Sprinter bed configuration change

[1st time RV]

Has anyone changed out their lounge version queen bed to twin beds? If so, where did you have it done and approximately how much did it cost?
I sure get tired of taking apart and making the bed every day. Seems it would be nice to have twin beds always made.

[Rocinante]

Great idea. If you do this, maybe you could also mount them a bit higher so you can get more storage underneath.

Pretty sure at least one other forum member has done a bed replacement, but I'm not having luck finding those threads at the moment.

[toskeysam]

If you look for the thread "2013 Lounge Ext Customization" you will see what we did to change the couch to a pair of twins.

[Rocinante]

Thanks! In case you're not yet familiar with searching this forum, which can sometimes be more of an art form than a science, here's the thread:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...on-194596.html

[StogieMan]

Here is another one from the “great” Pahaska. I copied so many of his great ideas before he sold his rig and retired. I wanted to do this mod but the Boss lady wouldn’t approve it. There is another one that like but cant find it searching it besides toskeysam’s and Pahaskas’s. Both great mods.

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...on-164463.html

[1st time RV]

So were you happy with the change? Did you gain storage under the beds? Are they a real twin bed so mattress size was easy to purchase? Who did you use?

[toskeysam]

Originally Posted by 1st time RV

So were you happy with the change? Did you gain storage under the beds? Are they a real twin bed so mattress size was easy to purchase? Who did you use?

We’ve been very happy with the mods we had done. Our beds have power lifts to access the storage space underneath, but we use that space for items not routinely accessed. The mattresses are 28” wide. We use standard twin sheets. They are a little large, but work just fine. The outfitter that did the work for us, unfortunately did not survive the pandemic and supply-chain issues that hit all rv suppliers. He was great to work with and did outstanding work, but since virtually all of his work was custom one-off type of work he just couldn’t make it. Sad to see a good family shop go under.

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by 1st time RV

...I sure get tired of taking apart and making the bed every day. Seems it would be nice to have twin beds always made.

Hope you see some useful ideas on this thread. As you can see, others have tackled the issue and had good results. I realize there are people who want and need a "lounge" model Class B but it infuriates me that Airstream and their dealers seem to push the lounge models. Airstream says they only build what the dealers buy. Dealers say they only sell what the public wants. I think if the dealers would have more twin bed models available, the public may realize the benefits, and Airstream would build more twin bed units.

I can't tell you how many people have seen our twin bed model and expressed a desire to "have all that space in the aisle" rather than climbing over a clunky, lumpy queen bed.

Of course, if you have a need to carry 5-7 passengers the lounge is the way to go if you can overcome the bouncy ride.

[Rig Rat]

Originally Posted by 1st time RV

Has anyone changed out their lounge version queen bed to twin beds? If so, where did you have it done and approximately how much did it cost?
I sure get tired of taking apart and making the bed every day. Seems it would be nice to have twin beds always made.

************************************************** ************

We changed ours into articulating twin beds as a DIY project for slightly over $4k.
Since we winter in ours for 5 + months this mod was a game changer for comfortable sleeping & reading/watching tv while in bed!

Here's material costs in 2019 prices;

Axel Bloom bedframe & Mattresses. 2 @ 28" X 78" , $4100.00
1- 4 X 8 sheet of 3/4 in birch plywood, $80
1 - 12 ft 2 X 4, $15
1 aluminum support frame for the plywood overhang in the back, $200
qt of wood stain $25

If your interested in pursuing converting yours as a DIY, PM me and I'd be glad to share with you how we tackled it.

Mark

[Rocinante]

This looks amazing. How much more did the new beds weigh vs the old lounge & jump seats? We can’t add much total weight to the van, so if the weight difference was roughly a wash that would be awesome.

[Rig Rat]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

This looks amazing. How much more did the new beds weigh vs the old lounge & jump seats? We can’t add much total weight to the van, so if the weight difference was roughly a wash that would be awesome.

The new beds & frames have to weigh less than the metal sofa bed and side chairs that they replaced.

While I didn’t actually weigh them separately, I can tell you, while it’s awkward I can physically move each bedframe by myself.

When we removed the sofa bed, it took two of us to lift it and remove it.

I feel like the 2 jump seats alone were as heavy as the new bed frames that replaced them!

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by Rig Rat

The new beds & frames have to weigh less than the metal sofa bed and side chairs that they replaced.

While I didn’t actually weigh them separately, I can tell you, while it’s awkward I can physically move each bedframe by myself.

When we removed the sofa bed, it took two of us to lift it and remove it.

I feel like the 2 jump seats alone were as heavy as the new bed frames that replaced them!

