Reliability of electrically operated drop down beds.

[ontheroadagain]

I recently had a look at a new Chausson 640 which has a large electrically operated drop down bed. I though the layout and use of space was fantastic but I did go away wondering how reliable these beds are after a few years of use. (The table was also electrically operated). Chausson have been using them for years and the early ones did appear to have issues but I haven’t noticed many problems being reported recently. Has anyone any experience good or bad?

 

[Bognor Saint]

We have one in our Bailey Adamo. Like you I questioned the reliability and was it worth the risk. We bit the bullet last year and went ahead. Compared to our previous motorhomes we have so much more space and given that we use it over the winter as well it is a great benefit for us.

 

[Jon Stewart]

I recently had a look at a new Chausson 640 which has a large electrically operated drop down bed. I though the layout and use of space was fantastic but I did go away wondering how reliable these beds are after a few years of use. (The table was also electrically operated). Chausson have been using them for years and the early ones did appear to have issues but I haven’t noticed many problems being reported recently. Has anyone any experience good or bad?

I'm not keen on them at all, especially, it would seem, if they're from a certain Italian sounding company.

The other thing to consider is the not inconsiderable weight, and what it does to your centre of gravity.

Definitely have the windows open going around corners in case you need to stick an arm out!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I'm not keen on them at all, especially, it would seem, if they're from a certain Italian sounding company.

The other thing to consider is the not inconsiderable weight, and what it does to your centre of gravity.

Definitely have the windows open going around corners in case you need to stick an arm out!

Yep, with style like this crew,

Mike.

 

[Guigsy]

But not as bad as an overcab. And people happily add dozens of kg of awnings, Aircon and solar panels to their roof.

Drop down beds do enable some very compact layouts. Note that you often lose the overhead lockers if you have an over-lounge bed.

We got a 6m a-class because the bed was over the cab and was manual. Lounge is still largely usable when the bed is down.

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[Sasbo]

We have a Chausson 530 with the drop down bed. No problems in 5 years of owning from new. Now I've said that I'm.

 

[Gaston aires]

We had a Burstner Ixeo it680g which had a drop down Project 2000 bed. Its advantage was the excellent lounge space, but frankly it drove me to distraction with its unreliability which in the end caused me to sell an otherwise great van.
Phil

 

[nicholsong]

I recently had a look at a new Chausson 640 which has a large electrically operated drop down bed. I though the layout and use of space was fantastic but I did go away wondering how reliable these beds are after a few years of use. (The table was also electrically operated). Chausson have been using them for years and the early ones did appear to have issues but I haven’t noticed many problems being reported recently. Has anyone any experience good or bad?

For the same reason as the OP is worried, I do not want any unnecessary electric motors, e.g. Mirrors, windows, beds, tables, awnings - I can handle all those manually, even at 82.

The only habitation electric motors I have are water pump, step and Truma fan.

KISS

 

[Pantouffle]

Had a Chausson 640 for 5 years now with no specific drop down bed problems. We went for the upgraded mattress from new & it’s super comfortable. So much more space during the day and it makes the van very open plan.

We occasionally have to wiggle the bed to reset the contacts after a mega bumpy road trip (think the concrete corrugations on that stretch of M25 near Gatwick). Others moan about climbing over their partner to go to loo, but against that we can make up the bed in seconds. Don’t leave your pillows or duvet on though as the thickness can stop bed going up fully.

We once had to manually crank it up & down when we had a problem with the other (12v?) electrics, which was not fun. Over cautious partner insists that we carry the other bed inserts in the garage when we go to Europe, in case the drop down bed was ever to break…. So far this has been a complete waste of payload, thankfully. The table is fine also and lots of vans have an electric one.

Love our Chausson overall, and can’t find anything else to better it for our lifestyle. But still enjoying looking.

 

[jezport]

Globecar campscout revolution, 8 years and no issues with rear king-size bed.

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[ontheroadagain]

So much more space during the day and it makes the van very open plan.

Yes, we had never really looked at a motorhome with drop down bed before. We were amazed at the amount of space available. Felt a lot bigger than 7m. When my wife then saw the size of the rear wardrobe she was totally convinced that the 640 would be our next van lol.

 

[nicholsong]

Had a Chausson 640 for 5 years now with no specific drop down bed problems. We went for the upgraded mattress from new & it’s super comfortable. So much more space during the day and it makes the van very open plan.

We occasionally have to wiggle the bed to reset the contacts after a mega bumpy road trip (think the concrete corrugations on that stretch of M25 near Gatwick). Others moan about climbing over their partner to go to loo, but against that we can make up the bed in seconds. Don’t leave your pillows or duvet on though as the thickness can stop bed going up fully.

We once had to manually crank it up & down when we had a problem with the other (12v?) electrics, which was not fun. Over cautious partner insists that we carry the other bed inserts in the garage when we go to Europe, in case the drop down bed was ever to break…. So far this has been a complete waste of payload, thankfully. The table is fine also and lots of vans have an electric one.

Love our Chausson overall, and can’t find anything else to better it for our lifestyle. But still enjoying looking.

We have a drop-down overcab bed, held up by seatbelt-type straps and fasteners, which are long enough to allow bed pillowsand duvet to remain made up, plus additional soft items, so when not needed provides extra easily accessible storage for spare bedding, towels, coats, swimwear etc.

It seems to me to be a bit pointless having a drop-down that cannot be left made up, like our fixed rear bed. Cannot it be adjusted to give the extr couple of inches needed?

We do not notice it when up as it is just part of the ceiling, maybe unobtrusive because our 7m Arto is 3m high. even when down it does not interfere with use of living area except cab seats.

