ROOF BED?

Hi All, i haven't been on here for a while as i have been busy with our new addition to the family and moving house. We are planning our first camping trip with our baby and are extremely excited. We are going back to France and belgium over the August bank holiday and need to install a roof bed in Clementine. We originally thought about the cab hammock over the front seats however i now think theres a good chance she would roll off it! So we are looking to install a up top bed in the pop top. Has anyone self installed / made a bed for this with a cargo net type hook up also to stop and rolling toddlers falling out? I know many Brazi's now come with these but as an after purchase Danbury want a whopping £500 for one and thats supply only
Should be a pretty easy project install but thought i would check here first to see if any others had done this and can share their issues / knowledge on best fixing points in the side roor rails etc??

Cheers in advance for any advice Steve...

There is another post on here somewhere about the roof bed but I can't find it.

All you need is a woodern board. The Danbury ones are hinged to open up the roof space when not sleeping. They sit on the side rails of the opening so no extra fixing points are required. There's a picture of how the board fits in place in Tims Bed Board Bolt thread HERE

Hi Paul, we have just moved to aylsham. I see from the link above that some of the brazi bays have a lip for the board to sit on. I don't believe mine has that? Will have to check as the can is at the inlaws at the moment. Does anyone know if I can just screw a baton runner onto the original frame to create the lip?

steve andrews wrote:

Does anyone know if I can just screw a baton runner onto the original frame to create the lip?

Can't see it being a problem. Would think that's how Danbury do it.

Just measured the bed board thickness. Looks like it's 16mm

Found the post I was thinking of
Bed Boards

Thanks kiteman! Will Get cracking on it this weekend.

Has anyone got any tips on using the roof bed? We've never used ours, but my daughter is planning to use it. In particular, what's the best way to get in and out, e.g. board to the front or rear, step on buddy box etc.?

Depends on your layout as to whether there is anything at the back to step on.

Our son normally climbs up at the front using the buddy seat and worktop for a legup, this means we at less likely to disturb him when we go to bed (mostly at the other end) but also because he tends to sleep with his head to the front so he can look out of the sunroof.

That said, he is just as adept at the other end where the height of the bed/rear cushion means he is tall enough not to climb on anything.

Tallulah wrote:

Depends on your layout as to whether there is anything at the back to step on.

Our son normally climbs up at the front using the buddy seat and worktop for a legup, this means we at less likely to disturb him when we go to bed (mostly at the other end) but also because he tends to sleep with his head to the front so he can look out of the sunroof.

That said, he is just as adept at the other end where the height of the bed/rear cushion means he is tall enough not to climb on anything.

Our layout is a Rio. My daughter and her friends are in their 20's, but still light enough to be able to use the roof bed. I think that it will probably be best if they scramble up at the front via the buddy box and worktop, then they can also get down again without trampling over the others. Personally I would use the awning, but they all fancy the idea of sleeping in the van.

alderley wrote:

Tallulah wrote:

Depends on your layout as to whether there is anything at the back to step on.

Our son normally climbs up at the front using the buddy seat and worktop for a legup, this means we at less likely to disturb him when we go to bed (mostly at the other end) but also because he tends to sleep with his head to the front so he can look out of the sunroof.

That said, he is just as adept at the other end where the height of the bed/rear cushion means he is tall enough not to climb on anything.

Our layout is a Rio. My daughter and her friends are in their 20's, but still light enough to be able to use the roof bed. I think that it will probably be best if they scramble up at the front via the buddy box and worktop, then they can also get down again without trampling over the others. Personally I would use the awning, but they all fancy the idea of sleeping in the van.

I've slept in Tallulah's roof, it's a bit of a squeeze/riggle to get in and stretched out, but once in situ there is plenty of room and a 20 something year old (or 2) will be considerably more flexible than me!

Turning round will be a challenge, especially if there are two of them, so I would recommend climbing up where they intend to have their feet and moving along to lay down rather than trying to climb up then turn round.

My only other tip would be be careful what they use to hold onto/pull on while climbing up, try to use the bulkhead rather than the roof handle or struts.

Have fun!

Hi Steve,

We can make them for you.

Factory finish.

Price is £200 inc vat for the bed board and £150 inc vat for the mattresses in soft cream vinyl.

Still expensive but pretty much what they cost up to get made!

Ian VWKampers.co.uk

Hi Ian.
What material are the beds made from and what weight would they stand without breaking please? As they can't be that thick for obvious reasons.
Cheers.

Hi

It's 18mm ply finished with a dark grey vaneer, weight limit is 18 stone.

Many Thanks

Ian

18st? Even I could use it!

Oh not strong enough for our lass then!

Only joking