We have just spent our second season with a Swift Challenger 520SE and, despite us loving the van, we have decided we would like a bit more space and possibly a fixed bed. The main problem we have is that I am early to bed and rise and the other half is the opposite! With our current van I am usable to shut off the sleeping area, allowing me to get up, make tea etc without waking the OH. Also, we enjoy having friends come with us at the weekend, which at the moment means that we sleep in the awning. Ideally I'd like for us both to be able to sleep in the van.
So, I have started to look at the options and have narrowed it down to a couple. We are looking at twin axle vans, to give us the extra space. Our 4x4 will tow this easily and we've noticed that they are a bit cheaper.
The two layouts we're looking at are:
1. End seating area, dining area (both converting to doubles) Side bathroom, end kitchen. My mother in law has a Abbey Spectrum 420 2002 with this layout and it's really spacious. We really like there van so would consider buying the same one.
2. End seating area (making a double) middle kitchen, fixed bed and bathroom at opposite end. These are a bit more pricey but I have found a few within budget.
We are going to a few caravan shops today to have a look at these layouts to try and decided what would work best for us. Any advice would be much appreciated!!!
I think the double dinette would be better for you or your guests will have to pass your bed to acess the bathroom. It is a flexible arrangement as you have the option to leave the bed made up. My only thought on the downside (and I'm not that familiar with twin axle models) is would you have a private dressing area or would the bathroom suffice?
we have a fixed bed van and are looking to change it as it just dosent work for us with two teenagers. We're hoping to swap to a double dinette layout with 6ft front seats and a wide dinette at the back that we can use if both kids come (they'll have the long front seats) or if its just us and DD we'll have the huge front double and she can have the back to herself. I love the fixed bed but it just takes up so much space.
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I think that when space is limited, you need as much flexibility as possible, so I don't "get" fixed beds, they just swallow limited floor space.
But the manufacturers seem fixated with them.
I like the concept of a FB but it's not for me, I couldn't ever give up my end bathroom and space , the only way I would have a fixed bed is if I could have the long front seats and not have to have shorter ones, and still have a end bathroom which means it would have to be a twin axle really , which we wouldn't be able to tow.
I sometimes think a FB would be good, but tbh we are awake more than asleep , the bed takes a few mins to put up, and if we are tired we sleep on them as singles.
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The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 04/9/2011
I think that when space is limited, you need as much flexibility as possible, so I don't "get" fixed beds, they just swallow limited floor space.
But the manufacturers seem fixated with them.
Post last edited on 04/09/2011 19:53:05
I agree Alan , we went to a dealers a few weeks ago, and had a look round only a few had the side dinette layout we liked nearly all were fixed beds.
------------- "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.
double dinette... can always leave it made as a bed if needed.. much more flexible.. weve got a twin axle, double ended, toilet / shower in the middle.. works well, wouldnt change it :-)
Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 04/9/2011I think that when space is limited, you need as much flexibility as possible, so I don't "get" fixed beds, they just swallow limited floor space.
But the manufacturers seem fixated with them.
Post last edited on 04/09/2011 19:53:05
I agree Alan , we went to a dealers a few weeks ago, and had a look round only a few had the side dinette layout we liked nearly all were fixed beds.
We went to the Manchester Show looking at layouts. When we said to salesmen that we didn't want a fixed bed they gave us a look that said "Does not compute. Fatal systems error." I am 6 foot 3 and there are no fixed beds long enough or at least without a solid wall at each end, or a big chunk taken out at the corner. Sorry, but when I am spending x thousands of pounds, I expect to get what I want, not what some design student thinks I should have.
Yes!! My dealer looked at us if we were from planet zib!! He just stood open mouthed when we said no fixed beds please.He said but everyone has fixed beds now, well obviously reading this no not eveyone does or desires one.
------------- "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.
We have a fixed island bed and we love it and wouldn't swap it for anything else! As hubby is about 6'4" it had to be an island bed as the side fixed bed aren't long enough. We're not bothered about having a huge bathroom, its the bed thats important to use. We wuld be rall disappointed if this layout was to disappear. I note that Lunar have changed their island bed to a transverse, which probably means losing some of the length from the bed size. No good for us!
But manufacturers can't keep everyone happy. I just hope when we do need to change ours we'll be able to get the same layout as we have now.
we have twin dinette works well,if our teenage son comes with us we all have a double bed,but when we go on our own we leave end made up so its like a fixed bed.its lots more flexible than a fixed with lots more seating if needed.forgot to say ours is a twin axle but our friends have just brought a single axle with the same layout side bathroom and kitchen opp .
I wouldn't swap our fixed bed. After saying that, we tend to like using the awning. Only ever eat in the van in October/February half terms. Easter, Mayday, Spring BH, and the long summer holidays we always eat in the awning (plus any other times between Easter & October) - and there are only three of us now, so don't really need lots of sitting room in the van.
Like you David, we eat outside except for later/early in the year. But eating and cooking inside isn't a problem due to lack of space - but there is only the 2 of us now.
As you say, wouldn't swap mine for anything other than a BRAND new model with the same layout!
Fixed bed caravans are to small unless your happy with a very small living space, but thats just my opinion.
of course the advantage is not having to make up the bed each day so its fixed bed V living space
We would base our decision on what we would like and not those that are travelling with us on the odd weekend. I ceertainly woudl nto be sleeping in the awningt oa ccommodate them! LOL!
We have a 2005 Lunar Lexon with end bathroom and a fixed bed on the side. It also has bunks for two additional people in the front and you can shut off the front from the rest of the caravan. If we had a choice, we would go for a Lexon 640 with island bed and L shape lounge!
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Topic: Fixed bed Vs. more living space?
