AU2013270514A1 - A vehicle body - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle body for a caravan or a motor home is disclosed comprising a vehicle 5 body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides. The vehicle body includes at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell movable between a retracted position and an expanded position in which it projects out to increase the interior space. The vehicle body includes a bathroom at the rear end of the vehicle body shell, and an island bed positioned 10 forward of the bathroom. 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. FIGURE 6 FOR PUBLICATION Oo 0) C ( 0 00 IV c 0 aI \ ...-------------- / (NJ 0 ____~1L_ N L, Lo H

Description

A VEHICLE BODY Field This invention relates to a vehicle body. This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a vehicle body for a motor 5 home or a caravan that contains amenities enabling a person to travel around in the vehicle and live out of it, and it will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However it is to be borne in mind that the invention can also be applied to other vehicles. The contents of the applicant's Australian patent application entitled 'A vehicle 10 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 'caravan' shall be understood to mean a vehicle 15 that is mounted on wheels that does not have its own motive power and is towed by a towing vehicle having motive power to where it is required. A caravan may be towed by a car or a truck. In this specification the term 'a motor home' shall be understood to mean a vehicle that has its own motive power and is capable of being driven along a road by a 20 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. The living region might typically include one or more of the following areas: a bedroom or sleeping area, a kitchen and a bathroom. In this specification the term 'body shell' shall be understood to mean the outer 25 wall of a vehicle body. For example it includes a peripheral side wall including sides and ends and a floor wall or plate and a roof wall or plate. 1 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 laterally displaced outwardly to create more space inside the vehicle body. In this specification the term 'double bed' shall be interpreted broadly and shall 5 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. In this specification the term 'travelling mode' shall be interpreted to refer to a mode of use wherein the vehicle or vehicle body is used as for travel along a 10 travel surface such as a road, path or track. In this specification the term 'camping mode' shall be interpreted to refer to a mode of use wherein the vehicle or vehicle body used for recreation including camping. In this mode the vehicle or vehicle body is used to provide amenities including living accommodation, bathroom facilities, lounge and cooking and 15 dining facilities, and also the use of a motor home for general camping and recreation. Further in this specification the term 'fitting' shall be interpreted broadly and shall include wardrobes, cupboards, tables and seating generally. In particular it includes kitchen fittings such as kitchen cupboards, kitchen cook tops, kitchen 20 ovens and kitchen sinks. It also includes bathroom fittings such as toilets, basins, vanities and showers. Further it also includes bedroom fittings such as a double bed, bedside tables, and wardrobes. Background to the Invention A caravan is a vehicle that is towed by a powered vehicle such as a family car and 25 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 2 typically contain a kitchen, a dining and lounge area, a bedroom or sleeping area 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 5 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 fairly comfortable living amenities. A development on the caravan has been the motor home which is a vehicle having an engine providing motive power to the vehicle. A motor home includes a 10 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 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 15 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 cab chassis or van type commercial vehicle that is available in the market place, and modifying the vehicle to provide a rear living region. 20 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 used by couples because they are more 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 lifestyles 25 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. Suffice it to say that both caravans and recreational vehicles are forms of recreational vehicles that are widely used in Australia. While caravans and motor 3 homes have different market niches both forms of recreational vehicle are extremely popular in Australia. Fig 2 of the drawings shows a schematic view of the layout of an interior space of an example of a prior art motor home that was in use in Australia prior to 1 June 5 2005. The motor home has a vehicle body defining an interior space that can basically be divided up into a front seat region and a rear living region. A particularly limited dimension of the vehicle body is its width. A width of a vehicle body is necessarily limited for a vehicle to be received within a vehicle lane on a public road and obviously this is highly regulated. Accordingly there is no scope to 10 increase the width of the vehicle to provide a more spacious and comfortable rear living region in the vehicle body. The motor 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 a rear end of the vehicle. The motor home 15 includes an internal wall enclosing a bathroom on the side of the bed. The internal wall is positioned adjacent to the head end of the bed and 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. 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 20 body. The motor home includes an internal wall enclosing a bathroom on the side of the bed. The internal wall is positioned adjacent to the head end of the bed and 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 25 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 and is basically transversely aligned with the washing sink and the cooktop. Thus the refrigerator 4 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 5 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. 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. 