Couch vs bed

[gypsyrose1126]

I have been looking for a Class C with the back corner bed, about 24'. However they are difficult to find in my price range -- I have looked at a couple, but did not fit the bill for one reason or another. I thought the bed would be more comfy, plus you can leave it made and it is sorta out of the way. Not to mention that my daughter wants to use the RV when I am working and there is 4 in the family.

But I have found a couple Class B's that look very nice and are in my price range. However, there is no back bed, there is the couch and over the cab bed. Now I can get to the over the head bed, although not sure I want to climb down in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom!

So my question (finally) is how comfortable is the couch or the bed over the cab? Do you hit your head on the ceiling? Do you have to put another topper on the couch? I would not want the bedding their all day, which means putting it on every night and removing it every morning.

[JudyJB]

Some of the Class C cab-over beds have more head room than others, so you might want to take a tape measure when you go looking. I have not slept up there and don't think I would like to do that full-time, but it sounds as if you are looking for just a part-time unit.

A 2" memory foam topper makes a huge difference in either a bed or a couch! I have one on my permanent bed and also one I keep folded up in storage for the cab-over bed. I don't bother with it when I have children up there, but it definitely gets taken out and used for adults!

Keep looking. There is one out there for you--just takes time. If you can afford to wait, it might be worth it to find what you want rather than settling for something uncomfortable. Do lay down on all the beds when you look at a potential vehicle, however, and take your time trying all things out.

[dpf]

Okay, I am going to chime in here and give my two cents worth. I love my children dearly. BUT if this unit is going to be for you and it’s your dime paying for it…. buy what suits you and your daughter and her family can cope with your choice or buy their own unit. There is a big difference between what is a perfect fit for one or two people or a family. Our previous unit was a family TT that said it would sleep eight. It was perfect when the boys were young. (Whatever they say a rig will sleep it’s best to divide the number by 2 and add 1. Unless you are a family of pigmies!) We upgraded to our 5er and it’s a two person rig. It has a jack-knife sofa which isn’t overly comfortable but if someone wants to stay with us they can sleep on it or blow up the air mattress that will fit on the floor or pitch the tent that is in the cargo space. That probably sounds harsh. But I believe that we have worked our entire life for a few luxuries and at this point of our life we don’t need to cater to our adult children and put their wants and needs ahead of our own. JMHO.

[MelissaD]

Okay, I am going to chime in here and give my two cents worth. I love my children dearly. BUT if this unit is going to be for you and it’s your dime paying for it…. buy what suits you and your daughter and her family can cope with your choice or buy their own unit. There is a big difference between what is a perfect fit for one or two people or a family. Our previous unit was a family TT that said it would sleep eight. It was perfect when the boys were young. (Whatever they say a rig will sleep it’s best to divide the number by 2 and add 1. Unless you are a family of pigmies!) We upgraded to our 5er and it’s a two person rig. It has a jack-knife sofa which isn’t overly comfortable but if someone wants to stay with us they can sleep on it or blow up the air mattress that will fit on the floor or pitch the tent that is in the cargo space. That probably sounds harsh. But I believe that we have worked our entire life for a few luxuries and at this point of our life we don’t need to cater to our adult children and put their wants and needs ahead of our own. JMHO.

[MandysMom]

Ditto- agree with DPF and Melissa. Unless your kids are paying for the rig,mbuy for yourself.
Velda

[Acadianmom]

Way to go Pat. lol

My first Class C had the corner bed, a dinette, over cab bed and side chair. The bed was almost impossible to put sheets on because you couldn't put a hand between the mattress and wall. The mattress wasn't all that comfortable and this was before memory foam and I was a lot younger. The mattress in the over head had a hinge in the middle so it could be folded back. It was even more uncomfortable than the back bed. The kids eventually broke the back of the dinette using it to climb into the bed.

My second Class C had twin beds in the back, mid-split bath, front dinette on one side and couch across from the dinette and overhead bed. The beds in this motorhome were more comfortable. This was my favorite floor plan. My husband doesn't travel with me so I was always with friends or family. It was nice to have the back bed room. I could close the door and have my own room. Motorhomes with twin beds are hard to find.

The motorhome I have now is a B+. I have two sofas mid coach that can be used as twin beds. There is no overhead bed. I would really like to have more room but this is good for one or 2 people. Sleeping on the sofas for a week was killing my hips. They now both have 2" memory foam pads on them. I don't have enough storage so the pads stay on the beds all the time. We just make up the beds and put them up as sofas.

Just keep looking and you never know when one will pop up.

Martha

[BirdbyBird]

I agree the the above. Remember camping in the tent in an air mattress that lost it air halfway through the night. Air mattresses are alot better now days and so are tents! So if friends and family are not comfortable with the inside sleeping options they can still camp with you. I would not want to drive or haul around extra space that was not useful to me. When I did upgrade from a 22 ft to a 25.5 foot I did want a spare "bedroom" (The bed lowers over the captain chairs) and I wanted space for me to relax separate from the dogs and to have company sit inside on a rainy day. But I didn't want to drive a 36 foot rig down the road to do it. Maybe someday but not now anyway. I have had friends use an air mattress on the floor when staying with me at dog shows. They prefered that to paying for a motel down the road. And I didn't mind it was only for a weekend. (PS They were also good cooks!)

Another option regarding uncomfortable couches is to remove one and replace it with a daybed on a platform.....And yes memory form helps everything.

