Sleeping across the van

[captainwildfish]

Hi All,I am new on here and could do with some help,I am looking to convert the new shape (2007 on) Sprinter to a Campervan but would realy like the MWB,I would want to sleep across the van but its too short for a bed,the Reimo Star has some side pods fixed on to the window cutouts and gets a longer bed,I cant get Reimo to reply to emails so A,does anyone know who sells these side pods and has most that I have seen are in Germany does anyone know the German name for them,many thanks, Captainwildfish

[Charlie]

At the recent Sprinterfest in Portland, there was a young woman (I think her name was Sonja) introducing her company and it's first product, which is exactly what you are looking for. The website is

http://flarespace.com

There isn't much on the site (she said it went live just a few days ago) but I'm sure you can contact the company for more information.

Charlie

[bladerunner]

Fine if one is on ones own but I still reckon its a pain if the party at the rear wants to get down first or in and out in the middle of the nite.:2cents:

[Frosty_1]

Charlie,

I think Sonja runs Outside vans too?? That van on the flarespace website looks like Van Specialties work...

[Charlie]

Frosty,

She said she used to be an installer for Van Specialties, which does the work for Outside Vans. Her personal van, which was at Sprinterfest, and which I think is the one in the website photos, was built by Van Specialties.

Charlie

[dronsin]

I sleep diagonally.:2cents:

[Graphite Dave]

As with most Sprinter conversion choices, there are advantages and disadvantages to sleep across van (side to side) or inline (front to back). The discussion starts with what wheelbase van is being converted. With short wheelbase vans (140" or 144") sleeping inline takes too much space from other needs. The longer wheelbases (158" or 170") vans make the inline sleeping easier to do. A short wheelbase van is easier to park but restricts interior space. The size, age, agility and number of people affects the choice. Across van sleeping for two people makes the back person crawl over the front person to get to the front of the van. If a person is overweight or otherwise physically challenged then easier access inline bunks may be prefered. I am 5'-10" and have found that I can sleep across a NCV3 van fine with bed platform at the base of the windows. A taller person may have a problem. The across van bed platform at base of window height gives lots of storage under bed but eliminates access through the rear doors. A person needs to review their personal requirements and make a list of the advantages and disadvantages to determine what will work best for them.

[Thanasis]

Agree, it's like whatever works for different folks
Our bed is permanently set up across the rear of the van. I sleep in the rear. For us the main reason to get up at night is to drink water or go pee. I keep water in a plastic bottle on my side, plus a male urinal --- why not!!!! So no need for me to climb out of bed in the middle of the night. For my wife who sleeps on the front side of the bed, getting up is same as at home.
BTW, I am 5'8" 170 lbs.
:2cents:

[d_bertko]

This is such an interesting option that many of us would like to hear about whatever you turn up!

I'm too tall at 6'4" to sleep crosswise in almost anything except a slide-out. (Now a DIY slide-out would be a terrific project and yield many more benefits.)

An obvious drawback to the flarespace product is that you have permanent extra width that will make daily driver parking more difficult. And it really constrains the design to put your bed up at window levels---more awkward to get day sofa use out of the design.

We carry a 10x10 quickshelter that seals to our 4x10 awning and that allows us to devote 80" of inside length for the bed. Inside kitchen is functional and minimal. Additional outside propane kitchen is large and luxe. We also have a "hanging tent" that clips to the quickshelter for second bedroom use instead of outside kitchen.

My wife and I like each other enough that we prefer a 45" bedwidth to allow for tons of extra storage room where a 60"w queen would otherwise go. Works for us. We tried the queen width and found a 18"d storage wall a better use of the space.

Do tell us if you pursue the crosswise avenue.

[captainwildfish]

Hi All, Many thanks for all your input on this subject,I have been in touch with Sonja at Flareside but they do not make the flaresides for the UK market, the left side one (looking from the rear) is around 6" off the Van and this catches the sliding door on a RHD Van,the righthand side flareside is around 3"to 4" off the Van so would be OK, but its the price thats the Killer! $950 + shipping to the UK and thats for one,WOW, I dont think I will be going down that road, I think if I carefully cut out the panel took it to a Fibreglass company and had them make Me two opposing moulds I would have change out of $2000,I will have to think again,many thanks,Gerry.

[Graphite Dave]

Be careful about interference with the sliding door. Depending on your height, maybe all you need to do is add an extension on the side opposite the sliding door.