Fixed bed caravans

[strebor100]

It is widly reported that 4berth fixed bed caravans aowned and used by just couples, so why dont manufacturers make the lounge area more comfortable rathere than the compromise of having 2 "extra" berths which are never used?

 

[Lutz]

I would imagine that in many cases, at least it applies to us, it's nice to know that you could put up 2 guests should the situation arise. Besides, I have no complaints about the comfort of the existing lounge area. The only 'improvement' that I could imagine is separate swivel armchairs instead of the the sofa bench, but then we couldn't invite others to join us for a meal, and that doesn't happen that infrequently.

 

[Dustydog]

We are two adults only plus dogs.
I'm on my second fixed bed and can't realistically imagine how the lounge area could be made "more comfortable".
We've used the lounge as a lounge , double bed and two singles. The Springers love their singles.

What did you have in mind?

 

[JohnGriffiths]

I agree with Strebor, the bench seats are too wide which leads to having no back support. If you sit right back the backrests are too upright. It would make a lot of sense to offer proper, no-compromise, comfortable seating for some models. Just a small settee round the front and perhaps two swivel chairs. But as usual it would depend on whether enough people would buy them.

 

[philspot1]

Perhaps a manufacturer will try a model with a shortened front sitting area (swivel recliner seats,) then the standard kitchen with wardrobe opposite, then fixed bed with walkway beside it to the END BATHROOM. And the whole thing measuring under 7 meters including hitch!! Unfortunately, there are not enough of us anti-social couples who never want to invite anyone to join us for a meal, nor to stay the night. When I win Euromillions, I may have one built to my spec., then we'll see how many others want one for themselves!!

 

[Lutz]

Good thing we all have different tastes. An end bathroom is a definite no-no for us.

 

[DianneT]

Like Lutz we do hanker for an end bathroom. But we like the long seats in the Lounge area so when we are on own we can sit with out feet up to watch the TV and find the storage underneath excellent. We do occasionally have someone to stop with us and very often there is 6 people sitting down for a meal or drinks.

 

[ValA.]

We saw a caravan like ours (Swift Speedbird 490, year 2000, fixed bed - based on the Dutch Toscane) where the owner had taken out both bench seats at the front and replaced them with cream leather stressless recliners and footstools (removable) and a coffee table which raised up to eating height, plus a cupboard to hide his battery compartment. All except the footstools were fixed to the floor, made from the same rather pale wood, and laminate as the original, and he'd replaced the flooring with a wood-effect expensive vinyl. It all looked rather nice!

We do lend our caravan to my sister and her family and they use the front beds though, so for many people it wouldn't be practical. However, I wouldn't have thought it was beyond the skill of a competent DIYer!

I wouldn't want an end bathroom - we've never used the shower in this one in eleven years, and in May had to remove the shower valve as it was leaking, due to frost damage. The replacement is £90.00 and it seems silly to spend that amount of money on something we don't use, so we've capped off the pipes and covered the hole with a wetwipe dispenser.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Taking out the bench seats as a DIY job and replacing with Stressless recliners and footstools, which are very much heavier, would surely alter the balance of the caravan and stability when towing.

 

[philspot1]

The problem with converting an existing caravan inside is that the furniture can be all part of the structural rigidty of the "cube". Taking away even something as low as front dinettes may remove a right angle bracket between the floor and walls. Caravan fittings tend to be put in place first, then the walls fitted to them. I think I'll wait for a manufacturer to offer to make one for me!

 

[Martin24]

As I will never be convinced of the positive merits of fixed bed against the amount of space they take up it'll never be an issue. However I would say some lounges are more comfortable than others and if people find theirs uncomfortable or cramped why buy the van in the first place! the front lounges of caravans have been the same for many years it's tried and tested and if people want swivel seats then go and buy a fixed bed motorhome.

 

[Beachball]

In 2008 we brought our present van a Bailey Discovery Mercury Series 5 it supposely a 2 berth but it has bunks at the front and a fixed bed at the back and our 2010 Citroen Grand Picasso HDI (110bph ) has no problems at towing what so ever we love this van . When we change next we are looking at the new Orion 430 because you get a fixed bed plus and end bathroom ( But the bunks come in handy when you have visitors around on campsites ......

 

[otherclive]

We have a 2005 Pageant S5 Bordeaux which has a full size lounge and a good sized fixed bed. We like it because the bed becomes a storage area during the day, but at night the dogs have the lounge and are shut out of the sleeping area. The bathroom/wc is small but is fine and does the job if siite showers are not avialable. With the S5 I can sleep on one of the front singles ( I am 6ft 4in) if our grandkids are in the fixed bed. So a 7m van with 250kg payload and MTPLM of 1400kg does us just about right. We have looked at other new fixed bed vans but some have shorter bodies with reductions in the lounge area and singles length. Others are heavier than I would like, although the car can take 1600kg at 85%, and the trend towards lighter payloads doesn't excite me especially when there is no choice on supplied TV, microwave, sound systems, alarms etc.

 

[JohnGriffiths]

...... if people want swivel seats then go and buy a fixed bed motorhome.

Allowing for the fact that a fixed bed motorhome is going to be approximately £20,000 more than a similar sized new caravan that's a rather expensive way of getting 2 swivel seats!

 

[Nigel196]

Alternatively look out for an ABI Award Superstar from the mid 1980's. It had swivel armchairs in lieu of benches at the front

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Nigel B