Anyone seen (or built) a bunk running lengthwise?

[katiehallsmith]

I'm a single mom building my TD for me and my two kids to see the National parks. I could do a bunk across the feet area, either wooden "shelf-like" or a canvas sling/cot type...and it would last my 6 year old for many years...she is no where near close to 5'. (building a 5x8). But I really would rather have growing room into the teen years....I'm building for safety in bear country, so transitioning to a tent as a teen isn't in my plans.

Has anyone seen a bunk built over 1/2 of the main sleeping space, lenthwise? Meaning me and one child would sleep side by side and there would be a bunk on "legs" over the bottom kid. Mommy would sleep without somebody over her!

Would like to hear any suggestions or thoughts on this.

[Dirtyfootcamper]

I'm not sure about anyone doing a length size bunk, that said I'm sure its been done, I've just never seen it.

Here's a link to a thread about bunk beds with some good photos and advise that I found, as well as links to other threads about the same subject.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=58292&p=1059672&hilit=bunk+bed#p1059672

Hope it helps.

Bryce

[DezPrado]

Could be done quite readily with a couple of proviso's.
Consider the option of constructing a set-up similar to the bunks that are common on military
transport aircraft eg. C-130 Hercules for instance.No legs required & they roll up when not in use. held onto the walls with 'quick-release brackets,webbing supports.
Strong as an ox, or a beefy Loadmaster
Locate the relevant hardware from your local surplus store
or friendly military aircraft overhaul specialist & you're done!
I'm only sorry I can't provide any photo's to help. When I was flying in the noisy things decades ago, photographing the hardware was the least of my concerns at the time.
Anyhoo, food for thought

[katiehallsmith]

Interesting! Just wondering about putting so much weight/strain on one side wall....??

[tony.latham]

I see no structural issue with the side wall. I'm assuming you'll have a forward bulkhead for an attachment point or something beefed up. I'd just put a lip on the wall and fore and aft. I'd build the bunk itself from half inch plywood and stiffen the outside with a four or six inch lip depending on how thick the foam will be.

[katiehallsmith]

Thanks for that easy, and clear explanation, Tony. Helped me really picture what you mean. Sounds like the way to go. I was worried about "legs" obstructing the already limited sleeping space down below.

[rowerwet]

as long as the forward and aft end of the pole or shelf supporting the inside of the bunk were supported with good brackets, or even suspended from ropes or chains from roof spars, the bunk would have plenty of support that wouldn't interfere with the sleepers on the bottom.
check this thread for another take on the idea viewtopic.php?t=21416

[S. Heisley]

Katie, while a canvas bunk might work, have you considered slinging hammocks, front to back? Below are my thoughts on that:

1) Even with canvas bunks, you will have a wooden pole that the person on the bottom can bump their head or shoulders on.
2) Most people don't know that the way to sleep in a hammock is not in the center; but rather, on the diagonal. What this effectively does is give you more room because the kids can sleep with their heads in the corners and their feet towards the center. Assuming you are the person on the bottom, you can sleep in the middle of the bottom and can probably even sit up without worrying about hitting your head on anything.
3) Most kids love the idea of sleeping in a hammock.
4) If you decide you don't like it, you can easily still put in the bunks; yet, the hammocks will get you out and camping sooner!

Since you are planning on building a teardrop, consider whether you would really have enough height for front to back bunks, especially on the lower end (unless it's going to be a Benroy or a square TTT). You might want to consider making your walls a tad higher than normal. It is a bit more effort but might be worth it. You can usually make your walls 4.5' tall at their tallest and still easily fit it in your garage.

Best wishes on whatever you decide.

[katiehallsmith]

A Hammock is a very interesting idea!!!

[S. Heisley]

I had just snuggled down in my bed and was thinking about various things when it came to me why you don't see bunks going front to back in teardrops.....The Doors! Nobody mentioned the doors yet! If you build a bunk or bunks that way, unless you put the door in the front or back, you're going to be cutting into the door opening's headroom.

If you figure that you need at least 18 inches from the bunk to the ceiling and the door and roof framework usually takes up at least 3 inches and you're going to want a lip on the bottom of the door of at least - best guess, 2 inches, in a 4 foot tall teardrop, that door is going to lose 15 inches of height, which is a lot because that effectively gives you a door that can't be any taller, bottom lip to top, than 31 inches ..not big enough. Now, if you add the extra 6 inches in height to the sides(we talked about that earlier), that would give back 6 of those 15 inches, making your door opening around 37 inches and that would most likely work.

Of course, the hammocks, being soft sided, would not be much of a problem; but, if you ever want to add the bunks, you'd need to decide and build accordingly now.


...Just a thought.

[S. Heisley]

More thoughts:
Even if you decide to put only one bunk in, I would still put a door on each side of the teardrop. You won't want to use the bunk-side door much to get in; but, in an emergency, you can bet you'd be able to slide out the door on that side, even if the bunk cuts the exit size down to 31". The kids will be fine with a 31" door entrance/exit and might even enjoy that. Perhaps you can make the bunk removable so that the bunk is an option. Also, if you are only building one bunk, put it on the driver side. This will keep your curbside door more available, as it should be. Plan on putting the child that gets cold the easiest in the top bunk as heat rises and the two sleeping on the deck level will be making quite a bit of that.

There is also the possibility of a crosswise bunk with a foot extension area that slides out the side when camped....
You might also consider a lifting roof with bunks roughly at the stationary roof level; but, that is more complicated and probably wouldn't get you out camping this summer.

How much weight will your tow vehicle allow you to tow, without brakes?

Okay, now that I have that out of my mind and down on the Internet, maybe the thought of your build will stop dancing around in my head.

[PKCSPT]

I tried to find the picture but couldn't. I remember one that looked like a Camp Inn style that had the bunks. It was a 6 wide and slept 2 kids and 2 adults. I thought it would be a great idea for a grandma trailer to take a grandkid camping, but then I found mine. It looked crowded with the 4 of them there.

[Catherine+twins]

As for height, just look at Sharon's avatar. Put in a bump-up roof for added height over the bunk. That's my plan.

Catherine

[S. Heisley]

The one, below, is wider because it is built over the wheels; but, it has two bunks as well as the mom and pop bed and they all have good leg room. I just depends on what your tow vehicle can handle safely.

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear56.htm

[rebapuck]

This is the canvas cot in my old Puck. About 5' or less. If nothing else, you could move the forward pole back when you wanted it out of the way.