10 Prior art caravans of which the applicant is aware have similar limitations. An example of a prior art caravan is shown in Figure 1. This caravan has a double bed at its rear end. The bed is longitudinally extending. The caravan has a seating arrangement at its front end. Midway along the caravan there is a bathroom on one side of the caravan and a kitchen on the other side of the 15 caravan. An entrance door is positioned intermediate the kitchen and the seating arrangement. Further a refrigerator is positioned on the other side of the caravan to the entrance door. A shortcoming of the prior art caravan is that the internal wall of the bathroom encroaches into the lateral width of the caravan. This creates a sense of a 20 confined space. Further the layout of the amenities such as the bed, kitchen and bathroom is quite unwieldy and unattractive. For example the toilet is next to the kitchen and the lounge seats and dining seats are also close to the toilet. It would therefore be advantageous if a vehicle body, e.g. for a caravan and a motorhome, could be devised that ameliorated at least to some extent some of the 25 shortcomings described above. 5 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a vehicle body comprising: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends 5 and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded 10 position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to increase the interior space; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and 15 head, and a bed axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Each side of the island bed may be free of obstruction so that a person can access the island bed from each side thereof. Further the vehicle body may define a passage around the foot of the island bed 20 so that a person can walk around the foot of the island bed. The vehicle body may include an internal wall extending between the two sides of the body that closes off the bathroom. At least part of the bathroom may be formed by the rear end of the vehicle body and portions of the sides of the vehicle body. 6 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. In one embodiment 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 5 the toilet may be positioned intermediate the vanity and the shower. In another embodiment the shower may be positioned towards one side of the vehicle body, the toilet may be positioned towards the other side of the vehicle body and the vanity may be positioned intermediate the toilet and the shower. The island bed may be positioned forwards of and adjacent to the bathroom, and 10 the island bed may be a double bed that is configured to be slept on by two people. The double bed may be a standard size double bed, a queen size double bed, or a king size double bed. The vehicle body may further include a bedside table on each side of the island bed which is adjacent to the head thereof. 15 The head of the island bed may be positioned adjacent to one side of the vehicle body. The foot of the island bed may be spaced from the other side of the vehicle body. The island bed may be mounted on the slide out and may slide with the slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. 20 The head of the island bed may be positioned against the slide out wall. The vehicle body may further include a wardrobe mounted on the other side of the vehicle body to the slide out. The wardrobe may be substantially laterally aligned with the foot of the island bed. Further the wardrobe may be positioned such that it is spaced away from the foot 25 of the island bed when the slide out is in the expanded position. 7 The wardrobe may have a width that is sized to receive a suspended coat hanger therein which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The wardrobe may have an outwardly facing surface and a mirror mounted on the outwardly facing surface. 5 The vehicle body may further include a kitchen on one side of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the island bed. The vehicle body may be a vehicle body for a motor home and the interior space may include a front seat region having a driver's seat and a passenger seat. Instead the vehicle body may be a body for a caravan. 10 The vehicle body may include a living region rearward of the front seat region in which the bathroom and the island bed are received. The vehicle body may include a side door mounted on said one side of the vehicle body shell for enabling persons to gain access into the vehicle body. The side door may be positioned forward of the bathroom and forward of the 15 island bed. The vehicle body may further include a dining arrangement within the vehicle body shell. At least part of the dining arrangement may be positioned forward of the side door. 20 The vehicle body may further include a lounge seat arrangement within the vehicle body shell. At least part of the lounge seat arrangement may be positioned forward of the side door. 8 The vehicle body may further include a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out that is also movable between a retracted and an expanded position. The one and further slide outs may overlap each other in a longitudinal direction. 5 According to another aspect of this disclosure there is provided a vehicle body comprising: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; 10 at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to increase the interior space; 15 a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out which is also movable between a retracted and expanded position, and wherein said one and further slide outs overlap each other in a longitudinal direction; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and 20 an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending 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 25 foot of the island bed. 9 The vehicle body may include any one or more of the features in the preceding aspect of the invention. The vehicle body may be a motorhome body. Instead the vehicle body may be a caravan body. 5 According to another aspect of this disclosure there is provided a layout for a vehicle body, the layout including: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; 10 at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to increase the interior space; 15 a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the position of the island bed enables a person to 20 access the island bed from each side thereof, and also to walk around the foot of the island bed. The vehicle body may include any one or more of the features in the preceding aspect of the invention. The vehicle body may be a motorhome body. Instead the vehicle body may be a 25 caravan