Hi all,

Stoked with the 2nd hand T5 I picked up a couple of weeks ago… first van, first VW, loving it

I've booked in a surfing road trip to Byron Bay, so now I have to get building to deck out the back of the van!

I've come up with a bit of a design to suit my needs, and it all seems fairly straight forward. Basically there will be a false floor around 300mm off the original floor, surfboards and similar plus spare tyre to go underneath this in 2 lengthwise compartments (slide the boards in from the back). Shouldn't need to support masses of weight, just 2 people sleeping and the bed, plus a bit of other stuff. Then I'll build a removable bed frame, to be used in single or double config, with some more room for storage tubs under that. A couple of magnetic curtains, and she should be right to go...

Just after some advice though on suitable materials for nice sturdy construction. Here is what I've planned, happy for suggestions...

- False floor will be 12mm ply, possibly structural grade if needed. This will be supported by a central beam/truss made from 70x35mm pine (kind of like stud wall construction with some diagonal bracing struts), and 6 of 70x35mm legs on the outside, bolted into the holes that held the D-shaped tie down loops. The 12mm ply is pretty stiff, so given it will be spanning 600-650mm, does anyone know from a similar setup whether that will be thick enough?
- Will cover the false floor with auto/marine carpet from Bunnings.
- The bed will use similar materials, although the framework will support the plywood sleeping platform a little better. But essentially all the load from sleeping people will go down through the bed frame, which will be supported almost directly over the false floor supports anyway. That's why I'm thinking 12mm ply might be enough...

Love to hear what others in this position have done...

Thanks!
Jon