Fixed bed for lanky ones

[Pops 1]

I'm looking for my first motor home and like the look of models with a fixed bed. However, at 6'2" I seem to be a bit tall for most of the ones I've looked at which seem to have a bulkhead at the top and base of the bed.
Do you have any suggestions of bed layout or models which would suit my lanky (and not so slim) frame?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[funflair]

Our bed is 2 metres with about an extra couple of inches at the top end where the heating pipes run, what size have you been finding as I don't know if beds get smaller as the van gets smaller.

Martin

 

[bigtwin]

I’m 6’ 2.5” and love our transverse over garage bed as I have room to spare either end!

Dethleffs Esprit i7870

Ian

 

[TheBig1]

I am 6 ft 4 and built like the proverbial brick outhouse. The fixed bed in my rapido is fine for length

 

[Reallyretired]

I am 6'4" and find our French bed adequate by sticking my feet (which always get hot) out at the bottom, which is why I avoid beds with a foot. Our home bed (king size) is long enough though usually two of us plus one dog. Fortunately the dogs have never wanted to sleep on our bed in the motorhome.

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[Pops 1]

Thanks for your advice guys.
So far then we have a 'French bed', a really long Dethleffs, and a 'brick outhouse' (sorry TheBig1 ), but what vans are they in and is there a name for the particular layouts and do they have a bulkhead at the base of the bed. Bear in mind I'm a newbie so please treat me like I don't know anything (which I don't).

 

[Grianan]

If you look at a 6.4m PVC you can get a Globecar Campscout B or a Summit which both have twin singles and a low level fridge. If this is the same height as the mattress you could stretch out. This also seemed to be an option on the Westfalia Columbus with the low level fridge. Blue Knight ... would this work in your Summit?

 

[Podney]

I’m 6ft 3in and the bed is longer than me.
Rapido 786 F. Old but good,like me.

 

[namwaldog]

Our Burstner Solano 725 has a Full size Island Bed 2.0m by 1.40m the mattress is split at shoulder height. A 12v motor that folds and retracts the bed by 200mm towards the back.


An Island bed has access both sides like a 'normal' bed at home.

Barry

 

[bigtwin]

Thanks for your advice guys.
So far then we have a 'French bed', a really long Dethleffs, and a 'brick outhouse' (sorry TheBig1 ), but what vans are they in and is there a name for the particular layouts and do they have a bulkhead at the base of the bed. Bear in mind I'm a newbie so please treat me like I don't know anything (which I don't).

Transverse beds are available in other, shorter, motor homes too.

I found that French beds didn’t really work for me. If you were at the back of the bed, it was too short (because of the bulkhead at the foot of the bed) and if you were at the front of the bed the cutaway portion meant that you had little support for the leg nearest the edge of the bed.

Ian

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[Landy Andy]

My Adria has twin beds. One is over 6’6”, and other is less but still about 6’3”.

Adria coral S660 SL

 

[NorthernSands]

Late to the party, but this might help.

Bed orientation: Transverse is where the bed goes left to right across the back of the vehicle. Longitudinal are front to back.

The transverse ones are usually found in larger MHs, at the back above the garage, and the length is governed by the width of the van.

Longitudinal can be found in smaller MHs. Some (French) are in the back corner, next to the toilet and behind the kitchen. A corner is usually cut out of the bed to allow access to said toilet. Some longitudinal are at the back but split into two singles, and others are a double with access down each side (think really narrow hotel room).

Best advice would be to go to a second hand motorhome dealer that has loads in stock and have a lie down.

Look at the layouts here for some pointers:

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[Pops 1]

Latecomers are always welcome
With your advice in mind I am planning on laying down in as many motorhomes as I'm allowed to at the Norfolk motor home show later this month.
Lots of cocoa and a handy toilet might be required

 

[namwaldog]

If you go to a show, or a dealer for that matter, wear a pair of slip on shoes or (dare I say it) crocs, so you can slip them off and on as you enter the MH makes trying out the beds much easier!

Also on single bed models, one is invariably longer than the other.

Barry

 

[Pops 1]

Oh good god no, don't make me wear Crocs, the grandkids would never forgive me and I'd never be able to show my face in the pub again!!

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[Cheshirecat57]

Also on single bed models, one is invariably longer than the other.

Barry

Well ours is unusual then, one is SHORTER than the other

 

[Stumpie]

Just bought a Wildax constellation XL . A check especially in panel vans is to stand or sit with you arms out like forming a T. If it your hands touch the walls you won’t fit on the bed . Helped us in van hunting less shoe removing. Happy husband ?. I’m short so everything was fine for me

 

[bigtwin]

Well ours is unusual then, one is SHORTER than the other

Which one is shorter; is it the longitudinal one or the transverse one?

Ian ?

 

[Stumpie]

Longitudinal beds in WIldax 6 ft 4 ?most PVCs transverse lying no good. Most Motorhomes transverse he fitted but would still mutter occasionally.

 

[Grianan]

The only other point I would make is don’t underestimate the amount of length a pillow takes up ... if you’re happy with a camping pillow that will help. You could also take a camping pillow round when you try some vans out.
I think you should try to think of other wishes too ... are you looking for coach built or PVC. If PVC is standard height ok or do you want extra tall like Globecar Campscout Revolution. You don’t have to have the e tea bed if you don’t want it.

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[Stumpie]

Good comment pillows very important full-size Tempur, lovely nights sleep.

 

[Landy Andy]

Oh good god no, don't make me wear Crocs, the grandkids would never forgive me and I'd never be able to show my face in the pub again!!

You could wear sliders with socks, and then be very trendy. Look like a cock but trendy. ????

I’ve got twin single beds the length of my MoHo. One is three inches longer than the other both are the same width. They can be joined to make a huge double (or triple, they say (I’m not that popular) )

 

[Pops 1]

That's nice, where does the extra mattress come from to join them together?

 

[Landy Andy]

Under the bed in spare room at home.

We don’t bother with it, but you could store in one of the cupboards under each of the beds.

 

[Pops 1]

Thanks Andy, I do like the thought of being able to stretch out and dangle my legs over the end of that middle bit. That would certainly show off my Crocs nicely