The futon has landed

bobofthenorth · September 15, 2007, 10:59:26 AM

Some of you have heard the ongoing saga of my futon. Some of you probably wish you hadn't heard it but that's another story.

When we bought the bus it had this ridiculous overstuffed couch with - get this - recliners built into each end. Can you imagine how stoopid anyone would have to be to think they could use a recliner couch in a 96" coach? Anyway. The recliners were just silly but they also precluded using the couch as a spare bed.

Now we have RV'd for a lot of years and we know Rule 1. Which - in case you don't know - is this:
Drinks for 6 - Supper for 4 - Sleeps 2. Its a good rule and it is one that most serious travellers come around to eventually. However, it is a rule that needs to be bent occasionally, if for no other reason then to remind yourself of why it is a good rule. Ergo the need for a couch that makes into a bed. And that simply wasn't going to happen with an overstuffed double recliner.

So last summer I bought a futon and replaced the couch. That was a big improvement but it still had some problems. Its a 96" coach so space in the living room is at a premium and the futon took up about as much room as the couch that it replaced. Thats when I got to thinking which is always dangerous for me cuz I'm working without tools. The solution that I thought up was to build a futon. Now I freely admit to everyone that I am more of a carpenter than I am a craftsman so building a futon was a BIG project. I started on it in about April and the first step was to re-engineer the drawings so that I would end up with a futon that actually fit in the space available.

Evidently the re-design stage was problematic because the first time I assembled the futon (about a month ago now) it went together perfectly in the bed position and then the seat fell to the floor when I folded it into the couch position. That required a fairly extensive modification but all that was completed earlier this week. So we tore the metal futon apart, pulled it out, moved the new futon to the bus, got it maneuvred through the door and discovered that it was about 5" too long for the space available. Not good. Back to the shop.

This morning it finally went into place and it looks good. It doesn't look as good as if a craftsman had built it but it looks better than the two previous residents of that space. Time will tell just how comfortable it is for guests to sleep on but then we don't want it to be TOO comfortable.

Chaz · September 15, 2007, 11:56:23 AM

From what I could see, I think it looks damn good!!!!!!!!!! I'm more of a metal guy, but I am trying my best with wood.
I have been trying to figure out a good design for my couch also. I have an idea but I think I need to put it on paper before I go cutting.

It seems to easy. lolol
I like that rule of thought: 6-4-2 And altho I agree for the most part, I still use my coach for a bit of partying so I want to increase the 6 to 12. A lofty thought, but.......... Hell I don't cook anyway!!!! LOLOL

How long is your futon?? Can you get the mattress made somewhere?? Is it possible to get foam cut on an angle someplace? (I was thinking about a solid piece of foam, but yours would probably be better.)

Anyway, nice job!!!! I like it and I'm envious!
Chaz

Jerry32 · September 15, 2007, 12:16:30 PM

Looks very good. Way too much work for me . The local surplus place has RV sofa's that make into a bed brand new for 80 bucks but too much work to put one in the bus. Jerry

cody · September 15, 2007, 01:05:21 PM

Bob, I think it looks great and we've observed the 6/4/2 rule too, not always practiced it but have observed it lol. The whole idea of what we all seem to be doing is to create a unique coach that is our design alone and fits into what we want to do and our lifestyle, your project looks great. The secret is to know the answer and the answer is always 42, expiring minds want to know lol.

bobofthenorth · September 15, 2007, 01:05:44 PM

Quote from: Chaz on September 15, 2007, 11:56:23 AM
How long is your futon?? Can you get the mattress made somewhere?? Is it possible to get foam cut on an angle someplace? (I was thinking about a solid piece of foam, but yours would probably be better.)

It's 81-1/2" wide overall. 86-1/2" is almost 5" too long as I found out the hard way. I don't know about where you are but up here we can buy futons or futon mattresses on just about every street corner. The trick is to find one that is actually sort of comfortable. Not too comfortable mind you - don't want those guests overstaying their welcome. If you can stand going into IKEA they will have them for sure but I have to believe you have other options - nobody should ever be desperate enough to willingly go to IKEA.

As far as the ultimate number that we can handle for drinks goes, its more or less open-ended as long as we can use the outdoors. Limited only by fridge capacity actually unless they bring their own beer. Which is the best kind of friends to have - the ones that bring their own beer and go home at the end of the evening.

