My 2 cents on the sleepers having horizontal (front to back instead of side to side) bunks. While they may save on space, you have to take turns much differently, since it's much easier to roll somebody out of a bunk set-up that's not side to side. When you're in a position of bumper to bumper... your turns can easily roll somebody over... or even out of a bunk. While it does substantially increase interior floor space and space in general... it is Something to seriously consider.
Why can I say this? Because I drive a 12 bunk sleeper bus.
3 bunks high... one on the floor, and 2 above it.
There's 6 bunks on each side of the aisle down the middle of the bus.
I've only rolled somebody out of a bunk once, and that was 5 years ago, in the rockies, in the snow. They were not injured. The bus has no sleeper restraints, no private coaches have sleeper restraints.
Turns have to be taken completely different when you have bunks stacked like that, even highway curves... I've rolled people over within their bunks a few times, but only once out of their bunk. People rarely say anything about rolling over within the bunks, because it's bound to happen. The bunks are very well padded, with a rather tall lip that's well padded to prevent one from going out easily. I sleep in the bunks when I'm deadheading, and sometimes when I have a group onboard and they're in hotels. 60 motels in 60 nites?
One Will get Tired of hotels and motels, but never a good, hot Flying J shower. Right? Smile!
Consider the center of gravity is greatly adjusted in a set-up like that, which makes different manuevers react differently.
Personally, I've seen sleeper set-ups with bumper to bumper bunk set-ups, and I'm not too sure. Typically they're seen on the larger, more custom (And more extravagant) sleepers, like those that haul flat-bed and cars. Usually it's a dinette that transforms into a bed.
More recently, I saw somethin' here on EO that I liked and even recommended a few times to a few people... it's a custom 96" sleeper with a shower.
I drove a rig a couple years ago with a really custom 96" sleeper, with a full plumbing system in it... but the bed was over the cab... and meant really for a solo. Originally it was a race car hauler, used at the track for small overnite trips and rest periods while at the track - perfect for that, but not over the road freight hauling.
The sleeper I saw is made I think by ARI, the bunk is across the back wall, the shower/toilet stall is in a wooden enclosure behind the driver. Behind the passenger seat is the cabinets/counter space that holds the stove and sink and all that. Really looked neat, I got a quote from a sleeper manufacturer last year at the KY truck show for about $25K for a similar set-up. All packed into a 96" sleeper! Perfect for the serious solo driver, or deeply devoted team.
I'd reconsider the set-ups of bumper to bumper bunks though. Believe me when I say your driving patterns will have to be seriously adjusted.
BBB.
