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Dear All

I'm dizzy from looking at Motorhomes and my indecisive gene has kicked in big time so would love some other people opinions.

I know that I don't want us all sleeping really close together e.g. bed over cab and just a converted dining area near the front of the vehicle.

I like the Motorhomes I've seen with 2 seating areas, usually 1 at the rear which also converts to a bed.

BUT do I really like those vans with integral bunk beds - I think I do as they are convenient (not having to make up all of the time) and spreads the sleeping area out a bit. OR are they a bit of a waste os space - better used for extra seating area?

Like I said - indecisiveness runs in the family and this inability to decide is holding me back!

Hiring didn't help! I liked them both!

Help!!

Why not have the kids sleeping in the awning or in a tent, they will love the freedom.

roy

2 biggish kids?? How old, 2 male, 2 female, one of each? Give us a clue. Could they sleep together in a luton overcab bed and you + OH in fixed rear bed or 'U' rear lounge converting to double bed. There are literally hundreds of conversion configurations to choose from. Why not look at the layout plans on line e.g. http://www.explorer-group.co.uk/ (there are others), and then go to your nearest dealers to check them out. If all else fails, do what Roy suggests and buy them a tent

Don

1. Luton bed

2. Double ded / dining area

3. Two single beds or one very large double / U shaped lounge

Thats what we have and think it suits us the best. 2 adults & 3 growing kids.

Fixed beds / bunks may give you are garage, but we thought the large living space would be better. Its so easy to convert the U shaped lounge.

Hi,

I have a 5 berth swift kontiki with an over the cab double bed, a single in the kitchen/ dining area and a u shaped rear lounge seating area that makes up into a good sized double bed. Personally, I think this layout is perfect for a family of 4 as it gives you plenty of seating area plus space between you at bedtime. If you opt for a fixed bed area I think you may find it a little cramped during the day when there is 4 of you.

I love the idea of a fixed end bedroom and when we replace ours in a year or two's time I will definitely look for one that has a bedroom but I truly think that is fine if there is just 2 of you to consider but a large family in an average size motorhome now that's a different story! Mmmmn I think you might regret choosing a fixed bed model to be honest with you and I think when there is 4 people on board you need much more living space!  So in my opinion it might be wise to opt for extra seating.

Hope this helps.

Sonesta

Thanks for the comments so far. I have one 14 year old girl and an 11 year old boy so they need a bed each and although bunks would work just sleeping them at opposite sides of a Motorhome wouldn't - if they can see each other, they'll wind each other up.

The awning with bedrooms is a great idea but I want a Motorhome which would also work for us when we were just staying one or two nights and didn't have time to put this up etc.

Think I'm being swayed towards extra seating areas BUT can still see lots of good points in getting one with fixed bunk beds now and then trading that in later for a fixed rear bed model for just the two of us.

Thanks again - like someone said there are hundreds of models and I'm just too indecisive!

hi, a few things to think about when you get one.

sleeping, do you all go at the same time, if not you will need an area for others to sit.

do you cook a lot, if not you dont need a big cooking area. ( you only cook at most 3 times a day ).

lounge area, is it ok for you all to sit and do your "thing" ie watch tv, play cards. think of it as the place you will be living in for a weekend / week at a time and work out what you will be doing most of the time.

we are on our 2nd one now and find we wanted a big lounge area. hope that helps you.

floppy

Although I have 6 children, the older ones stated before we made our purchase that they would rarely be coming along, and that if they did, then they would be happy kipping outside in a pup tent each in the awning.  In the year we have had the motorhome, only one of them has ever come along and slept outside like that.  Our layout is double over cab, double dinette and single bench seat.  Our reckoning was that I would have the double dinette as I am on the large side (not a heffer, just large build) and hubby would have the single side bench.  Two youngest (13 & 12) would share the double over cab.  We now bitterly regret thinking that they would be happy doing that.  They have argued since day one about who would sleep at the back who would have their head near the window, who was taking up too much space etc.  I truly wish we had gone for a van that had fixed bunk beds.  Also, this would have created storage space for my electric scooter which currently has to come to bits and be put in various areas all over the van.  If and when we change, it will be for one with fixed bunks.  Children will always get bigger, and will they still be wanting to share as the years go on.  Ours won't, so now we have no option but to have at least one of them outside in a tent, meaning the awning is a must, regardless of how bad the weather is or how much light or time we have available to erect it.  We would still have plenty of space to sit down, as the kids could lounge on their beds or sit outside on camp chairs or whatever.

Hope this helps from someone who has already been there.

Sara

Bunk bed vans have a problem in that either they've got more limited seating areas (typically that's the end bunk vans like our Carioca 656) or a pretty small kitchen (usually the vans with side bunks). There are a few vans with folding bunks which get around this but they also have their issues.

We've had our van for nearly two years now and the layout had been great. A little more lounging room would be nice however I don't really want a larger van and within the space available I think the layout is about as good as it could be. Typically we've found that people use the cab seats or head to their beds/bunks if they want to read or play computer games - the main problem is that the setup for watching tv isn't great. If a tv was mounted in its proper place it could only be seen by two people so we use my laptop as a tv/dvd player and just put it on the worktop in the kitchen area which works fine.

Because the bunks are big (long and wide) the kids store most of their gear, including their clothes, there and that leaves the cupboard for my wife and I. The remaining garage area when both bunks are in use is still pretty big and can store a lot of kit. Another good thing is that the shower and toilet area is a decent size (with a seperate shower area) and best of all the shower head can be taken out the window and used to shower all the sand of the kids after beach trips which helps with keeping the inside clean.

We're very happy with our machine and might well keep it until the older kid (who's 14) is no longer tending to travel with us. It could do with a bit more power but the latest model resolves that with a 2.3JTD instead of the 2.0JTD ours has.

If you decide a bunk bed van is for you then I'd suggest giving the Carioca a look as even new it's not too expensive. The only price alternatives I've seen is to import a left hand drive van - possibly the best bet if you decide to go with side bunks.

Hope this helps!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my plea for advice. It won't amaze anyone to know that I haven't yet made my choice but I am really clear about what I'm not going to buy. I have friends with a small caravan with fixed end bunks which the kids do use all of the time to read/play games etc but the living space is really quite limited. My husband is a big lad, the 14 year old and 11 year old are both as tall as me so we do need decent sized living area/s so that's a big 'must-have'.

Being lazy on holiday I don't cook much so as long as there is a kettle and somewhere to make toast, the kitchen isn't a big deal for me. However, the lazy me doesn't want to be heaving tables back and forward every night to make up beds either - so here the fixed bunks win but not if it compromises the living space too much.

I'm off to have a good look at some Dealers during the next school holdays equipped with the husband and children to do some testing.

Thanks Again