6m Van with a french bed.

[Prop]

Hi going to the NEC tomorrow and decided that a 6m van with a french bed might suit us, preferably a PVC.

Is anyone aware of any vans with that set up we can have a look at?

Paul

 

[Blisteringblue]

I think the Elddis Autoquest CV60 is this spec

Elddis Autoquest cv60

We liked the look until they got too expensive and we ended up with our used Autocruise.

Still pains me we paid what the cv60 was new when we first looked

 

[runrig]

Hi we have a pvc CV60 that has a French bed, exactly what you are looking for it’s a compass Kensington if we can help just ask.

 

[Jo May]

Just as an alternate, we have a CV20 which has 2 x 6ft+ bench seats either side at the rear which we use as individual beds (with extra memory foam).
But yes, that V60 looks a great layout.

 

[DerryW]

Anyone considering a PVC should take a look at Bailey’s first PVC the new Endeavour looks interesting from the various articles I’ve read.

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[Guigsy]

Anyone considering a PVC should take a look at Bailey’s first PVC the new Endeavour looks interesting from the various articles I’ve read.

I liked a few things about the Endeavour. But what is it with the British insistence of fitting a full sized domestic cooker?

And having had a panel van with a rear lounge? I don't fancy going back to such an awkward space with little storage, an unstable table and a bed that requires a military operation to make up every night and still ends up being uncomfortable. I converted ours to a permanent rear bed with a much more comfortable mattress.

 

[Prop]

Must admit we were thinking fixed bed with bathroom at side of bed.
So we have a bit of a garage underneath.

 

[Rollingwheels]

Take a look at the Globe Traveller range

 

[JimmE]

Not a current model, which won't help you if you're looking for brand new, but that's exactly what we have in our Autocruise Alto

Autocruise Alto. Ours is the 2013 model, still on the 6m rather than 6.4m chassis, with a 'refreshed' interior from the earlier models, meaning it looks a little more modern inside than some from a year or so earlier.

From ~2016 onwards, the layout changed slightly - bathroom behind the dinette and a 'dressing table' alongside the french bed - nice interior but on the 6.4m base vehicle. This then became known as the 'Swift Select 164' after Autocruise merged into Swift.

Certainly the layout works well for us, and the 'garage' beneath the bed is very useful!

 

[Neilj]

Must admit we were thinking fixed bed with bathroom at side of bed.
So we have a bit of a garage underneath.

A PVC won't be wide enough for that. You could look at a Carado T135

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[Prop]

A PVC won't be wide enough for that. You could look at a Carado T135

That looks perfect, see if i can find them at the NEC. Thanks

 

[Brains]

Out of interest, have you actually tried a van with a French bed ?

Before we bought our current van (twin beds that make a king size double at the rear over vast garage) we rented 4 others over a period of several summers so we could see what layout and size was best for us.
We tried French, Transverse, Island, Drop down and twin bed options

The French Bed layout was by far the worst.
Although we are not tall (in fact SWIMBO is 'petit') we found that even her feet stuck out of the short side of the French bed.
Also the bed was narrow (this was not in a PVC, which would be even narrower)
But worst of all was the bathroom next door, which means in the middle of the night the flushing of the loo is 6", at most, from your ear.

We ruled out a French bed layout at any price.

In order of preference we went

• Twin bed (that makes a double and you have a vast garage
• Drop down (But are known to fail in locked up or down, which can ruin a holiday, also they sway a bit, so it's like being on a boat, but the van can be shorter)
• Island bed, surprisingly small, round corners that your feet stick out of, space wasted on either side, no storage space
• Traverse bed, a good option, but the 'inside' person has to roll over the outside person to get up and go to the loo in the middle of the night, so only suitable if the inside person goes to bed first, gets up last and has does not drink beer.

 

[treblid]

Twin bed (that makes a double and you have a vast garage

We noticed that most twin layouts had lower bed heights than a transverse. The "garage" volume can, therefore, be much less on twins and not high enough to place outside chairs and tables on their sides.

 

[Cal54]

I’m another owner of an Autocruise Alto and it is a 6 metre pvc with the toilet/shower parallel. Again mine is 2013 and I don’t think the current Select Range have this layout. As mentioned in an earlier post there is now a dressing table parallel to the bed.
I bought this model as a fixed bed was my main requirement. Suits me and the storage under the bed is a real bonus. No full cooker but has the benefit of a microwave which again suits me.

 

[TheMachMan]

We noticed that most twin layouts had lower bed heights than a transverse. The "garage" volume can, therefore, be much less on twins and not high enough to place outside chairs and tables on their sides.

Not always, look at the Adria Twin 640. Longitudinal beds and the same height as our transverse beds. Also Malibu PVC’s.

