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04-24-2017, 10:09 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Boulder
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
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Where does the kid sleep?
We have a 2014 AI EXT Lounge. It has, of course, the large bed in the back for 2 adults and four seats up front.
The question becomes where does our son sleep? He's about 4 feet, 6 inches tall. We've read about aftermarket beds that can sit across two of the front seats but haven't seen one yet.
Does anyone have ideas on how to rig a sleeping space for a kid up front or buy an aftermarket option? I think we also need to investigate the space with a tape measure and consider various options and scenarios.
Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!
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04-24-2017, 10:40 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by valleyview
We have a 2014 AI EXT Lounge. It has, of course, the large bed in the back for 2 adults and four seats up front.
The question becomes where does our son sleep? He's about 4 feet, 6 inches tall. We've read about aftermarket beds that can sit across two of the front seats but haven't seen one yet.
Does anyone have ideas on how to rig a sleeping space for a kid up front or buy an aftermarket option? I think we also need to investigate the space with a tape measure and consider various options and scenarios.
Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!
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Several options.
One is to spin the driver's seat around and place a bit of plywood across the seat bottoms of the two road-side seats, roll out a 4" thick slab of memory foam across it, and viola, instant kid bed.
What we do is use a twin size inflatable mattress and stuff it between the front seat backs and the dash. I use the dining table top to bridge the gap between the seats (it's a perfect fit!). The mattress is a tight enough fit that my 80lb daughter doesn't move it even with her usual night time thrashing around.
There are also several designs for a PVC-framed "cot" in the cab area.
Last but not least, you can purchase a ready-made bed from a Roadtrek dealer that mimics the fist option above.
Do a Google search on "front beds for vans" and you'll see pictures of all of the ideas above plus others.
Enjoy!
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04-24-2017, 11:21 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2006 22' Parkway
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 31
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This probably wont work for yours but here is what I did in mine.
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04-25-2017, 05:35 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,051
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Reminds me of sleeper cars on a train.
Very clever!
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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04-25-2017, 06:00 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
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^^ Yet another reason to love jack knife couches.
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04-25-2017, 06:19 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itsmeok
This probably wont work for yours but here is what I did in mine.
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Neat! That could work in many vans.
__________________
- - Mike
--------------------------
2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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04-26-2017, 12:32 AM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
1988 32.5' Airstream 325
WhereIam
, Left Coast Proud
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 437
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I'm kinda wondering why you didn't get an Airstream with a bed for the kid in the first place. I'm sure he wasn't just born at 4.5 feet.
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04-26-2017, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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valleyview: Welcome to the Airforums.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PammieSue
I'm kinda wondering why you didn't get an Airstream with a bed for the kid in the first place. I'm sure he wasn't just born at 4.5 feet.
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Maybe, just maybe, valleyview got what was available and/or what he could afford. Plus not sure that there's a version of AIs w/ sleeping provisions for more than two people.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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04-26-2017, 01:52 PM
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#9
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxster1971
Neat! That could work in many vans.
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Used to be an optional extra in the older motorhomes and trailers.
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04-26-2017, 06:59 PM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
2006 22' Parkway
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 31
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Everything is fully removable too. Telescoping poles that support the weight on the sides that slide in a welded in sleeve behind the couch, the straps and those poles go into the cot get rolled up and the cot poles telescope down enough to get under the couch. We have 4 travasacks that we put in 4 vacuum bags and suck out the air with a ryobi 18 air mattress pump and they fit under there too. Sleeping pillows get stuffed into vlecro'ed pillow cases and used as couch pillows and can hit the floor, etc.
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04-27-2017, 06:58 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
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Coincidentally, Roadtrek Life published this new post on the kid bed question yesterday, building on their earlier front seat bed solution.
For those who are not familiar, Roadtrek Life is pretty much the undisputed Sprinter-based Class B DIY mod-meister.
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04-29-2017, 03:58 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2006 22' Parkway
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 31
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Anyone that tries something like this just be aware that a cot on 4 legs without any side braces will have the legs twist as in won't stay straight up and down and collapse.
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05-08-2017, 11:50 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Boulder
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PammieSue
I'm kinda wondering why you didn't get an Airstream with a bed for the kid in the first place. I'm sure he wasn't just born at 4.5 feet.
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Thanks, everyone for your thoughts -- it's very helpful.
PammieSue, we didn't see an AI that had an extra kid bed and thought it would be easy to work out, which it seems like it is. Just considering various options.
FlyFishinRVr, thanks for all the great advice! We have since visited a Roadtrek dealer and tried out their ready-made bed, as you suggested. It worked OK, but I think we're considering other options.
73shark -- thanks! :-)
InterBlog, thanks for the link.
We haven't reached a final decision but appreciate all the input!
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05-08-2017, 11:58 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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Let us know what you work out.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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05-16-2017, 04:23 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Boulder
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
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OK, here's what we worked out.
We'll be using a 20"x72" backpacking air mattress called "Air Core Ultra" made by Big Agnes.
We will either use it sideways on the floor between the sets of seats or vertically down the aisle -- see pictures.
It's light, folds down very small, easy to inflate and seems to fit perfectly.
We'll put a sleeping bag or comforter on top.
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