Mattress Ideas for the van

What are you guys using for a mattress in the back of your shaggin wagons??? I am thinking about using a futon mattress and make the bed so it can slide in and turn into a couch.

http://www.morefutons.com/InnerSpace-Luxury-Products-InnerSpace-Futon-Mattress-FM5375.htm

i want to pick up an old hospital bed, with the pneumatic shock assembly. then weld up a mount to bolt to the van floor that puts the shock close to the angle it needs to be. electrical will be easy, but what i want to end up with is a bed in the rear with a waist-up rise. depending on the width, i'll probably go with a futon mattress or 6" memory foam if it flexes

Can't explain it , but wish you could see what Taz did in his van

I PICKED UP A LEATHER REAR BENCH SEAT / BED FROM A FULL SIZE CONVERSION VAN THAT LOOK LIKE BRAND NEW FOR $ 100. I MAY HAVE TO BUILD A EXTENTION ON IT AND ALSO USE FOR STORAGE AS WELL . I GOT IT ON CRAIGSLIST. LOOK UP REAR SEATS OR BENCH SEAT. OR ALSO VAN SEATS. IT SITS BETWEEN THE WHEELWELLS AND HAS ABOUT 2 1/2 '' EACH SIDE.. SEATBELTS INCLUDED. I AM PLEASED...

Thanks Dix.... sound like a lot easier way to go.

I picked up a pair of ford aerostar back seats that fold down.








Heres a good bone yard search sight. look up full size Van 3rd row seat to find those conversion van seats.
http://www.car-part.com/


M1D

M1...Those look good up and they are functional for what you were needing.Nice choice!

M1.. Those look good, thanks for the idea and pics.

actualy I got the idea from "Seat Installation 63 Falcon Bus" a couple posts down

M1D

Found a power bench seat that turns into a bed at a junk yard about 70 miles from me. Off to get it after my son's graduation from 8th to 9th grade in the morning, pics to follow.

GLAD TO HEAR IT!!!!!

Got it vaccumed off today, have to get some soap for the carpet cleaner and fix the cup holder. NEED help on the wiring.... 2- 10 ga wires to the motor, 3- 16 ga wires on the 3 way switch. If I power the center wires on the switch and hook the ground to one wire on the motor it lowers, hook the ground to the other and it raises. Is there a relay for it that I didn't get from the junk yard??? Seat is out of a '94 B van. $75.00

Duane don't clean it with one of those junk cleaning machines, get with me @ Baker's and I'll clean it for you with my truck mount

These are not made to carry your body wieght up and down so the motor will probobly draw not more then 20 amps. You can get your basic relay at NAPA and run that. But I would call the original suplier or look it up on the internet to find what size of circuit protection was originally used.

You don't have to have the "original relay" or circuit breaker that was used. You probobly don't want it any way cuz its old. New realys and circuit breakers are cheep.

Now that you have me thinking, the wire size going to the motor is the clue to what size circuit protector your need.

What size is the power wire?

M1D

It's 10 ga wire..... I was wondering today if this is a positive ground set up??? Power to each end of the switch and ground to the center terminal. I need to find a schematic for a '94 B-van. Have to call my nephew at the chrysler dealer tomorrow and see what he can find out.
I'll get with you next weekend Chris, I'll be there but the van might not be ready, should've started the body work sooner. I think I feel a sick day coming on for tomorrow.

By power to each side of the switch I guess you mean the motor has two power wires and a ground? That would be two power windings in the motor, one for up and one for down and they share a commun ground.

If its 10ga wire it probobly takes a 30 amp relay. quite commun,
do the 10 gauge wires both go to the switch?

M1D

MOST DEALERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU ON THE WIRING THEY SELL A STRIPED DOWN VAN 1 SEAT, POWER WINDOWS , LOCKS , POWER MORRIORS , AND AC, AND A HEAD UNIT. AFTER THE CONVERSION COMPANY TAKE IT , THEY INSTALL CARPET ,LIGHTING, CUT THE WINDOWS IN, 4 CAPTION CHAIRS & BED/ COUCH. DO YOU REMEMBER THE CONVERSION COMPANY ON THE VAN!! THAT IS WHO COULD HELP YA. ( REGENCY) ? MAYBE...

M1D.... The 10 ga wires don't go to the switch, that's why I was wondering about a relay. One wire does raise it, and the other lowers it.
Dix....No idea who the conversion company was.

30 amps is probobly right but I would need to see some pictures before I say breaker, or CB or what ever.

Its possible the motor is a commun B+ and the grounds are switched like most power window motors.

M1D

I'll get some pics of the motor and the switch for you to look at... thanks

You could probably use a double-pole 3 position switch to control that seat - centre OFF, and two x ON positions (UP & DOWN). I used one on my kids electric motorbike, and they love going in reverse

kiwi.. is the center on yours hot or ground???

I'll try to post a sketch of the switch I used soon. And the answer is ...not really

OK, here are some pics which I hope will be of use...

Kids motorbike - 6volt (could be 12 for the purpose of this demonstration)


switch - 3 position - centre OFF with 2 x ON's (ie/ Forward & Reverse)






Wiring diagram....please excuse crudity of sketch


Hope that helps

if you could find an older single window switch and wire
it like it was a window motor, it would get the same thing
done. I say older switch because the newer ones cannot
withstant the amperage of the motor, the newer cars use
a relay sys to make the windows operate, not the same as
the older vehicles. I would say 1986 and older would work.