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Expert Journal
10 Must-See Campervan Bed Designs for Your Next Van Build
November 1, 2025173 Min Read115 Insights
Section 1
CamperVan Beds For Van Conversions
If you ever wake up with sore muscles and an aching back after travelling in a campervan, then you must be very well aware of the importance of choosing the right and comfortable bed for yourself, as it can brighten or darken your mood for the day.
When choosing a bed for yourself, prioritizing your comfort and personal needs first can save you from a lot of hassle down the road. Instead of just deciding on the spot, research different types of beds, explore their pros and cons, and then follow what feels right for you.
Before we tell you how to make the right camper bed choice, let us first tell you about the different types of camper beds used in campervans.
Section 9
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Camper Bed
Designing the bed for your van conversion is a critical decision that significantly impacts your overall van life experience. It involves considering various factors to ensure the bed meets your specific needs, providing comfort and functionality in the limited space of your mobile home.
Who's Sleeping in Your Van?
Identify who will be sharing the bed space in your van. Whether you're embarking on solo van life, sharing with a partner, or accommodating kids and pets, your choice should cater to the number and needs of the occupants. Even if traveling alone, considerations like additional space for comfort or a pet companion might influence your decision.
Hosting Guests and Children
Exploring the need for multiple beds is crucial, especially if you anticipate hosting friends or have children as part of your van life crew. Incorporating a tuck-away bed in addition to the primary sleeping area ensures comfort for guests during quick overnights or extended road trips.
Tailoring the Bed to Your Preferences
Understanding your sleep style is essential for a restful night in your van. Consider factors like height, sleep positions, and whether you move actively during sleep. These aspects influence the dimensions and layout of the bed to ensure a comfortable sleeping experience.
Accessibility
In the confined space of a van, accessibility to the bed requires thoughtful planning. Consider how you and your fellow travelers will navigate getting in and out. Factors like bed orientation and height may influence the need for steps or other adjustments.
Multifunctional Space
Recognizing that a van's interior serves multiple purposes, think about how else you'll use the bed space. For full-time travelers, a bed that transforms into a daytime workspace might be preferable. Consider the need for a sitting area, office zone, or dining space, and integrate these features seamlessly.
Extra Seating and Lounge Space
Consider the social aspects of your van space. If you frequently have company, a bed that converts to "couch mode" provides extra seating for visitors. This not only enhances socializing but also allows you to lounge around, enjoying scenic views, watching movies, or engaging in various activities without the need for a separate seating area.
There’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep; therefore, bed should come at the top of your priority list when choosing a campervan for yourself. With that being said, you should think carefully about your comfort and functionality and choose a bed tailored to your needs and lifestyle.
Here are the 10 must-see campervan bed designs you should keep in mind:
As the name suggests, stationary beds are immovable beds that remain fixed in their position and are always ready to be slept on. These beds are used in our homes. When it comes to beauty and grace, stationary beds always take the lead.
However, with merits come demerits. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of stationary beds
The Benefits
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Offers you a substantial amount of storage space underneath it.
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Gives you the convenience of not having to set up the bed daily.
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Likely the easiest bed to build.
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More comfortable than any other bed, as it offers high-quality mattresses, giving you better support and improved sleep.
Considerations
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Takes up a significant amount of living space within the van, potentially limiting the available room for other purposes like sitting or eating.
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Doesn’t offer multi-purpose features like elevator beds and dinette beds.
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Less suitable for smaller vans, as it takes up a lot of space, and the vans with such a layout design might feel congested.
At Big Bear Vans, our premier models, Calabasas and Milan, are the campervans featuring stationary beds as per our clients’ request.
Deep Dive
Elevator Beds
Modern problems require modern solutions, and an elevator bed is the smartest solution to maximize limited space in your campervan. An elevator bed operates using an elevator mechanism and moves up and down from the ceiling, giving you plenty of room in your campervan, which can be utilized during the day.
Let’s take a look at the benefits they offer.
The Benefits
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Offers several advantages, such as space efficiency.
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Saves you from the trouble of making the bed daily.
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Gives you enough space to have a dining area underneath.
Considerations
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The installation process of elevator beds is complicated, and that is why they are more expensive than fixed beds.
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Due to their complex mechanism, they require regular maintenance and repair.
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As they operate through electricity, a power disruption can make them stuck.
Big Bear Vans offers elevator beds, which come with E/W and S/N layouts. Both layouts have their pros and cons. Our top-of-the-line model, Santa Monica Gray, is equipped with an elevator bed with expandable sides.