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[Prop]

Out of interest, have you actually tried a van with a French bed ?

Before we bought our current van (twin beds that make a king size double at the rear over vast garage) we rented 4 others over a period of several summers so we could see what layout and size was best for us.
We tried French, Transverse, Island, Drop down and twin bed options

The French Bed layout was by far the worst.
Although we are not tall (in fact SWIMBO is 'petit') we found that even her feet stuck out of the short side of the French bed.
Also the bed was narrow (this was not in a PVC, which would be even narrower)
But worst of all was the bathroom next door, which means in the middle of the night the flushing of the loo is 6", at most, from your ear.

We ruled out a French bed layout at any price.

In order of preference we went

• Twin bed (that makes a double and you have a vast garage
• Drop down (But are known to fail in locked up or down, which can ruin a holiday, also they sway a bit, so it's like being on a boat, but the van can be shorter)
• Island bed, surprisingly small, round corners that your feet stick out of, space wasted on either side, no storage space
• Traverse bed, a good option, but the 'inside' person has to roll over the outside person to get up and go to the loo in the middle of the night, so only suitable if the inside person goes to bed first, gets up last and has does not drink beer.

We are upgrading from a t5 and our RIB bed is 115cm wide so we are used to the width so thought it would be ok for us.
The length you described would be an issue.
Can I ask what van you have now?

 

[Brains]

We noticed that most twin layouts had lower bed heights than a transverse. The "garage" volume can, therefore, be much less on twins and not high enough to place outside chairs and tables on their sides.

I think that depends on the model.

Our van is available as either high or low beds
The low bed option means you loose about a third of the grange height
(But same floor area)

I noticed in the brochures the inside photos often show the low bed option, and the outside photos show the high bed/large garage option.

In the real world I have only ever seen the high bed option, as most people want the big garage and i find the bed easy to get into, you dont need a ladder unless you set it up as the kingsize option.

 

[Brains]

We are upgrading from a t5 and our RIB bed is 115cm wide so we are used to the width so thought it would be ok for us.
The length you described would be an issue.
Can I ask what van you have now?

Hymer MLT 570
Twin beds 2m long (or as a double, 2m wide)

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

Anyone considering a PVC should take a look at Bailey’s first PVC the new Endeavour looks interesting from the various articles I’ve read.

What is a PVC please?

 

[treblid]

PVC means Panel Van Conversion. It's a camper that is based on a normal van body.

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[Prop]

What is a PVC please?

Its a panel van conversion

 

[Zoobec]

Must admit we were thinking fixed bed with bathroom at side of bed.
So we have a bit of a garage underneath.

This is what we ended up doing in our 6m boxer self build. The bed is a French bed but we have made it so the foot end can be removed and used as a seat back. Then the toilet/shower is next to it.

 

[Zoobec]

A PVC won't be wide enough for that. You could look at a Carado T135

Some PVCs do have that layout.

 

[Sapper520]

Its a panel van conversion

If Sunlight are at the show, it’ll be worth a look at their PVC’s.

 

[Guffy60]

If Sunlight are at the show, it’ll be worth a look at their PVC’s.

Has one on Lowdhams stand plus the 670 Coachbuilt which had twin beds garage and is 6.7m rather than 7m plus like many twin beds. Sister brand to Carado.

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[Fazerstorm]

I’m another owner of an Autocruise Alto and it is a 6 metre pvc with the toilet/shower parallel. Again mine is 2013 and I don’t think the current Select Range have this layout. As mentioned in an earlier post there is now a dressing table parallel to the bed.
I bought this model as a fixed bed was my main requirement. Suits me and the storage under the bed is a real bonus. No full cooker but has the benefit of a microwave which again suits me.

We have owned an Autocruise carrera 4 since 2016. Don't see many around. Done several mods over the years, but love the rear fixed bed and storage, like the alto.

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

Its a panel van conversion

Thanks now makes more sense.

 

[Prop]

This is what we ended up doing in our 6m boxer self build. The bed is a French bed but we have made it so the foot end can be removed and used as a seat back. Then the toilet/shower is next to it.

Hi we are back on the case and are now considering a self build because no body provides what we want.
i wonder could you share some images of your van It sounds as if the design might fit our needs.
Thanks.
Paul

 

[Zoobec]

Hi we are back on the case and are now considering a self build because no body provides what we want.
i wonder could you share some images of your van It sounds as if the design might fit our needs.
Thanks.
Paul

Hi, I can’t seem to find any with the bed made up in bed mode or sofa mode! But here is a pictures of the fixed part when it was under construction, and one showing the cooker /shower tray area starting. We have 2 swivel seats in the back that are front and rear facing to travel, the one shown swivels to put the bed up.