Fixed bed or Make-up bed every night?
For many of us, the joy of caravanning and motorhoming is the freedom to explore at our own pace. But as we spend more time on the road, the "perfect layout" becomes less about aesthetics and more about practicality.
This week, we’re discussing the ultimate trade-off: The Fixed Bed vs. Make Up Bed every night
We’d Value Your Insight...
We know our community has lots of experience. Please share your thoughts in the comments so others can learn from your miles on the road:
- The Physicality: For those who make up the bed, has the process become more difficult over the years, or do you have it down to a fine art?
- The Topper Secret: If you use the lounge cushions, which mattress topper or sleeping system has saved your back?
- The Layout Shift: Have you recently switched from one to the other? What was the "breaking point" that made you change?
- The Time Factor: For the "make-up" crew, honestly—how many minutes does it actually take you to transform your lounge into a bed?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below. 😊
Fixed bed or Make-up bed every night? 23 votes
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Comments
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The Fixed Bed
Since starting caravan ownership we have always been fortunate in being able to leave the bed set up or having a fixed bed. Either way we use a 50mm foam topper. Do not use memory foam as it gets too hot.
Colin
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The Fixed Bed
We've had a fixed bed for more than 15 years now.... wouldn't go back to having to make up a bed every night. We've gone from a 'side' fixed bed (with access) from one side only, to a fixed bed with access from both sides - now much realistic with the wider caravans. Our current layout really suits us. (Bailey Evora)
David
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The Fixed Bed
Fixed beds work very well in larger outfits otherwise in smaller outfits they can restrict living space. This does not matter so much if the outfit is used when/where there is the opportunity to spend more time outside but in inclement weather, smaller outfits can be very cramped. The physicality or time involved in making up a bed is and has never been an issue for me, what did decide us to opt for a fixed bed was it is always ready for use and allowed one of us to go to bed as it pleased leaving the other to get on with whatever they wanted to do.
peedee
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Other
Double bed at home. Single beds in caravan.
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The Fixed Bed
A fixed bed is easy as its generally the same as you have at home. However there are a few limitations espcially if you need to get up in the night! From that point of view an island bed would be ideal but these tend only to come in larger caravans and motorhomes. Over the years we have gone from a large bed made up of converting side settees into a large double, A side double bed and in our last motorhome two single beds were made out of the lounge settees. We just fitted a standard 2.6 fitted sheet to the cushion and used a single duvet on top. Probably took 5/10 minutes max to get them ready.
David
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The Make-up Bed
Well now there is only usually just two of use in a six berth caravan we don't actually make up the beds as such but just remove the back rests stand them up somewhere and it's done. We still use sleeping bags and so again just get them from the back, unroll them and bring the pillows at the same time.
In effect it's two single beds which makes getting up easy if needed and I've always been the earlier riser and can have breakfast/cup of tea/read/ in the rear table and/or be off for a walk, shower, whatever without disturbing Mrs C.
We have thought for the next caravan it will be a fixed bed, but probably two single fixe beds.
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The Make-up Bed
Always had a bed that either made up into a double, or could be used as two singles. Much prefer a smaller outfit, either van or MH. Currently have a small MH, transverse bed across middle just behind driving seats. We carry two single memory foam toppers, and use sheet and quilt. Even with this it’s takes only 10 minutes to set up, take down and is extremely comfortable, good access to bathroom and kitchen area when set up. It takes a bit of exercise, and it’s easier if one is outside, but perfectly doable with two people and two big dogs if it’s raining. Never been interested in towing a bedroom around with us to be honest, we like to keep things small and simple.
I think it is possibly an age/ mobility related choice for many, which I can perfectly understand. If it keeps folks out touring for longer than go for the fixed option.
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The Fixed Bed
we've always had the fixed bed , I never fancied making up the bed. The first ones were up against the wall but now we have the one with both sides open, lovely, saves all the climbing over to get out. Although it makes for a bigger van , the positives are the extra storage and if you want a snooze during the day or some quiet time to read a book or whatever then you have choices
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The Fixed Bed
That is true of motorhomes where the bed is usually at a high level which creates a large storage space underneath, but it does create the problem of access for some and like @DavidKlyne describes, one partner has to climb over another to go to the toilet. In my view twin fixed beds are the real solution.
peedee
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The Fixed Bed
Not in a caravan with an island bed. It offers the best option in my opinion. Big bed, access from 3 sides, loads of storage space and, as others have said, somewhere to have a lie down during the day. It also means one partner can get up or go to bed independently of the other.
