Double pedestal waterbed frame.?

HI, Just throw a flat sheet over the bed or get some stretch sheets.

I have never understood the fad of literally climbing into bed, let alone trying to put sheets on it.

You could do as johnavallance suggested and use a flat sheet. and leave the set-up as is.

If you'd like to try your idea, you can, and since your husband is concerned about the mattress sliding off the plywood, you could put some non-slip rubber shelf liners under the mattress (dollar store).

Don't understand why you have to crawl in or use a STEP stool to change sheets unless you have it up against the wall. If so why? Leaving enough space to reach it walking sideways should suffice. With two people especially it should not be a problem to take the sheets on and off. Do you need a step stool to get in it at night?

If yes then why not shorten the legs. If it has storage under it like drawers you could lose the bottom row and get a dresser. Not sure why changing sheets is so difficult. Don't understand why the headboard matters. If you just don't like it turn it into a bench.

You definitely do not want to remove the sides. It is support and eventually the mattress will lose shape, stress, and possible break. You may possible be able to do away with the headboard. If you change to a traditional mattress, you could remove the sides.

When I had a similar bed, I used a step stool that was wooden and matched the bed so that I could get to the corners.

the water bed needs support to keep the weight from tearing up the bed or the frame so don't take everything apart as you were talking about

use flat sheets on top and bottom so you can just put them on and fold them in https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/01/27/water-bed-sheets-are-easy-to-make/#:~:text=Answer%3A%20A%20real%20easy%20way,the%20corners%20if%20you%20wish.

What you have is a storage pedestal bed frame. Those side boards and headboard are part of the structure of the bed. The mattress is already on the plywood. The sideboards just keep it from sliding. The drawers that you love are what raise the bed height. A platform bed frame (without drawers) is the only solution to lower the bed. Either make a platform bed frame, purchase one. It is possible to modify your existing bed frame by eliminating the drawers.

That should totally work! I would take off the sides and you should be just fine. Here's the bed frame we built for our big king bed and its literally as you described yours to be. Its a plywood base and that's it. We've never had any problems with our bed moving around!

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/bedroom/furniture/build-your-own-platform-bed-frame-diy-27819376

I had a water bed and you need the support those sides add. The matress doesn't have any support like a regular matress.

I got tired of fighting with mine and sold it and got a regular bed. After the bed sprung a leak and I had water covering my rug that was the last straw.

I have seen platform beds with the platform being a bit larger than the mattress and it works. Put a top over the drawers and go for it.

The sides are what keep the bed together, otherwise, the whole mattress would sag and eventually spurt out. You might consider removing the drawers. Luckily you're on Hometalk -- if you try the search bar at the top left, you'll find all sorts of great ideas to replace that lost storage.

Wow that sounds like a huge job, maybe time for a new bed frame

Yeh, I was thinking the same thing as Mogie and Simple Nature. If the bed is causing you so much difficulty and frustration just to change the linens, maybe after 40 years it is time for a change........