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If I remember rightly, you have the Kampa Rally 260 awning at present?

What about a popup tent inside that awning at night?  Could be folded away during the day, no pegging required and you (and she) wont feel that your daughter is outside on her own?  Also room in that if she  wants to bring a friend. Just another idea to throw into the mix!

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 03/9/2011

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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?

Any help/ suggestions much appreciated.

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  Ha and we dream of a fixed bed layout!!!  I know what you mean though theres no way we could have a fixed bed and then the living space turn into beds at 8pm - not in this country anyway.

I find making up the bed of an evening to be a bit of a pain - packing it away seems to take less time and fuss but putting it all together, adding mattress protector then fitted sheet and bedding when you are tired is a bit of a pain.  We've thought of making it up earlier and sitting on it as a bed in the evening but I don't really like the idea of hanging around on a bed - thats just me!

Maybe you should give it a little longer before you change your layout as it may surprise you and not be such a big problem going forward.  Other possibilities could be the new single bed layouts with washroom at the end so you can use the single beds or make up the double - I don't know if the seats to the front of these models are long enough to make up a single.

Or if you are willing to go to a larger van and twin axle then you can still have the fixed bed and a side dinette - so living area relatively free

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-BERTH-CARAVAN-BAILEY-RANGER-GT60-620-6-2009-new-model-/220845526429?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item336b6b4d9d

Edit: Just read your other posts on this and you are sticking - I'm currently keeping my eye out for an annexe for our Bradcot (on the cheap) as Im thinking about the option of taking my elderly dad with us - obviously we would have to sleep in the annexe - bit reluctant to be out in the annexe and not in the van but the single dinette bed is only about 5'9 so probably a bit short for him!!

We found the same thing with our last van with fixed bed (bailey ranger) unless the kids have the fixed bed you all have to go to bed at the same time, but for us the fixed bed was the reason we brought it, so wasn't going to let a 6 yr old have it all to himself! lol

Few years ago we had a Swift, that had the best layout for us, but they don't seem to do it any more. It had the full size front sofa/beds so we could just have a bed each if we couldn't be bothered to make it in to the double. Then at the back it had single bed and bunk, going across the back of the van, with a wooden door that shut that bit off at night. It was a great layout, as also kept the van short in length, it was only 440.

going to look at a local dealer later as we recko in the flesh we might just find the other layouts arent any better.

Dont want to have to put up awning to sleep daughter in, dont want to have to rely on an awning.

well we have been and looked and were very pleasantly surprised at what the dealer offered us for the GT60. We can have the mover transferred onto the new van free of charge and they offered us more than we paid for the van. We knew we'd bought well when we bought the GT60. The GT60 is a lovely van but the more we think about it the more it really is a van for a couple.

Sorely tempted, the double dinette layout work work much better but having had a quick look at 2012 vans online very few seem to be doing double dinette layouts.

when we're away for 2 weeks we would much rather our daughter had a proper bed. She did sleep on the single on our overnight stop nights. How long are your front seats? Ours arent long enough for DD to sleep with her legs out straight. She still likes to go to bed before us and watch a dvd.

Just been and tried DSBs suggestion and it works so think we'll try that next time.

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 04/9/2011

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when we're away for 2 weeks we would much rather our daughter had a proper bed. She did sleep on the single on our overnight stop nights. How long are your front seats? Ours arent long enough for DD to sleep with her legs out straight. She still likes to go to bed before us and watch a dvd.

Just been and tried DSBs suggestion and it works so think we'll try that next time.

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we were thinking of a 3 or 4 night break in Oct half term then next easter it'll be 5-7 days max. Next week long trip will be next whitsun when we're hoping to go to North Yorshire and will definetly buy a full awning for that trip.  I would love to go away for longer but work just gets in the way.

We really are undecided what to do, think we'll go to the NEC next month and have a good luck then make our minds up.

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 04/9/2011

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we were thinking of a 3 or 4 night break in Oct half term then next easter it'll be 5-7 days max. Next week long trip will be next whitsun when we're hoping to go to North Yorshire and will definetly buy a full awning for that trip.  I would love to go away for longer but work just gets in the way.

We really are undecided what to do, think we'll go to the NEC next month and have a good luck then make our minds up.

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Quote: Originally posted by Merry on 05/9/2011

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I don't quite get DSB's suggestion for your daughter's sleeping arrangements but it does seem to be a goer.

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Just in case you need to do it/want to try it, try these instructions.

When you pull the slats out to make up the double bed, you normally pull them out all the way.  Instead of pulling the slats out all the way out, just pull them out far enough in order to make up a single bed going across the front of the van.  This will just about leave enough room for two people to sit, one either side.  It's not absolutely ideal, and it means you are close to the person who is asleep, but it works OK for us.  Our DD can sleep through anything, but after saying that she more often than not stays up late when we are on holiday.

it worked a treat David, we got DD to lie on the bed and we sat and had a cup of tea in the van tonight while she lay there. She was absolutely fine (she would usually have her headphones on anyway watching a dvd on her portable dvd player as we dont bother taking the TV to France. 

We went back to see the Elddis again and its not what we're looking for so we're going to stick with the Bailey. Still planning a trip to the NEC but not expecting to see anything light enough that will better what we've got.

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 06/9/2011

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it worked a treat David, we got DD to lie on the bed and we sat and had a cup of tea in the van tonight while she lay there. She was absolutely fine (she would usually have her headphones on anyway watching a dvd on her portable dvd player as we dont bother taking the TV to France. 

We went back to see the Elddis again and its not what we're looking for so we're going to stick with the Bailey. Still planning a trip to the NEC but not expecting to see anything light enough that will better what we've got.

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I am really pleased it worked, Savanne.  Saved the extra money too.  The trouble with swapping vans is that everytime you swap, if you're anything like me, it costs more money.  I usually tend to be the one who looses out - inevitable if you but from a dealer, I reckon.