One query I get requested quite a bit is: how does a household sleep in a camper van? So on this publish I’m sharing the VW Transporter beds we now have utilized in our VW T5 and VW T6 day vans – sleeping a household of 4 with choices for extra beds if wanted.
VW Transporter beds in our campers
Camper vans – no two are precisely the identical. You’ll be able to customise them in tons of of how to make them the proper arrange for you.
Lengthy Wheel Base or Brief Wheel Base. Pop prime or not. Full kitchen conversion or day van. The choices are countless, particularly when in involves the sleeping preparations.
We’ve been fortunate to have the ability to check out two completely different mattress preparations in our camper vans.
Out first camper was a Lengthy Wheel Base VW T5 day van. It was not a totally transformed camper van but it surely was possibility for us after we had been new to camper van life.
Our subsequent camper was a VW T6 quick wheel base with a pop prime. Once more it wasn’t absolutely transformed but it surely had a Caravelle rail system and seat which was a brand new characteristic for us. This mixed with the tremendous sensible Slidepod within the boot made the identical dimension huge double mattress we’re used to.
The power to maneuver the seat backwards and forwards can be nice for further area when having picnics.
Right here’s some extra issues to think about when shopping for a camper van.
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Children camper van beds
So, right here’s a bit extra concerning the mattress set ups we’ve had for the children.
Cabbunk detachable bunk beds for camper vans and motorhomes
Our first camper – a day van kombi with two rotating seats within the entrance – allowed us to make use of the Cabbunk youngsters’s camper van mattress.
This supplied a bunk mattress able to supporting two individuals weighing as much as 70kg every and as much as 170cm tall. That is greater than sufficient for our women from the ages of 5 to eight.
Placing the Cabbunk up is fast and simple, after getting carried out it just a few occasions, and it packs away very neatly.
In our T5 we used the sliding door package which doesn’t must be screwed into the physique work making it a very detachable system.
If we had been going out for the day the bunk obtained stowed away, but when we had been staying on web site we merely left it in place as we used our awning for residing area.
Tip: It’s price working towards placing up the Cabbunk at residence as there’s some adjustment to be carried out to make the system good for you.
A barely ‘slacker hammock’ is good for very young children to make sure they don’t fall out, whereas bigger youngsters will want a extra taught hammock to offer them better area and make it simpler to get out and in.
Our youngest discovered the bunk actually cozy with out further padding however our older daughter (then aged seven) preferred the addition of a small self inflating mattress for further consolation. They each slept of their sleeping luggage with a pillow from residence.
Pop prime
The Cabbunk system was preferrred whereas the women had been smaller. However they’d began to outgrow it and that meant placing up an awning for them to sleep in. Not preferrred while you simply desire a fast evening away.
That is the place the massive SCA 194 pop prime that got here with our V6 camper van was a welcome change. This had a great deal of room for them and, with a mattress and sprung body, it was tremendous cozy.
Entering into the pop prime mattress means standing on the chairs on the entrance and swinging up, so I used to be glad that is the place the children had been blissful to sleep.
The pinnacle room when the mattress was up additionally makes becoming wetsuits on the seaside a lot simpler!
Our pop prime was fitted from new. Should you’re contemplating getting a pop prime added after shopping for your van make sure that it’s carried out by a good fitter.
Awning
After all you may also put the children, or your different half, out in an awning.
We had the OLPRO Cocoon Breeze air awning with out first camper van. This has two sleeping compartments which are large enough for a few single camp beds or self inflation mattresses.
That is in all probability the perfect possibility for bigger households or these with teenagers so everybody has their very own area.
Check out my full evaluate of this OLPRO air awning which features a particular low cost code for OLPRO merchandise.
Should you’re undecided between a camper van or caravan you may additionally prefer to learn my publish about caravan beds for youths.
VW Transporter beds for adults
One of many ‘necessities’ for any of our Tin Bins has been a big and comfy mattress.
