AU2012203250B2 - A motor home having an island bed - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor home 1 that meets the requirements for being licensed to be driven by a driver on a car licence in Australia is disclosed. The motor home 1 comprises a 5 body defining a living region having front and rear ends 6 and 7 and two sides 8 and 9 with a longitudinal body axis extending through front and rear ends. The body includes a side door 35 providing access to the body from outside and a bathroom 80 positioned at the rear end 6 of the body. The body includes an island bed 41 when the motor home is in a camping mode having a bed axis 10 extending that extends transverse to the longitudinal body axis. The island bed 41 enables a person to access the bed 41 from each side and has a passage extending around the foot 43 of the bed 41. The island bed 41 is positioned forward of the bathroom 80 and rearward of the side door 35. 15 FIG 5 FOR PUBLICATION 00 C) )O 00 \N, O / 0( 0(

Description

A MOTOR HOME HAVING AN ISLAND BED Field of the Invention This invention relates to a motor home having an island bed. This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a motor home having an 5 island bed that is capable of being registered by road authorities in Australia for being driven on a car licence. Under current road regulations in the states of Australia a motor home can be licenced to be driven on a car licence if it has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton. The GVM is the weight of the vehicle when loaded and carrying its occupants. The contents of the applicant's 10 Australian patent application entitled 'A vehicle including a slide out and a slide out' which has issued as Australian Patent 2005202366 is hereby specifically incorporated into this specification by direct cross reference. Definitions In this specification the term 'a motor home' shall be understood to mean a vehicle 15 that has its own motive power and is capable of being driven along a road by a driver. A motor home has an interior space including a front seat region with a driver's seat, and a living region positioned behind the front seat region. In this specification the term 'slide out' shall be understood to mean a member mounted on a side of a vehicle body that can be displaced outward to create more 20 space inside the vehicle body when the vehicle is used for camping. In this specification the term 'double bed' shall be interpreted broadly and shall include all beds that are designed for two people to sleep on. It shall include but not be limited to a standard double bed, a queen double bed and a king double bed. 25 Further in this specification the term 'fitting' shall be interpreted broadly and shall include, but not be limited to kitchen fittings such as kitchen cupboards, kitchen cook tops, kitchen ovens and kitchen sinks. Further it shall also include but not be limited to bathroom fittings such as toilets, basins, vanities and showers. Yet 1 further it shall also include fittings associated with a sleeping region of a motor home such as a double bed, bedside tables, and wardrobes. Yet further it shall also include wardrobes, cupboards, tables and seating generally. Background to the Invention 5 A caravan is a vehicle that is towed by a powered vehicle such as a family car and is well known. A caravan comprises a passive vehicle mounted on wheels that has an interior space that has been adapted to form a living region that is suitable for being lived in for a period of time. For example the living region it might typically contain a kitchen, a dining and lounge area, a bedroom or sleeping area 10 and optionally also a bathroom and a toilet. A caravan is towed by a car, typically the family car, to where it is required and it is then parked, detached from the towing vehicle and transitioned to a camping mode. Caravans offer flexibility in the sense that the caravan can be towed to wherever it is required and it is not fixed to a single destination. Further a caravan offers a temporary dwelling with 15 fairly comfortable living amenities. A motor home is a vehicle having an engine providing motive power to the vehicle. A motor home includes a front seat region including a driver's seat and a passenger's seat and also driver's controls that enable it to be driven in the usual way like any other car. The motor home also has a living region behind the front 20 seat region that has been modified to provide living accommodation. For example it might contain a sleeping area containing a bed, a set of cupboards, a kitchen area, a storage area for clothes and the like, and a washing area often with a toilet and a basin. Typically the motor home is formed by taking a donor vehicle that is a commercial vehicle manufactured by an established manufacturer, such as a 25 cab chassis or van type commercial vehicle that is available in the market place, and modifying the vehicle to provide a rear living region. It thus provides a living area not unlike that contained within a caravan that is integral with the powered vehicle as distinct from being formed in a separate vehicle. Motor homes are often preferred by couples because they are more 30 compact than caravans and do not need to be hitched and then unhitched. When touring one can simply get in a motor home and drive off. With the change in 2 lifestyles that is occurring, in particular with baby boomers starting to retire, the use of motor homes has increased markedly and Applicant predicts this will continue. A motor home that can be licensed to be driven on a car licence (hereinafter 5 referred to as a car licence motor home) would have far greater appeal to the broad market of motor home users than a motor home which can only be driven on a truck licence. Under current road regulations in the states of Australia a motor home can be licenced to be driven on a car licence if it has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton. The GVM is the weight of the vehicle when 10 loaded and carrying its occupants. This would equate to a built weight of the motor home of about 4 ton and not more than about 4.25 ton. If a motor home does not meet the GVM weight requirement for being driven on a car licence, it cannot legally be driven on a car licence. It can only be licensed to be driven on a truck driver's licence. The requirements for obtaining a truck licence are much 15 stricter and more onerous than those for obtaining a car licence. Firstly there are strict health requirements that have to be satisfied. If a candidate has any one of a number of health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease they will be disqualified from obtaining a truck driver's licence. Further significant health and driving tests need to be carried out each time a truck driver's licence is renewed 20 and a truck licence has to be renewed more frequently than a car licence. Both these factors make it more difficult and more expensive to maintain a truck driver's licence than a car licence. Some owners of motor homes, typically older people including retirees, would not meet the prescribed health requirements for obtaining a truck licence. Further 25 many of them would not want to go to the effort and expense of obtaining a truck licence and would only be interested in purchasing and using a motor home that can be driven on a car licence. Further motor homes that are hired out to tourists would need to be driven on a car licence. This is because tourists will generally not have a truck licence. 