Fixed Rib Vs Sliding Rib

[YellowHound]

My van is booked into Vanworx at the end of this month.

Having been persuaded to go with a RIB option (we have dogs and it does solve some of the issues we were facing) I'm kicking around fixed vs sliding RIB. (Previously I was going for no RIB but with rails fitted to the floor.)

I'm looking for thoughts/opinions from those that may have been down this route before.

The sliding option is a considerable extra cost (we are already spending what we'd considered to be our max) but I can't help feeling that the additional versatility of being able to move it could be worth the cost.

Those of you that have a sliding RIB install - do you find yourselves moving the RIB or does it simply stay in one position?

Do you think the rails are worthwhile?

Is my imagined extra flexibility worthwhile?

Thanks!

 

[Martin Gibson]

Hi @YellowHound , not sure if you use a dog cage but we have just had caravelle rails fitted with a tray for the dogs cage that is fitted to the rails and can slide in and out and a caravelle seat/bed. The dogs do make things hard dont they!

 

[Salty Spuds]

My van is booked into Vanworx at the end of this month.

Having been persuaded to go with a RIB option (we have dogs and it does solve some of the issues we were facing) I'm kicking around fixed vs sliding RIB. (Previously I was going for no RIB but with rails fitted to the floor.)

I'm looking for thoughts/opinions from those that may have been down this route before.

The sliding option is a considerable extra cost (we are already spending what we'd considered to be our max) but I can't help feeling that the additional versatility of being able to move it could be worth the cost.

Those of you that have a sliding RIB install - do you find yourselves moving the RIB or does it simply stay in one position?

Do you think the rails are worthwhile?

Is my imagined extra flexibility worthwhile?

Thanks!

Just my 2 penneth,

We have a LWB with a Reimo rail mounted bed. IMO rails make more sense in a LWB. 90% of the time there's just the 2 of us & we don't move the bed. If we have friends round for drinks or eats, then we slide the bed forward to enable 4 to sit around the table with the front seats swivelled, otherwise you're too far apart. If we have passengers in the rear, we slide the bed forward to bring them closer to the front, to enable conversation. Rails give you added flexibility, but you could work around not having them if need be.

 

[Skyliner33]

I would just add - consider headroom. If it’s limited already as the RIB beds are high then the rails will reduce this even more

 

[Spaghetti]

I have a sliding RIB and don’t move it much. I tend to leave the rearmost section flat, so it’s like a shelf, so I can’t slide it back any further. The front comes up to the control knob on the grill in that position, so I just leave the seat in that position.

I think the slider means you also lose some storage height below the bed.

 

[YellowHound]

Thanks everyone!

LWB/SWB makes a lot of sense - my van is SWB.

Still undecided - it's an additional cost of £2340, and we are already over our budget.

Carrying dogs safely is a real complication

 

[j4ckal]

Ahh you mean a rib on rails then. I think there may be a little confusion in this thread as the Rib is available from the factory as a slider, ie it slides a small amount on the frame like a car seat would.

Actual rails make a huge difference. Mines on Cali rails (Cali seat/bed tho), the van is so more versatile compared to my old T4 with fixed bed. Can carry bikes etc, the young un can be near us when travelling (mines LWB) then push the seat back for for camping etc. I'd say it's the biggest single thing that has improved my usage of a van over the T4.

As said above though beware of headroom/seat height with the rib on a rail system.

Out of interest where does the £2340 come from for rails, seems a lot.

 

[YellowHound]

Ahh you mean a rib on rails then. I think there may be a little confusion in this thread as the Rib is available from the factory as a slider, ie it slides a small amount on the frame like a car seat would.

Actual rails make a huge difference. Mines on Cali rails (Cali seat/bed tho), the van is so more versatile compared to my old T4 with fixed bed. Can carry bikes etc, the young un can be near us when travelling (mines LWB) then push the seat back for for camping etc. I'd say it's the biggest single thing that has improved my usage of a van over the T4.

As said above though beware of headroom/seat height with the rib on a rail system.

Out of interest where does the £2340 come from for rails, seems a lot.

£2340 is the delta over a fixed RIB to give a RIB on rails.

