Lunar Ariva bed length
I am 6ft tall and when we purchased our Ariva we were fully aware that the beds (if used as 2 singles) are only 5' 11" long. However, as the van met our requirements in all other respects we decided we would go with it and if necessary be 'creative' about how we might make at least one of the beds longer. Whilst the bed was comfortable I found that on occasion I do like to stretch out. The solution we have come up with is to raise the end of the bed that butts on to the front window shelf and by use of a thin mattress overlay and slim pillow extend the bed onto the shelf. This gives me the extra 3 " I need although it does mean the bed tilts upwards (10 degrees) slightly at one end. However, I'm wondering whether any of you 'risk taker' caravaners out there have been more adventurous and cut away panelling at either end of the bed to give more length or come up with some other ingenious idea. If anyone has I would be very interested to hear how successful or not it has been. As an aside I would say that the Ariva has proved to be a delight as a small, easily towable van that has more than met our expectations.
Comments
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That is a clever idea. We had an Ariva for a while and liked the convenience of its diminutive proportions. We always sleep in a double bed so the length was not an issue. Eventually we decided it was just too small a van so we sold it on.
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the front end is a firewall!
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Good luck. We had an Ariva but as we are shorties we were able to (just) sleep across the van. Had the van for 7 years and went all over Europe in it. Suited us.
Have you tried sleeping diagonally? Don't know if your OH could be accomodated if you did.
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Thank you for your responses. I certainly would not want to compromise the 'firewall' but did wonder whether cutting an aperture through the wardrobe wall (left hand bed) or cupboard wall (right hand bed) might be an alternative solution. Problem is once it is done there's no going back. If anyone has actually taken this rather drastic measure I would love to know how it worked out.
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why are so many caravans so (hugely) long yet only provide beds at well under 6'.......even some with the USP of a rear island bed rarely is it more than1.30m wide and generally nowhere near 2m long...
perhaps it's all that space goes into the 'wonderful' shower room (that so few use as they're always on sites) and then fit such small beds.
strange priorities considering most have 8 hrs or so in bed and 20 mins tops in the washroom...
why should a customer have to be 'inventive' to get a proper bed?
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why are so many caravans so (hugely) long yet only provide beds at well under 6'. Never had that problem but I an surprised that any adult beds are under 6' but in the case of front seats I suppose that a number are if you consider them as 2 singles rather than making up as a double
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A lot are designed to have the bed made into a double, BB, with the option of using them as (slightly short) singles if desired. Rather like a lot of MHs really. Many others provide generous length beds - like a lot of MHs.
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agreed, but making a bed 5' 11" suggests it's a lengthways bed....
the difference in making it 5' 11" as opposed to 6' 5" makes a huge difference in sleeping comfort, but for some reason (some) converters feel the 6" is best used elsewhere....
i was talking about the main bed, have a look at some singles and they're only 2' wide and often well less than 6' long.....why, when folk are getting larger
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i was talking about the main bed, have a look at some singles and they're only 2' wide and often well less than 6' long.....why, when folk are getting larger
Hugely long and beds under 6'. I can't think of any caravan like that. Any example?
The small narrow 2 berth arriva bed size is only 6' 1'' long when made as a double but then it a short and narrow van.
Front Double (Size assumes wrap round seating)
1.844 x 1.812m (6'1'' x 5'11'')
Front Single
1.812 x 0.679m (5'11" x 2'3")
Front Single
1.812 x 0.679m (5'11" x 2'3")0 -
swift elegance 565
Bed Sizes
Front Double 2.00m x 1.63m / 6' 7" x 5' 4"
Front Nearside Single 1.63m x 0.67m / 5' 4" x 2' 2"
Front Offside Single 1.63m x 0.67m / 5' 4" x 2' 2"
Rear Side Single (offside) 1.72m x 0.75m / 5' 8" x 2' 6"
Rear Side Single (nearside) 1.90m x 0.75m / 6' 3" x 2' 6"so, 3 out of the 4 singles are 5' 4" or 5' 8" (small) and 2 are only just over 2' wide....yet the van is 7.54m long...
so, hugely long van with short narrow beds IMHO.
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Adult Double, Adult single and Adult kid size.
I suppose it would suit some folk.
I know that one of the reason we chose our van (same model as previous) was that we wanted to use front seats as two singles 6' 4'' x 2' 5''. Many were too short for that or at least one of the front seats were. We did not wish to make up a double. We also wanted the side dinette.
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Shipping length of our van is 8.1m. It has two single beds which are 6'10" x 2'10" and the most comfortable I have slept in - anywhere! (Main reason we bought it). Added to which it has a huge bathroom which houses not only the usual toilet, shower and sink but also two very large wardrobes. Needless to say, it's German!
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I am afraid that anything on the lines suggested would hammer the price you get when you sell it, so it should be avoided if possible. As Easy T says the problem is the caravan is narrower than most and that limits the length to what it is.
If you want a narrow caravan there is a slightly wider version of the Antares, but that is I think the only comparable model.
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