Side dinette bunks - how good are they?
Hi all, we're thinking about layouts in our next 'van and I'm drawn to the 524 /530 types with the side dinette that converts into bunks (I like the long lounge on this layout), and they're a bit lighter / shorter which appeals as I'm still an inexperienced tower.
We have nine year old twins and I'm wondering just how good the bunks are, especially the top one. If we bought one of these I'd like it to be suitable till the kids no longer want to come with us.
Are the bunks really practical / comfortable for permanent use - as opposed to occasional, and are they a faff to put together, or should we really be looking at fixed bed vans. Appreciate any input.
Thanks, Ian
Comments
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We have a Bailey Unicorn 2 Madrid with that layout and a Senator Arizona before that. We use it with grandchildren slightly older than your twins and also with their much younger cousins. Our vans just use folding seat cushions to provide the matresses, some have an additional matress but that has to be stored. The upper bunk cantilevers up and unfolds very easily and by day the dinette provides them with a good area for games, lego, drawing etc.
The layout is practical and works well. A fixed bed layout, unless a larger van, would mean that the children would normally be taking up the lounge space between their bedtime and yours. OK in summer if you've a nice awning to sit in, but not so good on a cold evening in the early or late season.
Without grandchildren we find it a nice spacious layout for the 2 of us with plenty of kitchen work space.
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I suspect that the top bunks on many may be a tad small in size. I like the layout for the two of us however.
On my 2012 Lunar ES I am not sure of the sizes but suspect much as the latest model
Front Double (Size assumes wrap round seating)
2.104 x 1.922m (6'11" x 6'4")
Front Single
1.922 x 0.739m (6'4" x 2'5")
Front Single
1.922 x 0.739m (6'4" x 2'5")
Side Single
1.830 x 0.703m (6'0'' x 2'4'')
Side Bunk (Optional)
1.766 x 0.569m (5'10" x 1'10")1 -
Our previous van had this layout. We took 2 teenagers away
with us (DD and friend) they were 13/14.
Later we just had our daughter with us so removed the upper bunk, she used the lower bunk till she was age 23, students just love "free" holidays!
Upper bunk is very easy to lift up into place. Generally there is a weight limit for it, so check that out.
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They are very good but probably limited depending on how tall the children are. Mine are 15 and 12 and they are at the limited. We have just ordered a new van and moved to a fixed bed and the kids will use the front seats as single beds. Not really a way around it
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I have a Bailey Pegasus Milan with the side dinette layout as this suits our needs currently, the bunks are not the widest but are easy to set up bottom bunk uses the seat cushions and the top bunk uses a separate set of cushions which are stored away during the day,
The top bunks has a max stated weight of 75kgs, if there is a draw back it is in night mode as whoever gets the top bunk has to use the ladders to both get in/out of bed this can be slightly awkward when lights are out and the curtain is drawn round, also in my van the bottom bunk does not have a dedicated night light.
Good luck with the van hunting.
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With our 1998 van which had this layout, there was no ladder supplied. Our teenagers had no problem climbing up and down by standing on the edge of the lower bunk.
I could see that toddlers would need help, but likely a parent would be supervising any toilet trips anyway?
Biggest problem for teenagers would be not hitting their head on whatever is above.
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