Hello and welcome! Here at campervanseating.uk, we’ve practically become encyclopaedias on campervan seating, and if there’s one product, we’re passionate about, it’s the Scopema RIB Altair bed. It’s the go-to choice for so many professional converters and DIY builders, and once you see its features, you’ll understand why it’s the market leader.
Forget old-school, lumpy ‘rock and roll’ beds – the RIB Altair brings together uncompromising safety, superb comfort, and clever French design in one fantastic package. Let’s dive into what makes this bed so special!
🔑 Key Features: More Than Just a Seat
The RIB Altair is a three-in-one marvel: a safe passenger seat, a comfortable sofa, and a perfectly flat bed.
- 🇫🇷 M1 Tested Safety (M1/TÜV Approved): This is the most crucial feature. The RIB Altair is rigorously crash-tested to the latest European safety standards (M1 and TÜV approved). It features integral 3-point seatbelts for every seating position and is bolted securely to your van’s chassis (using our M1 tested fitting bars), giving you total peace of mind when carrying passengers. Many cheaper options simply don’t offer this level of certified safety.
- 🛌 The ‘Flip-Over’ Flat Bed Design: This is the secret sauce for a great night’s sleep. When you convert the RIB Altair to a bed, the seat cushions flip over to reveal the underside as the sleeping surface.
- Benefit: You sleep on a perfectly flat, supportive surface, not on the contoured, lumpy seat you’ve been driving on all day. It’s a game-changer for sleeping comfort!
- 🛋️ Contoured Seating for Travel: Unlike flat foam seats, the RIB’s cushions are ergonomically contoured. This makes long drives much more comfortable and supportive for your passengers.
- 🗄️ Massive Rear ‘Boot’ Space: The fixed-frame RIB beds are designed to sit forward, creating a substantial and accessible luggage area behind the seat, often referred to as your ‘boot’ space. This is essential for storing your gear, bedding, and even a Porta Potti underneath!
- ⚙️ Easy Conversion: The transition from seat to bed is quick and straightforward thanks to its simple lever and ratchet system – no wrestling required!
- 👶 ISOFIX as Standard: You no longer need to check an options box for this—Scopema has made ISOFIX a standard feature on the RIB Altair. This provides secure and easy anchor points for compatible child seats, ensuring the highest safety rating for your most precious cargo.
| Feature | The Scoop (Benefit) | RIB Altair Advantage over Basic ‘Rock & Roll’ Beds |
| M1/TÜV Certified Safety | Complete peace of mind for you and your passengers. | Fully Tested and Certified. Most basic R&R beds can sometimes lack this vital safety approval but seat/beds like the Smartbed would be a good example of a safe, tested RnR bed. |
| Flip-Over Bed Design | A genuinely flat and comfortable sleeping surface. | You sleep on the reverse side of the seat, ensuring ultimate flatness and longevity of the seat cushions. R&R beds often have a visible ‘lump’ where the hinge is. |
| Integrated Safety Belts | No need for additional external seatbelt mounting points. | Built-in 3-point harnesses for every seat position. |
| Parcel Shelf / Reading Position | The rear cushion is adjustable – use it as a backrest for reading in bed or fold it flat/upright for storage. | Extra versatility for lounging and better organisation of your boot space. |
| Variety of Widths | Available in multiple sizes (e.g., 104cm, 112cm, 120cm) to suit all popular van models (VW T5/T6, Transit Custom, etc.). | Allows you to customise your interior layout, finding the perfect balance between bed size and kitchen/storage unit width. |
| Fixed or Sliding Options | Choose between a fixed frame or a sliding system for maximum flexibility. | The slider system allows you to move the seat forward for better travel access or slide it back to maximise living space in the van. |
| Integrated adjustable headrests | Built-in and adjustable for comfort and safety. | Headrests are not always included with RnR beds or may be chargeable separately. |
↔️ Great for SWB vans: Introducing the 220mm Slider Mechanism
While the fixed RIB is fantastic, opting for the 220mm Slider Mechanism unlocks a whole new level of flexibility and convenience in your campervan.
This is a specific, robust sliding system built into the frame that allows you to shift the upholstered part of the seat forward up to 220mm.
| Slider Position | Benefit (More than just a seat!) | Perfect For… | |
| Pushed Forward | Maximises rear storage/boot space. You gain a massive area behind the seat for bikes, surfboards, or bulky luggage. | Families, adventurers, or when using your van as a load carrier. | |
| Pulled Back | Maximises internal living space. Creates a much larger lounge/kitchen area when parked up. | Lounging, cooking, or using the front swivel seats for a spacious dining area. | |
| Mid-Position | Optimises passenger comfort. Allows rear passengers to be closer to the cab, making conversation easier and kids more accessible. | Long drives with the whole family. |
🎨 Customise Your Comfort: Widths, Heights, and Fabrics
The versatility of the Scopema RIB Altair is what truly sets it apart. It’s not a one-size-fits-all product; it’s a fully configurable seating system designed to perfectly match your van model, conversion layout, and personal style.