Deep Dive
Loft Bed
A loft bed, similar to a bunk bed, is raised high off the ground but without a bottom bed underneath, leaving the space below free for cabinets, a study area, or a seating area. In a campervan, where maximizing space is essential, loft beds can be a valuable solution. Since they are high off the ground, you need a ladder to access them.
Loft beds are used widely in different campervans. Before you choose one for your camper, let us tell you the different types of loft beds:
1. Fixed Loft Bed
2. Elevator Loft Bed
3. Slide-Out Loft Bed
Removable/Foldable Loft Bed
5. Bunk Loft Bed
6. Cab-Over Loft Beds (in motorhomes or large vans)
With so many types available, it becomes challenging to make the right choice. So, take time to assess your needs carefully before finalizing your decision. Here are the pros and cons of installing loft beds in campervans:
The Benefits
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It saves you a lot of space, leaving enough room for other purposes, such as a dinette area or kitchen storage.
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It gives you a permanent sleeping area, saving you time on making the bed daily.
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With loft beds, you don’t have to rely on foldable or convertible beds anymore, and you can jump into the bed whenever you want.
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Since it is high off the ground and separate from the living space, it gives you more privacy.
Considerations
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Loft beds provide reduced headroom due to the limited space between the bed and the ceiling.
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As they require a ladder to climb up, it becomes inconvenient for older people to use them.
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Due to their height, tidying them up or changing their sheets can be challenging.
At Big Bear Vans, we have loft beds in our custom campervans like Motovan.
Deep Dive
Murphy Bed
A Murphy bed, also known as a fold-down bed or wall bed, is hinged at one end and can be folded up against the wall or into a cabinet when not in use, freeing up space for other purposes. William Murphy invented these fold-away beds in the early 1900s to save space in small apartments.
These beds are mostly used in campervans, where space is a major concern. Despite having advantages, Murphy beds have some disadvantages as well. Let’s explore them.
The Benefits
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Like other beds, the biggest advantage of Murphy beds is their ability to save space.
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Unlike other beds, Murphy beds offer a full-size or queen-size bed without sacrificing space.
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A Murphy bed enhances the aesthetics of a space, blending seamlessly into your van’s interior, as it is often disguised as a cabinet or wall panel.
Considerations
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One downside of a Murphy bed is its complex installation, as it requires proper mounting.
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A Murphy bed isn’t a good option if you are looking for minimal weight to add to your campervan because it comes with a heavy frame.
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When it’s in use, it blocks access to the areas around it, like the kitchen or walkway.
Deep Dive
Dinette Bed System
How can we forget the dinette bed system when we’re talking about space-saving solutions? It is yet another camper bed standing at the top of the list, helping you make the most of every inch in your campervan while offering you both a dining area and a comfortable bed.
It comes with two benches and a table in the middle that can be removed and replaced with cushions to make a bed whenever you want to sleep. Let’s weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.
The Benefits
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This bed is perfect if you are looking for a dual-function system, where you can get a dining table and a sleeping area as well.
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Since it requires fewer mechanical parts, it’s less expensive and less heavy than elevators and Murphy beds.
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The cushions offer a comfortable sleeping space, so you don’t need large and heavy mattresses.
Considerations
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You have to go through the hassle of making the bed every day, which is a time-consuming process, especially if you are a full-time vanlifer.
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Over time, due to constant assembling or disassembling, the cushions might wear out.
At MyCustomVan, we offer dinette beds in most of our models, including Calavera and San Clemente.
Deep Dive
Extra Seat to Bed Transformation
Back in the old times, who could have imagined that even seats could be converted into a bed? As the name suggests, an extra seat transforms into a bed, offering you not only enough space but also a pass-through layout as well as a sitting area during the day.
Featured in our top builds like Santa Monica Black and Mont Fort, this bed is large enough to accommodate one person. Let’s take a look at its benefits and drawbacks.
The Benefits
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These seats offer a nice and comfortable area for the passengers during the day.
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They are budget-friendly, as they are cheaper than installing other beds.
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They are more beneficial for people traveling with kids.
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This dual-purpose feature enhances the overall utility of the product, catering to both transportation and sleeping needs.
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It’s one of the best options when your friends come for a sleepover.
Considerations
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They might not be as soft and comfortable as full-sized beds because they come with cushioning.
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They are less durable, as constant folding or unfolding may wear down the mechanism.
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They are not a substitute for a bed, as they might be lumpy or uncomfortable because of the built-in seatbelts.
Deep Dive
Cubbunk Double Hammock Bed
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If you're worried about having limited space in your campervan, it’s time to relax, as the Cubbunk double hammock bed is the best campervan bunk bed for families.
