We’ve been making up beds for the past 10 years in our previous caravans and now our motorhome. We’ve steered clear of fixed beds because we love the extra living/floor space. 👍
Completely agree with you. For the few minutes taken to make the bed you get a bigger living area, proper sized bed and a proper shower. And the bed is great sleeping across, so much more room!
We brought our first caravan end of last year and used for the first time a week or so ago. I was convinced I needed a fixed bed but the tiny bathrooms in most put me off. Plus other half wasn’t keen on size for 4 berth for towing first caravan. So we ended up with a 2 berth and it’s brilliant. I thought it was going to be a learning caravan and we would soon want to upgrade but I don’t think we will, I think this is actually the right layout for us. We just leave the bed made up and sit on it that way in the day so don’t even need to make up and take down. It’s still spacious and we also can’t believe how big and comfy the bed it. We used a memory foam topped and tuck the fitted sheet over that rather than sofa cushions to save us buying bigger fitted sheets.
Hi @1988rats We’re delighted to hear that you’re happy with your new caravan ❤️ We agree with you, it’s the perfect layout 🥰 Happy travels, Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Sorry to hear of Keith’s medical episode but great hearing how he’s recovered, I too had a heart attack 4yrs ago but as a retired Paramedic I knew what was happening and took the required actions then I also had 2 stents fitted. We actually went the other way from several 2 berths which at the time we thought were great to our 1st new caravan a fixed bed 4 berth due to arthritis my wife having 2 new knees and I’m now waiting for 1, this year will be my 53rd year caravanning after passing my driving test on my 17th birthday and collecting my first caravan 45 minutes later and here I am still enjoying the life with my wife. Keep the recovery going with Michelle’s help you’ll still enjoy life to it maximum.😊
Hi @jimaizlewood8369 Many thanks for your kind words ❤️ It’s wonderful to hear all about your caravanning experiences. So lovely to hear you’re fully recovered & living life to the full 🥰 Sending our very best wishes to you both, Keith & Michele xxx
We use two quits a summer and winter. Winter is placed on the bottom, summer on the top . No fitted sheets to faf about with . You can always swap over if it's cold . ( not a problem with alde heating ) . Have fun in the new van guys 😊
We use the seats as singles, backrests on the floor. No sheets or quilts, just 2 warm & cosy sleeping bags. Takes less than a minute to set up. If we go out for the evening we do this before we go so if we are tired when we get back we can jump straight into bed. The bonus is that we don’t have to get up at the same time in the morning 😉
Looks great. We have been making the bed up for over 2 years in Smirf now and it’s just a routine we are used to. It helps to keep the van smaller and easier to manage and having had 2 tonne twin axel caravans and 4 and a half time Motorhomes before, we prefer the smaller caravans and motorhomes 😃👍🏻💙 Trev n Sue
Hi @PoshcatsCamping Many thanks for watching Trev & Sue ❤️ Totally agree with you, it’s so easy to make up the bed, only takes a matter of minutes. Sending our best wishes to you both, Keith & Michele xxx
Lovely caravan and the bed made up is amazing so much room and plenty of storage I have a static caravan that doesn’t have under sofa storage.Enjoy every adventure and safe travels xx
Another cracking video I might suggest to hubby that we make up our front lounge bed as that looks like a lovely big bed May give us a different view on that layout as I love the dinette spaces a 2 Berth gives 😊
Hi @kezangart Many thanks for watching ❤️ We are finding the bed to be extremely spacious & the living space is so much bigger 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
We have a mattress topper, instead of a sheet I've put the topper inside it's own duvet cover, and at night just put it on the bed it's a game changer. Xx
Get to a certain age when you need the toilet in the middle of the night (60's) and having to climb over your partner is no fun and all the faff of making up the bed at night time , went from the make up bed to an island one, game changer imho!
