What Motorhome/Campervan Bed is right for you?

Comparing the pros and cons of different bed types

 

On average, we spend one-third of our lives sleeping! Our sleep is hugely important for both our physical and mental health. With this in mind, the choice of bed you choose for your motorhome or campervan can be a huge and often overwhelming decision and, when it comes to comfort and environment, everyone is different and has their preferences. Nevertheless, we’re here to help and have taken a range of common bed types for motorhomes and campervans and weighed up their pros and cons.

 

Before we start here are some things to consider and advice for looking for a bed:

• Do you mind making up and putting away a bed every day?
• If you’re sharing a bed, do you need a bed that is accessible from both sides?
• Do you need a bed with storage solutions?
• If you can have a choice of mattress, look up the best mattresses for the way you sleep; certain mattresses are better for side sleepers, back sleepers, combination sleepers etc.
• Consider what type of mattress is best for you; firm or soft?
• Do you prefer a certain type of mattress e.g. spring, memory foam or hybrid?
• If you’re buying a new motorhome or campervan, make sure you test the bed!

 

Bunk beds

Pros ✅

• Practical design and easier to get more beds in. Bunk beds are especially great for larger groups of people travelling in a vehicle i.e. families
• Don’t have to make and put away the bed every day
• Storage under the beds
• More space-conscious solution than 2 single beds next to each other

 

Cons ❌

• Often these beds block natural lighting
• Mattress can sometimes come up short for taller people
• Can take up a lot of space

 

Drop Down Bed

Pros ✅

• More living space
• Good for adding more berths to the vehicle
• Variety of places it can be situated: the cab, the lounge or the rear

 

Cons ❌

• No under bed storage
• Have to make up the bed every night
• Often have to be accessed by ladder or steps
• If the bed is positioned with one side against the wall, the person sleeping next to the wall will have to climb over the other person to get up

 

Rear Lounge/U-Shaped Rear Lounge

Pros ✅

• Versatile as doubles as a lounge space and dining area
• Storage space under seats
• Larger bed and more legroom
• Panoramic views

 

Cons ❌

• Bed has to be made up each night
• Not a huge amount of storage space; no room for a garage
• No choice in mattress

 

Fixed Beds

Pros ✅

• Storage below – sometimes room for garage underneath
• Don’t have to make and put away the bed every day
• More choice in mattress
• Front-facing double beds mean not having to climb over the other person
• Single beds accessible option for getting in and out of bed

 

Cons ❌

• Takes up living space
• If the bed is a double and positioned with one side against the wall, the person sleeping next to the wall will have to climb over the other person to get up.

 

Fixed raised rear beds

Pros ✅

• Don’t have to make and put away the bed every day
• Raise fixed beds mean you can have a large garage at the rear; this is great for storage for bikes and equipment
• More choices in mattress

 

Cons ❌

• Have to be accessed by a ladder or steps
• Takes up living space
• For beds with one side facing the wall the person sleeping on the wall side will need to climb over other the person to get up

 

Transverse Fixed Bed

Pros ✅

• Larger bed and more legroom
• Good under-bed storage with possible room for a garage
• Don’t have to make and put away the bed every day

 

Cons ❌

• A person sleeping on the wall side will need to climb over other the person to get up
• Raised bed will sometimes require a ladder or steps

 

Pop-top bed

Pros ✅

• More living space
• More headroom
• Don’t have to make and put away the bed every day

 

Cons ❌

• Exposure to noise
• Temperature management can be difficult
• Adds additional height to the vehicle. Make sure to consider the pop top’s height when driving under barriers

 

Fixed over cab beds

Pros ✅

• Don’t need to make up bed every day
• More living space
• Separate sleeping space from living area

 

Cons ❌

• A person sleeping on the wall side will need to climb over other the person to get up
• Requires a ladder or steps for access
• No under bed storage

 

Island Bed

Pros ✅

• Accessible from both sides
• Decent amount of storage
• Don’t need to make up bed every day

 

Cons ❌

• No room for a garage below
• Takes up living space
• Fewer options for mattresses

 

Sofa bed

Pros ✅

• Space-saving bed
• Under bed storage
• Functional for living space

 

Cons ❌

• Bed has to be made up each night
• Pull out slats can be fiddly

 

Rock and Roll bed

Pros ✅

• Space-saving bed, good for smaller vehicles
• Quick and easy to setup

 

Cons ❌

• Minimal storage space
• No choice in mattress