 

[ontheroadagain]

We once had to manually crank it up & down

How does that work?
I assume there is a crank handle somewhere.

 

[rod_vw]

What make are the beds in your (all posters above) vehicles please?

We have a Lippert bed installed in out MAN TGE which came with a crank handle to raise & lower it should the need arise but the easiest way will be a hex drive in an electric screwdriver.

 

[Roby2008]

We have a Pilote 2023 P696D, the drop down makes for a great lounge, We also have the rear bathroom, much more space than our previous van (both 7m); we've only had it a year so reliability is an unknown, loving the layout so far ....

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[KUSKUS]

We had a Burstner 690g a few years ago had to part company with it as we had problems with the front drop down bed, bloody nightmare .

 

[Guigsy]

We have a Pilote 2023 P696D, the drop down makes for a great lounge, We also have the rear bathroom, much more space than our previous van (both 7m); we've only had it a year so reliability is an unknown, loving the layout so far ....

Agreed. If the choice is between a fantastic layout with a drop-down bed, and a layout that's cramped, I'd get the drop down.

 

[Sasbo]

How does that work?
I assume there is a crank handle somewhere.

Chausson supply a crank handle and the hand winding spindle can be found by removing the bed motor cover which is located above the passenger seat side shelf.

Winding manually with supplied crank is a bit time consuming so as recommended by other owners, I made up a spindle winder for use with a cordless drill. Luckily I haven't had to use this in 5 years.

 

[Jim]

Electrically operated drop-down beds, are much the same as electrically operated slide outs, they are fantastic in use and will give years of good service and then stop working.

My advice, based upon experience with both. Make sure that the electric bed or slide out you choose has a manual crank override, otherwise avoid. Both have the ability to ruin a trip.

 

[Roby2008]

Agreed. If the choice is between a fantastic layout with a drop-down bed, and a layout that's cramped, I'd get the drop down.

Madame is a wheelchair user so the layout with the DD is a godsend with space it gives...

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[Brains]

To even consider a drop down bed it would need four things.

• The ability to leave the bed made up (maybe excluding the pillows) when on the ceiling.
• The ability to fairly easily wind it up, and down, manually.
• Some sort of locking mechanism to ensure that it can not fall down whilst driving, even if doing 50mph over a plowed field.
• The ability to access all pulleys easily. So that any blockage could be dealt with without the need for tools (The last thing you need at 23.30h after a 8hr drive, in rootling around the toolbox in you PJ's when it's peeing down with rain)

 

[Henry Walpole]

I recently had a look at a new Chausson 640 which has a large electrically operated drop down bed. I though the layout and use of space was fantastic but I did go away wondering how reliable these beds are after a few years of use. (The table was also electrically operated). Chausson have been using them for years and the early ones did appear to have issues but I haven’t noticed many problems being reported recently. Has anyone any experience good or bad?

We had an electrically operated drop down bed fail on our three year old Niesmann Arto. No manual override option. Fortunately the bed failed in the upright position. Two dealers were clueless. In the end we had to drive to the factory at Polch to get it repaired. They hinted that we weren't the first to have this problem. New motors were installed (free of charge) but I would have preferred it to be made manual only but unfortunately they didn't have the parts in stock to do this.

 

[Puddleduck]

Our Sunliving had a mental drop down bed. Our Grandsons all loved it and fixed the side nets themselves. I always thought they look liked lobsters in a net. They also soon got used to asking if the ladder was in place before getting out .... always leaving the duvet smoothed put but pillow brought to our bed for a quick snuggle before getting up "for real"

 

[bobandjanie]

We loved our drop down bed in our A Class with compressed rams and a seat belt clip .
Completely different to the electric ones our friends Chausson had, they removed the sensors on theirs because it kept going out if sync and jammed up and had to be wound up manually. Bob.

 

[buzz1]

We have Two electric doubles in our burstner, have had had minor issues with both , we had van nearly years ago now , but as others have said having an alternative to be able to use manual is essential, I use a drill with attachment, and takes seconds, to raise and lower if I need to,
ours has no sensors and also I re- fitted a simple up and down control switch,
Both Beds can be left made up.
also the bed can left bed down went out during day /night as it adds extra security blocking windows if need be .
We prefer the extra lounge space it offer with drop down bed

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[Jewellbags]

We’ve got a chausson 640 and had it from new in 2019 and never had an issue with the bed nor the table .

 

[Bustup15]

Drop down bed over front cab creates great usable space in our A class. No issues with reliability of bed mechanism but we did suffer a lithium outage last trip!
It's possible to manually winding the bed up and down but a bit of a bugger on.
Now adapted the winder to fit an electric drill just in case of any future issues.
Motor and belt mechanisms can be accessed irrespective of bed position.

 

[SteveE]

We had a Chausson 530 for 7 years from new, and we didn’t have a single problem with the elec drop down bed or table.

We spent a year full time in the van, so it had more than average use and the bed and table worked perfectly. Great use of space for us, as gained loads of comfy day time living space.

 

[rod_vw]

Nobody has answered my question yet.
I asked what make the actual electric bed mechanism was?

 

[buzz1]

Nobody has answered my question yet.
I asked what make the actual electric bed mechanism was?

It’s not a straight forward answer ,
As Mines a project 2000 bed , but there’s various differences in these beds ,I believe some if not all are part of lipperts beds , some have key operate , some have pre-set programming at different heights , on my bed top and bottom positions are done by rotation, and no sensors /simple up and down switch, no programming to worry about Like some have .

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