Layout - the 'make the bed' conundrum

wfdTamar · Veteran Member

Layout - the 'make the bed' conundrum

KJB · Guru

Yes.
KB

Meredith · Senior Member

We travelled around Europe for a year long ago in a campervan where the dinette made up into a bed each night. We managed ok with it, but occasionally it was a pain, though with just 1 person it would be easier as you don't have to wait for somebody else to get up to have somewhere to sit. One thing I would suggest you consider is bed comfort. A permanent bed with a proper mattress is going to be more comfortable than a bed that is made up with multiple cushions.

PeterD · Guru

For a single person the bed dinette is no problem. Just get the backrest off the single bed and you have enough room use a sleeping bag on it.

KevinC · Senior Member

The motorhome we hired in NZ had a bed over the cab and a dinette set up at the back. Being of advancing years and already advanced waistlines, we found the bed up top totally impractical and chose to convert the dinette every night. What a total drag! Never again.
And I recall many years ago when I was much fitter we had a Mazda campervan, again in NZ, and that obviously required the "make the bed" deal. Was faster than setting up a tent each night, but not by much.
We now tow a van which has a bed permanently set up. Whenever I feel tired I can easily get in the van and nap for a half hour. Did that last week crossing the Nullarbor. Two short shifts of driving suits me much better than one long one. Couldn't do that if I had to make up the bed each time.
For my situation it's a no brainer, but for others it'll be different.
Hope your research gives you the right answers.

wfdTamar · Veteran Member

I am leaning more towards the separate bed type, it's a matter of finding one my car can tow that is not too much more expensive. At the moment I'm looking at a Type A that's $22k vs a Type B that's $26K (borderline towable weight though) or $37k!

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I had a small Coromal van (Cygnet) - had a great layout - one single across the back wall, and one opposite dinette. Used it when husband was alive and had no problem. But when I was on my own, I had a bed I could leave made up at the back and a sofa (the other bed) - loved it.

Tony Bev · Guru

wfdTamar wrote:
Considering caravans with various layouts 16-21 foot, particularly two:

A: the dinette that converts to bed (no permanent bed made up)
https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/private/SSE-AD-5364184/2005-geist-lv485/?_ga=2.111294657.433534645.1524964910-947756959.1514081973

B: Permanent 'french double' bed at far end of van to dinette. Maybe a slightly larger van.
https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/used/OAG-AD-15523550/2013-bailey-orion-430-4/?_ga=2.111294657.433534645.1524964910-947756959.1514081973

Similar weight vans. I'm single so the minimal access to the bed in B shouldn't be a problem.
My question is at the end of the day when you want to get into bed does the A type become a pain because you have to wake yourself up enough to make the bed?

-- Edited by wfdTamar on Sunday 29th of April 2018 11:27:35 AM

We are all different so only you will know what you want

I had a pop top caravan, the wife stipulated a fixed pernament bed

I now have a motorhome, the wife stipulated a fixed pernament bed

As you are single it will really not make any difference, because you will be able to sleep on the lounge which turns into a bed

wfdTamar · Veteran Member

I still think there's an issue, single or not and so worth asking others opinions and ideas about it. In another thread I have going someone suggested to put a proper mattress on one of the couch's of a layout A and leave it made up. Good solution.

I've found a van that seems to be the perfect solution. Fits the separate bed layout in by making the dinette couch's two seaters (shorter). Still has the 'bedroom' feel which makes the van seem bigger. Bailey Orion (or Pursuit) 430-4. Only problem is they're much newer and more quite a lot more expensive.

www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/detail/bailey-orion-4304-caravan-2013-model-561228

-- Edited by wfdTamar on Monday 30th of April 2018 04:22:05 PM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

I'd guess that making a bed every night would become tedious.

We looked at both vans with double beds & two singles & after getting advice from friends, we bought a van with the singles. As a single person you can have extra storage room on the bed & sleep in the other.

Advantages for a couple, one partner can read while the other sleeps undisturbed, there is more leg room between the beds, one partner does not hog all the blankets!

Resale value may be higher in a permanent bed van.

Mike Harding · Guru

Most European vans are (were?) of the construct the bed each day variety.

If you are just using the van for holidays it's not a problem, especially with sleeping bags, but if you are going to live or spend a few months at a time in it then I imagine it would quickly become tedious but it does give you a lot more room in the van.

Personally, with myself, wife and two children I never found the construct the bed thing to be a problem... but part of that may have been because my wife did it :)