Is the side bed on the way out
Coachman have dropped side beds from all but a couple of models and others seem to have reduced their numbers in the ranges in favour of transverse beds.
There is no doubt these are easier to live with but need a longer caravan and can be difficult to get round at night.
It looks like there is a trend away from the side bed and I wonder what future they have.
Comments
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A good point , when We bought our first van it was a 2 berth Abi Dalesman, a lovely van but very limited if the other half wanted to get up early and no rom to sit ( no awning ) We started looking at other caravans and We seen the fixed side bed and thought
wow that's good ( no bed making ) Eventually We bought an end island bed ( no climbing over for the loo ) Everything is a compromise and I like our set up but to a lot of people the side fixed bed makes the caravan look more roomy . I don't think they will
do away with this layout complety , however layouts are based on the demand of the p buying them . Tend to think it's a little like fashion, things come and go then a few years later there back again
Paul
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
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My take would be with cars getting lighter then the inevitable trend will be for lighter caravans. Therefore those arrangements that are profligate with the use of space and with it generally weight, become the more vulnerable to "extinction".
Of the arrangements that hang onto fixed beds then IMO the side double is the least profligate so I doubt, despite present trends it is the one “on the way out”.
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We had a side bed but got fed up with one person 'stuck on the inside changed to a four berth with fixed twin beds. Personally I think this is the way to go - beds made up on arrival, no climbing over each other, easy access to the bathroom, plenty of under
bed storage and the other end of the van to sit and relax.0 -
For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
Write your comments here...
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I agree with CY regarding this layout, we had 2 Swift Challenger 440 's with this layout. When our daughters did'nt want to come with us anymore our labrador thought the bottom bunk was bliss. I expect the layout went out of fashion when the end shower /
washroom became popular.0 -
The side bed is indeed on its way out ... Swift have also dropped it in all but top spec models.
We have this layout in our current Swift Challenger 570 SE, we are looking to change we would have the same again, don't want an island bed or fixed singles, consequently have gone for a 17 Challenger 530 Lux which has no fixed bed at all.
Had plenty of 'vans without a fixed bed in the past so no issue for us.
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i though the climbing over in the night was one of the delights of caravaning!
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in MHs, side beds are known as 'french beds'....and transverse beds arent what caravanners know them as ....these are island beds in MHs....which can be logitundinal (common) or transverse (quite rare)...
French bed designs are alive and well in MH as they are space efficient with the loo/washroom alongside....
however, fixed singles are all the rage at the mo....
high over a garage for the continentals (not a caravan layout) or low with the washroom usually across the rearfor the uk.....
longitudinal island beds are very popular, with split washroom ahead, are also very popular....
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We caravanned for many years with bunk beds at the back and a double at the front made up every night. When the boys left home we wanted a fixed bed but without the cut-off corner. In the end we settled for a Bailey Pageant Provence which comes with a double
settee at the back and an L-shaped sofa at the front. We took out the back settees and removed the bunk, replacing them with a double memory foam mattress. The rear sleeping compartment has it's own door so when I get up early my spouse can still sleep. The
toilet compartment is central so again it can be used whilst she is asleep. The only problem was having to buy a different tow-car because of the weight of the caravan.0 -
For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
this is what I have and I love it, perfect for us. Yes most people may have to make the bed up which I guess might put people off. However I use the van with my daughter and we're both short so just use the sofas as single beds.
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
this is what I have and I love it, perfect for us. Yes most people may have to make the bed up which I guess might put people off. However I use the van with my daughter and we're both short so just use the sofas as single beds.
so why have sleeping for four but only dining for two
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
this is what I have and I love it, perfect for us. Yes most people may have to make the bed up which I guess might put people off. However I use the van with my daughter and we're both short so just use the sofas as single beds.
so why have sleeping for four but only dining for two
Dining for 4-6 at the front and another 2 at the rear, BB.
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
this is what I have and I love it, perfect for us. Yes most people may have to make the bed up which I guess might put people off. However I use the van with my daughter and we're both short so just use the sofas as single beds.
Our first caravan was this setup, we loved it and so did the boys, youngest wasn't even 2 when we first took him away. Bedrail on the bottom bunk, big brother on the top bunk happy as could be. We had that van for 4 years before we went to a twin dinette, again another good family van that some couples have converted into one end being a proper bed once the kids have moved on.
Can honestly say the side bed is the only bed we don't like.
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When we changed our van in June, we spent time discussing layout - it was either two fixed singles or the fixed side double (again). In the end we went for the fixed side double. We were not keen on the 'Island' bed - in whatever form because there was no room to get out when the bed was fully down. Also we like a rear end washroom and a single axle. One of the things we like about the side double is the big storeage area underneath accessible from the outside too. We keep our chairs under the bed - they wouldn't fit underneath either of the singles and we always travel with a clear 'van floor. It's a compromise, but in the Valencia we find it's not too bad for the 'inside person' to get out of bed from the bottom - in any case, I don't mind getting up if the OH needs to get up during the night.
David
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It wasn't just the getting up during the night that annoyed us, it was having to climb on the bed to get to the overhead lockers, crawling all over the bed to make it and the bed was the most uncomfortable bed I've ever slept in. To be fair this was over
10 years ago the bed was not a one piece it was divided 2 thirds/ 1 third with a wooden strut down the middle of where 1 of us slept
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Just changed to fixed side bed and live it! Being 6'2" the Alan's beds just aren't long enough for me
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
We had two of those when we took the family with us and the design works well. I think only Adria and Coachman still have them in their line up as Eldiss have now dropped it from the Xplore so I assume it is not a big seller.
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For compactness, the historic twin settees at the front and bunks across the back, which facilitated a dining area for two had much to commend it. Seldom seen these days.
We had two of those when we took the family with us and the design works well. I think only Adria and Coachman still have them in their line up as Eldiss have now dropped it from the Xplore so I assume it is not a big seller.
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