PVCs with transverse bed without side windows - is this a problem?

Lizi

Lizi

Joined
May 19, 2015
Posts
258
Likes collected
146
Location
Surrey
Funster No
36,453
MH
Burstner
Exp
6 years
I’ve noticed that some vans have no windows along the side of the bed and then back door windows don’t really open when a bike rack is in place (Adria Flexo and Adria twin and I think some Globecar). Does this make the van uncomfortable in the heat?
There really is not a lot of choice with vans atm and we’re struggling to find something suitable. I was put off by lack of windows - am I right to worry about this? We would plan to use the van in Europe much more than UK.
 
No
WildAx Arora Fixed Bed
There's a skylight, and two opening windows in the rear doors.
 
Only if you like looking out the window whilst in bed.

That's why I have a minibus conversion...!

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My PVC has a longitudinal French bed rather than transverse bed. However I do like having the side window and back door window and often have them both open, especially at night for a bit of fresh air. Currently in France and windows open.
 
Our Burstner has a transverse bed and windows in the rear doors that have the blinds down 90% of the time. We have a roof light over the bed too and don’t find it dark.
 
I wasn’t thinking about dark but lack of air and too hot without side windows. I often had our side window by bed open in our old coachbuilt motorhome. I suppose as Cal54 says, you could have back doors open but then there’s mozzie problem …
 
Lizi said:
I wasn’t thinking about dark but lack of air and too hot without side windows. I often had our side window by bed open in our old coachbuilt motorhome. I suppose as Cal54 says, you could have back doors open but then there’s mozzie problem …
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Most pvc's have windows in the back doors with mozzie nets and blinds. once had a van that also had side windows but prefer without.
 
Ours isn’t a PVC but a C-class, with transverse fixed bed.

There’s a skylight and also a window at the foot of the bed, but we never have it open at night, as we have the blackout blind up! I think I’d also be concerned about security if the window was open, depending where we are.

Heat hasn’t been an issue. I have bought a small clip-on rechargeable fan, though, just in case, but we haven’t yet had to use it. Keeping the skylight hatch open has always given adequate ventilation.

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My Murvi Morello PVC has sliding windows with blinds and flyscreens all down N/S and most of O/S + Skylights. Opening rear & side door but no traverse bed.

Might be worth a look though?
 
Our previous van was a PVC with a rear transverse bed. No windows at all at the back. A roof light does a really good job of getting the heat out, but make sure it's one that properly hinges open (or is a MaxxAir fan). Some small fans also help. Ours originally had a 400mm pop-up dome vent and that didn't provide enough air movement.
 

PVCs with transverse bed without side windows - is this a problem​


As long as one of you doesn’t mind climbing over the other half to get up for the loo in the middle of the night. :LOL:
 
Not had a problem with overheating in my little PVC with transverse bed.

Due to "design compromises" neither rear side window can be properly opened. Passenger side would get taken out by the wooshbang door, driver's side has a sensor which shuts down the Trauma to stop gasses getting in. Then there is usually a bike on the tow bar that stops rear windows opening more than an inch or so. Large rooflight gives plenty of ventilation.
 
Oldrat said:

PVCs with transverse bed without side windows - is this a problem​


As long as one of you doesn’t mind climbing over the other half to get up for the loo in the middle of the night. :LOL:
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That's the bit I enjoy!!

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Ours has the four windows and find the sliding one with mozzy screen just above our heads is especially useful on hot nights. Easily adjusted without getting up, altering the airflow to keep comfortable and feels safer on Aires. (Cross bed). Plus it's light and airy daytime. No side windows might feel oppressive. But it's all a compromise, we lose on underbed (garage) storage with our rear lounge. I guess we like it because it works for us, it's what we first liked when we saw it. Tribby 670 2016.
 
Our Dreamer D55+ is the same - no side windows, but I installed a MaxxFan in the roof light above the bed, and we stay cool at night even in the south of France.
 
