But where do the kids sleep?

This is probably one of the questions we get asked the most on the road:

 

“Wait... there are four of you? Where do the kids sleep?”

 

When we were building the van, this was a decision we spent a lot of time thinking about. Should we install permanent bunk beds, or go with a temporary setup that we could put up only when needed?

 

Both options have their pros and cons, but one of our main priorities from the start was to keep the van feeling open and spacious. Permanent bunk beds would have gone completely against that goal.

 

There are several extra sleeping solutions available for vans, but we ended up choosing the Cabbunk. Made in the UK, this system adds two children's beds to the front of the van. The concept is pretty simple: once the front seats are swiveled around, a bunk bed system is suspended above them.

 

 

 

 

Pros

 

• Lightweight and compact: The storage bag is fairly long, but it easily slides into a corner. In our case, it lives alongside the rear bed and is barely noticeable.
• Comfortable for kids: The Cabbunk doesn't come with a fancy mattress, but our kids have never complained about comfort. If anything, they love having their own little space.
• Quick setup: Once you've gotten the hang of it, it takes about ten minutes to set up or take down. You may have even seen our installation video make the rounds on Instagram for a while!
• No permanent installation: No drilling, no modifications to the van. The entire system stays in place using pressure and gravity alone.

 

 

Cons

 

• Requires swivel seats: Without swivel seats up front, the system simply won't work.
• Limited to children: Our oldest is growing like a weed, and if she takes after her dad, it won't be long before her feet are touching the windows!
• A bit of a learning curve: Setup is quick... once you know what you're doing. The first few installations were a little chaotic: straps falling everywhere, tubes slipping around, and plenty of confusion. A great way to test the strength of a relationship!
• It's pretty expensive: For what is essentially a collection of tubes, straps, and fabric, the price tag is definitely on the higher side.
• Small parts can go missing: After a few uses, we managed to lose a couple of the plastic end caps. It hasn't stopped us from using the system, but it can make setup a bit more fiddly since some of the straps tend to slide along the tubes.

 

 

Final thoughts

 

Despite its few shortcomings, the Cabbunk has been a fantastic solution for our family. It allowed us to keep the van feeling open and spacious while still giving the kids a comfortable place to sleep during our adventures.

And honestly, they still think it's just as cool as they did on day one. 😊