Just noticed something - for extra points if anyone can identify the opening just behind the right front corner of the futon mattress in the top photo I'll buy them all the Lagavullen they can drink the first time we get together.

cody · September 15, 2007, 01:14:20 PM

Would that unidentified opening be a sliding tray that would hold the decanter for the scotch and the tv remote ?

Chaz · September 15, 2007, 01:20:14 PM

Thanx Bob.

Quotefor extra points if anyone can identify the opening just behind the right front corner of the futon mattress in the top photo I'll buy them all the Lagavullen they can drink the first time we get together.

Custom.

bobofthenorth · September 15, 2007, 01:24:29 PM

Quote from: cody on September 15, 2007, 01:14:20 PM
Would that unidentified opening be a sliding tray that would hold the decanter for the scotch and the tv remote ?

Rather than repeatedly saying "No" I'll just remain silent cuz ain't none of you gonna get this one.

prevost82 · September 15, 2007, 02:15:31 PM

Great job Bob ... looks good. That shouldn't be too comfortable.
Ron

msheldon · September 15, 2007, 11:43:25 PM

Quote from: bobofthenorth on September 15, 2007, 01:05:44 PM
Just noticed something - for extra points if anyone can identify the opening just behind the right front corner of the futon mattress in the top photo I'll buy them all the Lagavullen they can drink the first time we get together.

Easy, that's the door for the beer delivery system.

Nusa · September 16, 2007, 02:44:43 AM

Door for the cat to get to his secret area.

bobofthenorth · September 16, 2007, 05:50:09 AM

We have a winner folks - very good.

You are right - we may have the only RV in existence with multiple $hithouses. When our little gatito jorgito has to do his thing he has his own private place completely sealed off under the kitchen sink. It consists of a plywood box on a rollout that comes out through the door which you can't see. The box is epoxy sealed and contains a couple of strategically located ledges that enable him to perch and serve to deflect flying litter back into the box. Its very neat and inconspicuous and he seems to love it. He's a very aggressive "coverer" which inspired the riffle design in the sidewalls of the box. We love it too because it is easy to clean up after him.

Lagavullin at my bus for Nusa. We'll be in Q at the end of Jan & early Feb and then probably working our way up the left coast in late Feb & March. Let me know where to bring the scotch.

Busted Knuckle · September 16, 2007, 06:10:16 AM

Quote from: bobofthenorth
We have a winner folks - very good.

You are right - we may have the only RV in existence with multiple $hithouses. When our little gatito jorgito has to do his thing he has his own private place completely sealed off under the kitchen sink. It consists of a plywood box on a rollout that comes out through the door which you can't see. The box is epoxy sealed and contains a couple of strategically located ledges that enable him to perch and serve to deflect flying litter back into the box. Its very neat and inconspicuous and he seems to love it. He's a very aggressive "coverer" which inspired the riffle design in the sidewalls of the box. We love it too because it is easy to clean up after him.

Lagavullin at my bus for Nusa. We'll be in Q at the end of Jan & early Feb and then probably working our way up the left coast in late Feb & March. Let me know where to bring the scotch.

Bob cool & clever I must admit! But not the only one out there! Sean & Louise have a simular deal in the "Odyssey" http://www.ourodyssey.us/bus-index.html
, and I'd be willing to bet there are others too. Gumpy even may have had one for his "late feline workmate", I don't remember. Anyway I thought it but said, naw that's too easy and he said we'd never guess! LOL!

BK

Chaz · September 16, 2007, 07:21:36 AM

That is a very good idea!!!!! Very cool!

Ok I am thinking again

................. so as to NOT hijack this thread, I am going to start another one. And since Bob is a pet lover, and a creative one at that, I'm wondering if he has any suggestions.
The thread will be "New Puppy" (YUP!

)

Chaz

bobofthenorth · September 16, 2007, 07:56:40 AM

Quote from: Chaz on September 16, 2007, 07:21:36 AM
and a creative one at that,

Not as creative as I thought I was according to BK's post.

My original thought was a hole in the floor opening into a rollout tray in one of the bays but I gave up on that plan because the only bay that really worked was the front bay and that is presently a full pass through bay. Didn't want to give up that much space at one end of that useful a storage spot.