Hi My current deveon layout does not work for me so I was looking options What is a decent layout incl a bed in a t2? If you have a full width bed do you get much space to store stuff? and can you keep a rear cupboard? cheers
I've always liked the look of the westy Helsinki interior. I've never understood in a small bus like a bay the idea of putting a bloody great bit of furniture in the way of the sliding door. I get that on some it allows you to swing it out for cooking etc. But l always think the units should be restricted to the non slider side. But that's just my personal opinion.
I think the Helsinki does have a cabinet in the way of the slider. It's the Berlin you want, though it's not got a full width bed.
We have a Westy Berlin and it's perfect for us. The only compromise is the 3/4 width bed which is compensated by the extra cupboard space and the swiveling front passenger seat
Had a Devon to begin with and didn't get along with it. Had a custom for a short while just to get out in for a summer (not much thought went into it). I felt the Westy Continental offered the best balance for me. Full width bed was a must, wardrobe is good for storage. I bought an entire roof cut with rear hinge westy roof and cut my tintop to accommodate. The kids have loads of room up top and me and the wife get a fair bit of sleeping space too. Plenty of storage under the seats and in the overhead locker.
I've got a westy continental in mine It's a well thought-out interior. But it takes up a lot of the footprint of the van. Only when you start to use it you discover you honestly don't really need that much. For example how many times do you use the sink won't a bowl just do? This applies to a lot of thinks like Hobs water tanks etc...... On the other hand things you need are a bed and maybe a fridge and table storage and that's about it for daft old me I'm working on a interior in me head that's non nonsense and as light as a westy
I think that's the route I'm looking at, full size bed, folding table and some storage. The westy Berlin looks decent but mines a tin top so don't have the space above.
The westy overhead locker is a great piece of storage and easy to get thing out without playing musical chairs
If yours is a tintop then of course you will struggle for space. Ive no idea how people "camp" in a tintop. Ok for sleeping in and lugging stuff about but wouldnt want to "live" in one.
Ours is a tin top Berlin, sleep in it but live in the awning. Have a chemical toilet inside hidden by a buddy box which goes into the toilet tent along with the hozelock power shower. All works well at events, festivals and camping.
Tidy. One of the best and most practical layouts from the factory imho. Good point in respect of the awning thing. Its all subjective as it depends how you camp and how that changes over the years. There was one point for a while when all i had in the bus was a bed. Everyting else was stiff that got unloaded into the awning when camping with the van being used as transport! That was absolutely and totally impractical. I now have full width bed, fridge ,cooker, sink, enough storage for food and drink etc. Clothes and stuff go in bags which go in the front or up top. Aslo got no bulkheads and can pull up, swivel my seat and make a brew without even leaving the drivers set if i want. Beds awesome and big enough to not be fighting the mrs all night. Its a good set up as if weathers really crappy when you arrive i can do everything i need to do to be good for dinner or sleep without even leaving the bus.
however....now you've fitted the rear fly screen you'll find its a PITA to close the rear curtains from the inside, so if it's raining.......
That sounds much more like a motor home experience rather than a camper. Very civilised. I didn't know there was a tin top Berlin. Is it factory or a conversion?
Not really. It was born out of arriving at remote lakes campsites, in the dark, in pouring rain..... no clucking way would you unload or put an awning up in some of that weather. Also good for stealth stops in the uk where it seems its a haenous crime to overnight anywhere. Ie, not camping but just needing to stop and have some supper and a kip for a few hours before you carry on. Seems the whole country is set up to prevent pikeys moving in! In all honesty when camped then most of my time is spent outside. Indeed my cooker is removeable so i can cook outside and i do carry chairs, outdoor table and a canopy for the side is permanently afixed and good to go
I'm surprised you don't see more bays with the fammina type pull out canopies that you see on a lot of t5s etc. I would have thought they'd be really useful on day vans where you are unlikely to be setting up a full awning, but you hardly ever see one fitted.