![8 things we [STILL] love about our twin beds](http://www.airgear.store/cdn/shop/articles/Blog-Twin_beds.jpg?v=1642469978&width=4032)
Ginger, or Mary Ann? Queen bed, or twin beds?
So began this post when I originally wrote it several years ago. The impetus to cover the topic was multiple Airstreamers asking us why we had chosen the twin bed model of our 2020 Globetrotter.
Was our relationship in trouble? Didn't we enjoy sleeping together? What problem were we trying to cover up? (Answers: No. Actually, we do. There was no problem.)
Every Airstreamer seems to have a firm opinion on the topic of beds. Although some see it as commentary on the status of a relationship, many–us included–feel it's a great solution for couples who travel in an Airstream.
We stand behind the 8 original reasons we went with twin beds, and we still love them.
But five years later, we'd re-order the priorities for why we enjoy this bedroom arrangement so much.
1. Won’t affect your love life. (Originally #6)
Let's just get this elephant out of the room. If you think the love lives of Airstream couples who opt for twin beds is dead, or that they are having less fun during their travels, you would be incorrect.
Just because we sleep in separate beds like Lucy and Ricky Ricardo did, doesn’t mean we don’t invite each other over for a visit. We do. For us, there’s just enough room to double up on one bed. And while that’s not the case for everyone, twin beds do give you the opportunity to think a bit more, well, creatively than you might at home. (Just sayin'...) In fact, twin beds might just be the opportunity you've been looking for to spice things up a bit on the road.
2. Twin beds double as couches when you’re not sleeping in them. (Originally #4)
We've really grown to to love this feature and often comment on it when we travel. Basically, twin beds give each of you a personal, 80” long couch to relax on during the day. And Airstream supplied so many throw pillows that we can comfortably prop ourselves up at the head or foot of the bed, choosing the direction with the best view.
Our favorite ways to enjoy this cozy, daytime set up continue to include: read, work on our laptops, watch movies, nap, admire the trees outside our windows, or have deep conversations over a hot cup of tea.
3. You get more room. (Originally #8)
This fact has become more and more important over time – especially on longer trips. The twin beds give each person more room and this makes sleeping more comfortable and restful.
In most new Airstreams, the queen bed is 60" wide by 75" long. That means each body in the bed gets 30" to wiggle around in.
Switch to twin beds and you get 34" of width in each bed—and nobody can invade your space unless you invite them. As a bonus, twin beds are usually 3-5" longer than a queen, which is great if you are tall, or travel with a small dog (which we do).
4. It’s way easier to make twin beds than a queen bed. (Originally #3)
My mom taught me that making your bed every day was the way things should be. I believe this is even more important when you're sharing a very tiny space. Keeps things tidier.
Twin beds are so easy to make each morning. There’s very little mattress width to lean over so even the shortest-armed among us (I’m 5’1” with arm length to match) can tuck in the sheets, blanket, and bedspread with little effort.
If you’ve got a partner who resists making his or her bed daily, the simplicity of twins improves the chance of compliance (even if it doesn’t reduce the complaining about it).
5. No fighting over who gets the side with the nightstand. (Originally #7)
The nightstand in between our twin beds is small, but at least be both have easy access to it. I’ve optimized the space with drawer organizers and added a two-level organizer on top. It’s Velcro'ed to the nightstand so it stays in place while towing.
To be honest, despite the organization efforts, the small size still gets pretty cluttered during travel. But at least we didn’t have to flip a coin to see who would get easy access, and who would have to climb over the other to reach their stuff. The between-beds nightstand still gets our vote over the one-sided option.
6. Eliminates the dreaded “climb-over.” (Originally #2)
Speaking of climb-overs, if your Airstream bed is situated against the wall, you know this pain.
The queen-against-the-wall arrangement was a non-starter for us. But we have Airstream friends who have these models, and a common complaint is that the fear of a crushing, 2AM climb-over by a partner who is headed to the bathroom.
If you and your partner are light sleepers or have varying wake-up schedules as we do, or if one of you is a nighttime bathroom user, twin beds are the best choice for quiet (and crush free) bed egress.
7. Less griping on laundry day. (Originally #5)
Because of their narrowness and ease of access, twins win when it comes to stripping sheets and remaking the bed.
Plus, bedspreads and blankets are smaller on twins, so they fit into a regular sized washer at home or the laundromat. In fact, all of our sheets and pillow cases for both beds—plus a few shirts and pairs of socks—can be stuffed into one laundry bag.
8. Makes the Airstream look and feel larger. (Originally #1)
This one seemed important when we were shopping for our trailer, but over time it's become less and less so.
That said, when you look down the hallway of our Airstream, you get a line of sight that continues between the twin beds all the way to the nightstand that sits between them and against the panoramic front windows. It’s a great design technique that adds a spatial impression of size to the interior. Especially when you consider that the body of a 23 foot trailer is also 6 inches narrower than trailers over 25 feet.
We had walked through a bunch of Airstreams before we chose our Globetrotter 23FB. Side-stepping around the queen bed models to get from one side of the bedroom to the other felt cramped. And seeing the foot or side of the queen bed from the hallway’s line of sight seemed to make it feel smaller.
But the first time we stepped into our 23FB with twins, it immediately felt more spacious than the length would indicate.
It still does.
23 comments
Dave Fuller
We sold our 2018 23CB—an offer we couldn’t refuse. Now we’re considering the 23FBT just for those twin beds. How do you like the floorplan otherwise? The complaints about the dinette almost drown out the cheers for the twin beds.
AlG
We got a quote of $14k to convert our 2022 Flying Cloud 23FB to twins.
