Can I put a bunk over the main bed?

[DonAndTerry]

I don't have an AS yet. I'm thinking about a 19 footer, give or take, and would like to know how feasible it would be to put a bunk bed over top of an existing bed. By feasible I'm talking more about the logistics, space, head room, losing cabinets, etc. versus the actual construction details. The bunk would have to comfortably fit an adult 6' male.

I have seen some floorplans but I know they change from model to model, length to length, etc. Can you recommend any years/models where adding a bunk would be fairly feasible?

[overlander63]

The 19 would be "fun" to try to install a bunk over the bed. The new 20' floorplan has a dinette amidships, and you could probably put a bunk over that. The bunk I am thinking of would be the 1970's type, that has the cables from the ceiling.

[Kevin245]

I don't see why you couldn't. Just be creative and go for it. As for losing cabinet space, You might consider an overhead cabinet that converts into a bunk. Our Avion has one from the factory.

[Protagonist]

The biggest limitation would be whether you can adequately support it. For a hanging bed, you may need some significant backing plates for your cables to spread the load over a large enough area to keep them from pulling out. You not only have to safely support a person sleeping in the bed while camping, you'll have to support an empty bed bouncing around as you drive down the road.

For a suspended bed, I'd be leery of anything heavier tha a hammock while driving, but that's just me. Not saying it can't be done; just saying it requires more thought than just "where will it fit?" Good luck with it, and post pictures when it's done!

[RangerJay]

Here is what we did to put bunks in our 19' Bambi. Leaving the cabinets in means some compromise - they've worked for us since 2007 - we've lost no storage space - in fact gained some - but not sayin' they will work for everyone.


Jay

[SkratchCo]

The only way I'd put a bunk in was if I could support it from underneath. Just wouldn't trust cables screwed to the soft aluminum. I've seen how much support is back there and I wouldn't trust it. But then again I'm a big guy.

[Kevin245]

DonandTerry,

Here's a thread with photos of the cabinet/bunk configuration in our rig which is a 25' versus the 19' you desire. In our rig the partition walls act as end supports. Jay's bunk configuration seems to have overcome that issue and looks smart.

Your desire to have it large enough to sleep a 6' person may be a challenge but hopefully you're getting some ideas to work with if you go this route.

The photos start at post #15.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f202...t-64851-2.html

[DonAndTerry]

Thanks folks! Those examples help a lot. I was definitely thinking of something just like RangerJay's.

As to the convertible cabinet/bunk, we had a 1980's SOB that had twin beds lower and those upper. It was pretty slick and I'm surprised modern day trailers don't have the same feature.

[girlscan2]

Originally Posted by RangerJay

Here is what we did to put bunks in our 19' Bambi. Leaving the cabinets in means some compromise - they've worked for us since 2007 - we've lost no storage space - in fact gained some - but not sayin' they will work for everyone.


Jay

It looks great. I'm doing the bed area from the floor up. Might just be a consideration. Was your's prefab or made by you? What is the support material?

[RangerJay]

This thread was written after our first season of making this conversion - it has a few more pictures and might help to give you a better idea of what I did, how I did it and how it worked out.


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f198/bambi-bunks-36590.html

After an additional 5 seasons of use the bunks are still going strong and we wouldn't go back - but you need to know they may look good (great even)- but they are not perfect. There are 3 issues that some might have difficulty with - and they all grow from the same source - keeping the overhead cabinetry intact - this means you simply do not have a lot of vertical room to work with. The issues are: overhead room (top and bottom); getting into the bottom bunk (not a big deal once you develop the "system"; and finally, mattress thickness (still using a 1 1/2 inch self-inflating mattress but now with a 5/8 closed cell foam pad underneath. All of these we are very comfortable with - but others may not be.

Have a look at these - and if you have any other questions just let me know.


Jay

[Jinkers]

Probably not what you are thinking about but I like showing it off Here are some pics of the original Hanging cot in my '68 20 ft. Globe Trotter:



This is what it looks like stowed:


I'm not sure I'd ever let anyone sleep in it though - especially if I was sleeping below it.