Not really sure where I should start this thread so will start here. I'm looking at buying a second hand motor home but so many of them seem to have the over the cabin extra space for another two people or even as a main bed. I would absolutely need to have my bed on the 'ground floor'. I don't need this type of design but I could possibly use the extra space as storage.
Question 1: does having the above the cabin feature increase wind drag and therefore fuel consumption?
Question 2: If staying at friends in a country town suburban area, does it scream 'You're camping here?'
Have seen a few of these parked in streets where I live but have never thought about it until I started investigating going the motor home route myself.
Peter_n_Margaret said
03:54 PM Nov 22, 2018
We have a "bed-over-cab" by choice and we have no problem using it (we are both in our 70s).
The main advantage it to provide substantially more living area in a smaller vehicle. It is also quite practical for one partner to retire while the other stays up to read, or whatever. The bed is always made up and ready to use, an important consideration for convenience.
The bed-over is not going to increase fuel consumption and where you sleep is of no consequence - a motorhome is a motorhome.
Another alternative is a bed that raises up to the ceiling when not in use, but you probably loose much of the living area when it is not in use and it might make a nightly "trip" more inconvenient, depending on the detail of the layout.
Cheers,
Peter
Mike Harding said
04:05 PM Nov 22, 2018
Some years back in the States I hired a motorhome with overhead bed, the children were in bunks "downstairs" but my wife and I were in the overhead bed. The ceiling above the bed is relatively close to the bed and as I'm a little claustrophobic I found it disconcerting and had to make a positive effort to keep calm and relaxed. I did get use to it but would never choose such a bed for long term use.
Tony Bev said
11:00 PM Nov 22, 2018
I have no idea if the hump over the cab, (like my motorhome), will be less or more fuel efficient
Most motorhomes (and caravans), have the aerodynamics of a brick They are not usually purchased for their fuel efficiency After saying that, I get between about 8 to 10 kilometres per litre, or 10 to 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres, or 22.5 to 28 miles per gallon, depending on the terrain/wind/speed
My motorhome has a permanent bed over the cab, as well as a permanent bed at the rear
The bed over the cab, (for me), is more storage area, at the moment it has the following light items, stacked up there TV, Satellite Dish, 2 x camp lounge chairs, 2 x normal camp chairs, roll up aluminium table, shades for front windows, 12 volt fan water cooler, reconditioned radiator, and thinking of putting my portable (5 Kg)solar panel up there
The storage area under the rear bed, is full of other stuff
Edit to say Yes people know you are camping, as it looks like a motorhome But...
Any vehicle with a curtain across the windows, regardless of make/colour/size, also looks as though you are camping in it
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Thursday 22nd of November 2018 11:03:00 PM
Lily2018 said
08:11 AM Nov 23, 2018
Thanks all for your thoughts. And Tony Bev, I too would use it as storage space which would no doubt come in handy.
My main reason for having a main bed on the ground floor is because my two pups sleep in my bed and there's no way I'm lifting them up and down!
Not really sure where I should start this thread so will start here. I'm looking at buying a second hand motor home but so many of them seem to have the over the cabin extra space for another two people or even as a main bed. I would absolutely need to have my bed on the 'ground floor'. I don't need this type of design but I could possibly use the extra space as storage.
Question 1: does having the above the cabin feature increase wind drag and therefore fuel consumption?
Question 2: If staying at friends in a country town suburban area, does it scream 'You're camping here?'
Have seen a few of these parked in streets where I live but have never thought about it until I started investigating going the motor home route myself.
The main advantage it to provide substantially more living area in a smaller vehicle. It is also quite practical for one partner to retire while the other stays up to read, or whatever. The bed is always made up and ready to use, an important consideration for convenience.
The bed-over is not going to increase fuel consumption and where you sleep is of no consequence - a motorhome is a motorhome.
Another alternative is a bed that raises up to the ceiling when not in use, but you probably loose much of the living area when it is not in use and it might make a nightly "trip" more inconvenient, depending on the detail of the layout.
Cheers,
Peter
Some years back in the States I hired a motorhome with overhead bed, the children were in bunks "downstairs" but my wife and I were in the overhead bed. The ceiling above the bed is relatively close to the bed and as I'm a little claustrophobic I found it disconcerting and had to make a positive effort to keep calm and relaxed. I did get use to it but would never choose such a bed for long term use.
I have no idea if the hump over the cab, (like my motorhome), will be less or more fuel efficient
Most motorhomes (and caravans), have the aerodynamics of a brick
They are not usually purchased for their fuel efficiency
After saying that, I get between about 8 to 10 kilometres per litre, or 10 to 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres, or 22.5 to 28 miles per gallon, depending on the terrain/wind/speed
My motorhome has a permanent bed over the cab, as well as a permanent bed at the rear
The bed over the cab, (for me), is more storage area, at the moment it has the following light items, stacked up there
TV, Satellite Dish, 2 x camp lounge chairs, 2 x normal camp chairs, roll up aluminium table, shades for front windows, 12 volt fan water cooler, reconditioned radiator, and thinking of putting my portable (5 Kg)solar panel up there
The storage area under the rear bed, is full of other stuff
Edit to say
Yes people know you are camping, as it looks like a motorhome
But...
Any vehicle with a curtain across the windows, regardless of make/colour/size, also looks as though you are camping in it
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Thursday 22nd of November 2018 11:03:00 PM
My main reason for having a main bed on the ground floor is because my two pups sleep in my bed and there's no way I'm lifting them up and down!