Hi Keith and Michelle. Lovely to see you enjoying the new van. We have done it the other way round, we had 12 years of making the beds up in 2 berth vans and have recently moved to a fixed bed 😊. We do agree though you seem to have more floor space in a 2 berth as half the van is not taken up by a bed 😉 but for now we will be sticking with the fixed bed. The way you make up and sleep in yours is just the way we did it 🥱. Enjoy your van and travels and keep doing it your way 👍. Take care both all the best, Paul and Joanne 👍 😊
Hi Keith & Michelle. We are so happy for you both now you've found your happy place. Watching your vlog we couldn't help notice your lovey lamp on the front console of your van. We also saw it at the NEC on Friday. Would you be ok with letting us know where you bought it? Keep the great vlogs coming 👍
We use two duvalys with fitted sheets that are zipped on. Also we turn our big cushions right round but keep them right way up, makes the be bed flatter and raises pillows slightly.
We have a two birth motorhome with a rear lounge and our compromise is we have to make up a bed ,like you ,at night , as you say it takes minutes and the upside is we have a motorhome at least 1.0 metre shorter than if we had a fixed bed and way more living space during the day . We use two duralay memory foam mattresses side by side with fitted sheets already zipped on , so we just unroll them and throw a duvet on top . Perfect 👍
Hi @RailAdventUK Many thanks for watching ❤️ The bed really is huge when made up & so comfortable 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Sorry Michelle & Keith, it’s a bit of a faff doing all that, when you have a made up bed you just fall into it, especially if you’ve had a drink or two, putting beds together for us is the past, I don’t think you can beat a made up bed. That is our opinion which works for us. X
The trouble is, people are different and inevitably one is more lazy than the other partner, meaning that the caravan is taken up by bed in the living area, annoying the one that is up who can't get around. When we put the 3/4 berth bed up for our grandson, it annoys me, when I am up and about, in the end he goes and gets in the fixed bed, after persuasion, so that we can sort out the living area from bed to living room mode.
Hi @jeffjohnson847 Many thanks for watching John ❤️ We also find the make up bed more comfortable than a fixed bed 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi Michele & Keith, so glad you have found your happy way of sleeping. I would just like suggest placing the narrow cushions to the outside edge with the larger ones in the middle. This is because in time, you will feel the ridges! I do think though, that two duvalays on the bed together might be the way to go in the future, when those old bones start creaking lol. For now, enjoy the exercise lol. Hope this helps and enjoy your travels. ~Lin xx
Hi @HomefromHomewithLinRich Many thanks for your advice Lin ❤️ We shall certainly try doing the bed that way 🤗 It’s wonderful to hear everyone’s different experiences. Sincerely hope all is going well for you both with the change of vehicle 😍 Sending our very best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
We use Duvalay they have memory foam zipped inside and the duvet is zipped inside, much easier to use as they just roll up and store under the sofa and unroll at night and very warm and comfortable.
We prefer them as singles, leave the fitted sheet and mattress topper in place, and roll the bedding up as a bolster for chilling during the day, after all, it is only the two of us!
That’s how we use to sleep when we had a two birth caravan. For little weekends away we just slept on the single beds so was quicker to make the beds up. We had two single duvalay toppers an it was the best bed ever. As I work shifts am falling asleep at 7 pm so our fixed bed caravan we have now works so well for us. 👍
Brilliant informative Vlog, we have a two berth as well it's so easy to set up, we use a 13 tog as a base and a 4.5 tog as the top, we can swap the duvets if it's cold or just add a blanket if we need it..
We keep our bed made into a bed in the summer months, we eat and do most our living outside the van so no need to make the bed every day. Also I have travelled with it made up so when we have arrived later on a site, it's on less job for the first night.
