One small step for mankind… one giant leap forward for flatpack campervan furniture!
The new sliding bed : a Brilliant Bed
But, before we get into the details of our new bed, a quick recap.
Firstly, campervan beds are hard to get right. Either they take up too much space (fixed), they’re too heavy (rock ‘n’ roll) they’re a hassle to set up, or they’re too flimsy (pull outs). There’s not much you can do to solve the first two, but with good design there’s a lot you can do to make a pull out bed the best option for a small-to-medium sized campervan.
That was the first design challenge Ben faced back in 2018, when he started Simple Vans. A pull-out bed that was strong, lightweight, easy to set up, and versatile enough to be installed in multiple configurations. Using the comb principle as a starting point – two sets of slats that slide together in sofa mode and apart as a bed, split for an ‘L’ sofa option – Ben’s original SlumberGlide design offered a host of innovative features that made it the strongest, lightest and most stable bed of its kind.
- ‘L’ slider system
Eliminates sliding/movement when driving, even in 4×4 mode
- Triangulation system
Critical structural supports to enhance strength and rigidity
- Reinforced slats
designed to support up to 200kg
- French Poplar plywood
with highest ratings for sustainability and durability
But, the original sliding bed had its limitations. Firstly, it wasn’t compatible with certain models of van that had bigger rear door posts. Secondly, a lot of our customers had been asking about sliding drawers as an optional extra, and this wasn’t really practical with the existing design.
So, it was time for Ben to do what he loves to do most anyway – go back to the drawing board.
The sliding bed new generation : Undoubtedly Our Best Bed Yet
At the heart of our design philosophy is universality – the challenge of making furniture that’s compatible with a wider selection of vans, including popular models like the Expert, Jumpy, Proace, Fiat Scudo. Plus, we’d been getting a lot of requests for sliding drawers to make the storage space more easily accessible.
To achieve this, Ben completely redesigned the bed structure. Now, instead of being side-to-side, the weight-bearing support comes from the back and front. This allows for a larger cut out section, meaning the bed now fits snugly around larger rear door posts, allowing it to fit in a bigger range of models. This also allows the bed to extend right up to the van door – a huge plus for smaller vans like the Kangoo and Berlingo.
This completely new structure also allowed us to make the storage compartments larger, the access holes slightly bigger, and the height slightly lower, adding a little more headroom. And, we’re also able to offer deep, wide sliding drawers that make accessing your stuff much easier.
But the biggest innovation might just be the Extender. It’s a nifty optional plywood piece that fits between the two bed sections, adding an extra 7 cm to the bed’s length. This means the new bed is compatible with smaller and larger vans – and every bed comes with the Extender as standard. It also means these beds are now compatible with our entire range of furniture sets, both the regular and XL versions. Game changer!
So, along with the L sliders, triangulation system and reinforced slats that made the v1 a class-leading bed, the v2 Slumberglide features the following improvements:
- Available in 2x width options
120cm & 135cm ‘queen’
- 2x length options
180cm & 187cm with or without extender section
- Increased internal storage space
- Lower height/Increased headroom
- Compatible with drawer system (optional)
- Universal fit
Compatible with 99% of van models & sizes
The evolution from the original bed to the groundbreaking Sliding bed II embodies the essence of our design philosophy. Each innovation, each modification, is a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement. After all, perfection is not a destination but an ever-evolving journey.
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