Are you into vanning? People who choose a vanlife travel around in a small van or truck that has been organized to live in it. If you’ve chosen this way of life full of freedom, traveling, and discovery, there are various ways to adapt your van, and tinktube is a perfect option if you’re looking to build a DIY sofa bed -or a shower, a kitchen counter… anything, really-!
This free plan includes all the instructions you need to build your project or adapt it however you want. You can then buy all the parts online, including the few tools you’ll need to cut the pipes and assemble the fittings. Let the fun begin!
1. The parts you’ll need
Before you start building your project, make sure you get the following parts from your local merchants or online:
- Surface for drawers 1 and 2
- Drawer slides:
- 1 pair 14″ / 100 lbs loading capacity
- 1 pair 20″ / 100 lbs loading capacity
- 2 pairs 24″ / 100 lbs loading capacity (you can buy all the sliders on Amazon)
- Handle or knob for drawers
*Instead of buying and building new drawers, you may have some in your home that are no longer in use and could be given a second life! All you have to do is adjust the measurements accordingly.
And here is the list of tinktube parts to buy:
| Qty. | Part | SKU | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Pipe end cap plastic | AP-ICAP | Buy now |
| 1 | Swivel stopper metal | AS-SWIVEL | Buy now |
| 1 | 1″ Screw for surfaces zinc | FA-SF81 | Buy now |
| 1 | 1/2″ Screw for accessories zinc | FA-S81/2 | Buy now |
| 1 | 5/8″ Screw to reinforce zinc | FA-A85/8 | Buy now |
| 15 | Upper clamp joint bk | H-15 | Buy now |
| 26 | Corner joint set bk | HJ-2K | Buy now |
| 4 | Parallel hinge joint bk | H-23 | Buy now |
| 2 | 4 way cross joint set bk | HJ-3 | Buy now |
| 26 | T-connector fitting bk | HJ-1 | Buy now |
| 14 | 92″ Black Pipe | PT-92-BK | Buy now |
2. The cut list
To make your life easier, here’s the cut list to create this DIY sofa bed! This is where you’ll need a T-cutter, if you don’t already have one. And remember: everything is adjustable, so customize it however you need!
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
| Pipe # | Qty. | Length (inches) | Length (centimeters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 46 7/8 in | 119.06 cm |
| 2 | 3 | 43 1/8 in | 109.54 cm |
| 3 | 4 | 40 7/16 in | 102.71 cm |
| 4 | 4 | 26 5/16 in | 66.83 cm |
| 5 | 2 | 25 1/8 in | 63.82 cm |
| 6 | 9 | 21 1/4 in | 53.98 cm |
| 7 | 2 | 21 1/16 in | 53.5 cm |
| 8 | 7 | 19 1/16 in | 48.42 cm |
| 9 | 2 | 15 1/4 in | 38.74 cm |
| 10 | 1 | 12 13/16 in | 32.54 cm |
| 11 | 9 | 12 3/4 in | 32.39 cm |
| 12 | 4 | 11 1/2 in | 29.21 cm |
| 13 | 4 | 10 3/4 in | 27.31 cm |
| 14 | 2 | 8 3/4 in | 22.23 cm |
| 15 | 7 | 4 1/4 in | 10.8 cm |
3. The build (the fun part)
Now that all the pipes are cut and you’ve gathered all the connectors, you’re ready to start building your DIY sofa bed!
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
First, you’ll build the structure. After that, you’ll get to choose the surfaces you want to add to your DIY sofa bed, and the cushions too. You’ll find great surface options at your local hardware store like Home Depot or Ace, and cushions at IKEA!
The tinktube joint sets are assembled with bolts that require one of the following tools -you might already have this at home-:
4. You’re ready to travel!
Now, get a GPS or a good old map and hit the road!
Pssst 1: If you decide to build this project, we’d be absolutely thrilled to see some pictures! Please send us your pics at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to send you a 10% OFF promo code you can use on your next order to thank you!
Do you have a van conversion project in mind?
To help vanlifers in their van conversion ventures, we’ve prepared a complete guide where you’ll find useful information on all things van related!
