How to Build a Huge Bed for Your Van | Van Build Series Part 8 | Van Life
00:00 Introduction 00:56 Planning the build 01:46 Mounting 2x6's to the wall 02:04 Laying cross beams 02:31 Rear bed extension 03:30 Adding Slats 04:26 Adding the mattress 04:33 How to cut your foam mattress 06:10 Outro Easy-to-follow guide for installing a large/comfortable bed in a Ram Promaster Van. The bed I've built in my van is nearly a king size. Sleep is important and a van bed can serve many functions beyond just sleeping, so I dedicated a large amount of space to just that. I built my Promaster bed predominantly out of 2x4's, and 2x6's, with the help of some wood and metal screws, joist hangers, simpson tie plates, 90 degree brackets, and wooden slats. I connected the 2x6's to the wall of my van with self-drilling metal screws. rivnuts would likely be more secure, but I plan to do regular inspections of my van screws anyway, to make sure everything is holding fast. After the 2x6's, I reinforced those with some 2x4's running straight to the floor, connecting with 90 degree brackets. Then, I added joist hangers to the 2x6's, and connected my 2x4's to those. Once those were installed, I built a little extension piece to the back of my bed out of more 2x4's. Technically, I connected them to the last 2x4 of my bed frame, so they aren't directly connected to the walls or 2x6's at all. Despite this, I think they're the strongest part of the bed due to the ground support. I ordered an 8 inch foam mattress off of amazon, and it's actually quite comfortable. I probably could have gotten away with a 6 inch mattress, but I have the room for it anyway, so it doesn't matter too much. My actual bed dimensions ended up being 70x76. A queen bed for reference is 60x80 and a king is 76x80. That's why its kind of smack dab in between a queen and king mattress. Hopefully you all enjoyed this and get a good nights sleep in your van. Tools: Cordless Milwaukee drill https://amzn.to/3Rv3GJU Makita circular saw https://amzn.to/3tAGUs0 Sander https://amzn.to/3TJPWNY Drill bits for pre-drilling holes https://amzn.to/48pKdkw Materials: Wood Screws https://amzn.to/3OCwbVB Self-drilling screws https://amzn.to/3u51tNO Simpson tie plate https://amzn.to/48opaid Right angle bracket https://amzn.to/48WWhKV Joist Hanger https://amzn.to/4bxoABd Bedding: Mattress https://amzn.to/4bxcxEi Duvet https://amzn.to/3umSGH3 Duvet Cover https://amzn.to/3SOKpFb These are amazon affiliate links and I will receive a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Channel Summary Welcome to Daltons_Advantures—your ultimate source for all things van life and adventure! Join me on a journey of transformation as we convert vans into cozy homes on wheels, perfect for exploring the world. My channel is dedicated to inspiring and guiding fellow van enthusiasts, DIYers, and nomads. Explore a variety of topics, including van conversion tips, travel adventures, and the nomadic lifestyle. Each video is packed (hopefully) with insights, creative ideas, and practical advice to help you embark on your own van life journey. Featured topics on our channel: Van Conversion Tips and Tricks Nomadic Lifestyle Inspiration Adventure Travel Vlogs DIY Van Build Guides Off-Grid Living Solutions Subscribe to stay updated with our latest content and be part of our growing community. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and experiences in the comments. If you're passionate about van life or dream of hitting the road, you're in the right place! Follow on other socials for more information https://www.instagram.com/daltons_advantures/ https://www.tiktok.com/@daltons_advantures
00:00 Introduction 00:56 Planning the build 01:46 Mounting 2x6's to the wall 02:04 Laying cross beams 02:31 Rear bed extension 03:30 Adding Slats 04:26 Adding the mattress 04:33 How to cut your foam mattress 06:10 Outro Easy-to-follow guide for installing a large/comfortable bed in a Ram Promaster Van. The bed I've built in my van is nearly a king size. Sleep is important and a van bed can serve many functions beyond just sleeping, so I dedicated a large amount of space to just that. I built my Promaster bed predominantly out of 2x4's, and 2x6's, with the help of some wood and metal screws, joist hangers, simpson tie plates, 90 degree brackets, and wooden slats. I connected the 2x6's to the wall of my van with self-drilling metal screws. rivnuts would likely be more secure, but I plan to do regular inspections of my van screws anyway, to make sure everything is holding fast. After the 2x6's, I reinforced those with some 2x4's running straight to the floor, connecting with 90 degree brackets. Then, I added joist hangers to the 2x6's, and connected my 2x4's to those. Once those were installed, I built a little extension piece to the back of my bed out of more 2x4's. Technically, I connected them to the last 2x4 of my bed frame, so they aren't directly connected to the walls or 2x6's at all. Despite this, I think they're the strongest part of the bed due to the ground support. I ordered an 8 inch foam mattress off of amazon, and it's actually quite comfortable. I probably could have gotten away with a 6 inch mattress, but I have the room for it anyway, so it doesn't matter too much. My actual bed dimensions ended up being 70x76. A queen bed for reference is 60x80 and a king is 76x80. That's why its kind of smack dab in between a queen and king mattress. Hopefully you all enjoyed this and get a good nights sleep in your van. Tools: Cordless Milwaukee drill https://amzn.to/3Rv3GJU Makita circular saw https://amzn.to/3tAGUs0 Sander https://amzn.to/3TJPWNY Drill bits for pre-drilling holes https://amzn.to/48pKdkw Materials: Wood Screws https://amzn.to/3OCwbVB Self-drilling screws https://amzn.to/3u51tNO Simpson tie plate https://amzn.to/48opaid Right angle bracket https://amzn.to/48WWhKV Joist Hanger https://amzn.to/4bxoABd Bedding: Mattress https://amzn.to/4bxcxEi Duvet https://amzn.to/3umSGH3 Duvet Cover https://amzn.to/3SOKpFb These are amazon affiliate links and I will receive a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Channel Summary Welcome to Daltons_Advantures—your ultimate source for all things van life and adventure! Join me on a journey of transformation as we convert vans into cozy homes on wheels, perfect for exploring the world. My channel is dedicated to inspiring and guiding fellow van enthusiasts, DIYers, and nomads. Explore a variety of topics, including van conversion tips, travel adventures, and the nomadic lifestyle. Each video is packed (hopefully) with insights, creative ideas, and practical advice to help you embark on your own van life journey. Featured topics on our channel: Van Conversion Tips and Tricks Nomadic Lifestyle Inspiration Adventure Travel Vlogs DIY Van Build Guides Off-Grid Living Solutions Subscribe to stay updated with our latest content and be part of our growing community. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and experiences in the comments. If you're passionate about van life or dream of hitting the road, you're in the right place! Follow on other socials for more information https://www.instagram.com/daltons_advantures/ https://www.tiktok.com/@daltons_advantures