Quote: Originally posted by nora on 03/12/2023
If you make up the two front seats where do you put the seat backs . I usually put mine on the foot against the seats .
I'm the same with just chucking a sleeping bag and pillow on individual front benches. I can be in bed in under a minute, couldn't be doing with all this bed clothes/making up malarkey! Even when using pull out slats to make up the double bed, it's still sleeping bags, just so easy. My van has a side dinette/flip up bunk bed arrangement, I never use the dinette, nor the bunk beds for their proper purpose (they are only child size/weight limit anyway, but I use them as 'shelves', the lower one has the dog crate and dog 'paraphernalia' on it, the upper one luggage and the camping fridge/freezer which supplements the inbuilt fridge. I just place the redundant back cushions on top of the stuff on the top shelf/bunk.
I suppose they would easily fit on edge on the floor beside the bench/beds in front of the underseat locker doors, still leave enough space to walk between them I'm sure, but never tried that, besides that's the dog's favourite sleeping spot, close to me, and suspect cushions would cramp her normal sprawling posture!
I tend to sleep better in the caravan with that arrangement than I do at home in conventional bedding, so see no reason to change what works well for me (others also seem to sleep well enough with that set up, and no one has complained yet in 6 years). Also, never bother to flip bench cushion over for sleeping (unless making up double), I find the roll edge tends to stop you rolling out of the very narrow bed.
I really dont know how anyone sleeps on the single bench seats. No matter how comfy they may be, they are just so restrictive, and im not the biggest bloke either. I like a bit of room to move in bed, and sleeping 'mummy style' just wouldnt cut it.
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 05/12/2023
I really dont know how anyone sleeps on the single bench seats. No matter how comfy they may be, they are just so restrictive, and im not the biggest bloke either. I like a bit of room to move in bed, and sleeping 'mummy style' just wouldnt cut it.
Well, I'm generally regarded as a 'big bloke', just shy of 6ft (1.82m) these days and broad shouldered at around 48in (122cm) chest, and AFAIK my bench seat/beds are not exceptionally large at 6ft 1in x 2ft 3in (1.862 x 0.67m), which makes them around 9in (23cm) narrower than a standard single bed, and I'm not a 'mummy sleeper' by any means, in fact really can't sleep on my back, and well know as (accused of being!!!) a 'sprawler' (bed hog!), but have no difficulty sleeping comfortably on the benches, in fact often wake to find the dog (Border Collie) has snook up onto the bed and found space to snuggle up to me and sleep soundly too! Don't seem to bang into the wall, or find myself slipping off side of the bed (even with the dog hogging space!), so regard the space as perfectly adequate, rather born out by the good nights sleep I always seem to get.
It was a concern before I bought the van, but figured if the benches proved to be too narrow, then making up the double bed would solve that (6ft 4in x 6ft 1in), but rarely have I bothered with the double. I know some vans the bench/beds aren't as long as mine, maybe they are also narrower too?
I don't usually have any problem sleeping in the caravan on the front seat. I am nearly 6' tall, not that big built, but not exactly skinny either. I prefer a larger bed but compromises sometimes have to be made.
I could always make the front seats up into quite a decent sized double-bed but that would take a lot longer and be far less convenient if/when one of us has to get up in the night. The one sleeping closest to the front windows would have to climb over the other one to get out of bed. Far more of a problem in my book than sleeping in a narrow bed.
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 05/12/2023
I really dont know how anyone sleeps on the single bench seats. No matter how comfy they may be, they are just so restrictive, and im not the biggest bloke either. I like a bit of room to move in bed, and sleeping 'mummy style' just wouldnt cut it.
Well, I'm generally regarded as a 'big bloke', just shy of 6ft (1.82m) these days and broad shouldered at around 48in (122cm) chest, and AFAIK my bench seat/beds are not exceptionally large at 6ft 1in x 2ft 3in (1.862 x 0.67m), which makes them around 9in (23cm) narrower than a standard single bed, and I'm not a 'mummy sleeper' by any means, in fact really can't sleep on my back, and well know as (accused of being!!!) a 'sprawler' (bed hog!), but have no difficulty sleeping comfortably on the benches, in fact often wake to find the dog (Border Collie) has snook up onto the bed and found space to snuggle up to me and sleep soundly too! Don't seem to bang into the wall, or find myself slipping off side of the bed (even with the dog hogging space!), so regard the space as perfectly adequate, rather born out by the good nights sleep I always seem to get.