Hi @MichaelBrown-ii8co Many thanks for watching ❤️ We’re not finding it a faff at all 🤗 Really easy in fact. Time will tell 🥰 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Excellent. We had a little 2 berth pastiche which we loved. We sold it to buy a static. Big mistake. We'd love to go back to our tourer. Nice to see you are looking so well and happy. 😊
Hi guys we are fairly new to watching you but not new caravanning. We have just changed our Bailey Unicorn Seville 2 berth 2013 over to a Elddis Affinity 4 berth 2016. The 2 berth was uncomfortable, and making it up every night with arthritis and a dodgy ticker was no fun. But I did love the space in my old Bailey girl (Ermentrude, they must all be named 😊) Not sure what we shall call our new baby. I do have to say your videos are very entertaining and very informative. Please keep these up. Love Lin & Terry x
Hi @tezlin Many thanks for watching Lin & Terry ❤️ Wishing you every happiness in your new caravan 🥰 Sending our very best wishes to you both, happy travels, Keith & Michele xxx
Daft question but I'm going to ask anyway lol Is there anything lining the floor in the storage area's under the sofa's? or do you need to buy storage boxes or lay some carpet/lino so to keep your duvets etc clean. My hubby and I are hoping to buy a caravan soon and I've been watching all your video's to do some research, thank you by the way xoxo
Hi louise14733. We didn’t put any lining down as we didn’t feel it needed it. A good idea about storage boxes. Sending you our best wishes, Keith & Michele xxx
I would 100% be looking at getting a Duvalay each, so much simpler, we have a young daughter that sometimes wakes up in the night so got a Duvalay so one of us can just jump in next to her, theyre really comfortable (to be honest, i jump at the chance to get in with her so i can sleep in the Duvalay 😂😂
Hi @tatts137 Many thanks for watching ❤️ Yes, you can use the sofas as two singles, many people do this. We prefer a bit more space though 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi @53HB Absolutely agree with you ❤️ Our caravan is so much more spacious without the fixed bed & we don’t miss it at all. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi Keith & Michele, we have been caravanning for 20 years (the last 5 years with a two berth) and never thought of putting the surplus cushions under the bench seat at night. Thanks for the tip and will try it when we go away next week. Hope Keith is feeling ok now.
I have no choice as I have an Eriba Puck due to me having a a 1964 Morris Minor! aswell as a Peugeot 206 ( my daily drive) to tow mine. My bed is more complicated than that as you have to place 3 poles manually
We make our bed up and we use a mattress topper memory foam with cover on it. We find that the easiest way rather than putting a fitted sheet on the bed too. Have a great time away. X
Takes us back to when we had to make the bed up at night. Your right about the sheets.. always struggled to get the sheets to fit properly. Nothing like going to bed and listening to the rain on the roof 😊 Great video as always both.. looking forward to the next. Best Wishes Linda and Glenn 🙂
Hi @kenperrin8582 Many thanks for watching Ken ❤️ We don’t actually watch tv in bed, we tend to use our iPads. We’ll see how we get on though 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi @shaunclover8908 Many thanks for watching ❤️ It really is a case of trial & error, but this does seem to work for us 🤗 Sending our very best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi Keith and Michelle, thanks so much for the demonstration! Really helpful! It looks like a great set up and so much simpler than I thought it would be- everything stores neatly away and I love the way you figured out the right way to sleep- I would never have thought of that! It’s a huge bed! Hope you’re enjoying your time away in your beautiful Holly, she really is a beauty xx
So happy to see you two found your spot! Reminds me of our cat turning around on her blanket until she finds just the right place!😂❤️🐈⬛. We are off to Brugge today to pick up our caravan! So excited! We don’t have a name for her yet…😊. Greetings from Antoon and Susan
Hi @susanlaane9320 That’s wonderful news Antoon & Susan ❤️ Huge congratulations 🥳 Hope all goes smoothly today 🥰 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi guys... we do EXACTLY the same thing and love our bed in our van... so comfy and as you say dead easy to put out and put away......not long now until we're at our pitch to do just that lol.Take care Paolo and Roger 'The Camp Caravanners'
Have to agree with you, no faff making bed up and the room not having a fixed bed gives to the other areas like kitchen and washroom is the game changer in my opinion. We are on our 3rd van layout now over 7 years, a Coachman 630 xtra with fixed bunk beds for the kids, end washroom, fixed U shaped dinette and L shape lounge which each convert to doubles in minute's and use duvalays which again only take minutes. Enjoy the new van and keep up the great vlogging, nice to have you back!
Hi @chrishealey3410 Many thanks for watching ❤️ Your Coachman layout sounds perfect for you all. Sending our very best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Thanks for sharing your bed making video, we have the Cadiz model so that’s the one with the two single beds, but glad you shared how to make up the front bed , because if we ever have friends or family members staying with us we now know how to make it up, and the best way to sleep in it, thanks again 👍❤️.
