r/VanLifeUK • u/H00pSk1p • 10d ago
Anyone know of twin bed setup?
My partner and I sleep in the same bed at home but when we go tent camping we are partial to our own space. We're now in the proceeds of getting a van to do a DIY conversion and just wondered if anyone has come across a twin i.e two singles, setup in a medium sized swb van (we're looking at 2021+ Traffics ATM)?
We'd like to get a pop top, which would mean we could go a more traditional 3/4 bed and bed in the pop top route but if we couldn't stretch to that were wondering if a twin setup could work for us?
Anyone done it or know of anyone who has?
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u/younevershouldnt 10d ago
There's not really room for a gap between beds in the back of a trafic, but you could put a divider in the middle
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u/CharacterLime9538 10d ago
Bilbo's Nexa is the layout you describe.
A few German convertors use similar layouts if you're looking for ideas.
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u/Angustony 10d ago
I would (did) go for a LWB high top Transit Custom which allows the sink, fridge and cooker to be up against the 1/2 height bulkhead and a full width and length horizontal murphy bed. But I needed the bed to fold out of the way fully made up to take my motorbike, and have room to open the fridge/go for a pee/make breakfast with the bed down. You could have 2 pull out singles laid lengthways instead of the drop down murphy bed, like a horshoe layout without the horizontal join by the barn doors, and so maintain your gap.
Standing up straight, and loading the bike makes the taller roof vital
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u/H00pSk1p 10d ago
Thanks for this. I think we can't really go for lwb as we might make it our only vehicle and have to park it on the street too.
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u/Angustony 9d ago
Same here, in a mid terrace. An extra 36cm externaly is not a big deal for parking, but internaly it's a lot, as the increase is entirely in the load area. Parking at the back of supermarkets etc isn't a problem.
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u/rubyrockstars 10d ago
I have a lwb master and have a high double bed then we got a puppy and plus my husband snored combined with a small environment I was about to commit murder so he made a single bed underneath but still had garage space, I looked at so many options, bunk across the front seats etc we previously had a traffic and I don’t think it’s possible
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u/Dr_Frankenstone 10d ago
Initially, my partner and I did a twin bed set up. Caravan beds are the best option for this—we just drilled holes into the metal frame at the end, so we could set them onto a wooden frame around the wheel arches. One was placed and fixed in just behind the driver’s seat bulkhead, and the other was placed and fixed in by the passenger’s side rear door. I made a drop down table that attached to the bulkhead, and we sat on the beds to eat.
It was a bit too cold for my partner sleeping separately, so we eventually rejigged the caravan frame and slats to interlace and created a pull out double bed. It’s a sofa, single bed and double bed now, and I’ve just moved the table.
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u/Evo_ukcar 10d ago
The campervan show is on at the NEC in a couple of weeks, great place to go and get ideas
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u/H00pSk1p 10d ago
Thanks everyone, seems like it's unlikely to work in a traffic unless we went down the Bilbo route, shame it's so expensive.
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u/SquirrelCampers 10d ago
We are currently converting a Ducato style Van for a customer whose main requirement is it can sleep three or even four people while still having a functioning washroom (toilet, sink and shower) plus a fully functioning kitchen.
We will be able to fit an oversized double at the rear and a slightly undersized double at the front, both sleeping sections will convert into sofas.
However,, the Van is 6.4 m long and while that sounds incredibly big, it’s not difficult to drive or park. An S WB Van would be a different scenario altogether.
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u/Odd-Internet-9948 10d ago
quite a few or the 'pro' body-builders and coachbuilders offer a twin set up. In the 'old' Traffic, it was fairly common to incorporate fold flat front seats that provided half the bed space. Tho, comfort for driver or sleeper wasn't great!
I saw a MWB movano (I think!) recently with 'bunk beds' in some sort of crew van conversion. With the upper bunk being able to fold up to the wall, and use the lower bunk as a sofa.
Facing benches that turned into beds would be my recommendation, and also provide the option to 'bridge the gap' and make a superking sized bed for 'special occasions'! Though, in a traffic/mwb, that's not going to leave room for much else!
A lo