[gypsyrose1126]

Thanks for the replies -- and I agree completely about buying what I want as I am the one paying for it, my daughter does not have a voice in that. But I am not sure I could sleep on a couch for weeks at a time, as well as being to confined in a B. So was just wondering if they are actually comfy, as you see a lot of RV's without a bed in the smaller sizes. Had not thought about removing the couch, but I guess that would be an option too (Thanks BirdbyBird)

I am looking for something under 26' as I did not want to go to the expense of towing right now. Maybe after I have tried this out for a couple years, and gotten used to everything I may change my mind. But that is down the road. Right now I just need to find something!

[JudyJB]

I agree that you should buy this for you. In fact, I am not sure I would loan it to your daughter and her family. I vaguely remember someone on this blog doing so and they trashed it--no real damage, but a lot of dirt, etc.

And since you said "weeks at a time" I want to modify my original post and say I think this means you need a real bed you can leave made all the time. Having to move stuff and make up a bed is a pain.

When I bought my motorhome, I said I had to have two things--a comfortable place to sit during the day and a comfortable place to sleep at night. I got those things and feel I made a really good choice!

[gingerK]

Having just spent months and lots of miles looking for what you are also looking for here's my 2 cents regarding my own rig so far:

My RV is a '95 so the cushions definitely need to be replaced. The seat part on the couch isn't very comfy but the back is (its not as worn out). The overcab bunk has better cushions but I added a memory foam topper for extra comfort. Haven't slept on it(memory foam) yet but just climbing up there it already feels better than without it. As far as the couch, I already had a memory foam topper for the dinette bed in Pony (my tc) so I transferred it to AG and will use it there. Have not had a chance to try out the dinette bed but those cushions really need to be replaced. I roll up the topper for the couch and secure it with straps and keep it in a large duffle bag on the overhead bunk when I don't use it.


Head room is better in AG than in Pony but you really can't sit all the way up. Having actually fallen (oh yes I did!) out of the overcab bunk, I bought and installed a ladder rather than try to get up and down using the dinette seat back.

I, too, wanted a rear queen bed but as you know they are scarcer than hen's teeth to find! I am pretty satisfied with AG's couch/dinette/overhead bunk arrangement so far except that it is a real pita to make up the overhead bunk. Could just use sleeping bags I guess but I like the way it looks already made up. I also like the idea that I can make a bed on the couch and just fold up the bedding, stow it on the overhead bunk and have a couch again quickly. Last year's trip to KS both Carrie and I slept better on the memory foam mattress additions to our beds in Pony than we did on previous trips.

I bought mine with the plan of just 2 of us using it whether it be me and Carrie or me and my DH so sleeping arrangements are not all that critical. Having a rear kitchen was not in my plans but after finding AG it somehow wasn't a deal breaker after all. As the ladies here have told me while I was looking, you will know when you find the "one".

[Bethers]

I happen to love my back corner bed - in fact, made sure my new rig had one as my last did. That said, I'd consider other options. Some of the B's (and even C's) have sofas that are comfortable, and some are absolutely horrendous for more than a night or two. The ones that are usually better are more likely to be the ones made more as a twin bed (or maybe a little narrower) with removable bolsters for the back. I could do those. Both my Class C's had the overhead bed - and I COULD do it, but prefer to not climb up and down at night - so that's storage area for me. And as storage area, not easily usable for others to overnight.

I totally agree that the rig must be right for you - and don't worry about if they want to borrow it. I actually know people who, after letting adult children use the rig once, decided to never do it again. They love their children dearly, but they did NOT take care of it properly. And a few years back, a couple I know who have lived in a Class A for about 15 years, rented a friends 5th wheel for their son, his wife and two children - in order to not cram everyone in their own. This family had often stayed with them over the years. There was major damage to the 5th wheel - including they tossed paper towels down the toilet - talk about a mess. No matter how much you love your children, they will not treat your rig as you will.

I don't know your price range, but keep looking - there are good rigs out there.

[gypsyrose1126]

Thanks for the great suggestions and information on your own experiences. I think I will explore a few other options this summer. There is a 1999 Born Free near here for sale, $19,900 with 43,000 on it, has a rear bath. No bed of course, but has an overhead and couch. I like the look of it, and maybe could drive down on a Sat. and take a look. Like Ginger says can make up the couch, and in the a.m. just fold up all bedding and put it in the overhead. So will keep at it and see what happens.

[Acadianmom]

The Born Free's are one of the higher end motorhomes. Look and see what a new one costs. We don't see many around here but when one comes up for sale it's sold right away.

Martha

[AlmostThere]

Not all jackknife sofas are equal. We owned a 5er with the separate bedroom. Both my husband and I preferred sleeping on the jackknife sofa. When I started camping alone I bought a 22ft motorhome with only the jackknife for a bed. Hated it, and it was like new. So I guess until you actually sleep on one you will not know for sure. Sorry, not much help.

[TABaker]

I was surprised that my favorite bed in our Class C was the cab over. I've always been a climber, so I didn't even use the ladder. That bed was large and comfortable. I had a curtain to close for privacy or to block the AC, and I had room up there for reading materials, laptop, etc. During the day it was out of the way, and if I didn't feel like half-way making the bed, I just pulled the curtain. While not for everyone, I loved that bed.

The back had twin beds, which was a great floor plan.