body. 10 According to another aspect of this disclosure there is provided a vehicle body comprising: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and left and right sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the 5 front and rear ends; two slide outs mounted on the left and right sides of the body shell, each said slide out being movable between a contracted position in which it does not project out proud of the associated side of the body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out beyond the associated side of the 10 body shell whereby to increase the interior space defined by the vehicle body. The body shell may include 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 15 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. The body shell may include a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body. 20 At least part of the bathroom may be formed by the rear end of the body and 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. The bathroom may include: a shower, a toilet that is separate from the shower, 25 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 11 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 5 people. Optionally the double bed may be a standard size double bed or a queen 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. 10 The vehicle body may further include a bedside table on each side of the island 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. 15 The one side of the vehicle body may be fixed relative to the remainder of the 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 vehicle body may further include a slide out on one side of the vehicle body that is movable between a retracted position in which it is substantially within the 20 vehicle body and an expanded position in which it projects out laterally proud of the vehicle body. The slide out may be moved into the contracted position when the vehicle body is in the travelling mode and the slide out may be moved into the expanded position when the vehicle body is in the camping mode. 12 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 vehicle body 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 vehicle body 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. Further the mirror may have an outwardly facing surface and a mirror mounted on the outwardly facing surface. 13 The vehicle body may include a side 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. The vehicle body may further include a dining arrangement positioned within the 5 living region forward of the side door. The dining arrangement may include a dining table and two seats extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The vehicle body may further include a lounge seat arrangement positioned within 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. 10 The vehicle body 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. The vehicle body 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 15 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 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 20 out and may move with the further slide out between the contracted and expanded positions. The vehicle body 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 25 arrangement that supports the slide out on the vehicle body while permitting the 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 14 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 to the lead nut to effect linear displacement. 5 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body comprising: a vehicle body shell having front and rear ends and left and right sides and defining an interior space; slide outs mounted on the left and right sides of the body shell, each said 10 slide out being movable between a contracted position in which it is does not project out proud of the associated side of the body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out beyond the associated side of the body shell whereby to increase the interior space defined by the vehicle body. 15 The body shell may have any one or more of the features of the vehicle body described above in the first aspect of the invention. Further the body shell may include one or more fittings as described above for the first aspect of the invention. Further the slide outs may include any one or more of the optional or preferred features of the slide outs described above with respect to 20 the first aspect of the invention. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the invention also extends to a layout for a vehicle body including any one or more of the features of the preceding aspects of the invention that relate to the positioning and arrangement of fittings within the motor home including bedroom fittings such as double beds 25 and bedside tables, bathroom fittings such as toilets, showers and vanities, and kitchen fittings such as kitchen cupboards and cook tops, ovens and wash basins and sinks. 15 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. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a layout of an 5 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 vehicle body and a vehicle including the vehicle body in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to 10 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 detailed description does not 15 supersede the generality of the preceding statements. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a schematic plan view of an internal layout of a vehicle body for a caravan in accordance with the prior art; Fig 2 is a schematic plan view of an internal layout of a vehicle body for a motor home in accordance with the prior art; 20 Fig 3 is a three dimensional view of a vehicle body for a motor home in accordance with one embodiment of the invention having left and right slide outs shown in a retracted position; Fig 4 is a three dimensional view of the vehicle body of Fig 3 having left and right slide outs with the slide outs shown in an expanded position; 25 Fig 5 is a rear view of the motor home of Fig 2 with the slide outs shown in the expanded position; 16 Fig 6 is a schematic top plan view of the layout of the motor home shown in Fig 2 when both slide outs are in the expanded position; Fig 7 is a schematic top plan view of the layout of the motor home shown in Fig 6 with the slide outs shown in the retracted position; 5 Fig 8 is a schematic top plan view showing another example internal layout of a motor home similar to that shown in Fig 2; Fig 9 is a schematic top plan view of a motor home similar to the motor home 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; 10 Fig 10 is a schematic top plan view of a vehicle body for a caravan in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig 11 is an upper perspective view of the caravan vehicle body shown in Fig. 9; Fig 12 is a schematic three dimensional view from above of part of an interior of a vehicle body of a caravan or motor home in accordance with one embodiment of 15 the invention; Fig 13 is a schematic three dimensional view from one side of the interior of the vehicle body of Fig 12; and Fig 14 is a schematic three dimensional view from another side of the interior of the vehicle body of Fig 12. 