How many seats and what size bed?
Well, the first thing you should understand is that your bed is also your rear seat. With that in mind, one consideration is how many seats do you need in the rear of your van. Generally you will have the choice either two or three seats in the rear of your van.
The two seats in the rear is fine for most people, but some people prefer the flexibility of having an extra passenger seat, and this also gives you a slightly wider bed to sleep on when the seats are folded into a bed.
You may also want ISOFIX in the rear seats of your camper – be sure to check this if it’s a must-have for you.
Space vs comfort
In terms of the bed itself, you may have heard the term rock ‘n’ roll bed. Generally, up until a few years ago, this was the only style bed you would get in a campervan, and it’s now a catch-all term for a seat which converts to a bed.
However, a rock ‘n’ roll bed specifically is the most basic of beds, and there are compromises in terms of comfort and space. Both for when your passengers are sitting on it as a seat, and when you are lying on it as a bed.
Another bed term you may have heard of is the RIB bed. This is a brand of bed that offers more boot space in your van, and the comfort of lying on the backs of the of the seat cushions which affords slightly more comfort.
There are other brands of bed, many of which are even more comfortable and more practical. In particular, the Stide bed offers a great mix of comfort when in a seating position, comfort in a sleeping position, and the best use of space in your van.
Flexible interior – making the most of your space
An added advantage to any bed/seating system is having the whole mechanism on rails. This serves two benefits. Firstly, you can bring the seat forward so that your rear passengers are closer to you when travelling in the van.
Secondly, you have the flexibility to increase the space in the living part of the van or in the rear of the van. Having a bed on a sliding rail system significantly increases your boot space and therefore the flexibility in terms of what you can carry.
Safety Considerations For You and Your Passengers
Perhaps most important of all is safety. There are a surprising amount of converted campers with rock ‘n’ roll beds which have simply been bolted to the floor. Not only have some of these beds not been correctly tested for safety, but in the event of a crash they will simply rip up from the floor.
Make sure any bed that is fitted to a camper van that you buy is at the very least M1 pull tested. This is a safety test done under the supervision of the DVSA, and ensures that any seating in the rear adheres to the correct safety standards.
In summary, once you are happy that the bed you are looking at has been correctly tested for safety, then it’s down to the number of seats, the comfort (of seating and sleeping), and finally the flexibility in terms of space.