That’s a no go. Solution for now, wife has the queen and I have the dinette.
The cabinetry does not look that difficult, expect can find a RV/Overland cabinet shop that can do it for under $5k.
Randy Mathern
I purchased a 28’ Pottery Barn with rear twin beds. The problem is the laminated plywood base is 31.25" wide, and the mattress measures 35" wide, leaving over 10%of the mattresss unsupported!! Also, when sitting on the bed, it tends to roll off the slippery laminated plywood. We are constantly pushing the mattresses up against the wall… not fun.
Nobody will respond to us from Airstream. I am planning to re-cut plywood to the 35" width of the mattress.
Just one of several disappointments from our first Travel Trailer experience… Thought we bought the Best!?!
Anonymous
Mike, those are the standard covers that came with a 2020 Globetrotter 23FB with the “London Grey” interior.
Mike Rogers
I am looking for bedding for my twin beds in an Airstream Interstate GT, that’s how I came across this article. I love your bedding/cover. Would you please tell me who you purchased it from?
Thanks
Dennis and Mary Ann Jeter
We have owned only one rv which is our 2018 International Signature 30’ twin.
We chose the twin configuration for both the additional outside storage and extra mattress length. We are happy we made this choice.
Jim Van de Voorde
We ordered a 25 ft Flying Cloud FB with the twin beds, our first RV. It should arrive this August. We were sold on extra storage, and not having crawl over one another in middle of the night.
Edgar Brannon
What I did not like was the feeling that I was falling of the edge. An easy fix was I added a 9” patch, put a mahogany edge so the mattress cannot slide. Essentially, turned them into boat bunks. I used the mesh to infill between patch and wall. Email me if you would like images.
Ed
I sold my international rear queen last year & just got a Globetrotter front twin & Live the twin!! I’m 6ft & my feet hung off the queen but the twin has plenty of room. I purchased a wedge foam mattress & have it under the twin …. Helps with the reflux & snoring.
Reed
Thanks for sharing your experience. My wife and I are camping in Florida in our 23FB and considering changing our queen out for twins. I wonder if you have pictures or other information on the process you went through to make you upgrade happen?
Loved the article, be well.
Reed
Cody Meyer
Family of 4 with the twin set up. We love it, kids can borrow our beds with the smart phones while we cook, clean, watch tv, have a glass of wine in the evening. During the day I can pace as needed from the front to the back of the rig. Makes our 27 footer feel a lot bigger than it is. Plus, I snore at night.
Cheryl Toth
Pat, you raise a great point that I overlooked–taking grandchildren or others along. In fact, I’ve been thinking about taking my niece on a weekend trip just the two of us. Twin beds make that easier. As for who changes the sheets, I am only sharing my personal experience. It was only women in my unit who shared that complaint. And in our household (and Airstream), I take on that task. But I’m sure many men out there do, too.
Cheryl Toth
Chris and Tony are correct – sometimes you do get extra storage compartments. Thanks for sharing that.
Cheryl Toth
John Green you have made the point in spades! Over and over you have realized that twins win. Glad we could support your already wise thinking. :-)
Cheryl Toth
Jeffery, I love that you and your partner have found the perfect Airstream and bed for your needs! Maybe it was meant to be that the 23cb was discontinued. The 19cb is for you!
Cheryl Toth
Liz, this is a cute story, thank you for sharing it. And I agree on the overheating part in a queen (I am at “that age…”). That would be my thing #9!
Liz Edmonds-1523
We’ve been streaming since our honeymoon 1999. He had a 27’ with twins, it had the couch for accommodating getting to know one another better. I resisted twins, when we talked about moving up to a bigger rig, I insisted on a queen, he again bought twins. Grrrr. Then he explained about traveling in the heat stopping and not having the luxury of hookups, he was right. At home we queen together, on the road we twin. I still complaign about the difficulty of tucking in the sheets.
Jeffery Hammonds
One of the wonderful things about Airstreams, to which we all agree, is there are plenty of options for sizes and floor plans, making it easy to find a nearly perfect fit. After 45 years of sleeping together, we can’t imagine sleeping apart from one another. We love our cozy 19cb and live in it full-time. It appears, though, that twin beds are becoming the popular choice. We were making plans to order a 23cb, but alas, Airstream is no longer making them. They crunched the numbers and the 23cb was find wanting, so we’ll continue to be more than content with our 19cb.
Thank you for the blogs. We always learn something from them.
Tony Moores
Additionally, the trailer you get might…might… have additional external storage space!
JOHN GREEN
Bought our first Airstream in 1991, a 1977 International 31 ft. with a rear bath and twin beds in front of the bath. This was followed by a 1991 34 ft. Excella with twin beds, then a 1999 34 ft. Excella, also with twin beds. Our current Airstream is a 2007 34 ft. Classic S/O with twin beds. Took us over 3 yrs. of looking/watching when we found it. Bought new custom mattresses at Cantwell Mattress Co. in San Antonio & Corpus Christi, TX. Passed up several queen bed trailers while waiting for the right one. We’re both in our mid-70’s now and your 8 points are right on target. Thanks for calling out this benefit of twins.
James Wilcox
Great article! We have twins too and love the set up. Will you share a photo of your two level organizer on top of the night stand and perhaps where you found it? Thanks!
Chris Morgan
we also got two outside storage bins under the beds that we would not have had with a queen. In our case the queen had the head at the front of the camper with an aisle on each side. All that added outside storage is valuable.
Pat
You forgot how great twins are for solo travelers inviting along a friend or grandchild. No need to turn kitchen into a bedroom. What’s with the sexist reference to changing sheets and women? Men don’t do this???!!!!