Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

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Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

October 28, 2019, 04:29:27 pm

Please forgive me if this is information that has been covered previously in the forum.

As is in my signature, I have a 1998 Lazy Daze 26.5 foot mid-bath. Previously, I slept in the over-the-cab bed and was quite happy to do so. However, after a long process to reach a diagnosis I found that I have avascular necrosis of both hips.

The “cure” is a total hip replacement, and I had my left hip replaced on 09/24/19. Therefore, sleeping in the over-the-cab bed is an option no longer an option for now (and probably never).

In my Lazy Daze, I have the floor plan with the two sofas facing each other. I'm thinking the best option now would be for me to turn one of the sofas (passenger side) into a bed. I'm obviously at home now, but as soon as the orthopedic surgeon clears me for driving (probably at six week) I want to travel about an hour away to Deming and stay at the LOW-HI Ranch where I have friends and can spend Thanksgiving and wait until my second hip surgery.

My RV is in storage, but I'd like to have the mattress, etc... on hand to make a quick transition. The sofas have been recovered in “pleather,” and bedding would probably slide off and after having surgery I probably need a more comfortable place to sleep.

I'm thinking of buying a twin foam mattress on Amazon.com and sleeping on the passenger side. The dimensions for the six inch memory foam mattress seem to be fairly universal at 39 inches wide and 75 inches long. I went on the Lazy Daze website and found the dimensions for a 2019 RV of the same model:

Driver's Side: 32 inches wide, 71 inches long
Passenger Side: 36 inches wide, 76 inches long
However, I don't know if these measurements are accurate for my 1998 Lazy Daze.

Has anyone tried to make their wood platform wider by a few inches? That would really help instead of cutting the mattress to fit and also make for a more comfortable bed.

I've also read reports of people finding mold eventually underneath their mattress if the area is not slatted so air can circulate. However, many people with this problem have bought something called HyperVent that comes in a 39 inch wide roll and you purchase the length you need to put between the mattress and the wood.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #1 – October 28, 2019, 04:49:09 pm

"I don't know if these measurements are accurate for my 1998 Lazy Daze."
---
I'm not sure, either, because the 1998 spec sheet for a MB lists one size for the two couches, i.e., 32" X 76". Maybe someone with that year and model can confirm or correct this.

Once you find the actual measurements, you might want to look at memory foam or latex mattress topper products from Natural Latex Foam and Memory Foam Topper Products | Sleep Warehouse; they will cut a standard-sized topper to fit your specs.

I've been satisfied with two special-cut memory foam toppers from this company; the toppers are not inexpensive, but the quality is high, the shipping is free, and the customer service is good.

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #2 – October 28, 2019, 05:24:04 pm

My wife and I both have bad knees. We sleep on the couches. We both need to get up in the night for a bathroom run so we leave an isle between the beds. I sleep on the long bed but do not pull it out. She sleeps on the short bed (drivers side). We pull that side out because the dog keeps her company. I make up the beds at night. On her bed we use a memory foam topper from Costco that aha it’s own cloth cover. It is a little wide for a couch not pulled out but narrow on one that is. I set the pad in the middle of the bed so if the dog forces my wife off she notices and wakes up enough to push back on the pup (it is amazing how a small dog can get very big on a bed).

I cover the pad and cushion a sheet. It looks lumpy but is very comfortable. The advantage is this all roles up and we have our living room back when company comes. We store the role up Costco bed toppers in the overhead when they are not on the bed. (Most of the time we leave the bed set up but with the dog we keep the sheets put away so dear wife doesn’t sleep on briers, sticks and mud from the dog.

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #3 – October 28, 2019, 05:37:19 pm

Cheryl,
In our ‘15 RB, our couches are always made up as a couch/bed. The portion of the couch you sit on should have a strap about 1/2 way along the isle side tucked below the cushion.

Pulling the strap toward the isle should allow the couch to extend toward the isle. This will widen the couch to make it more comfortable for bedding down for the night.

The backrest of the couch should have lockable pins on both ends that hold it at an angle. These pins can be released and the backrest can be set flat against the wall. The pins can then be used to lock the backrest in place. This makes for a more comfortable bed.

We use memory foam pads to cover the existing bottom couch cushions. Twin sized works well.

I prefer 1 1/2” MFoam on my side. DW prefers 3” on her side. The foam pad toward the wall can be tucked below the backrest cushion (not the actual backrest) This helps to eliminate cold air from coming upward from below the couch and exterior storage bays.

With blankets and throws folded together like a taco shell. The isle side of the blanket taco is the opened edge. At bed time it’s easy in. In the morning it’s easy out. Then it’s just straighten out the Taco Blanket and put my day cushions back in place. Voila my bed is now a couch. No need to remove bedding or push the couch back toward the wall.

We’ve done it this way for several years. For us, it’s a perfect solution for day or night comfort.

Hope this answers your question.

Get better soon.

Kent

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #4 – October 28, 2019, 06:34:25 pm

Cheryl, I was going to make suggestions along the line of what Kent suggested above. The memory foam costs a lot less than a custom sized mattress. It will hold the bedding fairly well. You can buy it on a larger size and cut it to fit. Shifting the couch backrest back, with the memory foam rising up behind it would pretty much lock the memory foam in place.