30 Consequently by far the largest segment of the motor home market in Australia is that for car licence motor homes. It would therefore be most advantageous to 3 produce and sell a motor home that meets the GVM requirements for a car licence. Fig 1 of the drawings shows a schematic view of the layout of an interior space of a prior art car licence motor home that has a GVM that does not exceed 4.5 ton 5 and which can be driven on a car licence. The interior space can basically be divided up into a front seat region and a rear living region. A particularly limited dimension in a motor home is the lateral width of the vehicle so that it can be received in a vehicle lane. The width of the rear living region is limited to the width of the vehicle. The motor 10 home in Fig 1 has a double bed that extends transversely across the width of the vehicle. However the bed can only be accessed from one side as the other side of the bed sits up against the rear end of the vehicle. The motor home includes an internal wall enclosing a bathroom on the side of the bed. The internal wall is positioned adjacent the head end of the bed and consequently limits access to the 15 head end of the bed on that side. It also forms an imposing structure next to the head end of the bed. Further the foot of the bed lies against one side of the body of the vehicle and the head lies against the other side of the body. The motor home includes an internal wall enclosing a bathroom on the side of the bed. The internal wall is positioned adjacent the head end of the bed and 20 consequently limits access to the head end of the bed on that side. It also forms an imposing structure next to the head end of the bed. The bathroom is compact with a limited space and includes a toilet, a shower and a vanity with a hand basin. Further the toilet occupies the same space as the shower. The bathroom is positioned forward of the bed and is adjacent to the refrigerator. The bathroom is 25 also transversely aligned with the washing sink and the cooktop. Thus the refrigerator and the cook top and sink are particularly close to the bathroom door and the toilet inside the bathroom. The motor home further includes a kitchen area on the opposite side of the motor home to the bathroom and adjacent to the foot end of the bed on the accessible 30 side of the bed. The kitchen area includes a kitchen cupboard or kitchen cabinet extending up to a counter height with cupboards being located below the counter. 4 A wash basin or sink and a cook plate are permanently fitted to the kitchen cupboard and are mounted on the counter. Optionally the motor home also includes a TV positioned on top of the counter. Accordingly some prior art motor homes, and in particular motor homes that can 5 be driven on a car licence, have a very limited interior space and have considerable limitations on the level amenities they have provided. It would therefore be advantageous if a motor home could be devised that was licensed to be driven on a car licence while also ameliorating at least some of the shortcomings described above. 10 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home having a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: 15 a vehicle body having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head and a bed axis extending between the 20 foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the island bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the bed when the motor home is in the camping mode. At least part of the bathroom may be formed by the rear end of the body and 25 portions of the two sides, e.g. left and right sides, of the vehicle body. The vehicle body may include an internal wall extending between the left and right sides of the vehicle body that closes off the bathroom. 5 The bathroom may include: a shower, a toilet that is separate from the shower, and a vanity including wash basin that is separate from the toilet and shower. The shower may be positioned towards one side of the vehicle body, the vanity may be positioned towards the other side of the vehicle body and the toilet may be 5 positioned intermediate the vanity and the shower. Instead the toilet, shower and vanity may be arranged in a different way, e.g. with the vanity intermediate the toilet and shower. The island bed may be a double bed that is designed to be slept on by two people. Optionally the double bed may be a standard size double bed or a queen 10 size double bed. The double bed may also be a king size double bed. The head of the island bed may be positioned adjacent to one side of the vehicle body and the foot of the island bed may be spaced away from the other side of the vehicle body, e.g. to provide a walking passage around the foot of the bed. The motor home may further include a bedside table on each side of the island 15 bed adjacent to the head thereof. The head of the island bed may be positioned adjacent to one side of the vehicle body and the foot of the island bed may be spaced from the other side of the vehicle body. The one side of the vehicle body may be fixed relative to the remainder of the 20 vehicle body, and the head of the island bed may be mounted up against said one side of the vehicle body which is fixed. The motor home may further include a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of 25 the vehicle body. The slide out may be moved into the contracted position when the motor home is in the travelling mode and the slide out may be moved into the expanded position when the motor home is in the camping mode. 6 The vehicle body may define a slide out opening in said one side thereof, e.g. which is configured to complement the slide out. The slide out may include a slide out wall that extends across the slide out opening. The slide out wall may include a primary wall portion and end wall portions at each 5 end of the primary wall portion. Further each slide out wall may also include top wall and bottom wall portions extending along the top and bottom of the primary wall portion respectively that extend transversely in from the primary wall portion towards the vehicle body. The primary wall portion, the end wall portions, and the top and bottom wall portions may collectively define the slide out interior space. 10 The various wall portions of the slide out collectively form an open structure which opens into the vehicle interior and closes off the living region when it is in both the expanded and retracted positions. The island bed may be mounted on the slide out and slide with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. The head of the island bed may 15 be positioned against the slide out wall. The motor home may include at least one fitting or unit mounted on the slide out and moving with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. The motor home may further include a wardrobe and/or cupboard mounted on the other side of the vehicle body to the slide out and the wardrobe may be 20 substantially laterally aligned with the foot of the island bed. The wardrobe and/or cupboard may be positioned such that it is spaced away from the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the expanded position, e.g. thereby enabling a person to walk around the foot of the island bed. In some embodiments the wardrobe may have a width that is sized to receive a 25 suspended coat hanger with clothes mounted thereon wherein the coat hanger is orientated transverse to a direction of length of the wardrobe. In another embodiment the suspended coat hangers with clothes mounted thereon may be orientated parallel to the direction of length of the wardrobe. Further the mirror may have an outwardly facing surface and a mirror mounted on the outwardly 30 facing surface. 