I seem to recall something you once wrote, Andy, about the 'address' position adopted by a large gentleman when using an Eriba toilet.

It made me laugh out loud.

Although I've never seen how an Eriba fixed bed is constructed Matt and Hazel, I can't imagine that it should cause you too much of a problem. After all, when you consider the current method of creating a bed, if like in our Troll, you swing a 1" (guesstamated) bar across to span the two locker boxes and re-arrange the seats that have a plywood base to support them.
Therefore I would have thought that if you fixed a 2" x 2" timber rail across the lockers between the wardrobe and the cooker unit before vertically cladding it with ply, Then another 2" x 2" with 2 vertical legs to the floor, similarly positioned in the centre, it would be far stronger than the existing arrangement.
Presumably you'd put a full sheet of hinged plywood onto the framework and some new memory foam of are you thinking of using the existing seats? Either way, I should have thought that would be more than adequate support.
I think I'm right in saying that on fixed bed models, the bed is higher off the floor than on normal models so you might consider building the new framework on top of the existing seat frames?
Finally, do you have existing outside locker access? If not, you can buy a DIY kit for about £50 per door from many Caravan specialists and they look quite easy to fix.
Randa

Quote: matt and hazel wrote in post #19

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:). Three supporting arches of 2x2 then source a suitable replacement mattress. Should be able to access cupboards via hinged base, far too nervous to cut through the wall!

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Zitat

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Aaron Calder:- Where will you put the heavy mattress and bedding while you are accessing the under bed cupboards?

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I was wondering that too but on a cross bed van there is a cross bed bolster that measures circa 9" in width. Therefore I suppose that if the new plywood underbed was hinged at that point and the new mattress didn't extend further, then the new mattress and under board could hinge across the width of the van and lift up towards the rear window with a suitably strong prop to hold it up. The cross bed bolster will of course have to be the thickness of the new mattress lower than the new bed unless it is taken out before hinging the bed up.
Randa

I think it'll work fine. Go for it. At the end of the day you can always put it back the way it was if you're not happy with the result.
We've often though of a fixed bed in ours as it will give more storage space but we've got putting up and packing up down to a fine art now so we'll stick with it.
Once you've done it, it will be good to see the results if you don't mind publishing them.
R and A

When we were looking for an Eriba we went to AL to compare models and internal arrangements and, being 6'0" tall (a mere tiddler by comparison), I decided that sleeping across the van was simply not an option. We opted therefore for a 420 with the 'langslapper' double bed but even on that I have to sleep slightly diagonally or my feet will hang over the end. So how on Earth does someone as tall as you manage in a caravan designed for pygmies? Is your forehead permanently bruised by the Eriba kiss?

The other thing that intrigues me is why you consider the bed to be so uncomfortable that you want to replace the existing cushions with a mattress? I have no complaints about the comfort of the bed as provided but we use Duvalays with inbuilt memory foam pads and perhaps they make all the difference?

If we are on site for any length of time (say four days or more), we erect the awning and leave the bed made up but if staying for shorter periods, we put the seating back and pack the beds away each morning. This gives the greatest flexibility and we wouldn't want the space restriction of a fixed bed in something as small as a Triton.

I must confess though, that when we visit other people we meet on our travels who have modern Baileys and the like, we do envy their large fixed beds, useable washrooms with showers; ovens; large fridges; hot water and the rest and wonder if we are mad to be making so many compromises. The dark side has its attractions.

Like Randa, I will be interested to see some before and after photographs and wish you luck with your proposed modifications.