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My new beast has a cabover, then a sofa on left and chairs on right. The sofa pulls out into a bed.

I'm debating whether to:

a) Sleep in the cabover. Use up some of the cabover space (right along the front,and at head of bed, where there's a 'ledge')
for storage

b) permanently remove the fill in section in the cabover, use the entire cabover space for storage, and sleep in the sofa bed.

advantages to a
cabover's warmer - small space near ceiling
I like to flop in bed to read during odd moments during day. I can use the sofa this way without pulling out bed, but less comfy
less weight up top on the rig

advantages to b
old lady bladder - easier to deal with the now two or three trips in a night without that darn ladder
lots more storage

and in my crazier moments, I think 'I don't really need the sofa and chairs, I could pull them out, put in a computer desk, a visitor chair, and have a huge storage space

Those of you in a similar arrangement rig, where are you sleeping?

If I were to buy a rig without the "down" bed, I'd use the cabover - because I like having a dedicated bed and wouldn't want to change over the couch from bed to couch daily - and unless you make the couch a bed permanently, I doubt it's very comfortable. That would be the other option I'd consider - making it a day bed type couch - using bolsters, etc - with a good mattress and then I'd be ok with keeping the overcab for storage (which mine is). Of course, this is personal and about preferences.

My first rig presented that exact decision. Over the two years I had it, I tried both solutions. The cab over was very comfortable but over all I didn't like the climbed up and down for the middle of the night trips. I also enjoyed sharing my bed with a dog or two. Much safer without a climb for them. I did like the idea of the cab over as being a multi purpose space, either storage or the spare bedroom for a guest.

In my current unit I am quite happy to have taken the uncomfortable jack knife couch out and replaced it with a day bed sort of arrangement. It is great for relaxing, using the computer and/or reading during the day and comfortable for sleeping. If company comes (I have a very small rig) I offer them the one comfortable chair and I sit on the day bed. It fits my longer legs just fine!

You will have to decide what your body is most comfortable with and how handy that storage area over the cab is for you!

Does the cabover have an escape hatch in case of fire? If no, I wouldn't sleep there.

The point about fire is a good one. It doesn't have an escape hatch.
Given the yoga exercises necessary to get down, I wouldn't want to try those during a fire.

Birdbybird, any chance we could see interior pic of your rig?

I was thinking pulling the sofa out was the sort of stupid-human-trick thing that people do that ruins their RV's,
but your having done it makes me think it's more practical.

I'd really like to 'remodel' that area, and I'm handy with tools, but I've just felt like any attempt to tackle something like that
is too irreversible. But now I'm encouraged! 8cD

..

Maybe these two threads could help you...

http://womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2552&hilit=box

http://womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10643&p=139008&hilit=day+bed#p139008

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I think there is another series of pictures that may show up on one of Olive's threads that show the more recent rehabs and boring but more specific details about the day bed/box. Yes with a few tools and some muscle all that "stuff" is out of there.

Off to hunt the name of Olive's thread....

It is in the show off your rig section...."Betsy Gets a Make Over."

And I didn't make any permanent changes in my first rig...maybe I already knew it wasn't going to stay for long. Two years later when I traded it in for the Short Bus, it didn't take me long to realize that if I was going to be comfortable i needed to make changes. I also fully realized that these boxes really aren't investments to get money back on their resale. They are investments to getting out on the road and enjoying adventures!