7 The body may include a front seat region forward of said living region. The front seat region may include a driver's seat on which a driver can be seated, and a passenger's seat on which a passenger can be seated, when the motor home is being driven on a road. The motor home may further include a living region that is 5 positioned rearward of the front seat region in which the bathroom and the island bed are positioned. The motor home may include a door mounted on said one side of the body for enabling persons to gain access into the living region from outside the vehicle body, and the side door may be positioned forward of the island bed. 10 The motor home may further include a dining arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the side door. The dining arrangement may include a dining table and two seats. The two seats and dining table may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body axis along one side of the vehicle body. The motor home may further include a lounge seat arrangement positioned within 15 the living region forward of the island bed, the lounge seat arrangement being positioned on the other side of the vehicle body to the dining arrangement. The motor home may further include a kitchen cupboard having a counter with a hot plate for cooking and sink for washing up positioned adjacent to the lounge seat arrangement. 20 The motor home may include a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out that is positioned forward of the side door, and wherein said lounge seat arrangement may be mounted on the further slide out. The further slide out may have a slide out wall that is movable between a contracted position in which it is received within the vehicle body and an expanded 25 position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body. The lounge seat arrangement and the kitchen cupboard may be mounted on the further slide out and may move with the further slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. 8 The motor home may include one or more overhead cupboards for storage mounted on the sides of the body and the rear end of the body. Each of the slide outs may be mounted on the vehicle body by means of a sliding arrangement that supports the slide out on the vehicle body while permitting the 5 slide out to slide from the contracted to the expanded position and then back to the contracted position. Further each slide out may include a drive arrangement for driving the associated slide out between the contracted and expanded positions on demand. The drive arrangement may include a linear actuator including a lead screw and a lead nut and wherein the lead screw rotates relative 10 to the lead nut to effect linear displacement. The motor home has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) that is not more than 4.5 ton, e.g. for licensing it to be driven by a driver on a car licence under current road licensing regulations by roads authorities in Australia under current road licensing regulations. 15 According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a motor home which has a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending 20 in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a slide out mounted on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body; 25 a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access 9 the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode, and wherein the island bed is mounted on the slide out and slides with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. 5 The motor home may further include a wardrobe mounted on the other side of the vehicle body to the slide out that is substantially laterally aligned with the foot of the island bed. The wardrobe may be positioned spaced away from the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the expanded position and adjacent to the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the contracted position. 10 The motor home may further include any one or more of the features of the motor home defined in the preceding aspect of the invention. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending 15 in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the 20 vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof and to walk around the foot of the island bed. The motor home may include a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the 25 vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body in the travelling mode. The island bed may be mounted on the slide out and may slide with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. 10 The motor home may further include any one or more of the features of the motor home defined in the preceding aspects of the invention. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home having a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a 5 camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends the vehicle body including a front seat region having a driver's seat and a passenger seat on 10 which a driver and passenger can be seated when the motor home is being driven on a road, and a living region that is positioned rearward of the front seat region; a side door mounted on one side of the vehicle body for enabling persons to gain access into the living region from outside the vehicle body; 15 a bathroom positioned in the living region towards the rear end of the vehicle body; an island bed positioned in the living region forward of the bathroom and rearward of the side door, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to 20 the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode; and a dining arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the side 25 door, and a lounge seat arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the side door, wherein the motor home motor home has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton, e.g. for qualifying it to be licensed to be driven on a car licence by roads licensing authorities in Australia, under current road licensing regulations. 11 Under current road regulations in the states of Australia a motor home can be licenced to be driven on a car licence if it has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton. The GVM is the weight of the motor home when loaded and carrying its occupants. This equates to a built weight of about 4 ton and not more 5 than about 4.25 ton. The dining arrangement may be positioned towards the one side of the vehicle body and the lounge seat arrangement may be positioned towards an opposite side of the vehicle body. The motor home may include any one or more of the optional features of the 10 motor home defined above according to the preceding aspects of the invention. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a layout for a motor home, the layout including: a vehicle body having a floor plan defining front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear 15 ends; a bathroom positioned on the floor plan towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the floor plan forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the 20 foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode. The layout may include a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable 25 between a contracted position in which it overlaps the floor plan of the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects laterally out from the floor plan of the vehicle body. 12 The floor plan may comprise a front seat region including a driver's seat and a passenger seat for seating a driver and passenger can be seated when the motor home is being driven on a road, and a living region that is positioned rearward of the front seat region in which the bathroom and the island bed are positioned. 5 The layout for the motor home may further include any one or more of the features of a motor home as defined in any one of the preceding aspects of the invention. Further the bathroom and the island body may include any one or more of the features of the bathroom and island body defined in the first aspect of the invention. 10 Further the vehicle body may include any one or more of the features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention. In particular the vehicle body may include a slide out and the slide out may have the features defined in the first aspect of the invention. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a layout of an 15 interior space of a motor home as defined in any one of the preceding aspects of the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A motor home, e.g. a compact motor home that can be licenced to be driven by a driver on a car licence in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a 20 variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter provide a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to put the invention into practice. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this 25 detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding statements. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a schematic plan view of an internal layout for a motor home in accordance with the prior art; 13 Fig 2 is a three dimensional view of a motor home in accordance with one embodiment of the invention having left and right slide outs shown in a retracted position; Fig 3 is a three dimensional view of the motor home of Fig 2 having left and right 5 slide outs shown in an expanded position; Fig 4 is a rear view of the motor home of Fig 2 with the slide outs in the expanded position shown in Fig 3; Fig 5A is a schematic top plan view showing an example internal layout of the motor home shown in Fig 2 with the slide outs in the expanded position; 10 Fig 5B is a schematic top plan view of the motor home shown in Fig 5A with both slide outs in the contracted position; Fig 6 is a schematic top plan view showing another example internal layout of a motor home similar to that shown in Fig 2; Fig 7 is a schematic top plan view of a motor home that is a variation on the motor 15 home shown in Fig 2 with parts omitted for clarity, showing the chassis and frames for each of the slide outs mounted on the chassis, and the drive arrangement for the slide outs as well as some of features of layout of the motor home; Fig 8 is a schematic three dimensional view from above of an interior of a motor home similar to that in Fig 5 in use; 20 Fig 9 is a schematic three dimensional view of the interior of the motor home in Fig 8 shown from a different position; and Fig 10 is a schematic three dimensional view of an interior of the motor home in Fig 8 shown from yet another position. Fig 1 illustrates a motor home in accordance with the prior art and as such has 25 been discussed in the background to the invention above. As such it will not be described further in this description. 14 In Figs 2 to 7 a reference numeral 1 refers generally to a vehicle that is a motor home in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The motor home (vehicle) 1 comprises broadly a chassis 3 having ground engaging wheels 4 for travelling over a road surface and a vehicle body 5 that is in 5 turn mounted on the chassis 3. The motor home 1 also includes a vehicle drive arrangement for providing motive power to the vehicle in the form of an internal combustion engine or a diesel engine. The van type motor home shown in the drawings is made from a donor vehicle that is a Mercedes SPRINTERTM van. The motor home has a GVM of not more than 4.5 ton and can be licensed to be driven 10 on public roads in Australia on a car licence. The vehicle body 5 has a front end 6 and a rear end 7, a left side 8 extending between the front and rear ends 6 and 7, and a right side 9 extending between the front and rear ends 6 and 7. The body 5 defines an interior space 10 between the front and rear ends 6 and 7 and between the left and right sides 8 and 9. The 15 vehicle body has a width of about 2300mm. The interior space 10 in turn comprises a front seat region 11 and a living region 13 rearward of the front seat region 11. The front seat region 11 in turn comprises a driver's seat 15 on the right side thereof and a passenger's seat 16 on the left side thereof. The driver's seat 15 contains driver controls, e.g. steering wheel, an ignition and driver pedals. 20 The driver's seat 15 and the passenger's seat 16 are in the form of swivel chairs that are rotatable. This way they can be turned around to face rearward into the living region 13 when the motor home 1 is in a camping mode as will be described in more detail below. The living region 13 comprises a substantially rectangular area that is positioned 25 behind the front seat region 11 and which is fitted out with fittings that provide the motor home 1 with temporary dwelling accommodation. The vehicle body 5 has a side door 35 on its left side 8 providing access to the living region 13. The vehicle body 5 further includes a left slide out 12 mounted on the left side 8 of the body 5 and a right slide out 14 mounted on the right side 9 of the vehicle body 5. 30 Each slide out 12, 14 comprises a primary wall portion 20 for covering that portion of the side of the vehicle body 5 across which the slide out extends, and end wall 15 portions 22, 24 at each end of the primary wall portion 20. It also includes a bottom wall portion 26 and a top wall or roof wall portion 28. The end wall portions 22, 24 and the bottom wall and roof wall portions 26, 28 extend transverse to the primary wall portion 20 to close off the interior of the slide out 12, 14 from the 5 outside and also to integrate it into the interior space 10 of the vehicle body 5. space defined by the slide out 12, 14 opens into and forms part of the vehicle interior space 10. More specifically it forms part of the living region 13 of the interior space 10. Each slide out 12, 14 is movable between a retracted or contracted position shown in Fig 2 in which the slide out is substantially flush with 10 and aligned with the associated side 8, 9 of the body 5 and an expanded position. In the expanded position shown in Fig 3, each slide out 12, 14 projects sideways or laterally outward proud of the rest of the associated side 8 or 9 of the body 5. Figures 2 to 4, 6 and 7 clearly show the left and right slide outs 12, 14 on left and right sides of the vehicle body 5. The left slide out 12 extends from a forward 15 point just rearward of the side door 35 on the left side 8 to a rear point towards the rear end 7. The right slide out 14 extends from a point just behind the front seat region 11 to a point that is rearward of the forward point of the left slide out 12. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show in a plan view the two slide outs 12, 14 overlapping each other in a lengthwise or longitudinal direction. The length of longitudinal overlap of 20 the left and right slide outs 12, 14 is about 500mm to 2000mm. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 5 the length of overlap is in the range of 800mm to 1000mm. Further the width of each slide out 12 and 14 is in the range of 550mm to 720mm. Figure 7 schematically illustrates how the two slide outs are mounted on the chassis 3. 25 Each slide out 12, 14 is mounted on the body 5 by means of a plurality of sliding arrangements each of which includes a pair of engaging male and female members. The sliding arrangements are shown very schematically in Figure 7 of the drawings. The male member of each pair of engaging pair of male and female members is mounted on the slide out 12, 14 and the female member is mounted 30 on the vehicle body 5 and more specifically the chassis 3 thereof. The sliding arrangements receive the male member within the female member with a close 16 tolerance fit that enables the slide out to be very accurately guided between the retracted and expanded positions. Further the close tolerance fit also means that each male member is tightly received within its associated female member and this resists its ability to rattle. In addition to being able to very accurately position 5 the slide outs 12, 14 relative to the vehicle body 5, the male and female members occupy only a modest amount of space within the body of the motor home 1. Further the male and female members are positioned beneath an internal floor of the vehicle body 5 on which some fittings are mounted. As such they do not project into the living region 13 and interfere with the fittings in the living region 13. 10 Further Fig 7 also shows the drive arrangements that are used to move the slide outs between the retracted and expanded positions. A drive arrangement in the form of a plurality of linear actuators is used to drive each slide out 12, 14 between the retracted and expanded positions. In the illustrated embodiment the drive arrangement comprises one linear actuator 30 located towards one end of 15 the slide out 12 or 14 and another actuator 32 located towards the other end of the slide out 12 or 14. The linear actuators 30, 32 are well suited to driving the slide outs 12, 14 as they are capable of very precise movement and can move the slide outs 12, 14 very accurately from the retracted to the expanded position and then back again from the expanded to the retracted position. 20 Figures 5A and 5B illustrate one example layout within the interior space of the vehicle body and in particular the living region thereof. Figure 5A shows the slide outs 12, 14 in the expanded position and Figure 5B shows the slide outs 12, 14 in the contracted position. The layout shows an arrangement of fittings within the living region 13 that 25 achieve a certain level of living amenity within the living region 13 of the motor home 1. The term fittings shall be interpreted to include furniture such as beds and tables, appliances such as refrigerators, and ovens, as well as structures that are permanently mounted on the vehicle body 5 such as wardrobes, kitchen counters and also bathroom fittings such as showers, vanities with hand basins 30 and toilets. 17 As shown in Fig 5A the left slide out 12 has a bed that is a double bed 41 that is partly received within the left slide out 12. The double bed 41 has a head end or a head or pillow region 42 and a foot end 43 and a bed longitudinal axis 45 extending between the head end 42 and the foot end 43. The bed longitudinal 5 axis 45 extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body 5 and assumes what is known as an east-west configuration. The head end 42 of the double bed 41 is received within the left slide out 12 and the foot end 43 of the double bed 41 is received within the interior space of the vehicle body 5. The slide out 12 also includes bedside tables, on each side of the head end 42 of 10 the double bed 41. One bedside table 40 is positioned on the side of the double bed 41 that is proximate to the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5 and the other bedside table 44 is positioned on the side of the bed 41 that is proximate to the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5. With this layout the double bed 42 has bedside tables 40, 44 on each side of the 15 head end 42 thereof but apart from these tables 40 and 44, the sides of the double bed 41 are substantially free of fittings. This enables a user to access the double bed 41 from each side thereof. Further there is a walking passage around the foot of the bed as shown in Fig 5A when the slide out is in the expanded position. This is an island bed and the island bed considerably enhances the 20 amenity provided by the double bed 42. Thus the motor home 1 has as an island bed arranged with a transverse or east west orientation and this feature confers a significant advance forward in the amenity conferred by a motor home. The left slide out 12 also includes a refrigerator and/or freezer 46 substantially fully received within the slide out 12 forward of the head end 42 of the double bed 25 41. In particular the refrigerator 46 is positioned forward of and adjacent to the bedside table 44. The bed 41, the bedside tables 42 and 44, and the refrigerator 46, are arranged in a line and together occupies substantially the full width of the slide out 12. The motor home 1 and specifically the layout thereof also includes a wardrobe 70 30 on the right side 9 thereof that is broadly laterally aligned with the double bed 41. The wardrobe 70 extends up the full height of the living region 13 and has a mirror 18 72 extending across its full face. The wardrobe 70 has a width that can receive a coat hanger in a way that enables clothes to be hung in the wardrobe with the direction of the coat hanger extending transverse to the length of the wardrobe 70 and transverse to the length of the vehicle body 2. The ability to hang the hangers 5 in the wardrobe in this orientation is important to enable a user to make optimal use of the space within the wardrobe 70. The vehicle body 5 also includes a cupboard that is a pantry cupboard 76 on the right side 9 of the vehicle body 5. The pantry cupboard 76 is positioned adjacent to the mirrored wardrobe 70 forward of the wardrobe 70. Further as shown in the 10 drawings, the pantry cupboard 76 is positioned rearward of the right slide out 14. The vehicle body 5 also includes a full bathroom 80 towards the rear of the living region 13 extending to the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5 that extends across the full width of the vehicle body 5. Further the bathroom 80 is closed off by an interior wall 82 that extends across the width of the vehicle body 5 spaced forward 15 of the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5.1n the illustrated embodiment the bathroom 80 includes a toilet 84, a separate shower 