Just back from 19 days in france and much as we love the van we wonder if the fixed bed was a mistake. When the weather was hot we didnt even go in the van other than to sleep but then in the last week the nights were cooler and with our daughter lying asleep on the front seats made into a double we had no where to sit. We didnt take an awning, just a sun canopy so we could take an awning next year and sit in their on an evening. That still leaves us struggling in the UK though as we dont always want to have to put an awning up and we were hoping to go away for a few nights Oct half term but dont fancy sitting in the awning then in the evenings.
I wonder if a 6 berth would work better with off side bunks and the seating area next to it for our daughter and us up front. Our daughter is a tall 12 so we didnt go for bunks initially thinking she would quickly out grow them. Other alternative I guess is a 4 berth end bathroom but then how long are the made up side bed our daughter would have?
Why not let your daughter have the fixed bed? She can keep her stuff on it and seperate herself when she wants to and you two can just sit up or go to bed as you want?
Hi Savanne. Glad you enjoyed France and that you had a good time. We have a similar problem but we work around it. Our daughter is 13, but generally she doesn't tend to go to bed before us when on holiday. We do always use our awning, but on the occasions we want to sit in the van when she is in bed, we make up the bed by only pulling out the slats far enough to make a single bed across the van. This just about leaves us with enough room for two single seats either side. Even when we don't sit in the van we only even make up her bed in this way and she has plenty of room width wise. Give it a try and see how you get on.
My friend had this problem so the kids had the fixed bed, it worked well for them, perhaps it's worth a try.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
I guess this is a problem all parents face eventually! We have a side dinette that son can use if he wants to (ie if the weather is particularly bad), he is 14 but not particularly tall for his age (about 5'4 I guess) so still fits on it. He still goes to bed before us, but now has his own tent and prefers to sleep in that. So maybe a pup tent is the answer? He tried sleeping in an awning annexe, but preferred his own tent (a Coleman Phad X3, so pretty weatherproof!) Also means he has room in the tent if he wants to take a friend.
Personally I would try to find a solution rather than go to all the hassle of swapping to a 6 berth just for three of you.
When you get into six berth vans , they start to get heavy and the ones that arnt are quite packed in, I think you should stick it out, youve got a cracking van now and after all the grief you had with the pageant, I think you should work with what you have :)
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
When you get into six berth vans , they start to get heavy and the ones that arnt are quite packed in, I think you should stick it out, youve got a cracking van now and after all the grief you had with the pageant, I think you should work with what you have :)
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
thanks all. We are going to look for a full awning over the next few months and could get an annexe too as I reckon before much longer our daughter will want her own space. However in the meantime we have things we could try.
DSB, thanks a good idea and we'll definetly try that. Will have a go tommorrow. Glad to hear you enjoyed your UK hols.
Murano, I think you're right. I said to the OH tonight what would we replace it with and the thought of searching for a new van fills me with dread.
I totally understand that , we decided that our new to us beautiful 2 berth swift had to go as DS decided he might come again, but not all the time, so we started looking at 4 berths again!!! but I just couldn't deal with all that heartache looking again when there is absolutely nothing wrong with our van it's lovely, so if DS does come occasionally well in the awning he will go lol, I just know our van is sound dry and lovely and the best van to tow weve ever had and I'm to scared incase we buy somthing that isn't , and before you know it your DD will be grown up and won't want to come and you get all that van to yourself lol.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
thanks all. We are going to look for a full awning over the next few months and could get an annexe too as I reckon before much longer our daughter will want her own space. However in the meantime we have things we could try.
DSB, thanks a good idea and we'll definetly try that. Will have a go tommorrow. Glad to hear you enjoyed your UK hols.
Murano, I think you're right. I said to the OH tonight what would we replace it with and the thought of searching for a new van fills me with dread.
Savanne, one problem you might encounter with my idea is that of a table. The caravan table will be too big to put up if you need one while DD is asleep. Perhaps one of those small roll tops would do the trick? I would try it out though first to see how you do. If you are only going to sit for a short time then it probably wouldn't be a problem.
Do you have a front chest of draws in the Ranger? If so, it will cut down the room you have. Try removing it or consider replacing with wrap around. We have wrap around in the Sancerre. Just a few ideas think about.
Maybe have a look at some of the suncamp awnings? We have got a full one for ours but they also do some that are smaller than this and quick to put up but are bigger than a porch awning. One of our friends has the one that is like a semi circle shape and he swears by it....reckons its quick to put up and big enough to sit out in! We only went for the Daytona model as we needed the space for our 9 month old to crawl around in! As others have said you could always have the front double bed and leave the fixed one for your child? We only have the front sofas / double in our model of ranger but I think with the Duvalays we have been given as a present it should be nice and comfortable Would be a shame to change the van just after you have brought it!
I totally understand that , we decided that our new to us beautiful 2 berth swift had to go as DS decided he might come again, but not all the time, so we started looking at 4 berths again!!! but I just couldn't deal with all that heartache looking again when there is absolutely nothing wrong with our van it's lovely, so if DS does come occasionally well in the awning he will go lol, I just know our van is sound dry and lovely and the best van to tow weve ever had and I'm to scared incase we buy somthing that isn't , and before you know it your DD will be grown up and won't want to come and you get all that van to yourself lol.
Our thoughts entirely, Murano. Our youngest (the only one who regularly comes with us now (other DD is 27 and DS is 25,) is 13 (almost 14) and when we're on holiday rarely goes to bed much before us. It won't be too long for Savanne to ride this one out. Savanne's DD will be staying up longer very soon, IMHO.
Yep David agree , they soon want to stay up the same time so ride it out, it all changes before you know it.
You have a great van there savanne, if it ain't broke don't fix it, they say. X
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
hi David, we have the wrap around seats so your idea should work well. Just mentioned it to the OH who thinks it'll work but not sure how we'll position the cushions to make the smaller bed.
Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 03/9/2011
hi David, we have the wrap around seats so your idea should work well. Just mentioned it to the OH who thinks it'll work.
The only time we've got ours out fully was for a week this summer when older DD (aged 27) turned up as well. Both daughters slept in single sleeping bags on the front made up double. They were fine.
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Topic: do we need a different layout?
Would be a shame to change the van just after you have brought it!
The only time we've got ours out fully was for a week this summer when older DD (aged 27) turned up as well. Both daughters slept in single sleeping bags on the front made up double. They were fine. 