Negatives - Some folks find memory foam to be warm, even uncomfortably so. That is why I did not get it. I know that it is appealing to folks recovering from injuries, because it tends to conform to your joints and your sleep positions.

Ken F in NM

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #5 – October 28, 2019, 07:13:55 pm

Cheryl,
I think the first thing is to determine how your sofas turn into beds. The newer ones, as people said, you pull into the middle area towards each other (moving one sofa/bed or both). The older ones, you dropped the table down to fill the area in-between.

If you don't have the pull together style, you can always add a couple inches (using L brackets and some support legs) to make it wider. If you want it wider permanently you could just attach some plywood (using tie-ins) and give it some support (legs, 2x4, etc.). Even put hinges on it so you can transition back and forth between sofa and bed. How easy this is depends on how handy you/a friend are (pretty easy for handy people).

The original upholstery for both sides was built so it could move from bed to sofa size (simplified you just pull out the back part and put it on seat area). If the original cushions were changed, you might not have that ability anymore.

Another choice for foam - Foam stores sell foam off rolls by the foot including memory foam. They will cut to your exact dimensions. You can build your own mattress this way at a lower cost, but you need to do some digging to see what you want and be able to compare different types of foam (there are different memory foam, some made to be cooler). And you will need to cover the mattress you create. It works well to use the mattress covers designed to keep out bugs/mites/dust (covers entire mattress and zips up, water bug/dirt/and water proof). They work well and should fit for your twin - likely with a little extra material you can tuck in.

Jane

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #6 – October 28, 2019, 08:04:42 pm

Buying a topper is not as simple as just... buying a topper..... You'll need to decide between latex and memory foam. Then, how many inches you need. Then, one more thing... the density of the foam. Generally speaking, you pay more for higher density.

My own experience: Started out with memory foam -3". Didn't like it. Too much resistance when turning. Went with 3" of latex, medium density, from "Sleep on Latex". Paid extra for a cover (good idea). This worked pretty well but I ended up adding 1 inch of cheap latex to get it just right. ("Sleep on Latex" sells quality foam at quality prices)

You could start out at a store like Walmart which will let you return your first try since you probably will need to return it. Much depends on just how fussy you are about getting just the right feel. Frank

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #7 – October 28, 2019, 08:11:13 pm

So how is latex different from memory foam?

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #8 – October 28, 2019, 08:28:44 pm

Quote from: Judie Ashford - October 28, 2019, 08:11:13 pm

So how is latex different from memory foam?

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Memory Foam vs. Latex Compared - Which Material is Right For You? I happen to be looking it up when your post came in.

Chris

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #9 – October 28, 2019, 10:10:04 pm

I agree, big differences in "foam mattresses". Not just materials that created the bed/layers, but various softness/firmness.
We custom made a bed in the lounge area of our TK. We looked at foam mattresses in various stores. Then when we found one we liked, we went to a foam store and got similar layers to create the same feel. Works well for us and much less cost (about 1/3 of our favorite brand, but made with similar versions of the 3 layers "glued" together).

Jane

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #10 – October 29, 2019, 12:15:46 am

Quote from: John DaCrema - October 28, 2019, 05:24:04 pm

(Most of the time we leave the bed set up but with the dog we keep the sheets put away so dear wife doesn’t sleep on briers, sticks and mud from the dog.

I had this from the PU before I sold it. It has been repurposed for the Island Bed for extremely similar furry friend issues:
Scout's Seat Saver

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #11 – October 29, 2019, 12:49:54 am

Cheryl, you might remember that my 1997 MB has cabinets instead of an overhead cab bunk, so I've always used a rear couch as a permanent bed. (Never wanted to climb up and down to sleep!)
The passenger side couch pulls out to bigger than a usual twin bed size mattress, I think at max it measures 45" x 75", and there's still room for an aisle between it and the other driver's side shorter couch. I finally bought a very nice mattress in Mexico, with pillow layer on both top and bottom so it can be flipped over. They are slightly larger than U.S. standard size and fits perfectly in the LD, of course Mexican sheets also fit. I left the cushions under in case I ever sell the rig, so it's a little high but works perfectly. I love it... In fact it's much easier to make the bed than using cushions with a mattress topper.

Re: Please Help with Making a Sofa into a Twin Bed...

Reply #12 – October 29, 2019, 12:10:10 pm

Desertdivanm, kudos to you for not letting your surgeries get you down! We all are pulling for you.
As a newbie I asked lots of questions about sleeping possibilities. You mention that your cushions have been redone so I'm not sure if that would make a difference. I have two foam pads with covers that I place on the couch. I bought "kids" sheets for a twin bed that are extra deep and have extra elastic. I am able to put the bottom fitted sheet over the whole pile, (couch cushion and topper pads) and then I put the excess of the top sheet under the pile next to the window with just a short amount coming over the walkway side. I have a cozy top cover and lots of pillows and its most comfortable. The extra top sheet helps with the outer draft and the top cover is washable so its fine for sitting. I don't pull out the bed very far and do not make up and take down, just leave the same every day. Works fine for couch and is easy to make look nice.
I do sleep really well and don't toss and turn. I think you would even have room for a body pillow if that would be helpful.
On a positive note you won't believe how much "stuff" you are now able to carry in the overhead bunk:)

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