Bed Size

[brayncc]

I know I am prevaricating...

I keep changing my mind about which type of motorhome to go for. I recently saw an ad for a panel van conversion with a fixed rear bed, does anyone know the length of such a bed? I know the van is 2050mm wide but, presumably, the insulation and covering reduce this somewhat. Any info gratefully received.

[colin]

First we have to guess at what van you are referring to from the width of 2050mm, then we have to guess at which convertor might have made that van, as they will have different methods of wall construction, or you could look up the van online and find the details.

[Derek Uzzell]

2050mm is the width normally quoted for panel-van conversions based on a Citroen Relay, Fiat Ducato or Peugeot Boxer and the vehicle-length can be 5413mm, 5998mm or 6363mm.

The winner of the 2024 Campervan Awards

https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/information/campervan-awards-official-homepage

for a 'best fixed bed' design was the Globecar "Summit Shine 540" that's built on the 5413mm-length version with a transverse rear bed.

https://globecar.co.uk/summit-shine-540/

[John52]

I have a standard domestic mattress transverse a top the wheelarches in my Ducato maxi-van.  Made of 2 angle irons, plywood in between for the base, with the 4 corners each supported by a ratchet strap.  So I can get the bed perfectly level within seconds, irrespective of the slope of the van.   And get either side to tuck the blankets in. Van sidewalls make a perfect strong headboard and footboard.

[joehendrix]

you can get one custom made

[Derek Uzzell]

In an earlier posting brayncc mentioned that "we are almost at the point of entering the motorhome fraternity again after a 3 year gap" (having previously owned a 2013 East Neuk Fifer camper-van). So brayncc is not a novice motorcaravanner and has camper-van experience.

A general question about camper-van rear bed sizes is difficult to answer.

Globecar markets two ranges - Summit and Scout - and the layouts and bed-sizes can be found here.

https://globecar.co.uk/

Adria markets camper-vans and the sizes of the rear beds are given as 

1920mm x 820m-630mm or 1800mm x 820mm-630mm (presumably indicating that the mattresses have a corner cut-off).

Transverse camper-van rear beds will have their length limited by the internal width of the make/model of the van base: longitudinal rear beds (usually twin single beds that can be converted into a double) will have their total width similarly restricted.

The various bed types are described here

https://lp.southdownsmotorhomecentre.co.uk/motorhome-bed-types-explained/

In this thread's original posting brayncc said "I recently saw an ad for a panel van conversion with a fixed rear bed, does anyone know the length of such a bed?" If the make and model of the panel-van conversion being advertised were known (and assuming it was not a one-off) it's likely that the size of its rear bed could be established without much difficulty.

I don't think brayncc has any intention of DIY converting a panel-van into a camper-van, but a GOOGLE-search on motorhome bed frames will provide information that might be useful.

It's possible to obtain bespoke mattresses for motorhomes (example advert here)

https://www.made2measuremattress.co.uk/motorhome-mattresses/

and FROLI offers various kits to improve 'under-mattress' support (example advert here)

https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan-accessories/caravan-supplies/mattresses/froli-star-mobile-bed-system-inchbed-in-a-boxinch

[PDrill]

The 2050 width indeed points to a Ducato (and the siblings). In my experience a transverse bed in those will be between 190 and 195 centimeters depending on the insulation and inside wall design. I'm 193cm and our previous PVC had 140x193 bed and when travelling alone it was fully ok sleeping corner-to-corner. The missus being somewhat shorter we used to sleep 'my feet in her mouth' and it was that much okay that our next van will have bed the same size.