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DIY Van Bed Build Guide
See how we built a lightweight permanent campervan bed using internal flares, IKEA bed beams and ventilated plywood—and what we'd change after living with it for more than a year.
We deliberately built our permanent bed relatively cheaply and lightly. More than a year and thousands of rough-road miles later, it is still solid, silent, dry, and comfortable—and sleeping sideways is what made the rest of our floor plan possible.
What worked
Internal flares, a sideways full mattress, three metal beams, a ventilated ½-inch platform, structural backing, and a high garage.
What we'd change
Very little. The bed height makes entry harder, but the utility and storage space below made it worthwhile for us.
One-year verdict
Still solid. Still quiet. Still dry.
Read the guide
Table of contents
- 01Start with the floor plan, not the bed frameHow sleeping sideways gave the rest of our van enough room to work.
- 02Permanent versus convertible bedWhy we chose a bed that stays ready, and what that choice costs.
- 03Sideways bed and internal flaresThe interior recesses that let a normal full mattress fit across our Promaster.
- 04How we built the internal flaresFraming, transferring the window openings, cutting, test fitting, and upholstery.
- 05The bed support structureThree adjustable metal beams, proper brackets, structural support, and one tied-together platform.
- 06Build the support into the walls earlyPlan where the bed load goes while the van walls are still open.
- 07The plywood platformA two-piece, ½-inch platform that helps the whole bed act as one structure.
- 08Ventilate under the mattressWhy we drilled the platform instead of trapping the mattress against solid plywood.
- 09Moisture protection after a yearVentilation, protected plywood, and what we found in humid climates.
- 10Lightweight versus overbuiltEfficient strength matters more than making every part massive.
- 11Mattress selectionWhy a normal full-size mattress mattered, and the dimensions beyond width and length.
- 12How high should the bed be?Balance entry and headroom above against storage and utility space below.
- 13Use one footprint twiceBedroom above, garage and mechanical room below.
- 14Under-bed drawersTwo large full-extension drawers planned with the bed and utility space.
- 15The drawer that became a stepHow the lower drawer solves access to the high bed—and why the whole load path matters.
- 16Living with a high bedThe compromise felt awkward at first, then became normal.
- 17The one-year verdictWhat stayed solid, silent, dry, and comfortable—and what we would build again.
Reference material
Appendices & worksheets
Planning sheets, reference tables and checklists you can use while designing your system.
- Bed Layout Planning Worksheet
- Bed Support Planning Checklist
- Mattress Ventilation Checklist
- Under-Bed Garage Planner
- Bed Height Mock-Up Checklist
- Final Bed Build Check
Use these reference sheets alongside the guide while planning your system.
Gear from our build
Bed and drawer hardware
IKEA Skorva Bed Beam
IKEA Skorva Bed Beam for the bed, cabinets & furniture part of a camper build.
IKEA Skorva Brackets
IKEA Skorva Brackets for the bed, cabinets & furniture part of a camper build.
Heavy-Duty Drawer Slides
Heavy-Duty Drawer Slides for the bed, cabinets & furniture part of a camper build.