Advice on replacing jack knife couch with bed

[Olive600]

Other than this minor glitch, Betsy's floorplan is perfect for me and Olive. I have two, facing jack knife couches. When one is down, I can't set up the table, which goes in the aisle between the two couches. So, I'd like to remove one of the couches and put in a sleeping platform that is as narrow as the couch seat when it's upright. This way, I can have a comfortable, permanent bed, a couch, and room to set up the table in the aisle. As it is, I'd have to pack away a 3" foam topper and all my bedding if I want to set up the table. I'd rather not do that for a bunch of reasons. For one, the only place I could put the inflexible topper is in the bathroom, and I'd have to shove it in there. I'd rather have a sort of daybed arrangement with seatbelts. Sure hope this makes sense. Is this possible? By whom? How much do you think it should cost? (I have no slides)

Also, I found my fuse box. Yeehaw!

Thanks for all your help.

Nikki

[BirdbyBird]

Nikki, since you have two sofa's I don't really know which one you are wanting to remove. Check out Pics of the changes on the Short Bus on the Rig thread...... I removed my jack knife sofa because no matter what I did it was uncomfortable. My sofa was on the left as you face forward and had/has the fresh water tank under it. I had a box made to fit around the tank and support the bed. I raised it higher than I would have needed to to provide a few extra inches of storage under the bed. I don't know about you but I don't have unlimited storage in my rig. The top of the box works on a hing and makes it easier to get to storage than lifting the old sofa. If I did it again I don't know if I would raise the bed quite so much but I travel by myself so I guess it doesn't matter if it is taller than a usual day bed. The seat belts are still attached against the wall but I have never used then and really don't see the need. You can make the bed whatever width you want. I found a place 20 miles from me that made the custom foam mattresses to fit my dimensions. I also cut down the foam pad and use that on top! The bed stays made up all the time. All I do is swap out the daybed "dogs sleep on them" pillows for my sleeping pillows.

My husband made the bed box for me but it isn't as if it take extra fine carpentry skills. It is a box with hinges on the top!

I didn't have a sofa on the right to worry about but I did remove the dinette. The seats were uncomfortable and hung out so far into the floor. I miss not being able to invite everyone into the rig for dinner or a game of cards but there are pros and cons to all design options. I like my floor space.

Hope that helps. My rig has had a number of personal re-designs over the past six years.

[Olive600]

Thanks, Tina. The pictures of the bed really help. It looks like our rigs are very similar inside. I have the same cabinets over the cab that you had. Same wasted space.

Nikki

[BirdbyBird]

Did you find the post and pictures from when I finally spent the money to have hem removed? It was so worth it.... Even the folks that did the rehab were surprise at the usable space it opened up. I also notice the improvement in temp control because the cab over is now actually insulated

[Olive600]

Did you find the post and pictures from when I finally spent the money to have hem removed? It was so worth it.... Even the folks that did the rehab were surprise at the usable space it opened up. I also notice the improvement in temp control because the cab over is now actually insulated

Yes, I saw before and after. I like the idea of having that open space for storage or sleeping area. Did you put a TV somewhere else? I'm wondering if I need one at all. I can either stream on my laptop or watch DVDs on it. I've done that often and don't mind the small screen at all. Is there any reason streaming wouldn't work in an RV park with wireless service? Is the service usually offered throughout the park or only in some locations? I'm thinking of hotels that offer it only in lobbies while others offer it in every room. Isn't there some kind of card I can plug into my laptop that gives me service from a major carrier no matter where I am? These questions probably belong in another thread.

Nikki

[Bethers]

A lot of RV parks cut off users they consider abusing the free wifi, which streaming would do. Some are ok with it. And some are too slow to get good streaming. Unless you have an unlimited data plan, figure on paying more per month with your card or phone if you do much streaming.

[Acadianmom]

I don't do much traveling but the parks I have stayed in that have WiFi, the service is iffy. Depending on where you are parked you might not get a signal at all. Most of the time if I look at the forum I can't even see the pictures or sites take forever to load. I have a Verizon tablet that I use for a hotspot to connect my laptop when I travel. I can use the tablet to look things up but I don't like the small screen. It works most of the time unless you are really in the boonies. I only pay $30 per month for 2GB. All the other services I checked on were $60 per month and I'm not going to pay that much for something I only use about once a month.

Martha

[BirdbyBird]

I have a small 19 inch TV on a swing arm that hangs under the storage cabinet over the bed. I can sit and watch from across the rig while sitting in my chair next to the dog kennels or I can adjust it and watch while sitting or lying down in the bed. It might be in the way if more than one person wanted to sit on the "daybed" at a time but the dogs seem to use the bed just fine with it there ....

[Olive600]

Nikki, since you have two sofa's I don't really know which one you are wanting to remove. Check out Pics of the changes on the Short Bus on the Rig thread...... I removed my jack knife sofa because no matter what I did it was uncomfortable. My sofa was on the left as you face forward and had/has the fresh water tank under it. I had a box made to fit around the tank and support the bed. I raised it higher than I would have needed to to provide a few extra inches of storage under the bed. I don't know about you but I don't have unlimited storage in my rig. The top of the box works on a hing and makes it easier to get to storage than lifting the old sofa. If I did it again I don't know if I would raise the bed quite so much but I travel by myself so I guess it doesn't matter if it is taller than a usual day bed. The seat belts are still attached against the wall but I have never used then and really don't see the need. You can make the bed whatever width you want. I found a place 20 miles from me that made the custom foam mattresses to fit my dimensions. I also cut down the foam pad and use that on top! The bed stays made up all the time. All I do is swap out the daybed "dogs sleep on them" pillows for my sleeping pillows.

My husband made the bed box for me but it isn't as if it take extra fine carpentry skills. It is a box with hinges on the top!

I didn't have a sofa on the right to worry about but I did remove the dinette. The seats were uncomfortable and hung out so far into the floor. I miss not being able to invite everyone into the rig for dinner or a game of cards but there are pros and cons to all design options. I like my floor space.

Hope that helps. My rig has had a number of personal re-designs over the past six years.

Facing the front, I'll replace the sofa on the right. The fresh water tank is under the sofa on the left. I'll keep the sofa on the left as is because the layout works well for traveling with kids. I plan to build the daybed out only as far into the aisle as the seat on the sofa extends. If I build any farther into the aisle,I can't set up the table. If I put the mattress up against the wall, I will lose only a few inches. Before I do this, I need to get the floor fixed, the roof inspected, outside seams caulked, batteries replaced and other small things. I'm looking for someone to do the work. What I'd really like is to do some of it myself. I'm ready to get handy.

[Olive600]

I have a small 19 inch TV on a swing arm that hangs under the storage cabinet over the bed. I can sit and watch from across the rig while sitting in my chair next to the dog kennels or I can adjust it and watch while sitting or lying down in the bed. It might be in the way if more than one person wanted to sit on the "daybed" at a time but the dogs seem to use the bed just fine with it there ....

I don't need a TV, but the kids do. The whole idea of them traveling in Betsy is that videos and some room to stretch will keep them happier than a long ride in a cramped car. That's what their Mom tells me.

[BirdbyBird]

Sounds like a plan!

[Bethers]

If you're using the TV for videos, a laptop would work and is portable. Just a thought.

[Olive600]

If you're using the TV for videos, a laptop would work and is portable. Just a thought.

Of course! Duh! Sometimes I ain't too quick.

Nikki