86, and a vanity 88 with a vanity counter, and a wash basin 90 mounted on the vanity counter. The shower 86 is positioned in the left rear corner and the vanity 88 is positioned in the right rear corner and the toilet 84 including a toilet pedestal is positioned in between the 20 shower 86 and the vanity 88. The vanity 88 has a washing machine and a clothes hamper positioned beneath the vanity counter. The bathroom 80 also includes overhead cupboards positioned along the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5 intermediate the shower 86 and the vanity 88. The bathroom 80 also includes a linen cupboard spaced above the vanity 88 on the right side 9 of the vehicle body 25 5. The right slide out 14 of the motor home 1 has a lounge seat 50 and a kitchen cupboard 52 mounted thereon. The lounge seat 50 and the kitchen cupboard 52 each occupy substantially the full width of the slide out 14 and are arranged side by side along the length of the slide out 14. The lounge seat 50 is permanently 30 mounted and fitted to the slide out 14 and includes a seat back that rests up against the primary wall portion 20 of the slide out 14. The kitchen cupboard 52 19 forms a kitchen counter having a cook top and a kitchen sink 53 for washing up mounted on the kitchen counter. Optionally it might also include an oven mounted on the kitchen cupboard 52 beneath the counter. Further the right slide out 14 also has overhead cupboards for general storage mounted thereon that are 5 positioned above the lounge seat 50 and kitchen cupboard 52 and extend along the length of the slide out 14. The vehicle body 5 also includes a dining arrangement including a small dining table suitable for dining use (hereinafter called a dinette 94), and a dinette swivel chair 96 near the dinette 94. The dinette 94 is positioned on the right side of the 10 vehicle body 5 forward of the side door 35. The driver's seat 15 and the passenger seat 16 can be swivelled around to face into the living region 13 of the vehicle body 5 when the motor home 1 is in the camping mode. This way the seats 15 and 16 can be integrated into the living region 13 by turning them around so they face into the living region 13. In particular the passenger's seat 16 can be turned 15 around to face the dinette 94 opposite to the dinette chair 96. The vehicle body 5 in Figure 5 also includes overhead cupboards extending along the left side 8 of the body 5 forward of the door 35. These cupboards are spaced above the dinette 94 so as not to interfere with a person sitting at the dinette 94. In use, the slide outs 12 and 14 are positioned in the retracted position when the 20 motor home 1 is in a travelling mode suitable for travelling on the road as shown in Figure 5B. When the user parks the motor home at a site and wishes to use the motor home to provide camping accommodation, the motor home is transformed from the travelling mode into a camping mode by moving the slide outs 12, 14 to the expanded position shown in Fig 5A. The camping mode opens up the interior 25 space 10 of the vehicle body 5 and particularly the living region 13, and considerably increases the feeling of spaciousness within the interior space of the vehicle 5. It also provides an island bed with access to each side of the bed and a passage enabling a person to walk across and around the foot of the bed. The motor home has left and right slide outs 12, 14 that overlap each other along their 30 length. 20 Figures 8 to 10 are schematic illustrations showing a motor home similar to that in Figure 5 which is in use in a camping mode. Figure 8 shows two people lying on the island bed. It shows in particular how each person can get onto the bed and get off the bed from their side of the bed. 5 This is particularly advantageous if they need to get up during the night as they can do this without disturbing their partner. Further it shows the unobstructed space around the foot of the bed, and shows how it forms a pedestrian passageway so that the people can walk comfortably around the bottom or foot of the bed. 10 Figure 9 once again shows how the island bed provides space on each side of the double bed. This creates amenity by providing space in which people can get dressed and prepare themselves for a social occasion. Fig 10 shows the wardrobe that is transversely aligned with the foot of the bed. The wardrobe has a wardrobe rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the 15 wardrobe and the vehicle body for hanging hangers therefrom in a transverse direction. This arrangement of the hangers optimises the utilisation of the wardrobe. Fig 6 illustrates a motor home having a different layout to that in Figures 5A and 5B. However as many of the structural features and fittings of the Fig 6 motor 20 home are the same as that in Figures 5A and 5B, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. The motor home 1 shown in Figure 6 has a right slide out 14 having a lounge seat 50 towards the front of the slide out 14, and a kitchen cupboard 52 positioned rearward of the lounge seat 50. The kitchen cupboard 52 has a counter with a hot 25 plate 52 and a sink 53. It also has an oven received within the cupboard beneath the counter (not shown). The motor home 1 also has a refrigerator 46 rearward of the kitchen cupboard 52 and a pantry 76 in turn rearward of the refrigerator 46. In the Fig 6 motor home 1 the left slide out 12 by contrast includes a bathroom 80 and also a bed region containing a double bed 41. The bathroom 80 in the left 21 slide out 12 includes a toilet 84 towards one end thereof and a shower 86 adjacent to the toilet 84. Optionally it also includes a vanity 88 towards a rear end thereof. The bathroom 80 is closed off by an internal wall 82. The double bed 41 is an island double bed arranged in a transverse configuration 5 or east west configuration, and the double bed 41 has a head end 42 which is received within the slide out 12 and a foot end 43 which is received within the living region 13 of the body 5. The double bed 41 has some space on each side thereof to enable the bed to be accessed from each side. The bed 41 has a walking passage around its foot 43 when the left slide out 12 is in the expanded 10 position. In the illustrated embodiment a bedside table 44 is positioned on one side of the head end 42 of the bed 41, behind the shower 86. A slide out washing machine may be positioned underneath the bedside table 44 to utilise the space beneath the bedside table 44. On the other side of the head end 42 of the double bed 41 15 is another bedside table 40. The motor home 1 further includes a wardrobe 70 on the right side 9 of the vehicle body 5 opposite to the double bed 41. The wardrobe 70 has a mirror on its front surface and is closely spaced from the foot end 43 of the double bed 41 when the left slide out 12 is in the retracted position and the motor home 1 is in the 20 travelling mode. A space is defined between the wardrobe 70 and the foot end 43 of the double bed 41 forming a walkway or passageway when the motor home 1 is in the camping mode with the left slide out 12 in the expanded position. Conveniently the motor home 1 also has a TV and DVD player mounted on or about the wardrobe 70. 