20 Fig 1 illustrates a vehicle body for a caravan in accordance with the prior art which has been discussed in the background to the invention above and as such it will not be described in the description below. Similarly Fig 2 illustrates a vehicle body for a motor home in accordance with the prior art which has been discussed in the background to the invention above and as such it will not be described in the 25 description below. 17 In Figs 3 to 9 a reference numeral 1 refers generally to a vehicle body for 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 motor home shown in the drawings is made from a donor vehicle that is a commercially produced vehicle manufactured by an established motor vehicle manufacturer such as MERCEDES tm, FIAT tm 10 or IVECO. 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. 18 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 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 5 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 outside and also to integrate it into the interior space 10 of the vehicle body 5. Thus the slide out 12 or 14 forms a cup shaped receptacle and the space defined by the slide out 12, 14 opens into and forms part of the vehicle interior space 10. 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 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 15 outward proud of the rest of the associated side 8 or 9 of the body 5. Figures 3 to 5 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 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 20 to a point that is rearward of the forward point of the left slide out 12. Figures 6 and 7 show a motor home having two slide outs 12, 14 overlapping each other in a lengthwise or longitudinal direction. The length of longitudinal overlap of the left and right slide outs 12, 14 is about 500mm to 2000mm. In the embodiment in Figures 6 and 7 the length of overlap is in the range of 800mm to 25 1000mm. Further the width of each slide out 12 and 14 is in the range of 550mm to 720mm. Figure 8 similarly illustrates a motor home having left and right slide outs overlapping each other in the direction of length of the motor home. Figure 9 schematically illustrates how the two slide outs are mounted on the chassis 3. 19 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 the drawing. The male member of each pair of engaging pair of male and female members is 5 mounted on the slide out 12, 14 and the female member is mounted on the vehicle body 5 and more specifically the chassis thereof. The sliding arrangements receive the male member within the female member with a close 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 10 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 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 15 the vehicle body 5 on which the fittings are mounted. As such they do not project into the living region 13 and interfere with fittings in the living region 13. Fig 9 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 20 retracted and expanded positions. In the illustrated embodiment the drive arrangement comprises one linear actuator 30 located towards one end of 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 25 outs 12, 14 very accurately from the retracted to the expanded position and then back again from the expanded to the retracted position. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a layout within the interior space of the vehicle body and in particular the living region thereof. The layout comprises an arrangement of different living zones and fittings and furnishings within the living region 13 that 30 achieve a certain level of living amenity within the living region 13 of the motor 20 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 5 and toilets. As shown in Fig 6 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 10 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 15 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 20 head end 42 thereof but apart from that 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 6 when the slide out is in the expanded position. This is known as an island bed and considerably enhances the amenity provided by the double bed 25 42. Thus the motor home 1 has what is known as an island bed arranged with a transverse or east west orientation and this feature provides a significant advance step forward in the amenity conferred by a motor home. The left slide out 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 41. 21 In particular the refrigerator 46 is positioned forward of and adjacent to the bedside table 44. The bed 41, 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. 5 The motor home 1 and specifically the layout thereof also includes a wardrobe 70 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 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 10 direction of the coat hanger extending transverse to the length of the wardrobe 70. The ability to hang the hangers in the wardrobe in this orientation is important to enable a user to make optimal use of the space within the wardrobe. 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 15 to the mirrored wardrobe 70 forward of the wardrobe 70. Further as shown in the 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 20 interior wall 82 that extends across the width of the vehicle body 5 spaced forward of the rear end 7 of the vehicle body 5. In 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 in the vanity counter. The shower 86 is positioned in the left rear corner and the vanity 88 is positioned in the right 25 rear corner and the toilet 84 including a toilet pedestal is positioned in between the 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 22 linen cupboard spaced above the vanity 88 on the right side 9 of the vehicle body 5. The right slide out 14 of the motor home 1 has a lounge seat 50 and a kitchen cupboard 52 forming a kitchen counter including a cook top. The lounge seat 50 5 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 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 also includes a kitchen sink 53 for washing up mounted 10 on the counter. Optionally it might also include an oven received in the kitchen cupboard 52 beneath the counter thereof. Further the right slide out 14 also includes overhead cupboards for general storage positioned spaced above the lounge seat 50 and kitchen cupboard 52 and extending along the length of the slide out 14. 