Width of Duetto berths?

Getting ready for collecting my Duetto
I've read (and had thought) that mattress toppers of some kind are a good idea, if only to iron out the cracks. So, can someone who has a Duetto let me know the width of the berths, as I can imagine it could be awkward if the foam or SIM hangs over the sides. (I'll be using it with singles, not a double.) In case the width has changed over the years, it is 1999 V reg. so the slightly newer model with mauvey-grey upholstery.

I've taken on board advice not to buy lots of things in advance, but I will be using it for 3 nights, 9 days after pick-up so i have to get a bit organized here. And there will be no hook-up! Could be challenging....
Jinny

Hi, we have just got a 1994 Duetto been away a few times (long weekends). Going Northumberland for 2 weeks so thought we would get a memory foam topping.

Have tried 2 singles but thought there was not enough room for us. We are now going for the double. We have just got an Eggbox memory foam topping for the double bed. When in the double the size is 5'4" x 5'6".

Just been out into campervan and measured the seats. The long bench seat measures 18" wide but can be brought out more (possibly another 6") to leave a narrow gap between beds. The seat near the door is 2'1" wide. That pulls out and makes the bed with the passenger seat turned round.

Hope that this helps you some, but I would advise definitely getting a memory foam topper.

Thanks -- that's helpful. I will need singles, for me and my "girl" (daughter!) There was a thread in the accessories forum I think where what kind of topper to get has been debated and there seemed to be lobbies for both memory foam and self-inflating mattresses. I think memory foam cut to size is the way to go.

I think you should try it out before spending any money.
We don't use any mattress toppers or anything of that kidney and our beds in the Symphony are superbly comfortable.

Frank

I agree with Boxerman. You need to try first. We did and I have a back problem so thought memory foam would be best for us.

Happy camping.

In principle I agree that it's better to wait and try. BUT I pick up the 'van on Monday 2nd July and on the Friday head straight back to the same part of the country to go to Latitude Festival with my daughter. (I never had a misspent youth...) So not much time to experiment and maybe buy foam -- being (ahem) in the same sort of Age Bracket as Boxerman, I am wary about risking it and I do like to be comfy! So I'll do without saucepans, but I want to sleep!

With no experience of MH-ing, I predict chaos and disaster at Latitude, but at least I'll learn . Expect some last minute panicky questions on the forum...Taking earplugs BTW...
Jinny

I've often thought of having a mattress topper but just don't know where I could store it. These van conversions are short on storage any time so just can't see where they could go.

I agree, not much storage space especially for a double topper. We will put ours in the shower room during the day and of course on the bed at night, it's a different matter if you are on a site where there are no showers. Going to use it in the next two weeks, so will let you know how we go on.

HildaB wrote:I agree, not much storage space especially for a double topper. We will put ours in the shower room during the day and of course on the bed at night, it's a different matter if you are on a site where there are no showers. Going to use it in the next two weeks, so will let you know how we go on.

Please do let us know. I don't plan to be on a site with no showers for longer than I can tolerate being dirty! So I think 2 nights is tolerable, which is what we might stick to on this occasion, or if it's 3 nights -- well, being a festival there will be unwashed masses anyway. (Loo emptying might be more of a challenge, but there must be emptying points I'd have thought!)

Hi,

We have a VW Talent,and the single beds were uncomfortable, bought 2 self inflating 25cm thick sleepmats from Go Outdoors.
They were £34.99 each and have made a real difference, very comfortable.

regards

Chalky.

chalky wrote:Hi,

We have a VW Talent,and the single beds were uncomfortable, bought 2 self inflating 25cm thick sleepmats from Go Outdoors.
They were £34.99 each and have made a real difference, very comfortable.

regards

Chalky.

Chalky, did you mean 25 cm or 2.5? 25 seems very thick? Do you remember the brand by any chance? Thanks--
Jinny

we would strongly recommend Duvalays - there are 2.5 or 4.00cm thicknesses. Incredibly comfortable and easy to use. The 2.5 is not too bulky

Peter

petern wrote:we would strongly recommend Duvalays - there are 2.5 or 4.00cm thicknesses. Incredibly comfortable and easy to use. The 2.5 is not too bulky

Peter

I've already ordered some memory foam cut to size. It was a lot cheaper! Well never mind.. and thanks for help.
Jinny

For what it is worth, the advantage of the Duvalays, set against their price, is that the duvet covers are attached so do not fall off but are much less restrictive than sleeping bags -also they can be zipped together for a double!

Anyway, hope things work out and enjoy the trip!

