble wrap sandwiched between aluminum foil). I cut it about a half inch wider all around so I can tuck it under the plastic trim. For the pop out windows a little piece of scotch tape to hold the insulation in place. For the windshield I just bought a sunscreen from Walmart, the large fits almost perfectly and covers all but a little gap above the rearview mirror.
I have what looks like window screen but it's softer then regular fiberglass screen, almost more cloth-like. Anyhow, I cut it large enough to easily cover the pop out windows on the outside when they are open also the front door windows. I bought a 200 foot roll (cheap on fleabay) by 1" wide flexible magnetic roll, cut it and glued it around the screen to hold it on the body.
Just finished it and haven't camped in it yet, we have a scouting camp out in several months. Though less head room, I expect it to be much more comfortable then a tent!