Our Minivan Setup in a Bit More Detail - 2006 Honda Odyssey Camper

Our build is really pretty straight forward with the most challenging component being the pullout slat bed. If you are interested in building a pullout slat bed similar to the one we have, we highly recommend watching the video by Mel’s Van Life posted below.

We chose to utilize materials that we had on hand for some of our build such as the 3/4” Plywood that we used for the slats. It may be easier to purchase lumber that does not need to be ripped if you decide to move forward with a project like this. Also, some of our cuts were not exactly straight because of the tools we used. For many cuts, a table saw would have been better but we did not have access to one.

There are so many websites, YouTube Channels and other resources that we are grateful for, too many to mention but here are a few!


How to Build a Pullout Slat Bed: Mel's Van Life
   • how to build a pull out bed in a camp...  


Other great resources: Not the same layout, but just a lot of ideas!
Leslie Kalk - YouTube
   / @thevanthatgotaway  

Eric enjoys Earth – YouTube
   / @ericenjoysearth2756  

Odyssey Camper:
https://odysseycamper.com/
   / @odysseycamper  

MinivanRV Camping Facebook Group:
  / minvanrv  

How to remove 3rd row rear seats from Honda Odyssey by Conrad Oliver – YouTube
   • How to remove 3rd row rear seats from...  


Our Dimensions:
Rear Section Frame: W 46” x L 24-3/4” – (height is individual preference)
Front Section Frame: W 23-3/4” x 50” – (height is individual preference)

Lumber Used
2” x 3” Boards for frame and legs
2" x 2" Board for the 2 slat bed pullout legs
3/4” Plywood for storage hatch and all slats, we cut a total of 19 2-1/2" x 24" slats (1 was a little less wide at the end to fit the size of the sofa frame). * In hind sight, we should have cut all the slats first, mounted all on the runners and then built the frame to a size that accommodate equal size slats.

Other Materials Used
Various screws (deck and wood)
Various hinges and braces to include Piano and Tee-Hinges, T-Plate and L-Plate Brackets and Corner Braces.
Turn buckle to secure the frame to the vehicle.