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Anyone widen the rear for a bed? (Window flare?)

49K views 51 replies 23 participants last post by  Travlin 
#1 ·
I am thinking about how I could sleep laying side-to-side. I am 6'1" so about 73". The Transit seems to be about 69" wide. I am planning on having a fixed bed, higher up so I can fit bikes under it (like Far Out Ride). It seems kind of crazy, but it just might work to build a flare like this one, what do you guys think?

 
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#3 ·
Thanks for that link, I searched, but didn't come up with that. It sounds like with insulation I may need a flare, but I might not. I want to be super well-insulated. My van only has the windows on the rear doors. I assume if I wanted to I can still do a flare but I will have to cut a hole. I expect to cut one or two for custom windows anyway.
 
#4 ·
I am 72" and I plan on putting an East-West bed in on the widest (panel) part between the "studs". Low-E on the sheet metal and then a padded upholstered plywood panel inside a trim ring. Even if it's an inch or so too short, if it's soft and bouncy you could (psychologically) consider it a vertical extension of the mattress.......:D

Seriously, it's the most efficient use of the space and making it work would greatly enhance the design. I plan on doing a mockup and actually checking it out before I commit.
 
#5 ·
we have a 2016 mr cargo van,ordered with rear windows and sliding door window/with pop out.
we built bed cross way at approx. 36" high so as to have widest part of van at bed height (6" matt).
I'm six foot tall and have no problem with width.
i put silver bubble (reflex?) between outer skin and inside braces,you have just enough room to force in.
1/8" panels were cut to fit then covered with indoor out door carpet,with care and good tape measure use you
can then use short screws to attach to inner supports.
we also have 2 after market sliding windows with screen on both sides in this same area.
as we live and do most of our camping in hot weather we have found this works fine.
also have quilted panels that attach with velcro to carpet for cold weather.

Les,lqhikers
 
#7 ·
Unlike many (it sounds) reporting here so far, I plan on doing elaborate insulation. I would like to be able to camp comfortably in the high country in the winter. Also I am a little taller then anyone who has commented so far. That being said, it maybe close enough for me to seep just a little diagonally and be okay. Thanks for the info so far!
 
#8 ·
That being said, it maybe close enough for me to seep just a little diagonally and be okay.
I thought the same when I built the Sprinter conversion I had a 70" bed length. At 5'-10" it is not OK IMO. The folks that bought it just added pods to solve the problem.

By not filling the window indents with insulation on the Transit build, I was able to get a 73 1/2" bed length. Huge difference.

If you sleep on your stomach, you have to add the length of your feet to your height. I lay down on the floor and measure your length. One trick is to have the mattress shorter than the width so your feet can drop into the slot.
 
#10 · (Edited)
bed pictures for stevigee

here are some pics of bed you should be able to see sides if you enlarge and look close!
pic on right is storage pod that is reached when lifting bed from inside.
as we live in the desert we spend a lot of nights sleeping with doors open the bug screens on rear and side make
it nice.
Les lqhikers
 

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#12 · (Edited)
here are some pics of bed you should be able to see sides if you enlarge and look close!
pic on right is storage pod that is reached when lifting bed from inside.
as we live in the desert we spend a lot of nights sleeping with doors open the bug screens on rear and side make
it nice.
Les lqhikers
I like the bug screen idea. The framing is great. Do you have any better pics of the area around your side windows? Thanks
 
#21 · (Edited)
I don't doubt the quality, and the price seems okay, kind of on the expensive side but not horrible. But instead of two small flares, I would prefer one larger one on the drivers side for my application. That's why I might make my own, different needs and to save a little cash..

Also the nice sleek curve they have could be hard to fit insulation to
 
#23 ·
side window pictures

Stevigee
requested some pictures of windows from inside that showed detail better
attached might help.
as said before the bed height at window area gives you 76" side to side.
as you can see finished panel does not extend past factory rib (shows silver in picture).
panel is 1/8" covered in indoor/outdoor carpet (seems to be the popular wall cover!)
behind that is reflex bubble that fits behind factory ribs.
panel's are attached with short,make sure you measure screw length!
windows are attached from outside with pop rivets no inside trim rings just panels cut to fit.
install might give planners some ideas.

Les.lqhikers
 

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#25 ·
I was going to install them last night but ran out of steam. Soon. Probably this week. FYI from the factory its 72" inside between the windows. The flares add at least 2.5" on each side, and they are mounted on the outside. So finished inside width with the flares should be 77"+ not including insulation. I will be insulating them with the 3M product, so we will lose about 1.5" of width after insulation.

Ill post up pictures on my build, and link here when done.

HH
 
#27 ·
width at side windows.

for general information again my side to side distance at a height of 35"
off my finished floor (1/2" plywood over factory rubber mat with vinyl top)
which put distance at top of mattress is 76".( rounded off as it is a little more)
if you look close at my pictures you will see the factory rib that finished panels
are even with.
Les,lqhikers
 
#36 ·
Maukajo;

if you look back to i think page one of this thread you can see that i just left the
plastic cover that the wire bundle is in and fitted the panel/carpet covered walls around it.

looks fine to me,you do not really notice it.

its a home made camper not trying to pass it off as anything else,doe the job for us
could care less about what someone else cares or does with this "important" modification.

Les,lqhikers
 
#44 ·
Nothing fancy, I want one of those sofa beds with a third section behind it. I noticed that Sports Mobile says they can make one in any length. I assume that just means the section behind the sofa is longer. I don't need a lot of seating, and many days I might leave the thing in bed mode all day. I haven't actually found one for sale, but I am still working on getting a Transit, so I feel like I have time to work on finding a bed solution.

Someone here on the forum built their own like I want, but I am too lazy at the moment to look for it.
 
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#45 ·
Look my build. I did my own sofabed.
 
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