We are considering selling our house and living for a year in a fifth wheel. We home school and I work from home, so this would give us an opportunity to show our kids (ages 2,4,7 and 9) the country. We want a fifth wheel that has a nice bunk area - any suggestions?
Terry and Jo said
08:32 PM Aug 23, 2019
I can't speak directly to an RV with bunks, but another consideration would be one that is a toy hauler. Then, one could add bunk bed so long as they could be secured for travel.
Terry
Second Chance said
01:39 PM Aug 24, 2019
Terry and Jo wrote:
I can't speak directly to an RV with bunks, but another consideration would be one that is a toy hauler. Then, one could add bunk bed so long as they could be secured for travel.
Terry
I would also suggest looking at toy haulers. They have beds that crank down from the ceiling and sleep quite a few. The advantage over a bunkhouse model is that the bunk rooms in the BH models tend to be rather small for a bunch of kids on a rainy day. In the toy hauler, the beds can be cranked up and the tables and benches can be used for school and other activities. We have met several families full-timing with multiple kids for whom the toy haulers are working well. Most manufacturers make both types. We have a Grand Design fifth wheel and you might start looking there:
Some have a bunk room at the rear that sleeps 3-6 people. Others have a bunk room toward the front with a double bed above it.
Have fun looking!
-- Edited by PrairieRV on Wednesday 11th of September 2019 08:02:28 AM
kb0zke said
07:25 PM Sep 10, 2019
Another thought: Traditional 5'er layout is to put the bedroom up front, but for the past several years many manufacturers have been putting the living room up there and the bedroom in the rear. Perhaps you can find one of those and modify the bedroom to have two sets of bunk beds and have a GOOD COMFORTABLE sofa bed in the living room.
Another concern that I'd have is the age spread of your children. The 2-year-old is going to go to bed earlier than the 9-year-old. Is that going to be an issue? At those ages it probably doesn't make much difference whether you have boys, girls, or some of each. That WILL be an issue fairly soon, though.
Our son-in-law has talked about doing something like this, and I think they have given up on the idea. Like you, he works from home. When their first child was little, there wasn't much of an issue with noise. As he got older, though, he got louder, and now there is a second child in the home. Our son-in-law has rented a small office to use for the quiet. Something about trying to sound professional while a 2-year-old is throwing a tantrum. Do you have a plan for when it is too (hot, cold, wet, windy) to go outside?
I can't speak directly to an RV with bunks, but another consideration would be one that is a toy hauler. Then, one could add bunk bed so long as they could be secured for travel.
Terry
I would also suggest looking at toy haulers. They have beds that crank down from the ceiling and sleep quite a few. The advantage over a bunkhouse model is that the bunk rooms in the BH models tend to be rather small for a bunch of kids on a rainy day. In the toy hauler, the beds can be cranked up and the tables and benches can be used for school and other activities. We have met several families full-timing with multiple kids for whom the toy haulers are working well. Most manufacturers make both types. We have a Grand Design fifth wheel and you might start looking there:
http://granddesignrv.com/
Rob
Check out RVTrader.com www.rvtrader.com/Fifth-Wheel-Bunkhouse/rvs-for-sale%20house&type=Fifth%20Wheel%7C198070&isBunkhouse=true&modelkeyword=1&vrsn=results
Some have a bunk room at the rear that sleeps 3-6 people. Others have a bunk room toward the front with a double bed above it.
Have fun looking!
-- Edited by PrairieRV on Wednesday 11th of September 2019 08:02:28 AM
Another concern that I'd have is the age spread of your children. The 2-year-old is going to go to bed earlier than the 9-year-old. Is that going to be an issue? At those ages it probably doesn't make much difference whether you have boys, girls, or some of each. That WILL be an issue fairly soon, though.
Our son-in-law has talked about doing something like this, and I think they have given up on the idea. Like you, he works from home. When their first child was little, there wasn't much of an issue with noise. As he got older, though, he got louder, and now there is a second child in the home. Our son-in-law has rented a small office to use for the quiet. Something about trying to sound professional while a 2-year-old is throwing a tantrum. Do you have a plan for when it is too (hot, cold, wet, windy) to go outside?