Dethleffs or Burstner - Longitudinal bed over lounge (1 Viewer)

[Anji]

Hi there,


We about to buy our first motorhome. We did hire a really basic one in New Zealand a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with the concept. We’re intending to retire out to Spain and use our motorhome for a grey nomad experience around Europe while we’re still able. We’re intending to visit the Motorhome exhibition in Dusseldorf next week, - because this is such a big outlay we want to be sure we’re making the right decision. We’ve done a fair bit of internet research and went to Peterborough to have a look at what’s on offer.


Hubby is tall, 6’ 4”, - so we’ve ruled out most of the fixed beds. There’s just the two of us, - so we like the idea of just having a bed drop down over the lounge area, - we like the use of space and having a bigger lounge area during the day.


We’ve seen and really like two models which have longitudinal beds, and that seems to be perfect for us, - the bed length for hubby and the larger lounge. The models are:


Burstner Ixeo it 640 and Dethleffs 4-travel T 6966-4.


The layouts look identical to us, and we are aware both brands come under the Hymer umbrella.


So the questions are:


Is there a difference between the quality between Burstner and Dethleffs? If so, which would you recommend?


And are you aware of any other motorhomes, around the same price mark or less, that has these longitudinal beds over the lounge.


Many thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to respond.

 

[Gorse Hill]

We have the Burnster version, Dethleff didn't do them last year and I think these are the only ones doing the longitude beds, massive beds very comfortable, we had the traverse bed on a hobby and the longitude beds are much better and comedown to the seating area so easier to get on
Nothing between the two manufacturers and as you know from the same group

 

[Reallyretired]

I don't have one, but something to consider, especially if fulltiming. The bed is electric and there have been lots of posts about problems with electric beds. It looks to me as if the bed failed in the down position, it may be impossible to drive the vehicle to get it repaired.

I may be completely wrong of course.

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[Hellski]

I don't have one, but something to consider, especially if fulltiming. The bed is electric and there have been lots of posts about problems with electric beds. It looks to me as if the bed failed in the down position, it may be impossible to drive the vehicle to get it repaired.

I may be completely wrong of course.

I suppose like anything electrical it can have it's off days! Thankfully, if there's ever a problem, certainly with the Burstner, there is a manual option to raise or lower the bed

 

[Neilfg]

Chausson do a longitudinal bed over the lounge.

 

[EX51SSS]

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[Dave K]

We've looked at these and agree with you regarding the lounge area, it gives you a great floor space, the only thing that would put me off would be that if one of you need to get up in the night for the loo then it might mean clambering over the other person, it's a great use of the space though.

 

[Stealaway]

As above and you will have to go to bed at the same time. We considered it we tend not to go to bed at the same time. We're sticking with our fixed bed T660

 

[bungy]

op is talking about longitudinal beds, not transverse

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[peterc10]

AFAIK Laika have done them for several years.

 

[Dave K]

op is talking about longitudinal beds, not transverse

I thought the bed came down in bewtween the back rests of the lounge seats so that the only way off the bed is to get off in between the seating, perhaps I'm thinking of a different system though

 

[bigtwin]

The Frankia 640 (and possibly other variants) has a drop down bed that can be used transversely or longitudinally (with pull out extensions that make a massively long bed).

Ian

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[John Stanton]

As above and you will have to go to bed at the same time. We considered it we tend not to go to bed at the same time. We're sticking with our fixed bed T660

We looked at electric drop down beds, and I'm sure they work very well for some, but as others have pointed out, retiring to bed for the night or getting up in the morning will usually have to be done together rather than individually. Also there's usually nowhere to put your early morning tea to drink while loafing in bed while you read

Hence it's a fixed bed for us everytime I'm afraid.

 

[nicholsong]

What if one of you wants an afternoon kip?

Can you still easily get in/out of the door?

We have a fixed transverse bed over the garage. If we changed it would be for an Island bed over the garage. We would not want to sacrifice the garage.

Geoff

 

[rickwiggans]

Chausson do two single, longitudinal, drop down beds, over the lounge.

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[Bluemooner]

Our last Motorhome had an electric bed over lounge all was well until er indoors was ill you cant stay in bed as it covers the lounge

 

[Neilfg]

Chausson do two single, longitudinal, drop down beds, over the lounge.

I've seen that very clever they meet at one end so form a sort of double, like a typical twin bed arrangement.
https://www.chausson-motorhomes.com/modele/630/

 

[Anji]

Thank you all for all the replies and the welcome, - all very helpful and I really appreciate it. I should have mentioned in my original post that we want to buy a motorhome from a dealership in Spain, - because we’re going to be based there when we retire, so need to have localish maintenance, and importing a vehicle seems fraught, - and we want a left hand drive vehicle as most of our tramping will be in Europe.


So, we were initially looking at some of the British manufacturers Elddis and Bailey, - as they had vehicles with bench seating behind the cab which you could make up into huge beds, - and they suited our budget. Unfortunately they do not produce left hand drive vehicles or sell into Spain. We also looked at the Chausson twin bed solution and thought it ideal, - it’s a very clever concept, and loved that one bed could be used whilst the other remained as seating. But again unfortunately they do not sell into Spain, - only their Challenger range which doesn’t have anything similar.


Thank you for the tips regarding other makes. Cannot see anything on the Laika website with this layout, but we’ll certainly speak to the guys in Dusseldorf, - as with the Frankia 640, - their website isn’t too clear. We’re kinda hoping that some other manufacturers will be introducing this longitudinal bed layout in their 2018 range, - and we might get some goodies thrown in!


Thanks for the comments about electric motor. We’re getting kinda creaky, so anything that works with the push of a button is fine with us!!!, - we’ll just keep our fingers crossed! J


Thanks for the confirmation that there really isn’t any different between Burstner and Dethleffs. We couldn’t see any real differences, - but wondered if we were missing something.


So, once again, thank you all for your replies, - it’s been really helpful and we’re looking forward to the Dusseldorf exhibition at the weekend.

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[StephDeLux]

We rented a Chausson with an electric drop bed last October. What a nightmare! Worst bed I ever tried to sleep in. Too short, feet ended up on the wall, but there were curtains, one morning fond them teared off the wall, probably moved while sleeping. Horrible experience.
Years ago we bought the first Bürster with a drop bed. The bed was comfortable for sleeping but could not stay up while driving.

We have decided to accept to go from 6 to 7 meters and had fixed bed. Fixed beds are better beds. It is simply not possible to have the same mattress thickness on a drop bed.