Motorhome island bed layout

The island bed layout

Why an island bed?

So, you want a permanent double bed in your next motorhome, but you can’t live with the access issues posed by a French bed or transverse double? This is the answer. An island bed is like your double at home, with access to the mattress on either side. It can be found in coachbuilts of all types. Typical overall lengths are around 7.5m but more compact designs (down to 6.5m and, increasingly, around 7m) do exist. French brands especially favour island bed layouts (whereas German makers tend to focus more on single bed floorplans), but UK motorhome makers offer a good range of models, too.

Lots of choice

At the front, choose between half-dinette lounges and side settees. The latter are increasingly common, with many manufacturers now offering settees that can be converted into a pair of forward-facing travel seats – the action on some is rather better than others! Check out whether extra cushions/frames are needed and, if so, where they are going to be stored.

Great storage

As with all fixed bed layouts, under-bed storage is a key feature. This can be a bike-swallowing garage if the bed is set high enough. A number of models have bed raising/lowering mechanisms (operated manually or electrically) to change the locker-size-to-bed-height ratio, but remember that you’ll almost certainly want to move your bikes outside (and lock them up) and lower the bed to a more comfortable height for your kip.

Check access space

The size of the bed and the access around it are two issues that need checking – brochure figures cannot always be trusted. Beds can be short and/or with a radiused foot, while space for undressing can be lacking, too.

Some have a mechanism that sees the head of the bed rise as the mattress moves back – thus creating more space for getting dressed, while making sitting up in bed easy and comfortable. But, if this is the case, do look carefully at how much room there is around the foot of the bed when it’s fully extended for sleeping.

Washroom variations

The best island bed floorplans feature an en suite washroom with the shower on one side and the toilet/washroom on the other, with a door that closes across the aisle to create a generous full-width en suite. Here, again, it’s space that separates the good from the not so good.

Also, look for a second door that gives privacy between the bedroom and the washroom, especially if you’re intending to use your motorhome as a four-berth.

Much more unusual is a central washbasin design, where the basin is mounted on the reverse side of a wall at the foot of the bed. This wall is perfect for mounting a bedroom TV, but now bed length is even more important as your feet can’t overhang. Also, shutting off the toilet and/or shower for privacy can be more convoluted with this design.

There are also layouts with island beds running across the vehicle (mainly from UK manufacturers), though washroom facilities are then rarely as good. Itineo did come up with one of the best transverse island bed designs yet seen, which also incorporates a large garage beyond the bedroom.

These latter two options are very rare in new motorhomes as they have fallen out of favour, but will pop up on the secondhand market.

Space-saving compromises

And another variation is the semi-island or offset island bed, where there is more limited access to one side of the bed – this is a space-saving compromise between a true island bed and a French bed.

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