Had an Adria Twin 600 with transverse bed , rear door windows open but only good if you sleep at that side , personally we found it stuffy, dark and limited daytime space in van ( more so in UK when raining and can’t sit outside) but had a great garage space below bed . Pros and cons , to many cons for us , changed to an Elddis CV20, nice long couches/beds and UK spec cooker/sink/oven and of course side windows 😀
 
There again, we had maxair on our previous pvc. Even on min setting it was too noisy and too powerful to use for more than a few minutes. Ended up not using it. You get different answers with different compromises.

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Dorwyn said:
There again, we had maxair on our previous pvc. Even on min setting it was too noisy and too powerful to use for more than a few minutes. Ended up not using it. You get different answers with different compromises.
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That’s interesting never heard of anyone complaining of that with the Maxxfan. I personally haven’t had one ,but in the process of looking to fit one ,hence my vote for it from what I ve read already.I had air con on the Adria Twin , that was noisy both inside and outside and needed mains to run it , hence the Maxxfan preference. Has anyone else had this issue with Maxxfan ?
 
Maxxfan, noisy?
Anything but, renowned for their quietness and speed.
They are a tad noisy lifting the lid though, but that’s 5 seconds, or do it manually.
 
Oldrat said:
Maxxfan, noisy?
Anything but, renowned for their quietness and speed.
They are a tad noisy lifting the lid though, but that’s 5 seconds, or do it manually.
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That’s what I’ve read so was a bit surprised to hear otherwise .
 
I prefer no windows at all near the bed, which is how I've done my conversion. Light wakes me up and I don't want neighbouring kids staring in. I have put a fully opening rooflight directly above the bed, which is much better for setting up a cooling convective flow, acting like a chimney. It also has full blackout blinds for sleeping.
 
Lizi said:
I’ve noticed that some vans have no windows along the side of the bed and then back door windows don’t really open when a bike rack is in place (Adria Flexo and Adria twin and I think some Globecar). Does this make the van uncomfortable in the heat?
There really is not a lot of choice with vans atm and we’re struggling to find something suitable. I was put off by lack of windows - am I right to worry about this? We would plan to use the van in Europe much more than UK.
Click to expand...
It’s not a problem we orderd ours without side windows 1) if it has blinds your foot/head/pillow will probably make a mess of them 2) sliding doors and opening windows don’t mix. We have a roof light and two rear windows and all is good 👍
 
Lizi said:
I’ve noticed that some vans have no windows along the side of the bed and then back door windows don’t really open when a bike rack is in place (Adria Flexo and Adria twin and I think some Globecar). Does this make the van uncomfortable in the heat?
There really is not a lot of choice with vans atm and we’re struggling to find something suitable. I was put off by lack of windows - am I right to worry about this? We would plan to use the van in Europe much more than UK.
Click to expand...
the Finish couple who live full time in their Adria do not have side windows
 
Sunlight Cliff 600 and others in the PVC range.

Both door windows open wide, double size wide opening window on nearside ( we use the offside with no window as our headboard), and wide opening roof vent.

Transverse bed works for us. Some may find it a pain, but going to the loo is no real issue to us. (y)

AEFDBAB1-92ED-4026-AAE6-19709F7CE980.jpeg
 
We went round Europe for 6 months in a 5.4m Ducato with a transverse rear bed, no windows around the bed. We parked in a lot of aires and car parks. No rear windows is good for security. Although there were a couple of occasions where I heard stuff in the night and I might have liked to see what was going on.
 
Lizi said:
I wasn’t thinking about dark but lack of air and too hot without side windows. I often had our side window by bed open in our old coachbuilt motorhome. I suppose as Cal54 says, you could have back doors open but then there’s mozzie problem …
Click to expand...
Our Rapido V68 has longitudinal beds and smallish side windows above the bed, which are generally fine for ventilation. There is a rooflight above the bed also, but no windows in the rear doors.

However, when on a trip in southern Spain and the daytime temperatures touching 40c, we just left the sliding side door wide open overnight, but with the fly screen drawn across. With the back windows and rooflight open as well, there was a lovely flow of cool air through, but still mosquito proof.

Yes, a slight potential security risk, but we were on a quiet campsite, tucked up in a corner and happy to take the risk. :giggle:


IMG_20181022_100732154_HDR.jpg

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