Wheeljack
Active member
Although a bit lower tech than the composite panels we are familiar with, I built my bed platform out of lightweight removable materials that I've worked with in the past home remodeling projects. After over a year of use, I can say it is extremely rigid and lightweight, and has held up well with 2 adults, but sometimes also our 10 year old and maybe two dogs up there as well. The door skins cannot withstand much as a point load, but if it is distributed, they are extremely rigid and strong.
I used two interior slab-style doors from one of the big box stores. These are essentially a composite panel with cardboard 'honeycomb' core glued to the outer skins. I had to rip the doors to width, trimmed to length/shape of rear doors, and re-glued the edging back in.
They are supported by 3 IKEA Skorva bed cross-beams (these have been mentioned elsewhere on the forum), which are also very rigid and lightweight. I originally planned on 4, but it was overkill. They also have the advantage of being extendable to fit whichever bed height is desirable. The mounting brackets can be bought in the IKEA hardware bin for just a few dollars more. I mounted each bracket with 3X 1/4" nutserts. They are also so low profile that when the cross beams are removed the brackets don't stick out past the face of my wall panels. I mounted them just below the window openings,which to me puts the bed at a great height so we can comfortably sit upright. Bikes go on the rack, or laid down underneath sometimes.
I trimmed and put 2 twin size 6" memory foam toppers, and this by far was the most expensive part of the bed (and not included in the $99 structure portion). This is probably a little too 'ghetto-style' for some, but we all have different requirements, and with as much hauling and outdoor gear that gets thrown around, I don't want to have anything 'too nice' that I would feel bad banging around a little bit.
I used two interior slab-style doors from one of the big box stores. These are essentially a composite panel with cardboard 'honeycomb' core glued to the outer skins. I had to rip the doors to width, trimmed to length/shape of rear doors, and re-glued the edging back in.
They are supported by 3 IKEA Skorva bed cross-beams (these have been mentioned elsewhere on the forum), which are also very rigid and lightweight. I originally planned on 4, but it was overkill. They also have the advantage of being extendable to fit whichever bed height is desirable. The mounting brackets can be bought in the IKEA hardware bin for just a few dollars more. I mounted each bracket with 3X 1/4" nutserts. They are also so low profile that when the cross beams are removed the brackets don't stick out past the face of my wall panels. I mounted them just below the window openings,which to me puts the bed at a great height so we can comfortably sit upright. Bikes go on the rack, or laid down underneath sometimes.
I trimmed and put 2 twin size 6" memory foam toppers, and this by far was the most expensive part of the bed (and not included in the $99 structure portion). This is probably a little too 'ghetto-style' for some, but we all have different requirements, and with as much hauling and outdoor gear that gets thrown around, I don't want to have anything 'too nice' that I would feel bad banging around a little bit.
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