80x20 aliminum

[Otter Spotter]

Hi I am thinking of replacing the bed frame in my van, it appears to be 2x2 and 2x3 iron and weighs a ton. I would like to replace it with KJN’s 30x30 or 20x20 aluminium extrusion. It looks as though KJN offer the best range but I want to design the frame on a CAD/CAM software, free if possibl, which is the best to use that may have the 20x20 already programmed in?

 

[Mikeco]

If it’s a fixed bed then you can buy them ready made in aluminium and are very light, look for caravan bed frames.

 

[NicM]

Have a look at

Fusion 360 for personal use.​

 

[Otter Spotter]

If it’s a fixed bed then you can buy them ready made in aluminium and are very light, look for caravan bed frames.

Not fixed, during the day it’s 2 bench seats with slides outs to make double bed

 

[Minxy]

Wissel what did you do in yours?

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[Wissel]

Wissel what did you do in yours?

I use Adobe Illustrator, simply because I have it

Otter Spotter I use KJN for my profile as it's great quality and a good range.

I used 3030 to build my solar roof:

And use 2020 to build furniture (the Bosch stuff as it has a 6mm slot)

 

[tacr2man]

How about a new one Burrito bed ?

 

[Fat Albert]

I used Sketchup Make 2017 (It's a freebee as well) to design, proof of concept and fabricate the fitment of my Solar panels, Spare wheel carrier, Spare cassette holder and the vent roof SOG. Lots of YouTube tutorials to get the basics of how to use it. Frustrating at first but quite addictive to use after the basics are implanted into the grey matter. I've stopped learning anything new now

 

[Detnor]

I used some Bosch Rexroth, they have a cad system but beyond me. Had a chat with the profile dealer and they were happy to design it on the Rexroth system for me.

 

[Otter Spotter]

How about a new one Burrito bed ?

Seen this but no use to us as we have full windows on both sides.

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[Otter Spotter]

I used some Bosch Rexroth, they have a cad system but beyond me. Had a chat with the profile dealer and they were happy to design it on the Rexroth system for me.

I will take a look cheers

 

[Otter Spotter]

I use Adobe Illustrator, simply because I have it

Otter Spotter I use KJN for my profile as it's great quality and a good range.

I used 3030 to build my solar roof:
View attachment 554756

And use 2020 to build furniture (the Bosch stuff as it has a 6mm slot)

So do you think 20x20 is strong enough for bench/beds ? Love the Solar frame

 

[Wissel]

So do you think 20x20 is strong enough for bench/beds ? Love the Solar frame

I do, along as there are enough uprights.

I wouldn't use it if I were trying to span straight across the van or any distance over about 600mm without uprights. If this is your plan then a mix of 2020 to make the frame with these as lateral supports works well:

SKORVA Galvanised, bed frame midbeam - IKEA

SKORVA midbeam, galvanised

www.ikea.com

 

[Otter Spotter]

I do, along as there are enough uprights.

I wouldn't use it if I were trying to span straight across the van or any distance over about 600mm without uprights. If this is your plan then a mix of 2020 to make the frame with these as lateral supports works well:

SKORVA Galvanised, bed frame midbeam - IKEA

SKORVA midbeam, galvanised

www.ikea.com

This is the current frame there is one on each side of van. There are draw sliders on each end so that part of the frame meets in the middle of van. The cushions have solid bottoms so don’t need spring boards. The reason for the change is the frame is heavy and I want to replace the 15mm vohringer board with 3mm plus 5mm ply to reduce the weight and reposition some of the fixed electrics that are taking up a lot of floor space under the beds.

 

[Wissel]

If it helps, I have a ton on 2020 and larger turning up this week (literally half a ton ).

Happy to do a bit of a stress test and video it?

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[Otter Spotter]

If it helps, I have a ton on 2020 and larger turning up this week (literally half a ton ).

Happy to do a bit of a stress test and video it?

Let’s pm

 

[jp11]

I used 2020, mostly from RS. Toilet compartment clad with IKEA wardrobe doors. Also used IKEA Scorva beams for the rear single bed. I wanted to use 12mm ply for the bed, so I got three Scorvas but later changed to two. They just sit on top of the profile, haven't even secured them.
Kitchen is 2020 also, clad with fixed IKEA kitchen doors, with bathroom units slotted in.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I used 2020, mostly from RS. Toilet compartment clad with IKEA wardrobe doors. Also used IKEA Scorva beams for the rear single bed. I wanted to use 12mm ply for the bed, so I got three Scorvas but later changed to two. They just sit on top of the profile, haven't even secured them.
Kitchen is 2020 also, clad with fixed IKEA kitchen doors, with bathroom units slotted in.

That looks pretty neat. Any outside photos ?

 

[jp11]

Van external? It's just a standard 17-seat Transit, as per signature pic.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I used 2020, mostly from RS. Toilet compartment clad with IKEA wardrobe doors. Also used IKEA Scorva beams for the rear single bed. I wanted to use 12mm ply for the bed, so I got three Scorvas but later changed to two. They just sit on top of the profile, haven't even secured them.
Kitchen is 2020 also, clad with fixed IKEA kitchen doors, with bathroom units slotted in.

Really nice use of 2020 are you happy with its strength fo spanning bed? Do you think it could do a double ?

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[jp11]

Firstly, 2020 wouldn't be anywhere near strong enough for a 2-metre span. Even 4040 might not be. I used the IKEA beams for the span.
Secondly, you have to be careful not to rely on the angle brackets to carry the weight - the horizontal 2020 beam must be on top of an upright.
If you look at picture1, the short horizontal bed support is sitting on top of the middle upright (which has been riv-nutted to the side of the van), and the right hand support (which is hidden behind the grey trim) is supported the same way. The left hand end of the horizontal is supported only by the friction of the fastener attached to the big upright for the toilet compartment - however, it's working OK.
All I can say is that the system worked well for me, and I'd do it again. Long spans of 2020 over a metre do flex, but they are strengthened when the cladding goes on. Here are some other shots of the installation:

 

[jp11]

Sorry when I said "picture 1" I meant picture 1 on my last post (30a.JPG)

 

[Otter Spotter]

Thanks for your advice, my intention is to (more or less) replicate the frame you can see in the photos, to reduce weight.
The benches have slide outs that meet in the middle creating a double bed. As you can see there are crossmembers and legs for support.

we find it increasingly hard to pull the slide outs together because of the combined weight of frame and kick board, I would replace the kick board with 3mm faced ply glued to another piece of ply probably 3mm or 5mm to give it some strength. If I can organise to meet Wissel he may build it for me

 

[jp11]

You mean build the same in 2020? It's like Meccano, do it yourself. I see that your steel box section appears to be 20x30. That obviously helps prevent flex. You can get 2030 or 2040 extrusion also, just twice the price of 2020 (it's costed by weight).

 

[Jamesh]

Van external? It's just a standard 17-seat Transit, as per signature pic.

Does it have a speed limiter? I not how did you get it removed?

Cheers James

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[jp11]

I had it down plated to 3500kg with help of SV Tech. At the same time, DVLA changed it to van with windows PLG. Then got Ford Dealer remove the restriction (£80).

 

[Jamesh]

Ok will try the ford dealer as my indie garage couldn't do it.

Cheers James

 

[jp11]

Couldn't or wouldn't? The technician did say sometimes it would work and sometimes not.