15 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 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 20 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 around to face the dinette 94 opposite to the dinette chair 96. The vehicle body 5 in Figure 6 also includes overhead cupboards extending along 25 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. Figure 6 shows the slide outs 12, 14 in the expanded position and Figure 7 shows the slide outs 12, 14 in the retracted position. 23 In use, the slide outs 12 and 14 are positioned in the retracted position shown in Figure 7 when the motor home 1 is in a travelling mode suitable for travelling on the road. When the motor home is used as a living facility or camping facility for living out of, the motor home is transitioned from the travelling mode into a 5 camping mode by moving the slide outs 12, 14 to the expanded position shown in Fig 6. The camping mode opens up the interior 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 a passage or walking space around the foot of the bed enabling a person to walk across and 10 around the foot of the bed. Figure 10 and 11 show a vehicle body for a caravan in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. The vehicle body has a body shell defining an interior space having a front end 6 15 and a rear end 7 and two sides 8, 9 extending between the front and rear ends 6 and 7. The body shell has a slide out 12 on one side thereof towards the rear end thereof. The slide out 12 is movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side 8 of the vehicle body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out of the side 8 of the vehicle body shell to increase 20 the interior space The vehicle body has a bathroom 80 adjacent to the rear end 7 of the body shell. Part of the bathroom 80 is formed by the rear end 7 of the vehicle body and portions of the sides 8, 9 of the vehicle body. The vehicle body also includes an internal wall 82 extending between the two sides 8, 9 of the body that closes off 25 the bathroom 80 and forms a fourth wall of the bathroom 80. The bathroom 80 includes a shower 86, a toilet 84 that is separate from the shower 86, and a vanity 88 including wash basin 90 that is separate from the toilet 84 and shower 86. In the illustrated embodiment the shower 86 is positioned towards one side 8 of the vehicle body. The vanity 88 is positioned towards the 24 other side of the vehicle body and the toilet 84 is positioned intermediate the vanity 88 and the shower 86. The vehicle body has an island bed 41 received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of and adjacent to the bathroom 80. 5 The island bed 41 has a head 42 and a foot 43, and a bed axis 45 extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The position of the island bed 41 enables a person to access the island bed 41 from each side thereof. It also enables a person to walk around the foot of the island bed 41. The vehicle body includes a bedside table 40 on each side of the island bed 41 10 which is adjacent to the head 42 thereof. The vehicle body further includes a wardrobe 70 mounted on the other side 9 of the vehicle body to the side 8 having the slide out 12. The wardrobe 70 is substantially laterally aligned with the island bed 41, and the wardrobe 70 is positioned adjacent to the foot 43 of the island bed 41. 15 The wardrobe 70 is dimensioned and configured such that it is spaced away from the foot 43 of the island bed 41 when the slide out 12 is in the expanded position. The wardrobe 70 has a width sized to receive a suspended coat hanger therein which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Further the wardrobe has an outwardly facing surface 72 and a mirror mounted on the 20 outwardly facing surface 72. The vehicle body includes a side door or entrance door 35 mounted on the side 8 of the vehicle body shell for enabling persons to gain access into the interior space of the vehicle body. The side door 35 is positioned forward of the bathroom 80 and forward of the island bed 41. 25 The vehicle body includes a kitchen 52 that is positioned forward of the island bed 41 on the side 9 of the vehicle body shell. The kitchen 52 includes a kitchen cabinet with kitchen counter. It also includes a cooktop on the counter and a tap and sink arrangement 53 on the kitchen counter. It also includes a cooking oven 25 within the kitchen cabinet. The side or entrance door 35 is broadly in the same longitudinal position as the kitchen on the vehicle body but is on the side 9. The vehicle body has a seating arrangement 50 adjacent the front end of the vehicle body shell. The seating arrangement 50 is also adjacent to the kitchen 5 and is forward thereof. The seating arrangement 50 is a lounge, e.g. a club lounge, including a lounge seat and a table. The side door 35 is positioned rearward of the lounge 50. In the illustrated embodiment the lounge 50 has a U shaped seating arrangement with an adjacent table which is received in and complements the sides and front end of the vehicle shell. The seating 10 arrangement can be conveniently referred to as a club lounge. Figures 12 to 14 are schematic illustrations showing how the motor home and caravan vehicle bodies illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and also in Figures 10 and 11 are used. Figure 11 shows two people lying on the double bed. It shows in particular how 15 each person can get onto the bed and get off the bed from their side of the bed. This is particularly advantageous of they need to get up during the night as they can do this without disturbing their partner. Further the floor adjacent to the foot of the bed is unobstructed and forms a pedestrian passageway so that the people can walk comfortably around the bottom or foot of the bed 20 Figure 12 once again shows how the island bed provides space on each side of the double bed. This creates space and amenity by providing space for people to get dressed and get ready to go out. Fig 13 shows the wardrobe that is transversely aligned with the foot of the bed. The wardrobe has a wardrobe rail extending in a longitudinal direction for hanging 25 hangers therefrom in a transverse direction. This arrangement of the hangers optimises the utilisation of the wardrobe. 