That's fantastic news. I'm going to have to seriously investigate this, along with your idea of putting a larger 12vDC fridge up front where the 2nd row passenger-side seat used to be (by the sliding door) with a countertop over it, and turning the existing under-galley fridge space into storage (including a small trash can). We won't put any additional cabinetry behind the driver's seat where that 2nd-row seat was, because it's now floor space where our 65lb dog sleeps at night.

Oh and a RecPro / Houghton heat pump is also on my list of wanna-do items, because the Dometic AC tornado machine is just too much. Works fine, but so so so loud.

Does anyone know of a custom shop in central FL that might be both interested and capable?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One source of "inspiration" might be to look at the Interstate X. It pretty clearly demonstrates the plusses and minuses of going this way:

Plus:

You don't *have* to tear it down.

Minus:

If you can walk down the aisle with them set up, either the beds or the aisle is very narrow.

Bob

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by Rig Rat

************************************************** ************

We changed ours into articulating twin beds as a DIY project for slightly over $4k.
Since we winter in ours for 5 + months this mod was a game changer for comfortable sleeping & reading/watching tv while in bed!

Here's material costs in 2019 prices;

Axel Bloom bedframe & Mattresses. 2 @ 28" X 78" , $4100.00
1- 4 X 8 sheet of 3/4 in birch plywood, $80
1 - 12 ft 2 X 4, $15
1 aluminum support frame for the plywood overhang in the back, $200
qt of wood stain $25

If your interested in pursuing converting yours as a DIY, PM me and I'd be glad to share with you how we tackled it.

Mark

Very nice setup Rig Rat and very well done. You should do a write up on that mod as I bet many will want to do it.

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

One source of "inspiration" might be to look at the Interstate X. It pretty clearly demonstrates the plusses and minuses of going this way:

Plus:

You don't *have* to tear it down.

Minus:

If you can walk down the aisle with them set up, either the beds or the aisle is very narrow.

Bob

Yup, the 24X is pretty cool. However, after our recent round of mods to the chassis and the interior, our current Interstate is already so much better than anything we could buy new that I have no interest in buying another unit. If we did that we might get a couple of things that are better than in our our current unit, but I know perfectly well that any new unit will have a bunch of "designed wrong" and "built wrong" warts, and will have nowhere as good a suspension as we now have, so nope.

We've happily fallen into an upgrade trap. At this point our van is already so good compared to what Airstream ships new that we simply can't agree to downgrade our experience by spending all that money on a new unit when our current unit just needs a few tweaks.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Yup, the 24X is pretty cool. However, after our recent round of mods to the chassis and the interior, our current Interstate is already so much better than anything we could buy new that I have no interest in buying another unit. If we did that we might get a couple of things that are better than in our our current unit, but I know perfectly well that any new unit will have a bunch of "designed wrong" and "built wrong" warts, and will have nowhere as good a suspension as we now have, so nope.

We've happily fallen into an upgrade trap. At this point our van is already so good compared to what Airstream ships new that we simply can't agree to downgrade our experience by spending all that money on a new unit when our current unit just needs a few tweaks.

Hi

At today's prices, I very much was *not* suggesting a trade in. The point was only that you might pick up some ideas looking at what they did. Also, after living with one for a year, we still play with the beds to some degree. There's only so much room for us and the two dogs.....

Bob

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi



At today's prices, I very much was *not* suggesting a trade in. The point was only that you might pick up some ideas looking at what they did. Also, after living with one for a year, we still play with the beds to some degree. There's only so much room for us and the two dogs.....



Bob

That makes total sense, and whenever we’re at the dealer for a repair I can’t or don’t want to DIY, we also wander about the lot to look at whatever they have on hand, shopping for upgrade ideas.

[MountainLife]

We are still in the camp of loving the versatility of our Lounge Ext. Some trips we need the extra seatbelts and other times we leave the bed made up if it’s just us and the dog. But understand the appeal of the twins with an aisle. Some days we laugh at ourselves trying to crawl out of the bed. We still manage but the day will come when we may not be able to and then decide.

[toskeysam]

Originally Posted by MountainLife

Some days we laugh at ourselves trying to crawl out of the bed. We still manage but the day will come when we may not be able to and then decide.

The “reverse-inchworm” maneuver getting out of bed is what convinced us to put twins back there. LOL

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by toskeysam

The “reverse-inchworm” maneuver getting out of bed is what convinced us to put twins back there. LOL

Trust me - I'm feeling it but the Boss Lady needs a little convincing. I'm just waiting for her to give me the word and I'm going to PM Rig Rat!