Hi all, we have been tenting for some time both as a couple and lately with our 6 year old granddaughter. Due to health problems (old age!)we are considering buying a caravan. Our present car wouldn't be suitable so would need to buy a matching set.
The only must we have is a fixed bed, if is this a good idea?
As this needs to be saved for we are only in the planning stage but if you were buying these with an approximate budget of 10k, what would you go for?
Our last two caravans have had fixed beds and we have given up on them. We find them a waste of caravan space that could be given over to something else. The layout in our Elddis Affinity 530 is perfect for us. We use the long bench seats as single beds with duvelays and the side dinette converts if we have one of the kids with us. We thought that the FB's were a great idea as well, but the space was totally wasted during the day.
Interesting reply, Made me think. I guess we just thought a fixed bed saves the job of making the bed up each evening. I've had a look at the Elddis Affinity 530 and it looks lovely but I'm afraid out of our price range, Thanks for the advice though.
Work colleague is looking at changing their fixed bed for one with fixed singles, as she said her hubby was complaining about climbing over her and that access to the overhead lockers was restricted. Although you could look at island beds.
------------- Watermouth Cove - Easter
Carsington Water - May
Sandringham - June
Dockray Meadow -August
Coniston Park - August
A fixed bed for me/us. no phaphing with making up or taking down beds. Bags of storage underneath and still 2 or one big double up front if you want to make it up. We find the end wash room a waste of space as the toilets and showers on site are there to be used.
P.S. How old is old age
We paid a bit more that your budget for our caravan but the dealer had a lot on view with a range of prices. I'd suggest looking around local dealers, and if you are away camping, dealers in those areas. Get a look at loads of caravans and see what you like.
I agree with Alistair that a fixed bed takes up too much space. Making up a bed is not difficult and does save space and weight.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Some great ideas, I was very fixed on the idea of a fixed (!) bed but this has got me thinking about the wasting of space. Although I guess with an awning the caravan is the bedroom and the awning a living area?
I quite fancy looking at lots of caravans to check the lay outs and if we do get away camping this year will certainly do that. Although I may also google and see where is close to home to go and have a mooch.
As I said in another thread, with a fixed bed you get a real mattress without humps and gaps. Mine is a sprung mattress.
I also love the end washroom with a full size shower. Although many sites have good facilities I prefer get out of bed and into the shower then get dressed. Rather than get dressed, wander over to shower block, get undressed, shower, get dressed, wander back to caravan
We had a 2 berth (well, still have but trying to sell!) which converted to a large double bed which we usually left made up cos OH didn't like sleeping on his own But there is a lot of faffing around to make it up and it took up space. So now we have a 4 berth fixed bed and we're really happy with it. My ideal would have been an island bed but you had to make a compromise in other areas.
Fixed bed is the way to go. I know you both have to get up at the same time for a wee in the night but that's no probs. The mattress is way more comfy than any made up bed will ever be. It's pure bliss just being able to go to bed and get up without any messing round. I can stay up and watch match of the day while she goes to bed and vice versa in the morning.
However, most 2nd hand fixed beds are a bit used looking and we preferred to buy new. Non fixed beds seem to wear better so are a more appealing 2nd had buy.
Fixed beds are bigger and heavier than a neat little 2 berth so you'll need a bigger car and towing will be a bit more stressful. The Ranger 460/4 is pretty good as is the 520/4 which we had and may be within your budget now. The 460/4 is particularly light and easy to tow.
There are other options to gain a fixed bed with a propper mattress other than buying a newish caravan with a designated unremovable 'fixed bed' .
Why not buy a caravan with a rear double dinette which can be left made up with a double mattress of your choice fitted? That way, if you didnt like the fixed double it would be easy enough to convert it back to its original form and use the front singles if that suited you best.
Just to clarify, is you 10k budget just for the caravan or for the entire outfit? The answer to this will be a big factor in which outfits may suit your requirements, and obviously the larger the caravan the more powerful the towcar will need to be to tow it, so running costs need to be considered as well. Im disabled myself, and we are both retired, as my OH is in his 70s, but we find our two berth with two good sized front singles and a rear washroom suits us fine. lt only tatkes a couple of mins to roll the sleeping bags out for night time use, or if we do decide to make up the double, that is only a few mins more. If we take one of our grandchildren with us, shes happy to sleep on the back cushions placed on the floor between the two singles for a few nights. We did try the fixed bed models before buying this van, but as mentioned above, discarded them for the reasons of poor access to overhead lockers, the climbing over each other to go to the loo in the night, and the squabbles about who got to sleep on the side of the bed with the missing corner cut off.
Good luck with your search, take your time and dont listen to too much sales talk from those who are trying to sell on a particular model at a dealership, there are plenty of good secondhand caravans out there, and im sure that you will eventually find the right one for you and your needs.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Well we love the island bed However most of these are twin axles Although There are some newer single axles offering the island bed or fixed singles
Its just choice really with just the two of us we manage fine in the eight metre van with the 4x4 to tow it (Ours only costs £90 to fill)
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Topic: advice please
But there is a lot of faffing around to make it up and it took up space. So now we have a 4 berth fixed bed and we're really happy with it. My ideal would have been an island bed but you had to make a compromise in other areas. 
so it could be interesting.
