Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10147
Tin tent options
Ok wise tin tenters , we are thinking ( only thinking ) of getting one later in the year , and I’m wondering if the fixed bed option that we like is worth it as don’t fancy packing the bed up every morning , not got a big budget by any means and not sure I want to sell my extensive camping set up as at only 57 I’m still a sprung chicken
Any thoughts on the different options and benefits would be great thanks
🥟 stew-------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
Our personal preference is for an end bedroom with a fixed bed and a mid bathroom. Like this one
It allows visitors to use the bathroom without having to go through the bedroom. You can also use the bathroom an an en-suite
Also make sure it's got Alde heating, would not be without it once tried.2013 RR Vogue SE SDV8
2013 Freelander 2 HSE Luxury SD4
20th May 2022 10:39 am
pgerman
Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 68
We opted for fixed bunks for the kids meaning the bed has to made/put away and to be honest its a drag. I tend to fall asleep on the sofa when away and having to get up and make the bed is not ideal.
Now it would just be me and SWMBO I would certainly go for a fixed bed.
20th May 2022 10:44 am
Journeyman
Member Since: 27 Sep 2020
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 287
I would echo pgerman's comments. We have the same set up as we have a 12 year old (despite only being couple of years younger than Stew) so he has a fixed bunk. We tend to just sleep on the sofa with sleeping bags as it is less hassle as it is a PITA putting the bed away every morning. We would love a fixed bed though - and probably more comfortable.
You also don't have to spend a fortune as our tin tent is a 1998 and came from an elderly owner who had cherished it. It does everything we need and we're not too precious about the dog and smelly child... or should that be the other way round!
Damp is your enemy with caravans although less so with more modern construction methods.Cheers,
Jez
Discovery 3 HSE Stornaway Grey
MY 2008 2.7 TDV6
Discovery 2 2003 - gone
20th May 2022 11:18 am
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3646
Here we go Stew - fixed bed and you don't even need to bend to get through the door
20th May 2022 11:21 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Journeyman wrote:
I would echo pgerman's comments. We have the same set up as we have a 12 year old (despite only being couple of years younger than Stew) so he has a fixed bunk. We tend to just sleep on the sofa with sleeping bags as it is less hassle as it is a PITA putting the bed away every morning. We would love a fixed bed though - and probably more comfortable.
+1 again
For the two of you, fixed bed is brilliant. I love my fixed double and it's really comfy and nice to have a separate bedroom. Recommended.
However, knowing what I know now, and with young kids, our next van will sacrifice this for them to have their own bedroom at the back end instead, with a bathroom in the middle. And we will just sleep on the benches at the front which sometimes I do anyway if I'm sitting up late watching a film etc. To be fair some of these layouts are a much newer phenomenon.
This is what I'm buying next https://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/touring-...oenix-760/D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
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20th May 2022 11:42 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26772
Fixed bed Stew. Nothing worse than trying to make up a bed when you’ve had a few beers!
Our Elddis Affinity 540 has a fixed end bedroom, then a mid shower room, then a door. Which means swmbo can go for an early night and leave me in the lounge area with telly and a few beers. Perfect!
20th May 2022 12:04 pm
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2521
fixed bed all the way just check the bed length although fom memory that shouldnt be an issue for you
personally we like the end washroom and a side fixed bed but it can be an issue for the one sleeping against the wall if there the drinker and up a few times in the night for a pee ...all that bulmers has got to go somewhere fella
our latest want is for a transverse bed with end washroom but only on the wider newish models so struggling to justify the outlay but i can see that happening in time. final choise will be dependant on personal lifestyle so think throught the layouts ,,if the missus tends to go to bed earlier than you then fixed bed is a no brainer and the only way to go .good luckMY05 SE D3 Manual my first LR what a car
MY10 HSE D4 auto
MY14 XXV more buttons than the spaceshuttle
20th May 2022 12:45 pm
leeds
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 4314
Fixed beds certainly have their uses however they can be awkward to move around as space can be tighten.Ours converts to a 'day bed's easier to walk around.
Brendan
20th May 2022 1:11 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Had this layout on our now departed van [Sterling Eccles SE Coral].
It really worked for us, but it was only for two.
Nice big washroom, bed was out the way [& separated off] and had swivel TV to bedroom or kitchen, "L" lounge at front with removeable table, separte dining/hobby area to side.
Click image to enlarge
...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
20th May 2022 1:32 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2226
Hi,
What ever option you go for will have a compromise somewhere else
Side bathrooms can be smaller than end ones or make the space "feel" tighter as you walk past it
For the 2 of us the layouts that have suited us the most has been an old buccaneer elan end kitchen, side bathroom beds at front (they were really easy to make the double up no little cushions to move about)
And
A 4 berth Bailey with doubles to make up front and rear, we would make up the rear double and leave it up with a door across to shut off the bed, you could still use the whole van and use front as singles or a bit bigger double if you wanted, compromise was side bathroom shower had less room
Now
Swmbo wanted a bigger bathroom/shower so end bathroom, make up double at front which only needs the 2 back cushions dropping into the middle all other cushions stop where they are (Bailey Senator arizona) and the dog gets the side bottom bunk made up
For us fixed beds seem to take up a lot of the space of the van !
Happy Hunting and make the bed up Before you go for a Shandy
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1394
Hi, we’ve just changed vans after 12 years in a 6 berth Sterling, our bed at the front had to be made up but to be honest this wasn’t really a big deal and the size and comfort of the big bed made up for the hassle.
Now the kids aren’t interested in coming with us so the time was right to get a newer van. The fixed double beds were all very appealing. But as we’re both over 6 feet tall we just couldn’t get one to fit unless we went to an 8’ wide van which we didn’t fancy for various reasons. The beds were either too short or had a cut away or two at the ends. As it will be the 2 of us form now on we didn’t fancy the mid wash room either.
We saw a Bailey with twin single beds, both 6’3” long (perfect), wash room at the back, full size fridge, Alde heating etc, and that was that.
We picked up our Unicorn V Cadiz last month and are delighted with it after several nights away.
It tows like a dream too despite going back to a single axle.
Dex
20th May 2022 4:31 pm
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10147
Well It looks like I’ll be bringing this one home tomorrow , must have looked at 100 tin tents , but this one has the lay out we want and the price tag is ok also so let’s see what happens tomorrow
-------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
1st Jul 2022 9:29 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
That looks like a fine van Stew.
Happy “camping” ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
1st Jul 2022 9:34 pm
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2521
side fixed bed with end washroom id say from the window position good choice MY05 SE D3 Manual my first LR what a car
MY10 HSE D4 auto
MY14 XXV more buttons than the spaceshuttle
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, not got a big budget by any means and not sure I want to sell my extensive camping set up as at only 57 I’m still a sprung chicken 