25 As with the Fig 5A motor home, the Fig 6 motor home 1 also includes a dinette 94 on the left side of the body 5 forward of the left slide out 12. The motor home 1 also includes a dinette swivel seat 96 on one side of the dinette 94. The driver's seat 15 and the passenger's seat 16 in the front seat region 11 are swivel seats that can be turned around to face into the living region 13. In particular the 30 passenger's seat 16 can be turned around to face towards the dinette 94 in opposition to the dinette seat 96. 22 The motor home 1 in Figure further includes the fittings described below. The left slide out 12 has overhead cupboards mounted on the primary wall portion 20 thereof spaced above the head 42 of the double bed 41. The motor home 1 also has overhead cupboards mounted on the left side 8 of the vehicle body 5 forward 5 of the side door 35 that are spaced above the dinette 94 and that are sufficiently high not to interfere with a person seated at the dinette 94. The slide outs 12, 14 shown in Fig 6 are quite a bit longer than those in the Fig 5 motor home. Further the length of longitudinal overlap of the two slide outs is about 1600-1700mm and the width of each of the slide outs 12, 14 is about 550 10 720mm. The Fig 6 motor home 1 has the following features in its right slide out 14. For example it has a refrigerator and pantry adjacent the kitchen cupboard. The motor home 1 includes further overhead cupboards that are mounted on the primary wall portion 20 of the right slide out 14. The overhead cupboards are spaced 15 sufficiently high above the lounge seat 50 and the kitchen cupboard 52 that they do not interfere with utilisation of these fittings. The Fig 6 motor home has a separate toilet and shower within the left slide out 12 as distinct from these fittings being positioned on the vehicle body 5 towards the rear end 7 of the motor home 1. This enables the double bed 41 to be placed 20 further back towards the rear end 7 than in the Fig 5 embodiment. This increases the area between the bed 12 and the front seat region 11 which is an important part of the living region. The living region has a width of about 2000mm between the units received within the opposing slide outs 12, 14. The distance between the forward side of the 25 double bed 41 and the front seat region 11 is about 3500mm. The lateral width of a motor home is limited by road regulations which effectively limit the external width of a motor vehicle to about 2.2 to 2.3.m so that it can safely travel in a vehicle lane on a roadway. Applicant's research into prior art compact motor homes like that in Figure 1 30 showed that users found the living region to be very confined and cramped. 23 Consequently users had difficulty living within the motor home for any length of time. This narrow lateral width is exacerbated by the way in which the fittings are arranged in the motor home. For example in the Figure 1 prior art motor home the fittings are arranged on left and right sides of the motor home along the length of 5 the motor home. The enclosed bathroom and the kitchen cupboards and lounge seating and the dinette all encroach on the lateral space of the body of the motor home. The enclosed bathroom in a middle region of the living region is particularly intrusive as the walls of the bathroom extend from the internal floor up to the roof wall or top wall of the body 5. 10 A challenge when designing a motor home in Australia is to maximize the amenity offered by the motor home so that it is attractive to sophisticated and discerning motor home users while still meeting the GVM weight requirements for enabling it to be driven on a car licence in Australia. Under current road regulations in the states of Australia a motor home can be licenced to be driven on a car licence if it 15 has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton. The GVM is the weight of the vehicle when loaded and carrying its occupants. One advantage of the motor home described above with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings is that it provides a motor home in Australia that meets the GVM weight requirements for enabling it to be driven on a car licence in Australia while providing a high level of 20 amenity so that it is attractive to sophisticated and discerning motor home users. Another advantage of the Fig 5 motor home is that the layout of the motor home and the positioning of the fittings within the motor home provide a comfortable living region for users. It is practical for users to live in such a motor home for some length of time. 25 One particular advantage of the layout of the motor home illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings is that it has an island double bed with an east west configuration. This provides users with access to the double bed from both sides and provides a walk around passage at the foot of the bed. 24 A yet further advantage of the Fig 5 motor home is that it provides a wardrobe on that is broadly laterally aligned with the foot of the double bed while still providing space for a user to walk around the foot of the bed when the slide out is moved to the expanded position. Put another way a double bed and a wardrobe can be 5 fitted across the width of the motor home and there is still space to walk around the foot of the bed when it is required. Another advantage of the motor home described above and illustrated in Fig 5 of the drawings is that it has a bathroom at the rear of the motor home that is rearward of the island bed. This is advantageous because it separates the 10 bathroom from the lounge seating and the dinette within the living region and confers greater privacy. It thus mimics architectural arrangements that are accepted in small dwelling spaces in buildings. Another advantage of the motor home described above and illustrated in Fig 5 of the drawings is that it has an access door defined in one side of the vehicle body 15 and the island bed and the bathroom are positioned rearward of the access door. Further the dinette is positioned forward of the access door. This layout and arrangement of fittings within the motor home has the effect of creating a bedroom and bathroom zone within the motor home that is rearward of the side access door and a lounge and dining zone and kitchen zone that is at least partly positioned 20 forward of the side access door. Another advantage of the motor home described above and illustrated in Fig 5 of the drawings is that the layout provides a full bathroom with separate shower, toilet and vanity. The bathroom also has an internal wall for privacy with an access opening through which the bathroom can be accessed for privacy. This 25 layout and level of amenity is most desirable to users of motor homes. Finally Applicant recognised that the evolutionary origins of man living in caves had an effect on people that made them inherently more comfortable living in spaces with much greater lateral width relative to their length. Applicant also recognised that prior art motor homes like that in Figure 1 would never be able to 30 satisfy human instincts arising from these evolutionary origins and provide a living space in which a user was inherently comfortable. They could not provide living 25 accommodation in which a user could live in comfort for a period of time such as several weeks or months. This is particularly the case for those users that had become used to high level of amenity in their homes and in their lives generally, such as affluent retirees. 5 It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth. 26

