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A loft bed built and decorated to look like a classic VW-style surf bus, complete with plywood wheels, a front grill, headlights, and a ladder.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform frame ends | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 39" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Platform frame sides | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 72" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Platform frame center joists | 3 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 36" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Platform deck | 1 | 1/2" × 39" × 75" | 1/2" plywood or MDF | ☐ |
| Leg verticals | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 73" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Leg horizontals | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 17" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Leg end supports | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 39" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Upper rail, side long Cut to fit your assembled platform. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 75" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Upper rail trim, side long Cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 75" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Upper rail, mid Cut to fit. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 54 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Upper rail trim, mid Cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 54 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Upper rail, end short Cut to fit. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 42 3/4" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Upper rail trim, end short Cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 42 3/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Upper rail, end Cut to fit. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 43 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Upper rail trim, end Cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 43 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Base panels, small | 4 | 1/2" × 24" × 29" | 1/2" plywood or MDF | ☐ |
| Base panels, large | 2 | 1/2" × 43" × 29" | 1/2" plywood or MDF | ☐ |
| Ladder rails Shortest-point measurement; bottom end cut at 5° off square. | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 56 1/2" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Ladder rungs | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 15 1/2" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Grill uprights | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 32" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Grill crosspieces | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Wheels 16" diameter circles. | 4 | 1/2" × 16" × 16" | Plywood scrap | ☐ |
| Headlights, large 6" diameter. | 2 | 1/2" × 6" × 6" | Plywood scrap or craft-store precut round | ☐ |
| Headlights, small 4" diameter. | 2 | 1/2" × 4" × 4" | Plywood scrap or craft-store precut round | ☐ |
| Bumpers Cut to fit the front and back of the bed. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 39" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4" to 1/2" plywood, paneling, or MDF, 4x8 sheet Decorative cover for the bus body. | 3 each | ☐ |
| 2x4 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 16 each | ☐ |
| 1x3 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 5 each | ☐ |
| 1x4 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1x6 board, 10 ft (Pine) | 2 each | ☐ |
| 1x2 board, 8 ft (Pine) For the front grill. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Lag bolts, 4" Attaches the bed deck to the legs so it stays removable; 3" screws work if you don't need to disassemble it. | 8 each | ☐ |
| Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2" | 80 each | ☐ |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" | 100 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 2" | 40 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 8 oz | ☐ |
| Plywood scrap Leftover offcuts from the sheet goods above, for the wheels. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Plywood scrap or craft-store precut round For the headlight rounds. | 4 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4 board, 8 ft, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2"
Frame the bed platform with the 2x4 frame ends, sides, and center joists. Use the 1-1/2" pocket-hole setting to drill your holes, and attach with 2-1/2" pocket-hole screws.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1/4" to 1/2" plywood, paneling, or MDF, 4x8 sheet, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood screws, 2", Wood glue
Attach the plywood or MDF deck to the top of the platform framing. Use either glue and 1-1/4" finish nails, or 2" wood screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4 board, 8 ft, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2"
Build four legs from the leg verticals and horizontals, following your reference diagram, using 1-1/2" pocket holes and 2-1/2" pocket-hole screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Lag bolts, 4", Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2"
Mark each leg set at the height you want the finished bed. Attach the bed platform to the legs from the inside with 2-1/2" screws or the 4" lag bolts — lag bolts keep the whole bed removable later if you ever need to break it down.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Wood screws, 2"
Attach the end rails to the legs and side rails with 2" wood screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4 board, 8 ft, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2"
Drill 1-1/2" pocket holes on each end of the 2x4 bottom supports and attach with 2-1/2" pocket-hole screws.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1/4" to 1/2" plywood, paneling, or MDF, 4x8 sheet, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood screws, 2", Wood glue
Cover the base of the bed in plywood or MDF. Use 2" wood screws if you want the pieces easy to disassemble later, or nails and glue for a permanent build.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Jigsaw. Materials: Plywood scrap
Cut the wheels from scrap plywood and attach them to the side panels. Use a single bolt through the center of each if you'd like the wheels to spin.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Jigsaw, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4 board, 8 ft, 1x4 board, 8 ft, 1x2 board, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue, Plywood scrap or craft-store precut round
Cut the bumpers to fit the front and back of the bed. Build the grill from the uprights and crosspieces using 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket-hole screws, then attach it to the front with finish nails and glue. Cut the headlights as 4" and 6" rounds from plywood, or use precut wood rounds from a craft store.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Jigsaw, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 1x6 board, 10 ft, Wood glue
Attach the rungs to the underside of the ladder rails with 3/4" pocket holes, 1-1/4" pocket-hole screws, and glue. Round the top edge of the rails with a jigsaw. Attach the finished ladder to the inside of the bed's 2x4 legs with screws.