The only real downside is that it requires a bigger caravan, which isn't for everyone
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Our last caravan had a fixed island bed and it was great. We started out, many many years ago, making the bed every night using pull out slats and repositioning cushions etc, which was fine when we were younger. We tried the side ‘French’ double bed which was a dreadful mistake and we only kept that for 2 years. After that twin singles, which were ok, but OH being on the taller side, not great, even though they were 2’4” wide we still found them narrow for side sleeping. Hence the fixed transverse island bed which was the best, especially as it would retract a bit for daytime space; we used the two ‘sofas’ for the grandchildren in the days when they came with us.
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The Make-up Bed
Part of the issue around size of outfit for us was that we liked to tour around, hopping from site to site, often using very small, CL, CS sites, so we just enjoyed the smaller outfit. We did usually spend a month on a site in Cornwall each Summer, but we simply left our bed down most of the time if the weather was nice. We have gone back to touring round again with MH.
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The Fixed Bed
Our last van - a Bailey Barcelona - had a 'french' double bed, which was far from ideal when one of us needed to get up in the night. Our current van - Knaus Starclass - has fixed singles, and because the van is 8' wide, both are generous in terms of width - one being just shy of 3' wide and the other a couple of inches narrower. Since it was necessary to remove the bed slats between the front seats to fit the chest of drawers / fold out table, we now have what is probably the largest two berth van available! Ideal layout for us.
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The Make-up Bed
The Make-up bed
We have always, for the past 50 yrs or so, had a make up bed and have no intention of changing to a fixed one. Even though I am over 80 now I have no problem getting the bed ready in a few minutes, having had lots of practice as we are out touring in the van over 200 nights a year, and we feel that a fixed bed takes up far too much space.
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The Fixed Bed
We changed to two fixed single beds in 2012, found them great, however, it does mean you need a longer caravan. It’s nice that after a long day and a few glasses of fally down juice your beds are waiting for you.
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The Make-up Bed
Can anyone explain to me just how much better fixed single beds are, as opposed to using the lounge seats as fixed single beds, assuming the lounge seats are long enough of course? We used our lounge seats as single beds sometimes (usually if only staying for a night or two) and simply reversed the seat bottoms, put a single topper on and used a quilt each. Seat backs went across drawers out of way. I would add, our seat bottoms were sleep quality foam, so maybe this is an issue?
Is it the comfort, is it the effort required. Just curious.
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The Make-up Bed
We have long front seats, and two fixed bunks as the back past the 'bathroom' which we now use as storage (usually my camera gear on the top one with sleeping bags/pillows, other stuff on the bottom and a single 'dinette' opposite which can be made up into a bed (can't remember the last time now) and a swing out bunk that goes above which has never been used.
As I posted upthread we sleep at the front simply by taking the backrests off and we don't even turn the bottom seat over, bring up the pillow and bags s and there we are, under five minutes if that? This suits us very well with what we need at hand when we need it.
However if and when we change caravan we'll probably go for fixed single beds at the back just so they are always made up, so for us just being lazy again.
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The Fixed Bed
@Takethedogalong Maybe because fixed singles usually have proper mattresses which might be more comforable? Since the introduction of fire resistant foam in caravan/motorhome seating it has usually meant quite hard cushions. When we had a fixed bed with a proper mattress it was more comfortable that the second motorhome where we used the settee cushions. I appreciate that everyone has a different idea of comfort.
David
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The Fixed Bed
If we did not have a fixed bed and had to convert the lounge to bed(s) I'm at a loss as to where we could put all the stuff that spends nightime in the lounge area.
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The Fixed Bed
Ours is really comfortable, David. If fact, I'd go as far as saying, it's probably more comfortable than our mattress at home (Which we paid a lot of money for..!!) @DavidKlyne @Takethedogalong
David
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The Fixed Bed
Yes, I agree. We often go away for 4 weeks at a time, and prefer layouts with distinct areas, such as you can in a caravan. We also tend to fill under bed/bench storage areas with all sorts of stuff, so I wouldnt know where to put the quilt.
I suppose using sleeping bags would be the answer, but you can't beat the comforts of home.
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The Make-up Bed
Thank you for replies. 🙂
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The Make-up Bed
@Navigateur in ours we store the bedding under the seats and I replace the bedding with the cushions when making up the bed. I dont, of course, know what other stuff you have about during the day in your lounge area but any bits we use, such as books or kindle etc are either put in one of the overhead cupboards or on the front shelf and cabinet.
@TimboC we go away for up to 10 weeks at a time and have no problem with storing all we require in our 6.5m caravan. Perhaps you are taking much more stuff than us but we manage perfectly well, even in the winter months.
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The Fixed Bed
We decided to go with a fixed bed after I retired back in 2007 and we had a 3 month tour of Germany, Sweden and Norway. While the front made-up double was quite comfortable, it was not as good as a proper mattress. We had invested in proper bedding for the trip, having used sleeping bags previously, and found that much more comfortable too.
Now we are moving to 2 single beds, we will have to get different bedding.
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