Honda Element Solo Platform Bed

Honda Elements are extremely versatile. I built a solo platform bed that can be easily added to and removed from my Honda Element. Drawings are available at:
drive.google.c...

[@j_thom]

Always thought it was a crying shame that they decided to discontinue its production..such sweet utility..

[@tyroney2]

I know. I know... Sadly, Honda has kind of lost their way, I suspect mostly due to the intense Korean competition and the loss of talent to those companies and others. I still love Honda though. My family has had many, many Hondas. A new Element could be an amazing vehicle. It could look better, use the more powerful and efficient engine from the Civic, and build on the quirky (yet awesome) interior engineering. Give it a slightly more sleek "urban utility vehicle" and it would sell like crazy. The Element is the only true crossover vehicle ever made-- the rest are just sad compromises. Honda is always scared of one vehicle's sales cannibalizing another model-- but Honda is consistently shocked by how the demographic they aimed for is sometimes two decades than they thought it'd be. Honda's niche, should now be its few core vehicles, and great "niche" vehicles like the Element that have no competition. I wish someone would start a Bring Back the Element campaign. I'd sign it. ;)

[@j_thom]

Tyler Breeden Agree. If memory serves, I think they originally targeted the twenty-something active-outdoor-lifestyle demographic when designing and marketing the Element, but it turned out that those 55+ loved it and were the biggest buying demographic.

[@VantasticOdyssey]

I appreciated how you explained your design. It folds away very nicely.

[@MrPavePaws]

You should make the prefabbed kit and sell them on Craigslist & on the internet. It the pieces are already made, all people have to do it just assemble them and install them. You found yourself a job! I'd pay $200 for that prefab and the instructions.

[@ThisGuyRides]

I've slept in the back when traveling from coast to coast, just using a sleeping bag for mattress. I already had the foam puzzle mat for floor covering so it wasn't too hard to sleep on.

[@tyroney2]

That sounds awesome. Travel coast to coast. Alone. :) Don't you think this idea implements storage space better than having to shuffle the floor from bed into storage? Just curious?

[@ThisGuyRides]

Believe it or not, people travel long distances alone these days, wild west has been pretty safe for a while now. And traveling alone there is plenty of space so no need to shuffle stuff around. I've even rode motorcycle coast to coast alone before and survived! Don't be scared, go drive alone!

[@laughatyourdumbvideo]

my idea... put the seats on the wall and put a blow up matress in there works great for camping

[@wearefreesd3305]

I just fold the seats up and use my inflateable air mattress. I move most of my stuff to the front seats and i'm good.

[@johnnymoran1177]

That's what I do, but this year I got a free Walmart Futon mattress that I'm going to use... Simple and comfy..

[@grenick85]

best design I have seen so far! good job!

[@michaelwebb8788]

Clever design. Quality detail work.

[@jchristophercollins4617]

Awesome design

[@xThatGuyZ]

i have officially seen it ALL! this is a "sleeper" motor home! (pun intended)

[@ryanriley2357]

this is incredibly well done!

[@MountainDew84]

I bet Honda never even thought of that, what a concept! .....

[@LucasLand]

i have a full size futon mattress in the back. it fits perfectly

[@jumpinjohn54]

I like it, and will use some of it. Thanks for sharing the plans! :) Not sure why you need the horizontal supports. Seems like perhaps a leg of sometype in the back would suffice? I want to try to bed a solo platform, but I put my motorcycle in the back to go to rallys. So Trying to make something that could possibly lay flay under the bike, or maybe even load it on the luggage racks. Also hoping to keep the weight down as much as possible. May use the 2-3 rubbermaid containers idea. Thinking perhaps they could be tossed in for storage around the bike.

[@productguru8323]

Neat and flexible design!

[@markambrose723]

Awesome video Mark. Looking to do the same thing for my '08 Element for a trip to the Arctic Circle later this summer. Thanks

[@tyroney2]

Did you do it? How'd it go? :)

[@martykimble9999]

Wow! This is perfect for me and my dog, Charlie tuna!

[@jovluke9559]

2:32 you could also jig the same exact piece but that clicks from opposite then dowel / wing bolt / screw them together to completely lock around the seat hooks.

[@nmolinaro62]

Nice work, sir. Very creative.

[@mark4tango]

A link to drawings are available at the Honda Element Owners Club Forum. Search for Solo Platform Bed.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

Nice well thought out idea.

