Can we talk about beds?

[TerriSpirit]

You have all been super helpful with the pitfalls of buying a Motorhome for the first time. I've now joined the site as a paid up member so hope to get to know you guys better over the next year.
This question to you all is; what sort of bed type do you prefer and why? We will probably get a 4-6 berth and please bear in mind we are in our late 50's. We intend to use the camper the majority of the time with just the two of us but intend to take a couple of little grandchildren [under 8's] with us occasionally too. We like the idea of a fixed double but equally would be happy to be in bunks if they take 80-85kgs? We have heard that the beds above the Cab are a little small and hard to use so would really like to know your experiences and what works best for you? Many thanks in advance

 

[two]

If buying s/h, your market will be restricted to what is available, of course. If you go for an A-class, there are many with twin rear singles and centre bathroom. The drop-down double can be used for storage, else an occasional double, and provides very flexible sleeping arrangements. Many twin berth models allow the rear singles to become a double by inserting a filler. I don't care for that as the filler has to be stored somewhere and I've no idea how the sheets are supposed to fit.
If you find a brand you like, look at other s/h models in their range to see how they age in terms of water and price.

 

[peterc10]

Once you have decided on using fixed beds then it makes sense to choose a layout where there are high enough to get a decent garage below them. Really helps with the storage.

 

[two]

I wouldn't seek a huge garage, especially if trying to be under 3.5t, because they encourage you to take too much. If you're lucky enough to find one with low bed(s), you'll have more space inside and gain easier access to the bed(s).
If you want to put bikes in a low garage, you may need to drop the front wheels out or get folders but it should be possible and much better than struggling with an outside rack.

 

[peterc10]

I wouldn't seek a huge garage, especially if trying to be under 3.5t, because they encourage you to take too much. If you're lucky enough to find one with low bed(s), you'll have more space inside and gain easier access to the bed(s).
If you want to put bikes in a low garage, you may need to drop the front wheels out or get folders but it should be possible and much better than struggling with an outside rack.

Ours has high beds and roof lockers all round as well, so you would not get much more usable space. And we find our beds are easy to access, just a couple of steps. If you have low single beds you have no garage at all, just a externally accessible locker which you will have great difficulty getting a bike in at all, with or without its wheels. We tried it when looking. If you are taking bikes garages are ideal.

Our last motorhome was under 3500kg and we had a decent garage that we could get our bikes in easily as well as our other outside stuff, and all without overloading. Better than putting them on show on a bike rack as that makes them an easy target for thieves.

Our new motorhome is 4500kg which allows us to take a motorbike as well.

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[Northernraider]

Mine has a choice of three beds... A BONUS of a six berth and solo travelling I guess, it has an electric height adjustable transverse king size bed over the rear garage, if no scooter in the garage it can be lowered to 14" from floor then there's a large electric drop down bed in the cab that comes down very low, and then finally the lounge can be made in to a huge bed by simply moving 4 cushions.
I will probably switch between the rear bed and the cab bed depending if the bike is in or out of the garage both will be made up ready to use at all times.
Making beds up never really bothered me much but imagine they would as I got older
I did like the look of a frankia I viewed with a rear island bed but couldn't get a scooter under it so ruled that out.

 

[Stretto Boy]

Our first van was a Chausson Flash 03. It had a huge and very comfortable double bed over the cab, twin bunks at the rear over the garage and the dinette converted to make a small double. The only problem with the bed over the cab is that, over the last couple of years, my arthritis in various joints has got worse and I could see the time coming when I wouldn't be able to get up and down the short ladder. This was made worse by the fact that I need to visit the smallest room several times a night. If it wasn't for these medical conditions we would have kept it. The grandchildren would probably love the bunks.

 

[funflair]

I think we went about it a different way to most folk on here, I decided that we wanted a particular van on a heavy duty RWD chassis with a big garage, and surprisingly just this once I got my own way

We found a used van and it was twin singles which gave the big garage that i wanted, we spent the first night on the way home with it as the singles set up and neither of us liked it so I just turned the bed bases around and remade a bit of the woodwork and "hey presto" we have a transverse king size in a larger room than it would have been if the factory had made it transverse OK we have a smaller lounge sofa but a larger garage and I have something to warm my knees on at night we don't sleep in separate beds at home so why should we when we are away.

PS I can last all night without going for a P, not that you needed to know that but it is most peoples objection to transvestite beds

Martin

 

[TerriSpirit]

Our first van was a Chausson Flash 03. It had a huge and very comfortable double bed over the cab, twin bunks at the rear over the garage and the dinette converted to make a small double. The only problem with the bed over the cab is that, over the last couple of years, my arthritis in various joints has got worse and I could see the time coming when I wouldn't be able to get up and down the short ladder. This was made worse by the fact that I need to visit the smallest room several times a night. If it wasn't for these medical conditions we would have kept it. The grandchildren would probably love the bunks.

That is one of the ones we have had our eye on. Where the singles at the back big enough for adults too?

 

[OldCodger]

We went round the loops described here (over cab, fixed island, french bed and so ) we thought the twin singles would be the best solution until we found the 2016 model Bessacar 496. It has a rear lounge, mid lounge with 4 belts and best off all an ELECTRIC drop down double bed over the mid lounge. During the day acres of space for us (lounge) and dog (mid lounge!) and at night 30 seconds to drop bed down. You can use the ladder if you want but Mrs Codger uses a step stool and I get in on the other side via the drivers cab.

Best bit is I can get out of bed in the night ( you ALL know why!!! ) I don't have to climb over her...

In the morning the bed disappears back into the roof at the press of a button.

