7 Ideas for Bunk Beds In A Van
If you’re building a camper van, the idea of bunk beds in a van is an appealing one- especially if you plan to travel with lots of people. Not only do van bunk beds provide a comfortable sleeping arrangement for multiple people, but it can also save valuable space in a compact living area for other things, like a shower, or a toilet.
While I don’t have a bunk bed in my van, I do have a couch that becomes a guest bed and have found it extremely useful for when friends and family visit me on the road!
Bunk beds in vans come in different designs and styles to suit your unique needs and preferences. Some are DIY and others can easily be bought online. This article outlines 7 ideas for bunk beds in a van and how to buy or build them!
This article covers:
- The best ideas for bunk beds in a van
- Where to buy bunk beds for your van
- DIY van bunk bed ideas
- Campervan hammock bed solutions
Scroll for lots of inspiration photos!
1. Folding Murphy Bunk Beds In A Van
A murphy bed is a great space saving idea for van bunk beds- just throw your bed up each morning, you don’t even need to make it!
Premade Murphy Bed Bunk Beds
Murphy bunk beds in a van are a great idea if you’ll only have occasional guests and you don’t want to commit permanent space to a bunk bed in your van.
If you’re not super handy, or you’re short on time there are some good store-bought options, like this Urban Stack Murphy Bunk Bed. With a little tweaking you can install this against a van wall for quick additional sleeping space for guests.
Partial DIY Murphy Bed Bunk Beds For Vans
However, store-bought murphy bunk beds are pretty pricy. Another option with less frills is the Liftco rail kit. This has a much slimmer profile and is less expensive but you’ll have to provide your own mattresses.
Full DIY Murphy Bunk Bed In A Camper Van
Lastly, you can always go the DIY route for a Murphy van bunk bed. In my opinion, this is the best route if you’re somewhat handy because it’ll save you a ton of money and you can customize to the specific measurements for your van. The example below is a fairly standard design with Murphy hinges and a couple of latches.
2. Floating Bunk Beds In Van Conversions
Another popular option for bunk beds in van conversions are floating beds. These are much easier to install, but may be slightly less stable than other van bunk beds. If you have kids, or a light weight adult, these would be ideal campervan bunk bed ideas.
Be cautious of weight maximum’s though, because the stability of a hanging bunk bed in a van just isn’t as strong as a built-in van bed.
Wall Mounted Floating Bunk Beds in a Van
Sportsmobile has a great bunk bed setup with two twin bunk beds stacked on top of each other against the drivers side wall of the van. I think this is a great van layout if you need additional floor space during the day.
In my experience, having more floor space while traveling with a dog is really nice.
Ceiling Mounted Floating Bunk Beds In A Van
Related Post: The Best Campervan Mattresses For Van Life
Another option for floating bunk beds for vans is to hang your top bunk above your fixed bottom bunk. Undercoverhippybus is able to sleep 4 people this way! It’s a double bunk bed which is a genius use of this space.
You sacrifice upper cabinet storage space in order to have these two top floating bunks, but it’s definitely worth it if you need the additional sleeping space.
Custom Campervan Mattresses
Need a custom mattress for your campervan bunk beds? RoamRest offers fully customizable mattresses for van life. Check out their fully custom options.
Or save time and money by purchasing one of their 11 pre-made mattress sizes specifically designed to fit your van.
3. Campervan Hammock Bed
The Campervan Hammock bed is a great cost effective way to add additional sleeping space in your van. They’re also removable during the day to create more living space. The primary limitations to campervan hammock beds are their weight capacity limitations. Additionally, if they’re installed side-to-side in your van they won’t work well for taller people.
There are two campervan hammock bunk bed options available to buy online: Campervan hammock and Cabbunk campervan hammock.
Campervan Hammock Bunk Bed
You can purchase a Campervan Hammock for around $250. It can hold up to 150 lbs of weight and is made the the USA. It’s a 30×60″ mesh hammock that can attach to your van walls in a number of ways, but you’ll need to plan ahead for mounting points if you plan to hold a significant amount of weight. Best of all, when you’re not using this hammock it packs down really small so you won’t lose a ton of storage space.
Cabbunk Hammock Bunk Bed For a Van
Cabbunk hammocks are specifically built for the cabin of your van. In order to use this you’ll need both front seats on a swivel – which is an added expense to your build.
Use code “everywherewithclaire” at checkout
The Cabbunk system is a fantastic option if you plan to have occasional guests and don’t want to have a permanent bunk bed in your van taking up precious space. They’re available to purchase as a single or double bed and can be purchased for under $600.
While these are available online in several places I’ve found the best deals at The Swivel Shop (plus you’ll get 5% off if you use my code: everywherewithclaire) and on Amazon.
