Bunk Beds

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 12:44 PM

Desperately looking for the elusive OEM bunk brackets with the aluminum framed canvas bunks. If anyone out there has some they wouldn't mind parting with please contact me.

Otherwise if you have the wooden bunks, I'd love to see pictures/drawings so I can design one to put in my AS.

Thanks,
JB

**CanoeStream** · 04-27-2006, 12:49 PM

Hello JB -- IIRC Andy at Inland RV went to the trouble of getting a source for the hardware. That would be a fall-back idea if you don't get any further. I'd recommend calling them. They don't do email well when they get busy -- and it is spring! Ask for any how-to info they have. Andy really knows his stuff if you are patient enough to thread your way to a time he could conveniently talk. If you buy from Andy I can vouch for him being quite helpful.

I trust you've searched these forums for other threads with a variety of keywords. Though I was not interested significantly I do seem to recall some threads with photos.

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 01:04 PM

Thanks, I've been searching the forums. I've found a few old threads - enough to know they are pretty hard to find!

I've seen quite a few photos of the brackets for the aluminum frame/canvas bunks, and hope someone out there has some they don't need/can't use as they were only rated for 90 lbs. Perfect for either of my two youngest.

I only need one of the bunks, my AS has the rear double bed. I've pulled out the "dresser" and closet to make room for an additional twin opposite the double and need to put a bunk above it.

As a fallback to not being able to get one of those, I want to see the designs of others wooden bunks - seen a few partial photos of those also, but not enough pictures to get good design ideas to build from scratch.

Zed2 · 04-27-2006, 01:06 PM

You may wish to fabricate your own solution.
Keith

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zed2

You may wish to fabricate your own solution.
Keith

That's a pretty interesting setup - is that 1" square tubing?

Zed2 · 04-27-2006, 01:16 PM

Yes. Two attachment points of the rear bar, one each side of A/S. The forward bar is gravity supported by tubing to the floor.

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canoe stream

Hello JB -- IIRC Andy at Inland RV went to the trouble of getting a source for the hardware. That would be a fall-back idea if you don't get any further. I'd recommend calling them.....

Must be very "busy" I keep getting a "busy" signal

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zed2

Yes. Two attachment points of the rear bar, one each side of A/S. The forward bar is gravity supported by tubing to the floor.

Did you design and construct yourself, or have it fabricated? Is it a simple bolt/screw together setup, or welding involved?

Zed2 · 04-27-2006, 01:44 PM

I designed it and used a friend's band saw. No welding required. All tubing is connected with pins for easy disassembly and storage. My wife constructed the canvas sling. The kids love it. The only modification to the trailer was attaching two plates to the walls to accept the tubing and a positioning pin to the floor to center the vertical tubes.

**CanoeStream** · 04-27-2006, 03:10 PM

Zed2? Did you attach the front plates into the vertical structural column at the junction of the sides and beginning of the front curved section?

Zed2 · 04-27-2006, 04:32 PM

Canoe strear,
You are correct. On the Caravel, the position of that rib was perfect for designed width of the hammock. The tricky part of the attachment was that the wall is curved so the flat mounting plate had to be shimmed for 100% contact to the wall. (I had to drill 4 holes the mounting plate and the interior wall into the rib. It made me sick to have to pierce the wall, but I decided that I could always remove the plate, fill the holes with rivets and there would be no telltale signs.)
There are several grades of aluminum tubing, 6061 and 6063, each having different structural strength and weight.
Keith
P.S. I thought about hanging the bunk from the ceiling (see photos) but could not locate anyone who could assure me that the rib could support the dead weight.

GreatPumpkin · 04-27-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zed2

P.S. I thought about hanging the bunk from the ceiling (see photos) but could not locate anyone who could assure me that the rib could support the dead weight.

My research seems to indicate they will hold 90 lbs from the ceiling.

PizzaChop · 04-28-2006, 07:28 AM

Here's a pic of the bunks I added to my '72 Overlander (sold two months ago). I used 3/4" plywood for frame and I believe it to be strong enough for at least 200 lbs. Total weight was probably just a little more than one full sheet. I used 1-1/2" aluminum angle on the walls and 3/4" plywood at head and foot for support.

Below is a pic of the final.

GreatPumpkin · 04-28-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PizzaChop

Here's a pic of the bunks I added to my '72 Overlander (sold two months ago). I used 3/4" plywood for frame and I believe it to be strong enough for at least 200 lbs. Total weight was probably just a little more than one full sheet. I used 1-1/2" aluminum angle on the walls and 3/4" plywood at head and foot for support.

Below is a pic of the final.

What was the width on those?