26 Fig 8 illustrates a motor home having a different layout to that in Figures 6 and 7. However as many of the structural features and fittings of the Fig 8 motor home are the same as that in Figure 6 unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. 5 The motor home 1 shown in Figure 8 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 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 10 the kitchen cupboard 52 and a pantry 76 in turn rearward of the refrigerator 46. 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 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 15 80 is closed off by an internal wall 82. The double bed 41 is an island double bed arranged in a transverse configuration 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 20 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 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 25 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 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 27 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 travelling mode. However a walkway or passageway is defined between the wardrobe 70 and the foot end 43 of the double bed 41 when the motor home 1 is 5 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. As with the Fig 6 motor home, the Fig 8 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 10 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 passenger's seat 16 can be turned around to face towards the dinette 94 in opposition to the dinette seat 96. 15 The motor home 1 in Figure 8 also has some further fittings that will be 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 of the side door 35 that are spaced above the dinette 94 and that 20 are sufficiently high not to interfere with a person seated at the dinette 94. 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 sufficiently high above the lounge seat 50 and the kitchen cupboard 52 that they do not interfere with utilisation of these fittings. 25 The slide outs 12, 14 shown in Fig 8 are quite a bit longer than those in the Fig 6 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 720mm. 28 The Fig 8 motor home 1 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 positions the double bed 41 further back towards the rear end 7 than in the Fig 6 embodiment. This increases the area 5 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 double bed 41 and the front seat region 11 is about 3500mm. The lateral width of 10 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 vehicle bodies such as caravans and motor homes like those in Figures 1 and 2 showed that users find the interior space to 15 be very confined and cramped. Consequently users have had difficulty living within the vehicle body for any length of time. This narrow lateral width is exacerbated by the way in which the fittings are arranged in the vehicle body. For example in the Figure 2 prior art motor home the fittings are arranged on left and right sides of the motor home along the length of the motor home. The enclosed 20 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 mid-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. Similar observations and comments can be made against the prior art 25 caravan in Figure 1. One advantage of the vehicle body illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings and the vehicle body in Figures 10 and 11 is that it has a layout that provides an island double bed with an east west configuration. This provides users with access to the double bed from both sides. It also provides a walk around passage 29 at the foot of the bed. Yet further the layout provides a wardrobe on one side of the vehicle body that is broadly laterally aligned with the foot of the bed. This provides a walking passage around the foot of the bed when the slide out is moved to the expanded position. 5 Another advantage of the vehicle bodies described above and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and also Figures 10 and 11 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 bathroom from the lounge and kitchen and confers greater privacy. It thus mimics architectural arrangements and 10 layouts in small apartments. Another advantage of the vehicle bodies described above and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and also Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings is that it has an access door defined in one side of the vehicle body, and the island bed and the bathroom are positioned rearward of the access door. Further the lounge for 15 seating and dining 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, dining and kitchen zone that is positioned forward of the side access door. 20 Another advantage of the vehicle bodies described above and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and also Figures 10 and 11 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 layout and level of amenity is most 25 desirable to users of motor homes. The caravan and motor homes described above with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings provide vehicle bodies having a high level of amenity in the living region so that it is attractive to sophisticated and discerning motor home users. The layout of the vehicle body including the positioning of the fittings within the motor 30 home provide a comfortable living space for users that can be enjoyable to live in for some length of time. 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 5 spaces with much greater lateral width relative to their length. Applicant also recognised that the prior art motor homes have a layout having a longitudinal length that is much greater than their lateral width. Applicant concluded that a motor home like that in Figure 1 would never be able to provide living accommodation in which a user could live in comfort for a period of time such as 10 several weeks or months. This is particularly the case for those users that have become used to high level of amenity in their homes and in their lives generally, such as wealthy baby boomers. 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 15 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. 31

