Twin Beds to Full Bed, A success story

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:41 AM

I have done it!

I recently bought a 34 excella with rear twins. I certainly did not want the twins but the price was right. What the hey!

I removed the twins and recarpeted and cleaned whole the room was empty.

A little history: When I bought the Sovereign with fiull bed in the rear, I had to replace the rear floor. This provided oppurtunity to disassemble the full size bed. When I got into it, it occurred to me that the full was merely two halves made into one bed. (Tambour storage boxes)

On to the Excella,
I took apart the two twin beds and layed them out in the bedroom, 54" apart. I used a 1" x 2" board to tie the two halves together. After getting the bed all squared up, I screwed it to the deck. The twins had storage trays in the top of the units. I wanted to preserve that so, I cut up the aluminum bars that were part of the Twin setup, (Hinged) and added them to my new foundation. I still have the capability of some additional, Maybe even secret, storage under the mattress.

It seems to be tight in the room but it is excatly like the rear full in my Sovereign. The only difference is now, I have an access door at the foot of the bed. (never know when I may have to break in).

Here are the photos of the evolution:

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:42 AM

The twins removed from the Excella.
Disassemble but dont throw anything away. I used one of the wooden top pieces to make the foot board

And I used the anodized aluminum for additional supports

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:44 AM

I used the same dimensions that my sovereign has

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:46 AM

notice the trim strip on the top and bottom. All which was recycled from original beds. I used it to block off the end and keep the distance between the two halves.
Oh! and how about my emergency entrance hatch and night light?

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:49 AM

The aluminum bars were not long enough to span the whole bed so I cut a 1"X2" and spread the two halves to 54".

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:50 AM

I cut up the old bars to fit for additional support and reused the hinged pieces to make the lift doors

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:51 AM

I had to add some support at the head of the bed

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:53 AM

I bought one sheet of plywood and it would have covered the whole thing but I miss cut one piece, but I still had the leftover pieces from the twins, Voila!

smily · 10-07-2003, 06:55 AM

I just could'nt give up those neat little storage boxes and since I had everything to do it with........

Total cost of project, 15 dollars

87MH · 10-07-2003, 07:08 AM

Ken:

What size mattress will you install, or will you reuse the existing "shaped" ones?

Also, how much "walk around" room do you have left at the head, foot, and side?

Thanks,

smily · 10-07-2003, 07:14 AM

I will be using a full size futon mattress that I have been moving from AS to AS. I spent 200 on a very good sealy futon matress and we love it.

As for walk around space, almost none but it is the same as every other AS TT with this configuration. The bedroom size does not change from a 31 rear bed to 34 rear bed. At least in the older models. I have seen the newer ones, (ones with fridge in the middle) that have the headboard against the rear wall. This unit will not accomodate the headboard aginst the rear wall. The bathroom wall is too far rearward.

I would say that ther is 15" from bed to rear wall and about 10 inches from footboard to curbside wall.

smily · 10-07-2003, 07:16 AM

I have two MINT condition Sealy matresses that are cut to fit the curved walls for sale. These are very expensive matresses. I will sell them to some one looking for them here or I am going to list them on EBAY next week.

Smily

John · 10-07-2003, 09:14 AM

Ken,

What's your asking price for the pair?

Waynon · 09-21-2006, 11:59 PM

I have noticed a lot of people asking about this possibility on the forum. Maybe others will appreciate the pictures as much as I have.

Is there any possibility of getting a picture from you -- or anyone -- of the "after"? I'd like to see what the finished product looks like.

Thanks,
Waynon