Lovely video great that you guys are so happy with your decision 🙂🙂🙂🙂 We have a 2 berth campervan and we have 2 duvalay mattress/bags and we love them we find them so quick to just roll out BUT everyone is different, hence why there is so much choice out there 🙂🙂🙂🙂
Hi @faithgoodman7957 Many thanks for watching ❤️ You’re so right, everyone does things differently, but this is working for us 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
We had a 2 berth Lunar Arriva and didn't make the bed up into a double, just used it as two single beds. We stored spare cushions under the seats. For bedding we put a fitted sheet over the cushions and used our duvalay sleeping bags so was simple to make up. We've now bought a Lunar Conquest 2 berth and will use the same process of making it the beds. Works for us.
We use the lounge as two singles in our Phoenix + 420. No night time toilet access issues and more floorspace for Miss Pippin, our bearded collie. We keep our Duvalays spread out all the time, with the quilt overlap folded neatly back and a throw on top. The two small upholstery pieces are stored away and our pillows go in their space up front instead. Come bedtime we remove the back rests to the washroom or awning, fold up the throws, pull down the quilt overlap, plump the pillows and slide into bed. In the morning just fetch the back rests, fold back the quilt and put throws on top and that's it. No rolling or folding stuff up, no wrestling with lift up benches to store stuff away. Very quick and easy.
Hi @steamdrivenandy6880 Many thanks for sharing your experience of setting up the bed in your caravan 🤗 Greatly appreciated ❤️ Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
That bed looks soooo comfy ! And it’s huge . Could you put the mattress cover into a duvet cover so no need to use a bottom sheet ? Just an idea but you are both much more supple than me 😂 I absolutely love it , Vicki & Gary xx
It’s so funny that I am in bed now watching this (in Australia). Just bought our first caravan with the same bed setup. So lucky to have got a UK van as our Aussie vans are so different. We haven’t taken the van out yet as it’s still really too hot, been had a fiddle with the bed and wondered about flipping them over. I also wondered if a flat sheet would be easier to tuck down.
Hi @lawrencefamily8162 Many thanks for watching, sincerely hope you found it helpful ❤️ Happy travels in your van 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
We've got a 650 with a north/south island bed and because we travel with a little dog I end up on the sofa bed in the front which suits me just fine!!.❤️🇬🇧
We loved our 2 berth caravan, making up the bed was no prob, we have motorhome now and enjoying touring France Spain Portugal ect, but if we didn't want to travel abroad anymore we would probably go back to a 2 berth caravan. We can understand why you are so thrilled with it. 😊
Hi @christineomara4787 Many thanks for watching ❤️ We’re absolutely loving our 2 berth 🤗 Enjoy your travels 😍 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
We are motorhomers. We used to make up the bed in our previous MH but the got tidied of the faff / inconvenience. Top on the list of requirements when we bought a new MH was a fixed bed.
We love our 2 berth Lunar, had it 10 years and never wanted a fixed bed. One thing we do is put our mattress topper in a cotton quilt cover so we don't need the fitted sheet, just roll it up and put it under the seats ready to roll out again at night. And we sleep transverse fashion too, tons of space!
Hi @muddy250 Many thanks for watching & for your great advice ❤️ It’s great to hear everyone’s different experiences. Sending our very best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
When we 1st started caravaning about 8 years ago we had to make up our bed & the kids beds just became a real ball ache for us so fixed bed for us kids sleep on the sofas set as singles for weekends & in the awning for anything longer & they love it. Glad your back doing your videos & happy & healthy keep it up 👍
This is exactly how we make up the bed. We have always slept transverse as there is so much room for moving around. If you have to get out of bed in the night we don't find it difficult at all with all the extra space you have on the bed when it is made up. As you say the time it takes to make up is nothing or put away. The only thing I would say if going out at night make it up before you go out for the night. Can I just say if anyone has a fixed bed with a window at back or side depending on model as we have both in our families if you use a topper put that on the open window and one of you only when making up bed first time goes out and lifts up the the mattresses to help get fitted sheet on then back inside don't forget to lock window and finish putting sheet on with everything else. We have found that easier than struggling with sheet from inside. Hope this helps someone especially if you suffer with back problems it does
Hi, that looks cosy! We don’t have a console under the window, so our slats pull out from under the seating and we can sleep with heads at window end. We bought two 3 foot mattress toppers 2” thick and made removable covers out of sheets and this is amazing. We tried all different duvets but ended up with one each as I’m always hot. We turn the cushions over like you do as we could feel the ridges even under the toppers. During the day we have two large drawstring bags, one for each set of duvet and pillows, and these go under the seating, one each side, and the toppers roll up and go in similar bags in our tall bathroom cupboard. We’ve got setting up and putting away off to a tee now and in under 5 mins we can be in bed/ put away. It’s a military operation! Hope you have happy travels in your lovely new caravan this year.
