[elhigh]

I don't think the Isuzu was sold in the States, but Toyota's TownAce/MasterAce ("Van" in the US) and the Mitsubishi Delica ("Wagon" in the States) are virtual clones. I think they were designed to a specification set down by the Japanese gov't, you see similar things in the kei car class, where the cars have lots of specifications in common, trying to make as big/powerful a car as possible under the restrictive rules of Japan's Ministry of Transportation (guessing as to the exact name of the governing body).

I wouldn't want to give up a real mattress for a folder, either. I've had a brilliant night on a futon. Read that again, count up how many nights: one. I used to sleep on a futon, but only the one I installed in the upstairs sitting room was any good, and that was one night only. So wanting to retain the real mattress is totally reasonable in my opinion.

My current bed I built myself, a plywood platform atop several ladder frames, and I make use of the space below with large totes with lids. The totes are tied together with short rope so you can grab one and pull, and they all come out. Pushing with a little body English is all it takes to get the entire stack shoved in again, so no rigid connection is no problem.