End U O Front Parallel Lounge

[Ben12]

Hi all,

Looking to buy our first van in next month a small 2 berth probably an Elddis 115. We can't agree on the layout. I prefer an end u shaped lounge and my other half prefers a front parallel. To me it seems obvious that the rear lounge will offer more space and better views if reversed up to the sea on one of our favourite sites.

Any opinions, pro's and con's?

Cheers

 

[Camdoon]

Keep the wife happy is rule number 1 in my van. She has never been known to be wrong.

 

[DanielFord]

My personal opinion was that the front lounge and fixed bed was the worst layout we tried, the rear bed was too small, and the lounge was also a compromise.

We have a u shaped lounge with a front dinette, which gives us a large lounge, and a separate dining area, but also a gigantic bed when it is made up. The downside is that it does need to be made and packed up each day, but since that appears to be my job, I don't mind too much

 

[Riverbankannie]

We have had both and definitely prefer rear u lounge as we are both feet up lounging people. It is nice to be able to open up the rear doors. Downside is a narrow gangway and usually central pinch point between washroom and kitchen.

 

[TerryL]

Well, we're just the opposite. Parallel seats for the front lounge and a rear fixed bed for us. But everybody is different and I wouldn't wish to impose my views on anybody.

Best of luck in your choice.

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[Ben12]

Thanks for the responses, I'm still convinced for two of us the rear lounge converting to a bed is the best option, except for mornings as I'm always up at 7 whilst oh will happily stay in bed till 9am.

 

[ChrisSue]

Thanks for the responses, I'm still convinced for two of us the rear lounge converting to a bed is the best option, except for mornings as I'm always up at 7 whilst oh will happily stay in bed till 9am.

In that case rear lounge and, if possible, a swivelling passenger seat.

 

[jongood]

We had a rear lounge in NZ after years of front lounge with rear fixed bed . I loved NZ but hated the rear lounge. Having to make the bed up at the end of the evening was really tedious. SWMBO being a slow riser meant that I could only sit in the cab, the setup means that you sit looking inwards instead of forward, and the windows were permanently mucky. Pay for the extra room, you wont go back. IMHO

 

[funflair]

To me a rear lounge is little narrow windows that you struggle to see much out of, and making up the bed is a No No now, "A" class with front lounge bar table and big windscreen is the best layout we have had so far.

Martin

 

[DangerMousy]

I'm no expert (this is our first MH and we've had it a year) but for me if you're talking coachbuilt then an end lounge works really well: plenty of lounging space when its chilly outside, nice views from the wrap-around windows, huge bed (it only takes 5 mins max to set up/put away and using a topper the cushion bumps are smoothed out) and a feeling of spaciousness during the day time. I expect a parallel lounge would also work fine for lounging (if the sofas were long enough), and would actually feel even more open and spacious but for me the main issue is that if someone wants to get up and the other remain in bed then there's nowhere to sit because the bed blocks access between the seats and the rest of the MH.

The downside of an end lounge is that the cab area is somewhat wasted during the day - whilst the passenger seat when swivelled makes a convenient seat, the drivers seat is almost always unused. Though given small 2 berth end-lounge MHs tend to have a lack of large storage lockers, this is where all the junk that travels in the shower gets put. So I suppose it's not entirely wasted

If we were to change I still don't think I'd go for a fixed bed....7.5m is about the max that'll fit on our driveway, and for me the lounging space is just as important as the bed so I wouldn't want to compromise the sofas to get a better bed. An A class with a drop down bed and an end lounge would be my perfect option....but those tend to be a lot more £s