From my research I don't think it's so much. Spoke to Colin at VWVC and the parts costs add up quickly.

Your post echoes my thoughts - much greater versatility with the rails.

 

[j4ckal]

Yes I understand it's the delta, just seems a lot.
I think my rails were £250 iirc, plus new covers then the fastenings so maybe double that. Floor is slightly more complicated but shouldn't be much more than a standard one (which I assume was in the original quote so should make the delta less).

Out of interest why a rib bed?
My Cali set up with as new seat/bed, rails, new covers all correct fastenings etc came in at just over 3k and that's with paying Colin to fit the rails for me (was tight for time and needed the seat in asap so I could carry the young un about), he does a good job.
I did the floor myself for just over £300 including the Karndean.

Edited to add, I assume they have to modify the rib somehow to sit on the rails so that will be some of the cost.

 

[YIMan]

I have a Smartbeds Evo 2 Rail and for me the flexibility is well worth the additional cost. I can move it up to move the kids to just behind us to the front (so you don't have to chuck sweets at them), move it right up if there's only me driving and my bike to get in the back, move it up to form a dining area with two front swivelling seats or take it out completely if I need the load room.

Have you considered rail-beds other than Rib which may reduce the cost?

 

[YellowHound]

I have a Smartbeds Evo 2 Rail and for me the flexibility is well worth the additional cost. I can move it up to move the kids to just behind us to the front (so you don't have to chuck sweets at them), move it right up if there's only me driving and my bike to get in the back, move it up to form a dining area with two front swivelling seats or take it out completely if I need the load room.

Have you considered rail-beds other than Rib which may reduce the cost?

No, to be honest I'm not familiar with the terminology and what products fall under 'rail bed'.

 

[Dilbert]

We have a LWB with a factory RIB Altair slider. That gives you about 200mm movement.

To be honest, I moved ours to the rearmost position when new to give us most centre space with the rear section down and haven't moved it once in 3 1/2 years camping.

You won't regret getting a RIB bed. Not the cheapest but excellent for safety and comfort.

 

[YellowHound]

We have a LWB with a factory RIB Altair slider. That gives you about 200mm movement.

To be honest, I moved ours to the rearmost position when new to give us most centre space with the rear section down and haven't moved it once in 3 1/2 years camping.

You won't regret getting a RIB bed. Not the cheapest but excellent for safety and comfort.

Thanks.

I do need to find out whether/how much the proposed Vanworx RIB slides by as std (i.e. on its own mechanism).

 

[Dilbert]

I do need to find out whether/how much the proposed Vanworx RIB slides by as std (i.e. on its own mechanism).

For the extra money of over 2 grand they are quoting, I would assume it's with full floor rails.

 

[YellowHound]

For the extra money of over 2 grand they are quoting, I would assume it's with full floor rails.

Slight misunderstanding here.

Yes the proposed floor rails will allow the bed to slide right up to the front seats. I think it will lock every 10mm apparently.

What I need to know is the amount of slide that's built into the bed itself, irrespective of whether it's mounted on rails. This 'might' influence my decision.
SWMBO really doesn't want to spend the extra as it's a stretch we could do without.

 

[Alan Watts]

Wished VanWorx had offered this 4 years ago. If I could do the conversion again I would opt for the sliding rail rib, shallow cabinets and wider 130 rib bed. That extra room makes all the difference.

 

[Sjacko20]

Our RIB is on rails in our SWB and we think it was the best decision we made. We move forward when travelling normally so our daughter is within reach or when we need a big load in the back, slide back when parked up for the larger living area. Wouldn’t be without it. Ours was fitted by Bodans and just utilises two floor rails, can be adjusted in small increments for flexibility. Good luck with your decision

 

[Dilbert]

We move forward when travelling normally so our daughter is within reach

That's a good point. We are only 2 travelling so the rear seat is not used.

 

[Dilbert]

What I need to know is the amount of slide that's built into the bed itself

The spec for the RIB Altair seat slider is 220mm.

 

[YellowHound]

The spec for the RIB Altair seat slider is 220mm.

Thank you. Is this the bed Vanworx fit?