Hammock beds are inspired by swinging beds, often made of fabric or net, which are suspended between two trees or poles. However, hammock beds for campervans are different, as they don’t sway like traditional hammock beds.
They are securely fixed and don’t swing because of safety concerns in campervans, and feel more like a suspended fabric bed. You can attach it inside your campervan, and it becomes a comfy camper bed for kids. Let’s see what this kind of camper bed brings to the table for its users.
The Benefits
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The Cubbunk double hammock bed provides an easy and quick installation process, being lightweight and able to be installed in seconds.
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This versatile product is designed to fit any campervan, as it is foldable and easy to set up and pack away.
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One of its notable features is that it is designed with children in mind, serving as an extra bed that is both attractive and appealing for kids.
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The fully adjustable system doesn't require any screws for installation, providing flexibility to meet different needs.
Considerations
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As it is mostly designed for kids, it is usually not strong enough for adults.
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It can be used to take naps, but it is not as comfortable as a full-time bed.
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It always requires support (like a vehicle, walls, or a seat) for mounting.
Deep Dive
Luno Inflatable Camper Bed
The Luno inflatable camper bed is an air-filled mattress that comes with an air pump, designed specifically for tight spaces.
The best thing about it is that it doesn’t have legs or structure like regular beds, and that is why it can be easily adjusted in the back of your campervan.
All you need to do is fold the seats, place the mattress, and inflate it using the air pump that comes with it. You can simply deflate it, pack it away, and store it after use. It takes 5 to 7 minutes to transform into a bed and gives you a soft and comfortable sleeping space. Let’s explore its pros and cons.
The Benefits
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It is one of the smartest options, as you don’t have to compromise on any kind of space in your campervan.
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Since it is inflatable, you can easily deflate it, roll it up, and take it anywhere you want.
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It is much more affordable than built-in and fixed beds.
Considerations
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Since it is an inflatable mattress, it is not as soft and comfortable as other beds.
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It requires careful handling, as it is highly susceptible to punctures and can be pierced easily by anything sharp.
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It needs to be inflated and deflated every time, and this daily setup can be a tiresome activity.
Deep Dive
Extra Bench as a bed
An extra bench bed is a seat or bench inside a campervan that can turn into a bed when needed. It can be used as a sitting area during the day, and at night, you can pull out a part to make it a sleeping space.
Some benches fold down like a futon, while others slide or have hidden cushions that come together to form a bed. Bench beds come with seatbelts, which keep them locked and held securely in place when they are not in use. Let’s look into its pros and cons.
The Benefits
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Since bench beds can be used both as a seat and a bed, you don’t need furniture.
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They are perfect for small campervans where space is tight.
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Bench beds are quick to set up, as they easily convert from a bench to a bed.
Considerations
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One of the biggest disadvantages of a bench bed is that it only accommodates one adult or a child, but not two people.
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You don’t get a ready-made bed, as you have to convert it daily into a bed.
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If used daily, the seat cushions might wear out over time.
Deep Dive
Rooftop Tent
If you have ever spent a night in a forest camp, then you must be aware of the challenges it brings with it, such as insects, the danger of wild animals, etc.
A rooftop tent saves you from such challenges, as it offers a sleeping space high above the ground, keeping you safe from potential risks. It is mounted on the roof of your campervan, giving you a sense of comfort and safety.
When it’s time to sleep, you can climb a ladder, unzip, or pop it open, and it converts into a bed. Moreover, sleeping above the ground helps you to stay cooler during hot nights and gives you a nice view of the mountains and forests. But like every bed, it also comes with pros and cons. Let’s look into these.
The Benefits
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It maximizes the space in your campervan, giving you more room for a kitchen area or other living area.
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It is very convenient and doesn’t require any effort, as you can climb the ladder quickly, unfold the tent, and sleep whenever you want.
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It keeps you elevated off the ground, which keeps you safe from wildlife, insects, and other challenges.
Considerations
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As a rooftop tent requires a ladder, it becomes difficult for older people to climb it.
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It takes up roof space, so once you install it, you can’t use the roof rack for storing other things.
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It costs you more money than other traditional beds like stationary beds and inflatable beds.
Section 114
In Conclusion
Choosing the right campervan bed is more than just a matter of comfort; it helps you in redefining your travel style, daily needs, and available space. If you are interested in comfort and convenience, stationary beds or elevator beds might be the best options for you. If saving space is your priority, dinette beds, extra seat beds, or even a Murphy bed could be your best friend. Take your time to decide which camper bed suits you the best instead of choosing one in a rush. In the end, the right campervan bed can make or break your day.
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