There are a lot of beautiful looking campervans out there, but for the most part this beauty is only skin deep. This is especially true when it comes to campervans fitted with a RIB bed. Whilst RIB beds are one of the safest and highest quality campervan beds available, this safety and quality is only as good as the way that the bed is fitted.
Recently, we have seen many New VW Transporter (T7) and Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom campervan conversions with RIB beds arrive on the market. And whilst the conversion companies behind these campervans are claiming they are “tested and approved”, this testing and approval effectively becomes meaningless if the installation isn’t carried out correctly.
This is something we were very conscious of whilst developing our latest model, the Redline Explorer. As this is our first campervan on the latest VW and Ford platform with a RIB bed, we undertook extensive levels of research and development to ensure its safety and quality.
Taking a different approach with this model, we engineered the installation to fully maintain the original RIB testing and approval standards, whilst also achieving Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) from the Vehicle Certification Agency. To ensure it has the same level of testing as the rest of the Redline Campers range, the Explorer has also been inspected and approved by the National Caravan Council (NCC) under its Manufacturers Approval Scheme. Only a small number of independent converters have achieved both.
How our RIB bed installation is different
We install RIB beds into New VW Transporter (T7) and Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom vans using a substantial two-piece frame system. One section is fitted within the vehicle, while the second is securely mounted to the chassis. These are then bolted together, with the RIB bed fixed directly to this reinforced structure – effectively tying the entire seating and bed system into the vehicle chassis itself.
To ensure safety, this method has been fully tested within a complete bodyshell, not just on a pull-test rig.
In the event of an accident, this installation method is designed to ensure the seating system remains secure, helping protect everyone on board.
Our reasons for exploring alternative avenues for RIB bed installation are simple, safety is at the forefront of everything we do.
We’ve been in the leisure vehicle industry for over 55 years, and over these years, we’ve seen countless installations using basic plates, coach bolts, and washers. And this isn’t a thing of the past, we are still seeing this with campervans built on the latest VW and Ford platform.
Before purchasing any campervan, be sure to ask the question – is the bed fully approved? Because how the bed is fitted matters just as much as the bed itself. Poor fitting won’t just invalidate safety approvals, it will mean the bed is unsafe.
Looking to learn more?
Our team are happy to discuss how we do things differently, and why this is for the right reasons. To learn more, call us on 01327 703371, or send an email to sales@redline-campers.com