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Topic: Newbie - please help with island beds!

Eowyn

03/6/2017 at 7:46pm
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Hi all,

So...after spending several years in the tents forum on this site, we are dipping our toe into the caravanning world. And are already completely confused by the sheer number of different makes and models out there!

Here's what we're looking for, and would be SO grateful for any recommendations...
1. Size - single or twin axle, we're not sure yet, pretty flexible on size but big enough for 2 adults and 2 young kids.
2. Beds config - dinette to convert to two singles at the front, island bed at the back.
3. We've seen some models with full size fridge freezers rather than a fridge with ice box. As we cook a LOT, we'd ideally prefer full size.

It's the island bed that is really key for us (for various reasons) so I'd love to hear from anyone who has one and can recommend a make and model. Most of the models we've seen are very recent - nothing older than 3/4 years old. We'd much rather go for something around 10 years old to start off and are struggling to find something that meets our requirements.

Now if you're anything like the tent crowd, I know you are going to have some great ideas for me...

Thank you!!

Eowyn x

Rob and Tina

03/6/2017 at 9:09pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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First thing to consider is what weight can your car tow?
Secondly what does your licence allow you to tow?

The answers to those two questions will help cut down on your possible choices. Island beds are a fairly recent addition to caravans and I can't think of any that were available 10 years ago.

Come back with some more information and we'll be able to give you some ideas.

Rob

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Eowyn

03/6/2017 at 9:39pm
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Thanks Rob!
We both have driving licences issued before 1997, which I think means we can two up to 8,250kg MAM on our existing licences. As for the car, currently it's a Ford S Max (which I understand can tow up to 2000 kg) but we're looking to go a little bigger to be honest.
I hope that helps, thanks for coming back to me.

Rob and Tina

03/6/2017 at 10:02pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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If your car is a 2.0 diesel then it will have a kerbweight of around 1750 kg so the 85% weight will be around 1500 kg. The max tow weight you have mentioned is not recommended for a caravan, it is the max weight that can be towed to perform a hill start, it is not suggesting that it would be ok to tow a big white box of that weight at motorway speeds hence the 85% recommendation for novice towers.

Tina suggests you have a look at the Caravanfinder website, she found some island bed layouts that were produced much earlier than I had thought.

Rob

macquatic

03/6/2017 at 10:11pm
Location: Inverness
Outfit: Hyundai Santa Fe & Pegasus Rimini

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Link to Caravan Finder

-------------
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Eowyn

03/6/2017 at 10:35pm
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Perfect, thanks for the Caravanfinder recommendation...off to do some serious research!

boff

04/6/2017 at 3:56am
Location: N Wales
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We have a transverse island bed layout it is great for us. But if the kids were still coming away with us. I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole the bed takes up to much space. I think with young children you are much better off with a layout that gives them some individual space.

Eowyn

04/6/2017 at 1:53pm
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Interesting, thanks for that Boff. I'm now looking at models that have the bunk beds and a dinette at the rear, so kids effectively have their own "room". So many choices... we need to try one for a weekend, I've found a couple of places near us that hire them out and have all sorts of different layouts..

boff

04/6/2017 at 2:17pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Eowyn on 04/6/2017
Interesting, thanks for that Boff. I'm now looking at models that have the bunk beds and a dinette at the rear, so kids effectively have their own "room". So many choices... we need to try one for a weekend, I've found a couple of places near us that hire them out and have all sorts of different layouts..

Thanks for taking what I said in the spirit I meant.

Every brochure you see will have pictures of empty caravan except for perhaps an artfully arranged vase of flowers and a bottle of wine. What you got imagine is you have gone away and it has rained for 3 days solid everyone needs their own bit of space for the sake of everyone's sanity. I saw a swift van which had a large side washroom and an end section for the kids. It looked like the sort of layout that might work.

egbert

04/6/2017 at 5:51pm
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We had rear bunks for the kids in our first van, a 2007 van, and we have just swapped to an island bed 2 years on. The 7 year old was fine, but the 10 year old found the bunk too small and uncomfortable. On older vans it seems the mattresses are very thin.

We now have a 2012 with rear bathroom, fixed bed (we got so fed up of setting ours up every night, and found we ended up going to bed at the same time as the kids anyway as our bedding was stored on their bunks in the day) and the kids fit nicely on the sofas without having to pull out the full bed. Just done our first 5 day trip and they were happy ranging between sofas and lying on the bed in the daytime if it rained, drawing and playing boards games.

Eowyn

04/6/2017 at 7:10pm
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Thanks all!
So helpful - it's really made us have a proper look at all the options and draw up a list of priorities. Perhaps bunks are the way forward, at least for a couple of years...
Really appreciate you all taking time to offer advice!

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