Mr Tin Field isn’t a slender sleeping companion and takes up fairly greater than his fair proportion of the mattress. He’d in all probability say the identical about me!
Because of this we now have dominated out the normal 3/4 width rock and roll VW Transporter beds (you discover theses in lots of full camper van conversions) when shopping for our vans.
Kombi beds
Our first van was a clean canvas having been a tradersman’s van earlier than we purchased it.
We determined to get a Forty Winks Kombi mattress fitted.
This easy design is nice for offering a flat, massive and comfy sleeping platform whereas retaining the usability of the van’s load area.
As a result of we had a Lengthy Wheel Based mostly van we might have the mattress in place with out having to fret about folding away the rear seats and it gave us fairly near a full dimension double mattress.
The system makes use of the prevailing VW load area ground mounts so doesn’t require any drilling or modification and will be absolutely eliminated if required. It additionally folds in half permitting half of the load area to nonetheless be full top – preferrred if transporting bikes.
We had a excessive density foam mattress made to measure. It folded on the similar place the sleeping platform did so stowed away neatly.
We intentionally obtained this carried out with a water proof cowl and dense foam in order that we didn’t have to fret about taking the mattress out if we had been out and about paddle boarding or on moist, muddy canine walks.
For added luxurious we had a regular double reminiscence foam mattress topper (a particular from ALDI) that got here away with us on tenting journeys.
Rock and roll camper van mattress
Our second camper – a brief wheel base – got here with completely different mattress resolution.
The again seats roll absolutely ahead on the Caravelle rail system after which fold all the way down to make two thirds of the double mattress base. The ultimate third is supplied by the Slidepod in the back of the van. We topped this with a mattress to finish the mattress.
This was simply as comfy as our different van and possibly made for a greater use of the area.
How many individuals can sleep in a VW camper van?
We’re a household of 4 and have discovered we now have loads of room to sleep inside our camper vans.
However you can match extra.
It could be attainable to sleep three young children in a pop prime – the burden restrict on our final one was 70kg. And you can prime and tail on the mattress at the back of the van.
For extra beds inside you can add a Cabbunk to the entrance seats. A single bunk may be the most suitable choice as a double might make it troublesome for individuals to exit the pop prime.
Including an awning clearly ups the utmost variety of individuals you can convey away.
So the reply to how does a VW camper sleep comes all the way down to how pleasant you need to get.
Camper van bedding
So, which is greatest? A sleeping bag or quilt?
We began out with a double sleeping bag*, with pillows and a king sized sheet from residence. The primary profit is that it’s straightforward to pack away and retailer on days out.
You do have to spend an affordable sum of money on a cotton sleeping bag to make sure it’s comfy and doesn’t get sweaty.
Another that we’ve lately been launched to is a coverless quilt, which provides a little bit of luxurious to van life whereas nonetheless being sensible.
Learn my evaluate of the Evening Owl coverless quilt and why it really works as camper van bedding.
Why our VW camper beds work for us
These camper van set ups have labored for us for a number of causes.
Firstly, when going away we’ll nearly at all times put up and awning.
We at all times used an awning with our caravan as a result of the additional area it offers with two youngsters and a canine is invaluable. It additionally means the van can simply be for sleeping not residing.
That mentioned we now have carried out occasional in a single day stops with out an awning.
Second, we don’t journey gentle! Bikes, scooters, paddle boards, the listing is countless.
The area we now have to hold ‘stuff’ is big and the van has the load capability to take all of it. I don’t understand how we might get all the things in a full camper conversion.
Lastly, the van is our main household transport, so whereas the children have been in ISOFIX seats we’ve been ready to make use of these in our vans.
How do you sleep in your camper van?
So, that’s our VW Transporter mattress arrange. Would this be just right for you? Or, if you happen to already personal a camper van, what arrange works for you?
I’m at all times desirous about seeing how different individuals use their vans so please share your set ups with me. Do you utilize a tenting pod programs such because the slide pods?
Might you reside with out your pop prime? What a couple of roof tent? Do share!
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