[@mkramme]

Mark, Sorry to bother you on this. I am looking at a old thread of yours for the platform bed you did. I watched the video and love it. I want to build one (rather have the spouse do it) and see you had 12 files (PDFs) the link does not work any longer. Is there any way I can get the files. My husband loves how you worked with the seat hardware to make that connection point strong.

[@KB-re4ku]

Cool build. Curious how wide the platform is?

[@j0287garcia]

Hey Mark, Cool video. Do you have the exact dimensions or work plans for this?

[@dorisperez5059]

GREAT JOB LOVE IT

[@jliwag]

this is great! thank you for sharing

[@Mateo_Bowie]

Do you have written plans for this design? This is the best design I've seen.

[@mark4tango]

I think this link will work to get you to the drawings I have. drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5U-RCAI18oyZDI1MzZkODUtYTQxNi00MGJlLThiMjAtYTE3NjlhZjYzNDQ3

[@Mateo_Bowie]

Mark, Your the best dude. Thank you so much. I'm going to get this put together asap. God Bless!!!

[@ZeroDean]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Just bought an 04 Element and next step after getting it back from the shop is constructing a bed platform.

[@jasonlee3139]

Sorry, this design is redundant to what Honda designed. My wife bought a 05 and a foam mattress topper. In about a week we started our trip from SLC to Alaska. No construction was done. Since she was going to start work in Alaska for a few months, she brought a bit of belongings in a walmart roof top carrier (no roof rack). Every night we pulled a few bags from the back to the front foot well, dash, and behind the front seats. Push the front seats forward and fold all the seats down, put some folded clothes and towels in the low parts of the seats, and unfold the foam pad (which stored folder in a fourth) out across the seats and it a nice full size bed. Took less than 5 minutes.

[@enriquelangarica62]

EnhoraBuena gran idea ... Gracias!

[@LucasLand]

i dont like it cause it requires putting down the front seat and covering it. I like the idea of sleeping in the back as long as the front seats are still usable.

[@SuperR0JAS]

what about the back seats? can you ser up the mattress without taking them off? I did not see that, I wish it would not be necessary to remove any of the seats...

[@mark4tango]

Putting a mattress across the rear seats is certainly an option. I wanted something that would be flatter to provide a better night's sleep and would also offer more storage under the sleeping platform. When I put the back seats down there's no storage area left.

[@Christopher-xn8qk]

Check the formaldehyde content of the plywood by asking the plywood manufacturer/retail shop about the formaldehyde content of their pressed wood...you do not want leukaemia.

[@mr.winslow7018]

My element keeps saying my truck is open and I've adjusted the screws where it latches but if I go over a bump the light goes on again any ideas ?

[@afotobyrob]

Do you have a list of instructions, measurements, blueprint? I am willing to pay for your time to produce these. Thanks!

[@mark4tango]

mc505er I do have drawings at this website: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86424547/Site/Honda_Element_Solo_Platform_Bed/Page_1.html Regards.

[@afotobyrob]

You are awesome! Thanks.

[@bitteroldman3151]

@@mark4tango That link has not survived until 2019

[@reachadi1029]

Could you share the instructions?

[@sunclover]

What did you do for window coverings?

[@mark4tango]

I used Reflectix Radiant Barrier. There's lots of places that carry it 48" wide. For all the side windows and back window I cut them to fit exactly and I can just press them in place and they stay there. I did buy Honda's curtains, but I can't recommend them. Many people are handy and can make better curtains.

[@ericambrosecoon]

The easiest way to level the car is to hit the switch on the BITCHIN' HYDRAULICS.

[@antwayanowens5529]

Way to complicated for the average person detailed indeed BUT IT SHUDEN BE THAT COMPLICATED

[@tyroney2]

Who would vote this video down? Save those down votes for Justin Beebler (or whatever his name is), not some creative guy with a well thought out plan he's willing to share for free. 🙄

[@mark4tango]

I'd had drawings set up on a website hosted by DropBox. They discontinued that feature and I've moved the drawings to a Google website. They've indicated that if you anyone who has the link below can view the drawings. I'd appreciate feedback if this link doesn't work. sites.google.com/site/elementsoloplatformbed/

[@bluejeanss]

or you can rent a motel

[@BryanPopeProductions]

I wonder if you regret that idiotic statement after reading it 7 years later

[@SuperR0JAS]

what about the back seats? can you ser up the mattress without taking them off? I did not see that, I wish it would not be necessary to remove any of the seats...

[@SuperR0JAS]

what about the back seats? can you ser up the mattress without taking them off? I did not see that, I wish it would not be necessary to remove any of the seats...