I specified the 2016 model because the bed is bigger and drops lower then this years version (the 2018 is out now - I don't know what that has) I think there was a swift escape version of the same van.

Bon route and Bon Dormir ( currently un Dol de Bretagne. A must visit place if ever there was!)

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[TerriSpirit]

We went round the loops described here (over cab, fixed island, french bed and so ) we thought the twin singles would be the best solution until we found the 2016 model Bessacar 496. It has a rear lounge, mid lounge with 4 belts and best off all an ELECTRIC drop down double bed over the mid lounge. During the day acres of space for us (lounge) and dog (mid lounge!) and at night 30 seconds to drop bed down. You can use the ladder if you want but Mrs Codger uses a step stool and I get in on the other side via the drivers cab.

Best bit is I can get out of bed in the night ( you ALL know why!!! ) I don't have to climb over her...

In the morning the bed disappears back into the roof at the press of a button.

I specified the 2016 model because the bed is bigger and drops lower then this years version (the 2018 is out now - I don't know what that has) I think there was a swift escape version of the same van.

Bon route and Bon Dormir ( currently un Dol de Bretagne. A must visit place if ever there was!)

Thanks for that bit of info... It seems like we aren't the only ones with this dilemma. Just one point. We had heard that lots of people had trouble with the electronics of the bed that rises when not in use, which has put us off those. Have you found this to be a problem at all?

 

[Dan and Jan]

I looked at 2 vans with electric drop down beds over the lounge. Both Chausson Welcome's. One 13 plate other a 16. Both had faulty beds in the dealers. The beds were project 2000 made in Italy.
It made me go for my new to me van. Burstner ixeo 726g 55. Twin singles and a manual drop down bed over lounge, nothing to go wrong.

 

[OldCodger]

We haven't had problems so far - except that when are on battery the bed struggles to rise - I gave to give it a lift (a push up!). We met someone yesterday with the same model who had the same problem and had to wind it up by hand - or rather, with a socket set when his lesure battery went flat! He's has done multiple 6 weeks plus trips mainly wild camping and fitted solar to keep his batteries topped up.

On EHU all is fine.

 

[TerriSpirit]

What a great bunch you are. So much good, useful, feedback that is REALLY helpful!
Thanks once again

 

[peterc10]

I looked at 2 vans with electric drop down beds over the lounge. Both Chausson Welcome's. One 13 plate other a 16. Both had faulty beds in the dealers. The beds were project 2000 made in Italy.
It made me go for my new to me van. Burstner ixeo 726g 55. Twin singles and a manual drop down bed over lounge, nothing to go wrong.

I am inclined to that way of thinking as well. Met somebody in Portugal in the spring who had a brand new model with electric bed (not Chausson) which was forever getting stuck. The dealer agreed to take it back and gave them their money back. On the other hand we know somebody else with a similar arrangement (again not Chausson) and they have had no problems at all with it.

We have a manual drop down bed at the front of our Hymer with struts to help it up and down, and we really find that it is no real effort to move it. I think maybe an electric version would be a bit of a hostage to fortune.

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[Northernraider]

The great thing about an electric bed is if the electric stops working you just disconnect it and use it as a manual bed......

 

[peterc10]

The great thing about an electric bed is if the electric stops working you just disconnect it and use it as a manual bed......

Are you sure? That was not what others could do when their's failed. Stuck, or a laborious process turning with a handle or spanner AFAIK.

 

[Northernraider]

Are you sure? That was not what others could do when their's failed. Stuck, or a laborious process turning with a handle or spanner AFAIK.

In the handbook for mine it says to pop the fixings off the motor and raise the bed manually.
The rear bed is electric also and that requires a socket to be applied and wound up or down if it fails. But to be honest I doubt I'll adjust that one much I'll likely just leave it in the one position

 

[Dan and Jan]

Just took this from another site.

Enjoying a lovely break away with the family....however electric bed stopped working while we were raising it this morning... checked fuse ok...can hear relays clicking but still no joy....any ideas what to check next...tia

Need more convincing.

 

[Alex Black]

After many years making up the rear lounge into a bed we too went the fixed route. French type and it took up the entire corner. Cumfy ? Yes.. BUT.. And it turned out to be a big but.. (No pun!! lol)With only one way in and out & with our various issues (Prostate C... and bad backs) we found it a real pain (Literally) having to either both get up for the loo visits, or climb over one another. We ended up with option 1 and when one needed then both of us got up. The climb over routine was just a pest MK1.. Our new moho has also fixed beds but they are singles and what a difference. Neither of us disturb the other with the (frequent) toilet trips and afternoon kips when needed are just great. We are well happy with the singles. Work great for us. Hope all works out for you. Happy & safe motor homing.

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[Spidey]

We started with a Chausson flash 510 with electric drop down bed. We loved it until the bed starting playing up, there was a manual crank which was a pain. We were continually re programming it. We also had an electric table underneath to make up another bed, which worried us as it seemed a tad fragile. So we now have a fixed hymer French bed, a manual lowering table in the lounge for daughter. It's is great just jump into bed and it's nice to have another space to lounge if the weather is bad.

 

[oaktree11]

Hi There,
We faced the same dilemma but quickly concluded that two single beds was ideal for us. One of the key deciding factors was being able to get up without disturbing the other (nocturnal calls of nature etc).
We have ended up with a used Burstner Aviano 640G which we love. It has the two singles over the garage at the rear and these can be made into a double by simply pulling a center piece out. We also have a double drop down bed over the driver and passenger seats. Because there are only two of us in the 'van we use the drop down double as a storage area for folded clothes, its perfect!
I hope you have great times in whatever you choose
John