|
|
07-28-2011, 05:03 PM
|
#1
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
We made a bunkhouse!
This is our very first weekend camping in our "new" 1989 Excella 29 twin midbath. Thanks to some wonderful forum friends who helped us find it, we drove it home to Georgia about a month ago from northern Tennessee and then worked very hard on it! We replaced some rotten floors, fixed and updated systems, and then designed and built bunks for our seven kids. Many thanks to forum members who posted their own pictures!!!
We used Coleman cots for the bunks. We took the legs off and sweated copper pipe to replace the hinges on the cots. The uppermost bunks has to be shortened because of the curves of the walls and ceilings. We took out the overhead cabinets over the beds and took out the nightstand. We made oak frames to hold the bunks away from the windows and curtains so those are still fully functional. The top two bunks are fixed and the middle two are hinged and can clip to the bottom of the top bunks up and out of the way. They can be raised and lowered very easily. When raised, there is room to sit on the bottom bunks. The bottom bunks are the original twin beds. The two sets of triple bunks sleep six and the seventh child has an air mattress on the floor between the bunks. there is still room to get by, but barely! We have plans to make a but in ladder at the end which will double as shelves, but ram out of money for more wood, so until we can get more oak we are using a lightweight stepladder there. The bunks are light and comfortable! My husband and I tried each one, though the top ones are only 5'9" so they are too short for him. They are very sturdy! Each cot was 44.00 including tax and the wood and bolts etc came to around 225.00. The cots came with thin mattreses and the air mattress was only 2.50 because it is really a pool floaty.
When we can afford to, we will make a table to fit down the middle like a restaurant booth, and will finish the ladder. The bunks are Great!!! Comfortable, safe, and let us put all seven kids in one room so we have the living room to ourselves at bedtime! Here are photos if I can figure out how to post them. Thanks to everyone for all the great information. We have been dreaming if our own airstream for years. Until now our camper was a 1969 Coleman pop up!
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 05:07 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
I cannot seem to figure out how to post the photos! Is it possible from an iPhone? I am at a campground w no wifi so I can't use the regular computer. Sorry for all the typos, typing on a phone is hard!
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 10:57 AM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
We stopped at our house and I was able to upload some photos to my account. You can see the temporary ladder. You can also see one of the straps hanging down. The straps hold the middle bunk when it is hinged up out of the way when the bottom bunk is used for seating. The third and fourth pictures show what it looks like with no upper mattresses so you can see the structure better, and also what it looks like wiht the hinged bunks in the "up" position. The curtains and windows are fully operational. In the last picture you can see the air mattress for the seventh (floor) bunk stowed on the top bunk, and the stepladder lying down for travel. We will build a ladder of shelves where the temporary one is and we are hoping build a long table to go in between so that the kids can sit on both beds and play cards or eat or draw at the table.
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 11:04 AM
|
#4
|
banjobill
2000 30' Limited
battle ground,
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 516
|
Wowzer!
That is the best bunk layout I have seen-well done and I am jealous that the nine of you can camp together! Way to go. Name for the trailer: "AlumiNiner" ol bill
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 11:24 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
1999 25' Safari
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,781
|
My Mom used to say "Neccessity is the Mother of Invention!" What an awesome makeover and everyone has room to sleep! And I like ol Bill's suggestion for the name ... Wendy
__________________
Jim D.
AIR # 56543 TAC# CO-10
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 01:00 PM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
|
Nice work!...at Falluminum you can compare notes with Ron ( Pizzachop) and his bunks for 9 children.
Our 66 Overlander has a bunk that it came with, although we keep it in the garage now as we don't need it. It does need new hinges though, it folds up to the ceiling with two hold in clips. Its wood.
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 03:05 PM
|
#7
|
3 Rivet Member
2006 28' International CCD
Nashville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 115
|
Very nice! What a beautiful example of "form follows function" or, maybe this is "function follows form" . . . whatever . . . this is just way too cool.
And, I love the idea of the game table down the center aisle.
I like to think of the nine of you all tucked cozily in your little mobile hobbit hole.
Debbie
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 03:21 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
|
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nice job and what innovative way for everyone to sleep inside!!
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 08:54 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
Thanks so much!! Everyone is tucked in as I write. The oldest and youngest girls are the only ones actually asleep yet, though. They were so excited! Oddly, they all fought overthr middle bunks, when we figured everyone would want the top!
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 09:13 PM
|
#10
|
New Member
1972 25' Tradewind
Hammond
, Louisiana
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 0
|
Y'all have a great set up!
Enjoy camping.
Jane
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 09:48 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
Thanks! We were laughing, the kids are using the sides of the bunks themselves to climb up and down, so the ladder may be unnecessary!
|
|
|
07-30-2011, 04:03 PM
|
#12
|
4 Rivet Member
1969 31' Sovereign
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Alex
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 360
|
Did your AS already have that beautiful wood cabinets? I love your tri-bunks. I wanted to put double bunks in our 67 as all the wood in her is pretty much waisted do to 15 years with missing windows and dome lid.
__________________
1969 Sovereign
1951 Flying Cloud SS#7062
AIR #18751
|
|
|
07-30-2011, 06:37 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
We may have to adopt that name, Bill! Alumininer... I love it! Cj, yes, this is an 89 excella 1000 and part of the excella package then was all the oak cabinetry. It is heavy though. It's very nice but I think I'd rather have the tambours! The kids are loving it. I wish I could find a replacement table, half of ours was missing when we bought it.
|
|
|
09-08-2011, 11:38 AM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
1997 34' Limited
1970 27' Overlander
South of Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,709
|
Skatiero,
That looks fantastic! What a great improvement and way to make you 'stream function for your family. I hope to get a chance to see it in person at one of the events around GA.
__________________
Craig and Carol
1997 34' Excella 1000
1970 27' Overlander, International
2009 Ford F150 5.4L
ProPride hitch with 1400# bars
AIR 41028
TAC GA-8
WBCCI 10199
Past President Southeastern Camping Unit (12)
|
|
|
09-12-2011, 07:53 PM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
Thanks! We just live it nd the kids love the bunks. We are hoping to come to some events! We would love to meet other streamers!
|
|
|
09-12-2011, 09:29 PM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,378
|
Hi, you did a great job making those bunks. Glad you were able to find a way to fit the whole family in. Waiting for pictures of your future table.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
|
|
|
09-12-2011, 10:43 PM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2007 23' International CCD
Lapeer
, Michigan
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,082
|
That is fantastic. Please post a picture of all 7 occupying their new beds. I think that would be a winning photo as well as story that all who love RVing would enjoy. You may need to post it to a magazine!
|
|
|
10-07-2011, 04:07 PM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
|
Here are some more photos. the first is the bedroom before we remodeled. The next are the kids. The bunkroom is better now , now the ladder is gone and the floor bed is a folding mattress which turns into a lounge chair in front if the window when not in use. I will post more pics soon!
|
|
|
10-07-2011, 04:57 PM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
1972 27' Overlander
Longmont
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 951
|
That is a really good use of space, not to mention kids! So your whole trailer sleeps 9? Wow!
|
|
|
10-07-2011, 05:11 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
2008 30' Classic S/O
Dearborn
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,403
|
That is excellent! Reminds me of my parents '76 Sovereign. The upper bunk folded down to form a sofa back.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|