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Oxen · 09-13-2015, 10:40 AM

After all the discussion I've read about extreme temperature effects on the interior it seems that I should order a 25' or 27' FC FB Queen bed rather than my preference of twin beds. The reason being that sleeping next to a cold or hot aluminum skin would be uncomfortable compared with being surrounded with more climate controlled interior air. If I have a disagreeable guest, we can sleep in sleeping bags or the guest can sleep over the dinette table.

Bill M. · 09-13-2015, 11:10 AM

Order the twin beds. We have them and it is not an issue. The big bed would be a put off to me. If I traveled solo I might just take one of the twins out and use the space otherwise with the gaucho in reserve for a guest.

switz · 09-13-2015, 11:10 AM

We prefer the twin beds over the queen bed layout due to the increased storage with outside access on three sides versus the single access door of the queen. The floor area in the middle allows for standing straight up to get dressed along with easier access to the rear roof locker without climbing on the bed.

Since we have blankets on the bed, the wall temperature is not a major issue.

On the 25 FB model, the hatch is on the curb side and I was unable to reach the back of the storage area from outside. On a 27FB model, the hatch is behind the propane tanks and that limits the access to the storage space.

mojo · 09-13-2015, 12:08 PM

If you go with a 25' the twins are better than the queen/side layout. If you go to a 27' the queen is fine because there is room to move around it. Have had both and the aluminum skin isn't a major issue with the twins. Just tuck a small side pillow by the head and blankets will protect you from the rest.

ShinyPete · 09-13-2015, 03:55 PM

Just to echo thoughts above....,.. We have twins in our "Pete", a FC 27fb and love them. Dressing room, better storage, and temp of skin no problem for us. We've camped in low 30s and lots of 90s with no comfort problem. Also a whole lot easier to make the beds.

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KJRitchie · 09-13-2015, 04:06 PM

We have a 25fb queen. We are converting the bedroom to a twin bed arrangement. The queen bed takes up too much space. Cheaper than buying a new or a preowned twin bed. Hope to get the work done this winter or early next year.

Even on my 2008 Classic with the mouse fur walls and vinyls ceiling cover the queen bedroom area can get cold. There is a window next to the bed head plus you get a lot of cold air under the queen platform. Some have had condensation issues. The window is single pane and gets cold. I have to wear a wool cap due to my thinning hair. At least with the twin your head is up agains the front window with the rock guards. Hopefully they will be protected from the cold better.

Kelvin

dkottum · 09-13-2015, 04:21 PM

Some wouldn't have a queen bed in a 25 and some wouldn't have twin beds. It's a flip of the coin in a 27.

Mrjkq · 09-13-2015, 05:00 PM

We chose twins & so far so good. In the 25ft they add more spaciousness as the isle goes front to back, in the 27 the queen is more appealing in the center bed arrangement.

Airstream12557 · 09-14-2015, 06:02 AM

We have had twins and Queens. In either layout, a heated mattress pad is a great addition!

Foiled Again · 09-14-2015, 06:38 AM

You don't have to leave the walls around the beds bare. Just remember that the walls slant so you can't just cut rectangles of fabric. An easy and not too expensive way would be to use a pre-quilted cotton or nylon fabric, mounted on posterboard and held in place with Command Hooks or velcro. (Easy to remove with no scars left behind.)

I'd want the wall cover to rise from the bottom of the mattress almost up to the bottom of the windows, about 15 to 18" You might want to tape newspaper to the wall to make the initial pattern, especially around the curved end. Assuming the head of the bed is the curved section you should cut the fabric in three pieces, the middle piece will look a bit like the paper in a fan - curved on the top and bottom and wider at the top than the bottom.. the long end for the body will actually have to be cut in two pieces since it'll be almost 70" long and the widest fabric is commonly 54-56". The curved piece should be cut on the grain along the centerline of the piece. The other two pieces should also be cut straight across the fabric.

Make sure the "x" crosses of the quilting are matched from one piece to another and that all of the pieces are laid one way on the fabric. (Or use ultra-leather and cut it without worrying about matching grain or pattern).
Leave enough fabric to go over and under the top of the cardbaord. If you don't use pre-quilted fabric, add a thin layer of quilting padding between the padding and the backing.

