17' Series Cot in Expanda 17.56.2

[Duncanblake36]

Hey Guys,
Been camping quite a bit and #3 has always slept with my wife and I'm up the other end with #2 and #1 on the top bunk. Its worked well when she was a baby but now she is 15 months she is on the move which makes life a bit harder especially during mid day naps, sleeping at night and most of all setup ups and packups.

After a lot of head scratching and lots of ideas and several trips to Bunnings I came up with this.
- Extra Wide Kid Gate
- 180 x 90 x 12mm MDF
- Heavy Duty 25mm wide Velcro
- Sample pot of paint (colour coded to the inside)
- Screws and bolts (for holding gate onto the MDF).

Works and looks a treat and the good thing is the whole this is completely removable without any holes in the van.

The little chocks of wood at the top of each end are square bits of timber that I had in the shed that I routered a channel in them to lock the gate in place at the top. The Velcro holds it in place.

Taking it away this weekend so keen to see how it goes.

I have a slight problem that I need to overcome though. All the switches and power are up one end. I'll have to make a cover to stop little miss from saying "buttin buttin!"

 

[Bluey]

You could have just brought my cot and mattress thats for sale in for sale section but your probly not in vic
Looks good though

 

[TheExpandables]

@Duncanblake36 that's awesome - such a good idea and easy execution. If anyone ever asks me the perfect way to take care of the cot scenario - I'll be sending them to your post. Great job.

 

[Brougham]

I’ll see if I can’t find a photo, I got a piece of mdf, took the cushions off the bottom bunk then fitted a piece of angle along one side of the mdf to prevent the cot sliding out, then just did a small screw into top of drawer to stop mdf moving and then we fitted our whole portacot in there. It only stuck out about 50mm over the side of the bunk, the mdf was needed for the cot leg to sit on.

 

[Duncanblake36]

Well. It’s worked a treat. Down at Anglesea in Vic and it’s been great. My wife and I down one end and the 2 boys in the double bed and my little girl in the cot. Very happy with the result.

 

[Lamal]

I know this is an old post but such a great idea. We are going to try it in our van.
Can you please give me some more info about the boys of wood and how they lock the gate in place.
Thanks

 

[Duncanblake36]

So the gate at the bottom is bolted to the mdf with flat head bolts and lock nuts. When you get the gate it has these white plastic end bits on it. Just drill out the pop rivets and the will slide off. The bits of wood at either end of the gate are just pine that have been routed with grooves. Held in place with Velcro so it can be removed later. It works and it stops movement of the gate at each end. You could probably do it a couple of other ways but this was the best I could come up with at the time. The good quality Velcro will stick anything.
It works and my little girl loves it and my wife doesn't worry anymore about her falling out of the bed PLUS setups and packups as so much easier. We'll remove it when she gets older but its great for holding stuff while we travel too.
Let me know if you need any more info.

 

[Newtothis]

Iv been tossing up asto what to do with our new 18.58-2 ob for our little man he is 5months old. I was toying with the idea of a porta cot but this is perfect. Nice thinking. Why dont they sell something like this?? Will do us for a good few years.

 

[Duncanblake36]

My girl is now 2 and still loves it. I don't mind when we are bush camping but in caravan parks when you are setting up or making dinner she sits in there with her toys and loves it. It works well for us. Plus is great for storing all the bedding when we are on the move. Good luck! We'll keep it like that for as long as we can as its very handy.

 

[Newtothis]

Only difference iv found so far is at the kitchen end it has a cutout so ill have to make a clamp with some rubber so it wont scratch. Did you just trim the ends off to get the right size to fit?

 

[Duncanblake36]

Should be ok. I think by memory it was the just short so there was no cutting with the grinder. Just need to drill the rivets out of the end plastic bits.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/perma-child-safety-extra-wide-barrier_p4211373
Just make sure you bolt it to a piece of MDF at the bottom. I used flat head bolts with lock nuts with washers.
Its a bugger yous has that little cutout on it. It may be high enough though as the gate is 75cm tall.

 

[Lamal]

Thanks. Ours worked a treat!

 

[Duncanblake36]

Post a photo Did you do anything different?

 

[Brooksfamily15]

Such a great idea! My husband is going to make this for our caravan tomorrow as we are off travelling on Thursday. We have been using a porta cot and have found it so hard to get her in and out of.
Such a clever man!

 

[Bluey]

I fitted this to.my van was great sad it see it go was so handy for my son and loading it up with stuff when traveling sold it 100 bucks to another vaning family

 

[Edwinp]

@Duncanblake36 great work, about to copy your idea for my little one. You don't happen to recall the paint code by any chance? what did you use to get it colour matched?

 

[Duncanblake36]

Sorry mate. I just took one of the draws in and they matched it for me

 

[Edwinp]

Sorry mate. I just took one of the draws in and they matched it for me

to easy and thanks