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Subject Topic: Caravan recommendations
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via mobile 23/1/2025 at 7:29am
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
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The OP still hasn't told us what they really have. I have never seen a caravan with bunk beds at the front. I would have thought that if such a caravan exists, it would be a nightmare to tow.


23/1/2025 at 7:33am
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What is the meaning of bunk bed?
Bunk bed - Wikipedia
A bunk bed or set of bunks is a type of bed in which one bed frame (a bunk) is stacked on top of another bed, allowing two or more sleeping-places to occupy the floor space usually required by just one.

The Cruiser doesn't have bunk beds, it has two bench seats that make up two single beds or a large double.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


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23/1/2025 at 12:44pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Not sure why people seem to make such a fuss about making up bench (as opposed to misnamed 'bunk'!) beds.

You certainly can make hard work out of it, with mattress toppers, sheets, duvets etc. etc., probably taking 15-20 minutes, maybe more, to prep the bed!

Whereas I can go from bench to bed in literally more like seconds than minutes - sleeping bags! Move the back cushion and scatter cushions out of the way, lay out sleeping bag and pillows (which are stowed loose in the big high lockers over benches), and you're done! Sleeping bags come in a host of grades and materials, and sizes and styles, so hard to believe you can't find a suitable one!

It's a caravan! Adapt to it's limitation in mind and body, don't try and replicate a house!

My benches are comfy, large enough even for my ample frame, and I sleep the sleep of the righteous! In fact I probably sleep more soundly in the caravan than I do at home in a proper bed! No need for all the elaborate shenanigans, that's more state of mind IMHO than real need!

Even the pull out slats double bed with the jigsaw cushion juggling only takes a couple of minutes or so if not trying to replicate a domestic bed, double sleeping bag serves well, or two singles.

I use my beds like that after long exhausting days hill walking, with aching bits everywhere, after getting a little 'tired and emotional (HIC!)' in the pub, etc. etc., it's NEVER been a problem! Those that have shared my caravan beds have never had a problem either. I don't for one moment believe my caravan is exceptionally comfortable over and above all others, it's really all down to treating it as what it is - a caravan!

From what I've gathered over the years with my interest in caravans, just as many people find the fixed beds a compromise, with size issues, comfort issues, getting past them for the bathroom, even getting in and out of some where no space to the sides, they are NOT automatically better!

Like almost everything about a caravan, my philosophy is you need to put on your 'caravan head' and leave your 'house head' at home, then you can enjoy it at it's best, rather than fight it's compromises.



23/1/2025 at 1:23pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Lunar Delta TS 2017
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nwEAjwqmCQ

Not sure if they still make them

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Claire and Colin





23/1/2025 at 4:03pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 23/1/2025
Not sure why people seem to make such a fuss about making up bench (as opposed to misnamed 'bunk'!) beds.

You certainly can make hard work out of it, with mattress toppers, sheets, duvets etc. etc., probably taking 15-20 minutes, maybe more, to prep the bed!

Whereas I can go from bench to bed in literally more like seconds than minutes - sleeping bags! Move the back cushion and scatter cushions out of the way, lay out sleeping bag and pillows (which are stowed loose in the big high lockers over benches), and you're done! Sleeping bags come in a host of grades and materials, and sizes and styles, so hard to believe you can't find a suitable one!

It's a caravan! Adapt to it's limitation in mind and body, don't try and replicate a house!




Exactly what we do, except that our sleeping bags and pillows are stored under the seats. two single beds made up in a couple of minutes. It takes longer to get undressed!


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


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23/1/2025 at 7:39pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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I think there was a Bailey 640/6 which had rear fixed bed, centre dinette beds and front benches


24/1/2025 at 8:36am
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser
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Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 23/1/2025
What is the meaning of bunk bed?
Bunk bed - Wikipedia
A bunk bed or set of bunks is a type of bed in which one bed frame (a bunk) is stacked on top of another bed, allowing two or more sleeping-places to occupy the floor space usually required by just one.

The Cruiser doesn't have bunk beds, it has two bench seats that make up two single beds or a large double.



Bunk seats which can be converted into bunk beds. Who cares what they are called as long as they serve the purpose for which they were designed.


via mobile 24/1/2025 at 8:59am
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
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I just find it annoying that front BENCH seats are referred to as bunks, they are not!!!


24/1/2025 at 11:09am
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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I wouldn't want a fixed bed in a caravan, as unless it was a really big caravan, they take up too much room. I wouldn't mind one with a pull-down double like we had years ago in our Sprite Musketeer, but they seemed to go out of fashion. That was perfect as you could leave it made up and just pull it down when it was needed then put it back up in the morning.

You had to put the bed down for travelling though as it folded up at the back of the caravan which made the back end too heavy with it vertical.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 24/1/2025 at 11:26am
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
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I think our caravan is a normal size. The fixed double bed pulls out for sleeping and in during the day. Plenty of room to get by it.


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24/1/2025 at 12:36pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 24/1/2025
I think our caravan is a normal size. The fixed double bed pulls out for sleeping and in during the day. Plenty of room to get by it.



Yes I know the sort you mean. Not the same as our old pull-down bed though. The whole bed lifted up vertically against the back end of the caravan so it didn't take up any floor space at all during the day. Only slight snag was that if the bed was down it was a bit of a squeeze to get from the outside door to the front end of the caravan. Not that we ever really needed to.

Our current caravan, being old, is quite small compared to modern ones yet it seems to have acres of space inside for just the two of us, as none of it is occupied by a bed. We can't have a caravan that is any longer or it wouldn't fit outside our house and we would have to keep it in storage. For the amount we use it that would make it completely uneconomic for us on just our pensions. All it costs us when we are not using it is just over £1 a week for its insurance.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin



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