Hi @katecourts4819 Many thanks for sharing your experience ❤️ It’s wonderful to hear how everyone makes up their beds. Everyone seems to have their own individual routines that work for them. Sending our very best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hello. Glad you found your right sleeping space we used to sleep that way when we had to make the bed up. We've now got a fixed bed only because Keith had a knee replacement and ive got Ms. Looks hard work making bed up but its not. Glad to see you back . Alison. X
Hi Keith and Michelle we loved our 2 birth probably go back to one again in a few years one thing found the small arm rest cushions kept falling off so we swopped them round with the front one's you have to use opposite corners and they stay in place better.
We are collecting our new Bailey Madrid on Friday. We considered the seville but liked the dinette. We have part exchanged our now 6 year old swift challenger with a fixed bed. We have loved having the bed but like you feel it takes up too much space. Our sofas are slightly longer than yours so are hoping to sleep separately but not sure if they will be wide enough. If not double bed it will be. I have just had a knee replacement so hubby will be putting sheets on as I dont like kneeling. Love your videos.
Hi @jillcurtis8910 Many thanks for watching ❤️ Honestly, if you have to make the bed up, it’s so easy & literally takes a few minutes. So much space, it will be great for you 🤗 Sending our very best wishes to you, hope you’re healing well, Keith & Michele xxx
After 32 years of caravaning use hi tog quilt as first layer onto upholstery Egyptian sheets(not fitted) then another quilt. Fixed bed not for me, not enough front living space,sleep across so tv viewable. Goodnight! nice cuddle!!!!!🙈😵💫
Hi keith & Michelle good to see you enjoying the van, when we had caravans without a bed we slept transverse i sleep on the outside as being a lady of a certain age i have to get up in the night 😂 we are going out in our moho in a couple of weeks for a weekend so will see how we get on making a bed up again after years of being use to a fixed bed. Look after each other see you in the next vlog xx
hi just watched you make up your bed using 1 hand to hold open the sofa base its just a thought have you concidered fitting a gas strut to hold the base open leaving you with 2 free hands to take out you bedding
Hi @simonworsley8551 Many thanks for watching ❤️ Haven’t had any problems so far, but there are elastic straps to secure the mattress topper to the bed if needed. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi @brummiefoodies Many thanks for your kind words ❤️ Like you, we’re absolutely loving our 2 berth 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Ah, hi Keith and Michele. So happy for you guys enjoying your new van. We have a Coachman Lazer with a fixed bed which Paul particularly fell in love with at first sight and we love being away in her but I have never minded making up beds when we used to have our sons on holiday with us in previous caravans. You’re quite right too, sleeping transversely gives you such an enormous comfy bed. It’s all about compromises and what works for you. It’s great to see you both out and about again.😊Love from Amanda and Paul.
Hi @user-fr7zg6tg3u Many thanks for watching ❤️ Completely agree with you 🤗 Everyone has different ways that suit them, this way works for us. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Great to see this. We had been considering changing from our swift 4 berth with an island bed. After seeing your first video of collecting the van we have bought a 2 berth Elddis. Pick it up in a few weeks. Can’t wait. So glad you are both well and enjoying life again
Hi @KC0106 Many thanks for your kind words & huge congratulations on your new caravan ❤️ We’re delighted we were able to help you make your decision 🤗 Sending our best wishes to you, happy travels, Keith & Michele xxx
We have a two berth motorhome and sleep longways as the seating/bed is not long enough to lay down. It's not easy going for a toilet break in the middle of the night. All good fun and part of the camping experience.
You have really thrown the spanner into my new caravan buying research, guys! Single with 2 dogs, but I ruled out a 2 berth as I "thought" I needed a seperate working/living and sleeping space. Well, I am pressing RESET and start researching from the beginning!
Hi @gregsjaguar46 Two people, two berth, so much living space. Even with two dogs it will work. 🤗❤️🥰 Good luck with your continued search for the right caravan, any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx