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Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 01/2/2012

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We will not have a fixed for several reasons..... Those at the side at the end you have to walk through shower tray to use toilet ,in time cracking the tray....

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Quote: Originally posted by bigbrood on 03/2/2012

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I'm glad this subject has been brought up. We've never had a fixed bed layout & were thinking of one for our next van. Hubby wants a fixed bed cause he's fed up of the rigmarole of setting up & packing the bed away. I don't mind this but it can be a pain when the kids are all in the van. Does anyone know what make of van do a 6 berth with the fixed bed & is 7ft 6 wide? The bailey we saw was only 7ft 2 & we're used to a wider van.

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Swift Challenger 625, but it's a twin axle;

http://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/swift/challenger/layouts

Recently swaped from Bailey Vendee fixed bed to Compass Rallye ... we prefer the open space we now get with the Rallye, did get a bit fed up with having to climb onto fixed bed to get to cupboards in the Vendee and did seem that the space  could be put to better use during the day.

Space under bed was very useful however and must admit it's a bit of a dilemma where to put things that we did just store underneath. but I still think I prefer the open aspect we get now. 

Several of our friends have fixed bed vans but we wouldn't even consider one. We prefer the space to be available if needed and there's always the option of making the bed up and leaving it there for the duration of the holiday if the kids didn't come away with us.

BB

Quote: Originally posted by bigbrood on 03/2/2012

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Thanks for the link Eddie ;o) Lovely looking van but double our Budget :o( do they do an older version of this?

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Hmmm!  Sorry - don't know about that, but if you ring any Swift dealer they will be able to advise.

 

Edit; Just checked my '06/'07 brochure, and it's not listed, so it would appear to be just a recent model.

 

Quote: Originally posted by freckles63 on 02/2/2012

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Only on bad weather days when you're stuck in the van for longer periods do we make the area back to a lounge.

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Just to complicate the issue, our van has fixed single beds - this layout is great for us having 2 teenage kids.  The rear dinette makes into a large double for me and hubby.  We have found this gives us plenty of space during the day and minimum fuss to set up the double bed.   Only downside is a smallish washroom but as we never use it for the shower, its not a problem. 

The fixed singles are most comfortable and are a proper full sized single big enough to sleep even a six footer.   The kids can lounge around on their "day beds" at their end of the van during the day/evening and have their laptops etc. set up there.  

This layout also gives us plenty of storage space under the single beds, which is easily accessed from inside the van or the external locker on the one side. 

we bought a fixed bed van as our first caravan. Loved the open feeling of it but we quickly realised that when the weather wasnt so good or the kids went to bed on the front double we had to sit on the bed or go to bed. We dont always use an awning and even if we did wouldnt fancy having to sit out there on colder evenings. Three days after our France trip we put the van on ebay, sold it and now have a twin dinette layout we've yet to use. Plan is kids sleep on singles at front and we have the rear dinette. If good weather will leave rear bed made up during the day. I also quite like the idea of escaping the tv/kids at the front and reading a book in the rear dinette!!

Our ideal van would be one with two singles, end bathroom and front lounge but at the minute too heavy for our car. We love the new Bailey Pegasus Rimini but that will have to wait!