📏 The Right Fit: Choosing Your Width and Seat Capacity
The width you choose is a critical decision that balances sleeping space against the room for your kitchen and storage units.
| RIB Width (Approx.) | Seat Capacity | Best For… | Key Consideration |
| 104cm | 2 Belted seats | Perfect for small form-factor vans like the Caddy. | No need to compromise on safety or comfort just because you have a smaller van. |
| 112cm (Most Popular) | 2 belted seats | Traditional ‘side-kitchen’ layouts (VW T5/T6/T6.1, Transit Custom). | Maximises unit space while providing a comfortable 3/4 bed. |
| 120cm / 130cm | 2 or 3 belted seats | Conversions prioritising wider sleeping space and an extra seat belt. | Requires a slimmer side unit or a narrower overall kitchen layout. |
| 150cm (Full Width) | 3 belted seats | Conversions with no side units (e.g., Kombi-style day vans) or full-width sleeping only. | Maximises bed space but eliminates room for a permanent side kitchen. |
📐 Frame Height: Don’t Forget the Arch!
The RIB Altair is available in two common frame heights to ensure a seamless and safe installation, especially over the rear wheel arch:
- Standard Frame (330mm): Typically suited for VW T5, T6, and T6.1 models.
- Reduced Height Frame (310mm): Ideal for vehicles with lower rooflines or where you want to maximise headroom (e.g., Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic).
Important Note: You must select the correct height to safely clear your vehicle’s wheel arch while maintaining the M1 pull-tested integrity.
🧵 Fabric Selection: Matching Your Interior
The RIB Altair allows you to achieve a factory-finished look or a completely bespoke style. We offer a large selection of fabrics, including:
- OEM Vehicle Fabrics: Choose patterns like VW Simora, Bricks, or Austin to perfectly match the original front seats of your Volkswagen or Ford.
- Premium Options: Select from durable Vinyl (Enduro), Leather, or high-quality Scopema-exclusive fabrics to achieve a unique and hard-wearing finish.
✍️ Special Orders: Your Exact Seat, Guaranteed
We understand that our in-stock range, though extensive, may not contain the exact combination of width, height, movement, and fabric you need for your perfect conversion.
If our stock is not quite right, we offer a robust special ordering system direct from the Scopema factory:
- Fill Out the Form: Simply complete our special-order request form with your precise specifications (width, height, movement, and fabric choice).
- Bespoke Pricing: We will obtain a competitive, firm price for the exact seat you want.
- Secure Your Build: With a small deposit, we secure your order and the Scopema factory begins production.
This service is designed to ensure that even the most unique conversion layouts can be completed with the perfect, M1-tested, custom-built RIB Altair seat.
🚀 The Ultimate Flexibility: Introducing GlideMotion EZFit
While the fixed and standard slider RIB Altair beds are exceptional, for those who demand maximum versatility, we offer our revolutionary GlideMotion EZFit rail system.
This proprietary system seamlessly integrates the world-class M1-tested RIB Altair bed with a set of discreet, heavy-duty floor rails, allowing you to reposition your seat and bed anywhere in the back of your van in seconds.
✨ GlideMotion EZFit: Transforming Your Space
The GlideMotion system isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a complete change to how you use your campervan.
| Feature | Benefit for the Customer |
| Effortless, Full-Length Glide | Easily slide the seat along the entire length of the rail. No more fixed layouts or compromising on space. |
| Flexible Locking Points | Securely lock the seat every 5 inches, providing complete layout control for every activity. |
| “Kombi Mode” | Slide the seat forward to bring passengers closer to the front, creating a social, family-friendly travelling arrangement. |
| “Gear-Hauler Mode” | Lock the seat forward to create a huge, unobstructed boot space, perfect for bikes, paddleboards, or bulky gear, without sacrificing passenger seats. |
| Ultra-Slim Profile | The slimline rails are designed for a minimal impact on your final floor height (only ~25mm), ensuring maximum headroom and a professional, flush finish. |
| M1-Tested Safety | Like all RIB Altair products, the GlideMotion EZFit system is fully M1-tested and certified in conjunction with the RIB bed, giving you total peace of mind. |
Compare & Decide: A standard RIB slider offers about 220mm of travel on its own frame. The GlideMotion EZFit rail system offers multiple times that flexibility, turning your van from a passenger vehicle to a vast cargo space or a wide-open living area instantly.
📝 Next Step: Start Your Journey
Ready to design the perfect, most flexible interior for your campervan?
- View our in-stock range to see the popular widths and fabric choices available for immediate dispatch.
- Or contact us today to discuss your unique conversion and start the process for your special order or GlideMotion EZFit system quote. We are here to help you get the exact seat you need!
The Scopema RIB Altair bed is an investment, but it’s one that pays dividends in safety, functionality, and comfort. It’s the seat that professional converters trust because it’s proven, reliable, and adds significant value to your campervan conversion.
If you’re serious about your build, want to keep your passengers safe, and crave a genuinely comfortable night’s sleep, the RIB Altair is truly in a league of its own.