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Cheap Child's Cot Alternative
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bac914
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:02 pm    Post subject: Cheap Child's Cot Alternative Reply with quote

Here's a few pics of a cot I made for my van. I used 2 inch pvc pipe for the main span and 1.5 inch for the cross pieces. Sewed sleeves in the fabric and slipped the pvc through and connected the pvc together. Then ran rope through the long pieces and through a hole in 1.5 inch pieces that are used to prevent the rope from slipping back through the door closure. Store it in the pop top gap up top when not in use. So far, the 6 year old loves it. Now we can sleep 5 comfortably.

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Steelhead
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

clever! thanks for sharing.
(just remember not to open the doors when there's a kid sleeping...but you've already considered that). You could also use rubberized hooks and hang it from the drip rails. That would allow you to open and close the doors.

With only one todler, I figure I've got at least 7 years to work out something similar. If I do the math on the likelyhood of me having 3 kids, this project may never see the light of day.
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jacob.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder if I could hang a hammock lengthwise in my van. That would be kickass.
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reluctantartist
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is totally kick ass! How much weight do you think the PVC frame can handle? What kind of fabric did you use?

That is really cool!
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thewump
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice job!

This looks exactly what my parents describe as the device they used to put me in while DRIVING when I was a baby - except it conveniently went from front to back. More of a launch pad than a safety device.

K
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Crughy
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jacob. wrote:
I wonder if I could hang a hammock lengthwise in my van. That would be kickass.


I thought about this one several time. I was thinking of a hammock corner to corner. From the A pillar on driver side to the rear right corner. Not sure how the rope would deal with the seat.
It has to be high, i.e pretty tight. I am not certain it would work.

I don't sleep well in the rear bed.

JP
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jacob.
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Crughy wrote:
jacob. wrote:
I wonder if I could hang a hammock lengthwise in my van. That would be kickass.


I thought about this one several time. I was thinking of a hammock corner to corner. From the A pillar on driver side to the rear right corner. Not sure how the rope would deal with the seat.
It has to be high, i.e pretty tight. I am not certain it would work.

I don't sleep well in the rear bed.

JP


I was thinking of mounting it outside of the two front doors and out of the top of the rear hatch. Kind of like this guy has done with his childs cot but slightly different. There would be 2 tie offs on 1 side, and only one on the other. You could sleep with your head towards the two tie offs. I'm sure it could work.
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errolprowse
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome!!! very crafty setup. simple, strong and cheap, my favirote things
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Bac,

Brilliant!!!
Thanks for sharing this clever idea.

-CJ
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pioneer1
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:33 pm    Post subject: cot Reply with quote

I really like your idea-especially having the toggles out the door for support. Does the plumbing come apart for easy storage while driving?
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bac914
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

reluctantartist wrote:
That is totally kick ass! How much weight do you think the PVC frame can handle? What kind of fabric did you use?

That is really cool!


I think the pvc will hold a fair amount of weight, certainly enough for someone small enough to fit comfortably in that space. I bet it could easily take 150 lbs. I used cordura fabric, the stuff backpacks are made out of, and "outdoor" thread found at the fabric store. I think it's just a little thicker than regular thread, but regular would have worked. The only thing that might have to be improved to handle heavier loads is some "stays" or pieces similar to that on the doors that hold the ropes in a fixed position so the cot doesn't slide up or down on the ropes.

pioneer1 wrote:
I really like your idea-especially having the toggles out the door for support. Does the plumbing come apart for easy storage while driving?


I just have the plumbing pieced together and it could come apart and be rolled up. It really just depends on how tightly you sew the fabric sleeves. I leave mine in one piece as it fits nicely in the top.

And another bonus is that it makes a nice gear loft during the day...

Brian.
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bac914
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PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just adding some clarification on a few points that I was PM'd about:

The rope I used is one piece and runs through the long tubes. On each end there is a "stopper" made out of smaller pvc sections that provides more support for the bed on the door and makes for quicker setup. I simply drilled holes through the "stopper" pipe, threaded the rope through, and then tied a knot.

heres the pics:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


and

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


If I recall correctly, the pvc long pieces are about 50" long and the shorter pieces are about 29".

I didn't use any adhesive as the friction of the fittings holds it together just fine. If I did glue it, I'd use the standard pvc pipe glue found at home depot with the pipe. I imagine in a few years (if I'm still using it....my youngest is only 11 months...so probably) I will have to glue it as I am guessing the joints will loosen. Having it glued in one piece shouldn't be a problem b/c I've just been storing it up in the top bunk all put together.

Brian.
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ccdn
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PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the added detail!
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josh_w
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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 8:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One improvement you could make- use a piece of radiator hose instead of PVC for the "stopper" that goes outside the door- it won't mar the paint. I have bow straps for my Kayak that use it to secure the straps under the hood and rear hatch.
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DAIZEE
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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Way way way way back in the bus days they had a cot for the front. I don't know what it looked like but I've heard about it. Yours is marvelous and innovative
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Zero419
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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How hard is it to convince your 3 year old to sleep in it?
I'd make one if I knew he would take to it.
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mikey9
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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 11:16 pm    Post subject: Or ALternatively.... Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


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Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Benefit of this arrangement - You get to use the kitchen and front seats after the kids go to sleep.

We put a towel over the catch net (in the second pic) to keep the light out and give the baby a cosy nest....If they wake in the night - you just sit up and comfort them back to sleep.

Disadvantage - apparently we sleep upside down (i.e. head to the front) but this makes it easier to put the kettle on from the bed... Very Happy

We now have on (19 months) on this shelf - with the other upstairs in the HiTop. - it works wonderfully well and the kids LOVE it and sleep there better than at home most days!
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reluctantartist
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PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikey9, what did you use for the safety net?
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DAIZEE
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PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

? a small cargo net, or a doggie preventer me thinks
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mikey9
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PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:09 pm    Post subject: Lobster Net! Reply with quote

@reluctant artist.

The net was made to measure by these guys http://www.allplaz.com/ over here in the UK. It is the same netting as used for lobster pots...

We also got one for the sliding door hole so we can let the boys play in the van - with the door open - without fear of them falling out when they get bored playing with the refrigerator switches... Shocked
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