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Sleep system
Sleep systems range from the very simple (blankets on the floor) to the complicated (slide-outs, Murphys, etc).
There are a few factors to keep in mind:
physical comfort – most people like to sleep on some padding
insulation – sleeping on a bare van floor can be very hold
storage – whether or not you want containers, drawers, etc to fit under your bed
ventilation – in order to prevent mold/mildew, bedding either needs to be able to breathe underneath
1) or be “turned” manually to air out
the bed is likely the largest object in the van in terms of square footage, and position can be critical to the layout
taller people can get by with shorter beds by sleeping on a diagonal
directly on the floor
cot
Camping cots are lightweight, quick to setup, and more comfortable than many might think.
Military-style cots, where the side “stretchers” make a taut sleeping surface, are particularly comfortable. They are slightly harder to set up and take down, and do require a bit of strength to assemble.
convertible bed