Drop down fixed bed for caravan
Is it only me that'd like a fixed double bed that drop's down over the lounge in a caravan like they have in some motor home's ? I've asked a few UK manufactures but they don't seem to be interested in exploring the idea . I'd buy one if they made them would you ?
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No, I wouldn't.
I think the weight would be prohibitive in a caravan and there must be a question mark over the strength of the caravan walls/framework for supporting the bed. Also, is there sufficient height in a cvan? I'm not surprised manufacturers are less than enthusiastic
to be honest.0 -
No, I wouldn't.
I think the weight would be prohibitive in a caravan and there must be a question mark over the strength of the caravan walls/framework for supporting the bed. Also, is there sufficient height in a cvan? I'm not surprised manufacturers are less than enthusiastic
to be honest.Write your comments here...+!
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They make them for motor home's same wall construction as for weigh a mattress yes the frame would add I bit of weigh as for head room there is room to walk inside a low profile motor home . I personally think it is more like UK manufactures having there
head's stuck in the sand ..0 -
The ones fitted to m/vans if the ones we have seen are on strong heavy frames worked by electric motors which unless you want to tow with a truck would make most c/vans to heavy and less stable ,unless they were only allowed to travel with the bed in the lowered position?
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At least one continental tourer manufacturer has done this.I cannot remember the make but it was Verso model that I saw in Holland 2/3 years ago.
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They make them for motor home's same wall construction as for weigh a mattress yes the frame would add I bit of weigh as for head room there is room to walk inside a low profile motor home . I personally think it is more like UK manufactures having there head's stuck in the sand ..
I beg to differ. MH bodies tend to be more rigid. Even low profile MHs have greater head room than cvans. Try reaching overhead lockers and Heki if you don't believe me. MHs also have the over cab space.
JVB has a good point on towing stability as such a bed would raise the centre of gravity. As for nose weight.......
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No, because we holiday in the heat of southern France, and use our caravan solely as a bedroom. We cook outside, eat outside, lounge outside, and so we love our 'normal' fixed bed. It doesn't detract from 'living space' because we live and entertain outside.
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At least one continental tourer manufacturer has done this.I cannot remember the make but it was Verso model that I saw in Holland 2/3 years ago.
Burstner. There's a few models in the Averso range I think.
I have looked at them but the layout isn't right in daytime mode for me
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Beat me to it JayEss.
http://www.buerstner.com/int/caravans/averso_plus/the_plus_principle.htmlWe saw these on the Burstner stand at the Dusseldorf show last year.
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If my memory seves me right i think the Sprite Alpine had a drop down bed way back in the early 1960's. Oh dear showing my age now.
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If my memory seves me right i think the Sprite Alpine had a drop down bed way back in the early 1960's. Oh dear showing my age now.
...that may well have been a fold down as mentioned by flatcoat....
a full sized one piece drop down bed (other than those used in the cab of an A-class) is a fairly recent addition.
they serve two purposes AFAIK, firstly they provide a fixed bed above a lounge to give the occupants a decent bed in lieu of cushion shuffling...
secondly, they provide a second one piece bed above an existing fixed bed to provied four sleeping places with no cusion shuffling.
a great innovation and works well in MH, usually being sited at the cab end (A-class vans, design used for 30 years), the middle over the front lounge (coachbuilts) or over the rear (in PVCs over an existing fixed bed, or in some coachbuilts over a rear
lounge).as mentioned above, it seems the delicate nature of caravan construction and the paucity of payload is likely to preclude these from being viable in caravans.
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david495sf, I looked at the Burstner a while ago and I see it's now called a fold down bed - I'm sure they called it a drop down 12-18 months ago
We were looking at the smallest one - the 410. I think it still has an L shaped lounge which was a bit of a deal breaker sadly
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Jay, a very interesting van....quart in pint pot....good design.
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Fleetwood did make one some years ago where a bed dropped down over the rear lounge. I think it only lasted the one year so cannot have been a design that sold. There has to be an appreciable weight penalty for this design so I assume this is why there is
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Hobby now do a drop down caravan. The 515 UHK was launched at the Caravan and Motorhome Show last year. At the moment it is a European van with door on opposite side. MPTLM is high at around 1600kg and length is 7.53m.
The pull down bed is great and technical the single settees could be used as well below as it locks off mid way.
We have searched many manufacturers too and have only found this one. Most sites will accept European vans with awning on other side but it would always be best to check too. The dealer based in Derby stated they were testing the market before they launched a UK design.
Price last year Feb 18 was £24,995 with show price at that time of £23,995.
We are now thinking of getting one now as the kids have got larger and we are fed up of making a bed up every night too!
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Yes I would, but not like the motorhomes. The old fairholme gaelic from the 60s was superb. This had a drop down bed from an internal wall and was always down for towing.
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