Claims (33)

1. A motor home having a travelling mode in which it is suitable for travel along a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the island bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode.

2. A motor home according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the bathroom is formed by the rear end of the vehicle body and portions of the sides of the vehicle body.

3. A motor home according to claim 2, including an internal wall extending between the two sides of the body that closes off the bathroom.

4. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bathroom includes a shower, a toilet that is separate from the shower, and a vanity including wash basin that is separate from the toilet and shower.

5. A motor home according to claim 4, wherein the shower is positioned towards one side of the vehicle body, the vanity is positioned towards the other side of the vehicle body and the toilet is positioned intermediate the vanity and the shower.

6. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the island bed is a double bed that is configured to be slept on by two people.

7. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further including a bedside table on each side of the island bed which is adjacent to the head thereof. 27

8. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the head of the island bed is positioned adjacent to one side of the vehicle body and the foot of the island bed is spaced from the other side of the vehicle body.

9. A motor home according to claim 8, wherein said one side of the vehicle body is fixed relative to the remainder of the vehicle body, and the head of the island bed is mounted up against said one side of the vehicle body which is fixed.

10. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further including a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body.

11. A motor home according to claim 10, wherein the slide out is moved into the contracted position when the motor home is in the travelling mode and the slide out is moved into the expanded position when the motor home is in the camping mode.

12. A motor home according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the vehicle body defines a slide out opening in the one thereof, and the slide out includes a slide out wall that extends across the slide out opening.

13. A motor home according to claim 12, wherein the island bed is mounted on the slide out and slides with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions, and the head of the island bed is positioned against the slide out wall.

14. A motor home according to any one of claims 10 to 13, including at least one fitting or unit mounted on the slide out and moving with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions.

15. A motor home according to any one of claims 10 to 14, further including a wardrobe mounted on the other side of the vehicle body to the slide out and the wardrobe is substantially laterally aligned with the foot of the island bed.

16. A motor home according to claim 15, wherein the wardrobe is positioned such that it is spaced away from the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the expanded position. 28

17. A motor home according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the wardrobe has a width sized to receive a suspended coat hanger therein which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

18. A motor home according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the wardrobe has an outwardly facing surface and a mirror mounted on the outwardly facing surface.

19. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the vehicle body includes a front seat region having a driver's seat and a passenger seat on which a driver and passenger can be seated when the motor home is being driven on a road, and a living region that is positioned rearward of the front seat region in which the bathroom and the island bed are positioned.

20. A motor home according to claim 19, including a side door mounted on said one side of the vehicle body for enabling persons to gain access into the living region from outside the vehicle body, and the side door is positioned forward of the island bed.

21. A motor home according to claim 20, further include a dining arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the side door, wherein the dining arrangement includes a dining table and two seats extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

22. A motor home according to claim 21, further including a lounge seat arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the island bed, the lounge seat arrangement extending along the other side of the vehicle body to the dining arrangement.

23. A motor home according to claim 22, including a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out that is positioned forward of the side door, and wherein said lounge seat arrangement is mounted on the further slide out.

24. A motor home according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the motor home has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) that is not more than 4.5 ton. 29

25. A motor home which has a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode, and wherein the island bed is mounted on the slide out and slides with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions.

26. A motor home according to claim 25, further including a wardrobe mounted on the other side of the vehicle body to the slide out that is substantially laterally aligned with the foot of the island bed, and the wardrobe is positioned spaced away from the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the expanded position and adjacent to the foot of the island bed when the slide out is in the contracted position.

27. A motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the vehicle body forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot 30 and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof and to walk around the foot of the island bed.

28. A motor home according to claim 27, including a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it is substantially within the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body in the travelling mode.

29. A motor home according to claim 28, wherein the island bed is mounted on the slide out and slides with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions.

30. A motor home having a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for being used as a living space, the motor home comprising: a vehicle body having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends, the vehicle body including a front seat region having a driver's seat and a passenger seat on which a driver and passenger can be seated when the motor home is being driven on a road, and a living region that is positioned rearward of the front seat region; a side door mounted on one side of the vehicle body for enabling persons to gain access into the living region from outside the vehicle body; a bathroom positioned in the living region towards the rear end of the vehicle body; an island bed positioned in the living region forward of the bathroom and rearward of the side door, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to 31 walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode; and a dining arrangement positioned in the living region forward of the side door, and a lounge seat arrangement positioned within the living region forward of the side door, wherein the motor home having a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of not more than 4.5 ton for qualifying it to be licensed to be driven on a car licence by roads licensing authorities in Australia.

31. A layout for a motor home, the layout including: a vehicle body having a floor plan defining front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; a bathroom positioned on the floor plan towards the rear end of the vehicle body; and an island bed positioned on the floor plan forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending between the foot and the head that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the bed enables a person to access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed when the motor home is in the camping mode.

32. A layout for a motor home according to claim 31, including a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a contracted position in which it overlaps the floor plan of the vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects laterally out from the floor plan of the vehicle body.

33. A layout for a motor home according to claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the floor plan comprises a front seat region with a driver's seat and a passenger seat on which a driver and passenger can be seated when the motor home is being driven on a road, and a living region that is positioned rearward of the front seat region in which the bathroom and the island bed are positioned. 32