Claims (21)

1. A vehicle body comprising: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and 5 rear ends; at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to 10 increase the interior space; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of 15 the vehicle body.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein each side of the island bed is free of obstruction so that a person can access the island bed from each side thereof, and wherein the vehicle body defines a passage around the foot of the island bed so that a person can walk around the foot of the island bed. 20

3. A vehicle body according to claim 1 or claim 2, which includes an internal wall extending between the two sides of the body forming part of the bathroom, and wherein the rear end of the vehicle body and portions of the sides of the vehicle body form part of the bathroom.

4. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bathroom 25 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. 32

5. A vehicle body 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. 5

6. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the island bed is positioned forwards of and adjacent to the bathroom, and the island bed is a double bed that is configured to be slept on by two people.

7. A vehicle body 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. 10

8. A vehicle body 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 vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the island bed is mounted on the slide out and slides with the slide out between the 15 contracted and expanded positions, and the head of the island bed is positioned against the slide out wall.

10. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, 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. 20

11. A vehicle body according to claim 10, 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.

12. A vehicle body according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the wardrobe has a width sized to receive a suspended coat hanger therein which extends 25 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. 33

13. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the wardrobe has an outwardly facing surface and a mirror mounted on the outwardly facing surface.

14. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further including a 5 kitchen on one side of the vehicle body shell that is positioned forward of the island bed.

15. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the vehicle body is for a motor home and the interior space includes a front seat region having a driver's seat and a passenger seat, and a living region rearward of the front seat 10 region in which the bathroom and the island bed are received.

16. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 15, including a side door mounted on said one side of the vehicle body shell for enabling persons to gain access into the vehicle body, and the side door is positioned forward of the bathroom and forward of the island bed. 15

17. A vehicle body according to claim 16, further include a dining arrangement within the vehicle body shell, and wherein at least part of the dining arrangement is positioned forward of the side door.

18. A vehicle body according to claim 16 or claim 17, further include a lounge seat arrangement within the vehicle body shell, and at least part of the lounge seat 20 arrangement is positioned forward of the side door.

19. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 18, including a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out, and said one and further slide outs overlap each other in a longitudinal direction.

20. A vehicle body comprising: 34 a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each 5 said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to increase the interior space; a further slide out on the other side of the vehicle body to said one slide out 10 which is also movable between a retracted and expanded position, and wherein said one and further slide outs overlap each other in a longitudinal direction; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell 15 that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending 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. 20

21. A layout for a vehicle body, the layout including: a vehicle body shell defining an interior space having front and rear ends and two sides extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends; at least one slide out mounted on a side of the vehicle body shell, each 25 said slide out being movable between a retracted position in which it does not project out proud of the side of the vehicle body shell and an expanded 35 position in which it projects out of the side of the vehicle body shell to increase the interior space; a bathroom positioned towards the rear end of the vehicle body shell; and an island bed received within the interior space of the vehicle body shell 5 that is positioned forward of the bathroom, the island bed having a foot and head, and a bed axis extending 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. 36