Cots and Bunks Question

[J.Heyboer]

Hey Guys, Gals,

Need some advice....

I recently installed a bracket and poles for a cot style bunk in my camper (shown below). I will eventually run canvas in between the two poles to create the cot.

Another member of the forum suggested that the poles will sag too much. I used a standard pine dowel used for a closet rod. It is 6' long x ~1.25" dia.

Those of you that built similar cots, what diameter rod did you use? Did you have sagging issues?

Also, this cot is intended for my 6 year old daughter.



Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[dh]

How much does the 6yr old weigh? I've seen 6 year olds with tripple chins, cankles, budah bellies... I've also seen some that look like Olympic runners.

The way I look at it, you could try it out, put about the equivelent of her weight (bucket(s) of sand, water in jugs...) on a single dowel (safety factor, this is your daughter, not a duffle bag) and see what happens.

[J.Heyboer]

Thanks DH,

My daughter probably weighs 50lbs, I can and will test it out with a representative amount of wieght.

But, I was hoping someone who had built one these cot type bunks could share there experience.

John

[glenpinpat]

what about a hammock that could be removed when not needed but is rated for the weight and comfortable to sleep in. I think many camping and hunting places sell childrens hammocks for fairly cheap.

[CarlLaFong]

Old style litters were made in a similar fashion and would support the weight of an adult. Hardwood dowels such as ash might be a better choice than the closet poles

[mezmo]

Hi J.Heyboer/John,

YEARS ago, when I was still a kid, our family camped using a 13ft
Hi-Lo telescoping camper and a '63 Rambler Classic SW with seats
that folded down into a bed of sorts. Parents and girls in the Hi-Lo
and we boys in the SW.

The Hi-Lo came with two canvas 'sling' bunks that used two @1-1&1/4 inch
diameter steel pipes each as the supports. Not the lightest things going
but they held anyone of any age or weight.

It might be an alternative later on if you don'y want to replace the
wooden ones now.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[StandUpGuy]

You may have a light daughter but you have to build it for someone bigger or indeed for two people as you know that when your back is turned two will be on it. Also when the wooden rod bends it will in effect be shorter and can jump the supports you have built. I think you will likely not find someone who has built the same as it is pretty unique. I have however had this diameter pine closet rod run an even shorter distance than your run and had the weight of clothing bend it to the point of jumping out of the supports.

You can simply use some plumbing pipe.

[StandUpGuy]

One though is that you could mount an eye hook in the ceiling over the center of the outer pole and with a length of cord make a support that goes to the middle of the pole. This could be made removeable and the fabric that forms the cot could be sewn to reveal the wodden dowel in the center.

[dh]

What happens when she moves in her sleep? Plop, right on the floor.

what about a hammock that could be removed when not needed but is rated for the weight and comfortable to sleep in. I think many camping and hunting places sell childrens hammocks for fairly cheap.

[S. Heisley]

Clothes poles are usually pretty sturdy, unless you get a defective one. Surely you have a clothes pole in your own closet that is reasonably over-filled or you know someone who does. Check it out. Is the pole bending? Grab an armful of clothes off the rack and step on the scales. Have someone write down the scale reading. Continue this until you've weighed all the clothes that hang on that one pole. Subtract your weight from each reading and add the remainder together. I suspect you'll be surprised.

Also, I don't know how thick your home-made (very pretty!) pole supports are, but a regular purchased support is 1/2" deep. Even with a little bowing, the poles don't fall out.

Even knowing all the above, I would still put a couple 50 pound sacks on the bunk to test it...Not that your daughter would fall far, with your mattress underneath; but, I don't think you'd relish being awakened in the middle of the night with a broken toe or something of that nature. Remember, you're not just testing the pole but also the fabric and the stitching used to make the bunk's supporting body.

[LDK]

A thick dia closet clothes hanger pole should work fine. I know ours has a ton of weight on it and thats just from all my wifes clothes.

[StandUpGuy]

All he has to do is hang 4 - 20 pound weights on the center point of one pole put in place....and then of course take a photo for us and post it here. I have had a pole fail in the closet that was too long of a run. The length makes all the difference and a 6 foot run is long. closets this long always have a center support holding up the middle for just this problem.

[S. Heisley]

The pole in my closet is 5'. It's loaded and it sags just a tad but does not have a center support. So, you may have a point about the extra foot (6'), StandupGuy. It could be the proverbial straw.... Another idea, if he finds he needs it, might be to put a center brace on the stationary pole and cantilever a removable support to the other, or, make a removable cantilevered support that cradles both poles.

The testing will tell.

[StandUpGuy]

For that matter I do not think that comparing a couple of children to clothing in terms of weight is all that good anyway. Clothing is just not that heavy. Think about it have you ever moved and taken your arms and removed as much clothing as you could from the closet rod? Not very heavy. Clothing is designed to be light weight by nature.

Children by nature are like little monkeys bouncing and climbing. A much more dynamic load for sure than your angora sweater.

[S. Heisley]

I made this picture small; but, this is my closet pole with its summer load. It is just a couple inches shy of 5' long. The diameter of that pole is 1 ¼â€