Well it beats me how you can 'sprawl' in a 2' 3" bed. Your back must be close to 20" wide at the top with a 48" chest. And throw in the dog as well! That gives the pair of you around 7-8" to move around. I'd be on the floor.
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 06/12/2023
......
Well it beats me how you can 'sprawl' in a 2' 3" bed. Your back must be close to 20" wide at the top with a 48" chest. And throw in the dog as well! That gives the pair of you around 7-8" to move around. I'd be on the floor.
LOL, think the sleeping bag probably 'restricts' my natural sprawling antics and makes me fit the bed better, in fact probably another plus point for sleeping bags! ... if I had loose bed clothes, I'd probably poke out everywhere, and indeed likely roll out of bed which has been know to occur even with a double bed! .... but I blame my ex for hogging most of the bed and pushing me to the edge for that! .... probably where I learnt to sleep on a mere sliver of mattress!!!!
.... out of curiosity, just measured, near 24in across my shoulders! ... so bed only 3in wider than me! ... good job I don't lie on my back or dog wouldn't stand a snowflakes chance!
Really shouldn't measure myself and compare to caravan dimensions, I'm a snug fit in many areas! .... I'm actually 5 1/2in WIDER that the van access door and I have to duck as I sidle in as well! ..... not all snug though, I did choose wisely with the full width bathroom and large shower cubical!
Well, i was going to suggest about 24" across the shoulders, but when i pulled the tape out i have on the side here, i thought 'surely not' - almost sounds offensive, so opted for the 20". Yes, it is as well you are enveloped in a bag. Ive seen a good few blokes (and a few women) only entering sideways, so you arent alone.
Glad to hear of someone consciously choosing, and actually using, their bloody shower. Getting to be a rarity!
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 06/12/2023
Well, i was going to suggest about 24" across the shoulders, but when i pulled the tape out i have on the side here, i thought 'surely not' - almost sounds offensive, so opted for the 20". Yes, it is as well you are enveloped in a bag. Ive seen a good few blokes (and a few women) only entering sideways, so you arent alone.
Glad to hear of someone consciously choosing, and actually using, their bloody shower. Getting to be a rarity!
LOL, offend away, everyone else does! Often called a 'brick outhouse' or compared to the nightclub bouncer that you REALLY don't want to mess with! Photo's with friends, especially the petite ladies are almost comical, and oft suggested they've been photo-shopped to contrive kids and the Honey Monster! I'm not even an overweight 'tub of lard', just quite hefty muscular build - if I got 'chubby', the caravan would have to go!
The only way I was going to be able to use an onboard shower was with a full width bathroom and decent cubical, and I bought the van with every intention of using ALL the facilities that I'd bought and dragged around the country, and have done so on every trip since acquiring van 6 years back! - regarded it as an essential feature and never regretted it. True to say there were plenty of vans and MHs with compact bathrooms that I barely fitted in and stood no hope of using when I was seeking a van to buy, and a few beds that I'd have struggled with as well!
Entrance door is a PITA though, not easy to get me AND anything that needs carrying through the hole!
Interesting you mention the entrance door Monty. I remember a discussion once before concerning the width of entrance doors when I said that our old caravan had at some time been fitted with a domestic fridge (not Dometic). Someone said it wouldn't fit through the door so I measured it. Our fridge would fit easily through the door so no problem there should it ever need to come out. Seems to me that older caravans may have had wider doorways than modern ones.
You would never manage with our tiny shower compartment. I don't usually use it for that very reason, I always use the site ones. If I tried to use our shower compartment I would probably come out covered in bruises. I'd have to duck down to get under it, banging my knees and elbows in the process. Still, we always only go to sites with EHU because of the fridge and now the new water heater I fitted, and these usually have toilets and showers too. With the water heater I decided that if we were going to have to pay a fixed price for electricity I might as well make the most use of it. The one it replaced had been gas only.
As well is two words!
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Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
It seems I’m one of the few people who dislike the Duvalay. Vastly overpriced. To cut the story short I still use the bed topper part under a king size sleeping bag and the shoddy duvet part and cover were consigned to the dustbin.
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Topic: Duvalay sleeping bags
..... not all snug though, I did choose wisely with the full width bathroom and large shower cubical!
