Bed Frame Construction
A complete guide to designing and building bed frames for campervans — covering fixed platforms, lifting beds, rock and roll beds, and more.
Bed Types Compared
£100 – £400 · Suitable for: All sizes — from Caddy to Sprinter
A simple, permanent bed platform built at a fixed height with storage underneath. The most common and easiest bed type to build. The mattress sits on top of a plywood platform supported by a timber frame.
Pros
- Simplest to build — great for beginners
- Always ready to sleep — no setup needed
- Excellent storage underneath
- Strong and sturdy
- Easy to add a good-quality mattress
- Can be built in a weekend
Cons
- Takes up permanent floor space
- Can't use the space as a seating area during the day
- Access to storage can be awkward
- Less flexible than convertible options
£200 – £600 · Suitable for: Medium to large vans (Transit Custom, Transporter, Sprinter)
A platform bed with gas struts that lifts up to reveal full-access storage underneath. The entire bed platform hinges at one end and lifts like a car boot, giving you easy access to a large storage area.
Pros
- Full access to storage underneath
- Always ready to sleep
- Gas struts make lifting effortless
- Can store large items (bikes, surfboards)
- More practical than side-access storage
- Impressive and satisfying to use
Cons
- More complex to build than fixed platform
- Gas struts need correct Newton rating
- Heavier than a simple platform
- Hinges and struts add cost
- Need to lift bedding to access storage
£300 – £1,500+ (M1 tested) · Suitable for: Best for smaller vans (T5/T6, Transit Custom, Vivaro)
A bench seat that folds flat into a bed. During the day it's an upright sofa/seat, and at night it folds down to create a sleeping surface. M1-tested versions can be used as travel seats.
Pros
- Dual-purpose — seat by day, bed by night
- M1-tested versions legal as travel seats
- Maximises usable space in smaller vans
- Well-established design with many suppliers
- Can be belted for passengers
Cons
- Expensive if buying M1-tested (£800–£1,500+)
- Less comfortable than a fixed bed
- Requires setup each night
- Mattress is typically thinner
- DIY versions not legal as travel seats
£200 – £500 · Suitable for: Micro and small vans (Caddy, Berlingo, Kangoo)
A bed that slides out from under a fixed structure (like a bench or kitchen unit). During the day it's hidden away, and at night you pull it out to create a sleeping surface.
Pros
- Completely hidden during the day
- Maximises daytime living space
- Good for very small vans
- Can be combined with a fixed seating area
- Clever use of space
Cons
- Complex sliding mechanism to build
- Needs very precise construction
- Floor must be perfectly level and smooth
- Mattress is typically thin
- Can be fiddly to set up each night
£300 – £800 · Suitable for: Large high-roof vans only (Sprinter, Crafter, Ducato)
Stacked sleeping arrangements for families or groups. Can be permanent bunks or a fold-down upper bunk. Over-cab beds are common in larger conversions with a Luton-style overcab area.
Pros
- Sleep more people in the same footprint
- Great for families with children
- Upper bunk can fold away during the day
- Children love bunk beds
- Maximises sleeping capacity
Cons
- Requires significant headroom
- Only suitable for high-roof vans
- Upper bunk can feel claustrophobic
- Complex construction
- Weight and structural considerations
Materials List
Here's what you'll typically need for a fixed or lifting platform bed build. Adjust quantities based on your van size and design.
| Material | Size | Use | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural timber (CLS or PSE) | 38x63mm or 38x89mm | Main bed frame | £30 – £60 |
| Marine plywood or birch ply | 12–18mm | Bed platform/base | £40 – £80 |
| Wood screws (various) | 40mm, 60mm, 80mm | Frame assembly | £10 – £20 |
| L-brackets / corner braces | Various | Reinforcing joints | £10 – £20 |
| Gas struts (if lifting bed) | Depends on weight | Lifting mechanism | £15 – £40 |
| Piano hinge (if lifting bed) | 600–900mm | Hinge point for platform | £10 – £20 |
| Bolts + Rivnuts or T-nuts | M6 or M8 | Fixing frame to van floor | £15 – £25 |
| Foam mattress | Custom cut | Sleeping surface | £80 – £300 |
| Fabric / upholstery (optional) | As needed | Covering visible frame | £20 – £60 |
| Sanding + finishing supplies | N/A | Smoothing and sealing wood | £10 – £20 |
Total materials cost for a typical fixed platform bed: £150 – £350. Lifting bed with gas struts: £200 – £500.
How to Build a Platform Bed — Step by Step
Measure and Design
Measure your van's interior width, length available for the bed, and ceiling height. Design your bed frame considering mattress thickness, storage height underneath, and how it integrates with other furniture.
- Standard UK single mattress is 900mm wide — but custom-cut foam is better for vans
- Allow at least 500mm of storage height underneath for practical use
- Consider how you'll access the storage — side panels, lifting platform, or end access
- Draw a full-size plan on cardboard before cutting wood
Build the Frame
Construct the bed frame from CLS or PSE timber. Build a rectangular frame with cross-supports every 300-400mm. The frame should be level and square.
- Use 38x63mm CLS for most builds — it's strong, straight, and affordable
- Pre-drill all screw holes to prevent splitting
- Use L-brackets at all corners for extra strength
- Check for square by measuring diagonals — they should be equal
Fix the Frame to the Van
Secure the bed frame to the van floor and/or walls. Use Rivnuts or bolts through the van floor for a solid fixing. Never rely on screws into the van body alone.
- Rivnuts are the best way to create strong fixing points in thin van metal
- Use M6 or M8 bolts with large washers to spread the load
- Fix to the floor AND at least one wall for maximum stability
- Add rubber pads between the frame and van body to reduce vibration noise
Install the Platform
Cut 12-18mm plywood to fit on top of the frame. For a fixed bed, screw it down. For a lifting bed, attach with piano hinges at one end and gas struts.
- Drill ventilation holes in the platform to prevent mattress condensation
- For a lifting bed, calculate gas strut Newtons: (platform weight + mattress weight) × 0.6
- Mount gas strut brackets at the correct angle — follow manufacturer guidelines
- Sand all edges smooth to prevent splinters and snagging bedding
Add the Mattress
Choose a mattress that fits your platform. Memory foam or hybrid foam mattresses work best in campervans. Many UK suppliers offer custom-cut foam mattresses to your exact dimensions.
- 75-100mm thick memory foam is the sweet spot for comfort vs. space
- Custom-cut foam from suppliers like Foam2Home or Cut My Foam
- Consider a removable, washable cover
- Allow the mattress to breathe — don't seal it against the platform
Gas Strut Sizing (Lifting Beds)
How to Calculate
- Weigh your bed platform (plywood) + mattress + bedding. Example: 15kg platform + 8kg mattress = 23kg total.
- Multiply total weight by 0.5 to 0.7 (depending on strut mounting position). Example: 23kg × 0.6 = 13.8kg force needed.
- Convert to Newtons: multiply by 9.81. Example: 13.8 × 9.81 = 135N.
- If using 2 struts, divide by 2. Example: 135N ÷ 2 = 67.5N per strut.
- Round up to the nearest available size. Example: 2× 100N struts (slightly over-specced is better than under).
Common ratings for campervan beds: 80N – 200N per strut (using 2 struts). Most builds use 2× 100N or 2× 150N struts.
Where to Buy
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