Peter

If the memory foam/sleeping bag combo doesn't work, I'll store the bags for other use and buy the Duvalays -- the memory foam was pretty cheap. Been trying to economise on kitting out my new Pride and Joy, but in the end might have to go the whole hog on this one -- we'll see. I aim to get the rectangular type sleeping bag, -- not so restrictive at least.
Jinny

Just thought I would get back to you once we had tried our mattress. We have just spent two weeks away in our duetto and as I said I had bought a double egg box memory foam topper. We stored this in the shower room during the day and had a lovely nights sleep when using it, its been the best buy we have made, would not do without it.

Hope you enjoyed your festival?

Thanks HildaB! Actually I have already bought some memory foam toppers for the berths, not as swish as the egg-box type I think but I'm hoping they will be OK.
The festival is next week -- watching the forecast with some apprehension -- it will be just a field and I'm sure will be very mud-prone. So I'm hoping that Monster Mats will help us get OUT!
It feels like a real adventure -- the first trip with overnight stays for Duetto!.
Jinny

Not been on the forum for a couple of weeks so missed this one before. We now use memory foam toppers on single beds on our 1998 Duetto, easier for trips to the loo during the night. We had a 2" mem foam topper on our 4'6" double bed at home. After buying new mattress for home split the topper down the middle by my maths 2'3" each wide. We got rid of the back rest of offside settee. This gave us a lot more room. The berths are very comfy and during the day the mattresses are put on top of one another on offside settee. My wife fitted covers on mattresses that can be taken off to be washed. If you need an extra long bed the front passenger seat can be turned round, however I found it is a lower level than the rest of the bed and needed packing up and not as comfortable. Also we have done away with the two tables. We now use a cheap wooden folding table (about ten pounds from Poundland) which can be used inside or out
Pete
Certa Cito

Thanks Cyclops. That's pretty much what I've got in the end. I think we could have a levelling problem (and that's not all!) at a festival this weekend, so we may end up with my daughter and I in our sleeping bags on the double bed set-up, to minimise rolling out of bed anxiety....
Good tip about the sofa back and table
Jinny

cyclops2 wrote:........ however I found it is a lower level than the rest of the bed and needed packing up and not as comfortable. ......

Pete,

There shouldn't be any difference in levels.

On ours (1998 model Duetto) the level of both bed "fill-in" pieces is adjusted by moving the seat "recline" up and down; this in turn moves the small ledge at the back of the seat up and down.

On the drivers side, before the "recline" adjustment can be made, the seat has to be dropped to its lowest level by using the two height adjusting levers at the side of the seat.

Best regards,

Ian

MrsGrey wrote:Thanks Cyclops. That's pretty much what I've got in the end. I think we could have a levelling problem (and that's not all!) at a festival this weekend, so we may end up with my daughter and I in our sleeping bags on the double bed set-up, to minimise rolling out of bed anxiety....
Good tip about the sofa back and table
Jinny

Hi Jinny,

On a different subject here …. Are you aware of the importance of levelling up for the Fridge to work ??

Sorry, just another thing for you to think about

Enjoy the Festival and don’t worry, there will be plenty of help around

Brian

Hmmmm no I didn't know that about the fridge. The manual makes big claims that it will work if not level. OK -- no milk in the coffee. I'm trying to imagine how you level up when knee-deep in mud. Have levellers (Jumbo) and Monster Mats but am told by a MH user there last year that the mats were useless in the mud. He was parked at the end of a row and had another van slide to within 1" of the side of his. Others say there was no onsite help at all, though they SAY that this year they have farmers lined up in their tractors to help. I am cynical, because there seems to be a lot of ahem rose-tinted reporting of last year's experience by the organisers. Trying to be positive and not doing well!
Jinny

Sounds (sic ) like fun …..

Coffee Mate and Mud

Brian

Hi there,

I think that if you get really lucky they will cancel the event!

In Lincolnshire and Yorkshire they have cancelled everything from Agricultural Shows (where almost everyone has wellies, waxed jackets and on-tap tractors!) to local Fetes (where most people walk to the event).

If it is "On!" then enjoy; it's a lovely feeling to lie in a warm comfy bed and hear the rain stotting off the roof; a feeling that continues right up to when the water laps over the edge of your bunk!!

Best regards,

cyclops2 wrote:
........ however I found it is a lower level than the rest of the bed and needed packing up and not as comfortable

Ian (Dutto)
Been away up to the Outer Hebrides again and havent been on site. What I was talking about was to lengthen the nearside bed, the front passenger seat could be left facing the rear the bed then becomes longer but the seat is a lower level than the rest of the bed. If it can be raised please let me know. By the way the weather on the Uists and Benbecula was lovely about the only place in Scotland to be dry!!!
On a different note there is a reunion for anyone who worked on the RA Rocket Range Benbecula/South Uist. Reunion on the 24th August at the Dark Island Hotel Benbecula. Let me know if you want any details
Pete
Certa Cito