One day Reddit user inexplorata noticed his two year old daughter could climb in and out of her crib.
Wanting to find a more secure sleeping arrangement for her, he searched for a proper toddler bed. While he liked some of the options he didn’t like any of the prices.
After some more browsing online, he came across someone who had built their own VW bus-inspired bunk bed. The project looked too difficult, so he passed.
A short while later, he noticed an ad on craiglist in which a young man was giving away some spare VW parts – a bumper, some hubcaps, and a few door pieces.
His interest renewed, the dad picked up the free VW bus parts and started work on his daughter’s new DIY Volkswagen bed.
Spare VW parts awaiting their new use.
Hoping to simplify the build process as much as possible, he took to craigslist again and bought a bunkbed frame for $30.
While the frame would make the project easier, it was too short. Some simple 4×4 posts helped boost everything up.
While the posts propped up the bed, the cross beams on the bottom added additional support.
With his daughter as a model, he could arrange the dashboard and interior layout.
After a quick run to the lumberyard for some plywood panels, he built the exterior frame from 2x3s.
Most of the construction took place in his garage, and he made sure he could dismantle everything to get the bed inside his daughter’s room when finished.
A thin section of plywood, bent and tacked with screws, forms the front bumper.
These doors section off the lower level of the bunk bed.
With some windows, it’s starting to take shape!
His daughter checking on the progress.
He cleaned up the hubcaps and fitted them to the frame. The black ‘tires’ are circular plywood pieces.
Taping and painting the frame in the VW bus style.
After the orange paint went on.
He took apart a toy car that made driving sounds as you turned the steering wheel.
And fitted the electronics behind the dash.
Watch the working dash in action on YouTube.
If you’ve got a working dashboard, you need some working lights!
He and his wife decked out the lower level with fabric squares…
And a hammock.
Watch his daughter’s reaction to the hammock on YouTube.
Ahhh, finally finished!
The bed was a hit at his daughter’s 3rd birthday party.
And now rests in her bedroom.
You can see more pictures and study the complete build plan at his website.
I think this man is up for the “World’s Best Dad” award. He turned some scrap parts into something his daughter can pass on to her kids. Who knows, maybe this bed will be in the family for a hundred years!?
Pictures via Treehouser