Paula

DougHart352 · 09-14-2015, 10:37 AM

I have twins and it never occurred to me that I was not comfortable. Sometimes it seems as if people make up problems that really don't exist.

horseylady · 09-14-2015, 10:43 AM

I plan to use a body pillow against the wall as it will give me back support also.

Pam

3wd67rg · 09-14-2015, 10:45 AM

I just cannot imagine not sleeping next to the man I love. No twins for us ever.

**moosetags** · 09-14-2015, 10:59 AM

We had a 2005 Safari 25FB queen. We spent over 1,300 nights in it. The bed was great. We now have a 2015 Flying Cloud 25FB twin. We have spent over 150 nights in it. The twin beds are also great. We have slept in both in below freezing and 100+ degree temperatures. We have not had any issues with either. We also use heated mattress pads.

We chose the twin on our new Airstream to get the dressing room between the beds and the two additional outside storage compartments. These not with standing, we prefer the queen bed sleeping arrangement.

There are always trade-offs in life.

Brian

MissingLink5 · 09-14-2015, 11:45 AM

We have a 25' Safari SS which had a small queen tucked in a corner; impossible to get out of bed if you were on the outside and very hard to make. We took the queen out and had bunk beds built from 1-1/2" tubular aluminum. This opened up the area next to the bed for dressing and sitting down for putting on shoes and you can now, actually, open the bathroom door approximately 100 degrees from 40 degrees prior. We love the bunks and makes it much easier to make beds.

KJRitchie · 09-14-2015, 12:16 PM

Did you install a nightstand/chest of drawers on the back wall?

Kelvin

Thiatt55 · 09-14-2015, 12:23 PM

We have had both and currently have twins and would NEVER go back to a queen. A lot of good points listed in these responses. I would add that we use 2 large/long LLBean 40 degree sleeping bags with flannel liners. No issues with cold wall and can sleep very comfortably in low temps. Exceptional sleeping arrangement.

drew05 · 09-14-2015, 12:29 PM

When we were first shopping we were set for a 2007 25' Twin (FB I think). When we got to the dealer it was sold (kinda felt mislead, but that's not important). We did leave with a 2011 25' FB Flying Cloud Queen.

We kind of liked the queen, but we didn't love it. After about 2-3 years we really wished we had the twins. Nothing was wrong with the queen bed it self. Rather it was a PIA trying to get out of bed, either climbing over the sleeping person or scootingto the foot of the bed and remembering all of the obstacles.

Also, the high forward lockers were not very accesable without climbing over the bed itself.

The other issue was the storage at the foot of the bed. Yes it was open and roomy. But how may are really happy with it. Yes the bed lifts, but after a while we only used it for really long trips.

The 25' only has a curb side access, (and is accesable by lifting the mattress inside), and is somewhat cumbersome. But you can pack and store a lot of stuff in there.

Earlier this year I removed the queen and converted to twins. The amount of open floor space is great. The acess to the upper lockers is easy, and we didn't really lose any storage space. If anything it became more useable.

We don't notice the wall temps much, if we do we just move a little or add an extra blanket.

It all boils down to individual preferances... What works best for you...

Good Luck

3wd67rg · 09-16-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

We had a 2005 Safari 25FB queen. We spent over 1,300 nights in it. The bed was great. We now have a 2015 Flying Cloud 25FB twin. We have spent over 150 nights in it. The twin beds are also great. We have slept in both in below freezing and 100+ degree temperatures. We have not had any issues with either. We also use heated mattress pads.

We chose the twin on our new Airstream to get the dressing room between the beds and the two additional outside storage compartments. These not with standing, we prefer the queen bed sleeping arrangement.

There are always trade-offs in life.

Brian

Thank you for explaining it Brian. It does make perfect sense when you are a weekender, in fact I now see that is likely the difference between us and everyone else in this matter; we live in it half the year at a time. So one of us climbing over the other, (we've been taking turns), and a lack of space for both to dress back there at the same time, are just part of Airstream life for us, like too small a living area and not enough counter space. Yep, trade-offs.

We are happy. Life is good!