Compact campervan
A compact camper with a fixed bed
| Wally-Van | Campervan with a folding bench | |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | Fixed bed of over 2 m, made up day and night | Bench that folds down into a bed |
| Mattress | Thick cold foam on Froli springs | Thinner, foldable mattress |
| Lying down during the day | Always possible, seating area stays free | Only by converting |
| Storage | Garage or spacious drawer unit under the bed | Often under the bench, less accessible |
| Height | Under 2 m with the pop-top folded down | Varies |
| Sleeping places | 2 downstairs + 2 in the pop-top | 2 to 4 |
Two layouts: crosswise or lengthwise sleeping
With a compact camper with a fixed bed, you have two options. The Wally-Van Classic sleeps crosswise: the 2.06 × 1.4 m bed sits across the back, creating a garage underneath that fits more than twelve crates. That's the choice for people who bring a lot.
The Wally-Van AIR sleeps lengthwise: the bed runs in the direction of travel, leaving considerably more living space in the van. That's the choice for people who want to be able to live inside.
What 'never convert again' means in practice
It sounds like a detail, but it changes how often you use the camper:
- Arriving in the rain and being able to go straight inside
- Staying an extra night on a whim, without planning
- Kids hanging out on the bed while you cook
- Bedding that simply stays put
- An afternoon nap without having to dismantle the seating area
Compact stays compact
A fixed bed doesn't have to mean a bigger camper. The Wally-Van is built on the long-wheelbase VW Transporter (T6, T6.1 and T7) and Ford Transit Custom, and stays under 2 metres tall with the pop-top folded down. You drive and park it like a large passenger car.
The bed is also partly or fully removable, creating a large load space at home. That way, the same van stays useful for the DIY store run, your son's move and three weeks in Norway.
What to watch out for with other suppliers
Always check the actual lying length, not the mattress size at its widest point, look at how much headroom is left between the mattress and the roof, and ask whether the space under the bed is accessible from outside. A fixed bed without a usable garage costs you more space than it gains.
In short
If you're looking for a compact campervan where the bed is always ready to go without giving up on kitchen, seating area or storage, the Classic (crosswise sleeper with garage) and the AIR (lengthwise sleeper with living space) are the two layouts to compare.
See the difference for yourself in Vinkeveen
Open day every month: lie down in the bed, stand in the kitchen and pack the garage the way you really would.