Get 5% Off Your Cabbunk Van Bunk Bed
use coupon code “everywherewithclaire” at checkout
The Cabbunk can be set up in just 25 seconds, doesn’t require any permanent installation and is fully adjustable. It can support up to 150 lbs and packs down into a small package that’s easy to store.
4. Portable Bunk Beds In Van
If you’re looking for an easy portable option for bunk beds in a van check out Disc-O-Bed. The versatility of this bed system is incredible- it can be set up as a bunk bed, two cots, or even a couch! And when you’re done it folds away with minimal storage space needed.
Disc-O-Bed
What I like most about this bunk bed for vans is how functional it is for more than just a camper. You could use this camping in a tent or as an upgrade from couch surfing while visiting family for the holidays!
And you’ll be the “cool house” at your next van gathering with the couch setup around the fire ring.
The primary downside to this campervan bunk bed is that most van’s do not have a plethora of open floor space for such a thing to be constructed. I recommend that you double check that this will fit your van layout prior to buying!
5. Convertible Second Row Passenger Seat To Bunk Bed For A Van
The camper van market is constantly evolving with new innovative ideas. Affinity has created an impressive second row passenger seat that doubles as a bunk bed at night.
Affinity Bunk Bed In Conversion Van
6. Built-In DIY Camper Bunk Beds
Another option for bunk beds in van conversions is to go completely DIY. DIY camper bunk beds will allow you to completely customize the design to your van dimensions and layout, but it may take a little longer to get the job done than if you’d just purchased something online.
Rambleandrevive can sleep up to 4 people in their van with these DIY camper van bunk beds mid-ship. This permanent install is great if you’re traveling full time with kids.
Harbour Creek has installed camper bunk beds in the back of their van. These bunks run side to side so they’re limited in how tall a person they’ll comfortably sleep, but they take up far less space than something installed front to back.
This van also has an elevator bed (discussed further on) that you can see in its upright position at the top of the cab.
Motor1 figured out how to fit THREE bunk beds in their van. Additionally, they installed piping as a guard rail for added security.
I like the added storage space with the hanging basket at the foot of each bunk. After all, if you’re traveling with 5+ people in a camper van you’re going to need all the storage you can get.
Overlandforgood had a great idea of installing privacy curtains on their built in DIY bunk beds in a van. This is especially handy if you have anyone who goes early to bed or who likes to stay up late reading.
This Ford Transit fits two full-size beds! Plus, it has additional storage space under the bottom bunk bed. By sleeping front-to-back (instead of side-to-side) this camper van bunk bed also has some storage space along each side of the bed. Added reading lights on each bunk is a nice addition.
Think you can’t fit TWO bunk beds in a van? Think Again. Theoffroadcamper figured out a layout for 4+ people with two camper van bunk beds side-to-side in the back of the van and two bunk beds front-to-back along the side of their camper van. And they still found space for a 12V refrigerator and kitchen with van sink!
7. Elevator Van Bunk Beds
The elevator bed brings bunk beds in a van to an entirely new level. Drop the upper bunk down at night for a cozy sleep setup, and rise it back up in the morning for more living space.
Happijac is one of the original manufacturers of elevator bed components.
Lippert Smart Bed has also recently entered the market.
In my opinion, one of the best things about the elevator bed is that you don’t need to make your bed every day! Below are some examples of elevator bunk beds in vans.
Looking For A Custom Campervan Mattress?
Semi-Custom Pre-Cut Van Mattress
The best custom mattress for van life is a pre-cut mattress from RoamRest. There are 11 sizes specific to campervans you can choose from – allowing for a custom mattress on a budget.
Best for: Custom, Cost
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FAQ – Van Bunk Beds
Can you put bunk beds in a van conversion?
Yes you can put bunk beds in a van conversion! There are several ways to fit a bunk bed in a van. Some van builds include built-in bunk beds, while others rely on campervan hammock beds and cabin bunk beds to create additional sleeping space without requiring permanent setup.
Can I put a bed in my van?
Yes, there are many ways to put a bed in your van. If you have a larger camper van it’s possible to add bunk beds, convertible dinette beds and even fixed-bed with storage underneath. In smaller vans, like a minivan, it’s possible to put a bed in the back that converts into seating and living space during the day.
How do you sleep in a van overnight?
In order to sleep in a van overnight you’ll want a few staples: a comfortable mattress with natural fiber and breathable sheets as well as ventilation, like through a roof vent. Ventilation is important regardless of the outdoor temperature because it helps with moisture control and condensation build-up that happens naturally as you breath.
Are bunk beds legal?
Yes, bunk beds are legal. Bunk beds in vans are a great way to save space and still accommodate larger groups of travelers.
Conclusion On Bunk Beds In Vans
A bunk bed in a van is a great way to save space in your van build. You can install a permanent bunk bed or you can use temporary setup ideas, like a hammock, to create additional sleeping space for guests.
