Custom twin bed builds, storage galore and weight savings!

[Dano]

Thanks Scott, +1 on the electric knife! I'm glad you can recognize " a few hours", it sure was! A few quick photos one side seat back as yet to be finished but with the rough mattress in place...the more I look at it, I think I'll take a few inches off so it sticks out a tiny bit less...

[Blue~Go]

Ha, funny on the "seat backs." Normally those do go under the window, but I'm like you in that I always sit lengthwise on the couch and lean on the "back" at the edge of the sink. I say don't cut it narrower! Mine is stock width and my "lean back" cushion tends to want to creep inward and fall off. I made a note to widen it at some point. If you want it to look smaller visually, maybe cut some slots in it or decorative holes?

Now that I've seen the photos a bit bigger, I can admire all the details. Nice work! Makes me wish my legs were longer -- all that storage! (Actually I don't know why I say that for the couch because I do just lounge lengthwise on it - but sometimes it's nice to put your feet down when using a table.)

Say Hoosier: If you like this concept but you want more aisle space I have a suggestion (that you have probably already thought of, but just in case): That is to make the vertical support section narrower. In other words, make the last X inches of the top platform cantilever over the base, and the base set further toward the side walls. My couch setup is like that now. When I have it out in my typical bed position it cantilevers about 12" over the base. In typical day position it's about 4" (or anywhere in between). Not saying you'd do it that much, and of course you lose some storage that way, but it does make quite a bit of difference visually, if you want to kind of have both (larger aisle and wider bed). Your eye sees the wider floor space.

I think for two this is a great layout. And visually appealing too (I couldn't "do" the dinette even though it's practical because it looks too "blocked in" to me.

More photos!

[HoosierB]

Blue...I was thinking the same on the "overhang". It will give more "toe room" when turning around or when doing the side-step.

Scott... can you post pics of your setup?

[Dano]

Finished the passenger side complete with top and moulding....Still needs to be painted but it's back into the Chinook for now...

[Dano]

Driver's side comes back in for gluing and final assembly...

[Blue~Go]

Geez, you could rent the space in those to a small family!

I noticed the shorter outboard foot on the driver's side one, and it reminded me that perhaps you said it is going to rest on the existing "2x4" that is on the couch wall stock? Just a note to check on that. It looks beefy, and maybe it is, but there was one owner who did a remodel and reported that those big screws that attach it to the wall only went through the 1/8" wallboard. Granted it's mostly a downward force, and it has feet that go down, but... maybe something to look at while you have good access, in case you want to change anything about it (and if you do, tell us what you find?).

[Dano]

Geez, I Assumed it was into some solid material! The couch frame rested on it as I recall but know you have me wondering! Too cold out tonight to go check so will have to wait until morning. The dinette table bracket was screwed into the opposite wall and took all that weight so I am going to "assume" all will be well but I think I'll still have a look. Don't need all my plans to go to pot at this point By the way, I'm considering using them as coffins to save a buck when I'm done, the supports won't matter at that point

[Dano]

According to your excellent upload Blue, this rendering shows 3/4" plywood under the window...Does that look reasonable to you?

[Blue~Go]

That is the dinette side, and exactly matches what is in my '99 (well, it is a '99 drawing). I have been in there to have a peek

There are no drawings for the other side, but I will assume that the window surround is the same (well, it's not a total assumption, because with the forward pillar off I can feel the forward edge of it). This is for the Concourse now (Premier is different, in case any Premier folks are following along).

I don't know if there is any similar plywood reinforcement where the couch goes. I'm going to guess not, but that's a tenuous guess at best. Here is why I'm thinking that.

1) The steel couch frame is bolted through the floor (in places), as are the seatbelts (although I shudder to think of anyone belted in sideways in any scenario where you would need a seatbelt!)

2) Then there are some round "arms" that are also part of the couch frame that go over to the "2 x 4" thing on the wall. But they don't support the couch in quite as straightforward of a way as the aisle side does, I don't think. I think they may have counted on the 2 x 4 legs touching the floor (maybe?), plus the front square tubing, plus shear, plus some "well the whole thing is one unit and there are other strong points."

3) I have had the water heater out. Peering behind the wallboard (from outside), I didn't notice any structure to speak of. I should try to look in there again (it's still out).

Maybe there is some plywood there (although the other folks doing the remodeling didn't seem to see any) (although I think maybe they had a Premier? But same couch and same 2 x 4 thingie). I just wouldn't count on it without maybe poking around a bit. Perhaps pull one of those big honking looking screws (that may not really honk) out and see how it feels? Or else add some additional legs (or something else, to the floor) to bolster those. Your furniture is so nice I just wanted to say something in case it's not as firm a foundation as it looks like. If there does turn out to be plywood in there, fantastic.

Don't you wish we had the equivalent drawing of the driver's side?

[Blue~Go]

PS: As you may know, some Chinook 21-footers came with twin beds, and/or with a couch that was more of a wooden base with slanted bolsters along the wall. I think maybe these tended to be Premiers or early 90's Concourses, but not positive.

I like it. Lots of storage and instant comfortable twin bed. Homemade by Chinook vs. Flexsteel.

Anyway, here are Chinook drawings for that unit. I notice the wall side is just sort of a "line" on the drawing. Hmm.

And here is what it looked like for real:

Few more in the next post (notice we can't see the wall )