Hello all--Looking for a 5er (prefer towing characteristics over TT) and can't decide on which floor plan. Here is my situation....1. DW, DS 10yo, DS 15yo. My 10yo is Autistic and, at times, does not want to sleep alone. So I will probably need to sleep in bunk or dinette/couch leaving he and my DW to take the queen bed2. Travel mainly in CA, NV, AZ state parks, beaches, lakes, rivers3. stays are approx. 3-5 days in length4. 5er GVWR not to exceed 10,500# (probably a superlite model) Length preferred 28'-32'My height 6' DS 15yo: 5'-10"Thoughts:Bunk models.....PROS: dedicated sleeping locations.CONS: Many bunks are like coffins....narrow and claustrophobiconly sleep in them at night (loss of living area)takes up living areaRear living room.....PROS: great living arealarge open spacemany with 2 recliners chairslarge rear windowGreat open space for lounging throughout the day if needed or at night prior to bedtime.CONS: Must sleep on dinette and couchHow comfortable is sleeping on a dinette or couch? Any better/worse than bunk? must take down dinette each nightcouch is used for sleepingboth would be unavailable in the AM when adults wake for coffeeNot sure if I left anything out, but I think you'll understand my perspective.I am really torn between these two models and DW and I can't seem to make up our minds. Brands, models that you believe may work for us?Thanks!!

We have a similar situation with four of us, my kids are 13 year old daughter, 7 year old son. I had a 34' bunkhouse before we bought our RL we have now, I have no regrets with our decision. We love the big living room and recliners, my kids could care less where they sleep. Sometimes one will sleep on the recliner, other sleeping bag in the floor, then maybe one will use the sofa bed. The comfort of the living area was the most important decision, my kids and wife made the decision to go with the rear living. I will never buy another Bunkhouse, I am not ruling out a Toyhauler though.

For me the advantage of the bunkhouse is the kids and adults can have a dedicated separate space. THe kids have the bunkhouse area they can call their own leaving the adults an area they can call their own. Sleeping is not only about the beds. The bunkhouse gives the kids a dedicated area to store their stuff as well. They have a dedicated area for clothes,games,toiletries etc..I agree the rear lounge area is nice,but it requires too many things to be in flux. No permanent beds, no dedicated storage for kids. The net result is more work for the adults keeping things in order vs. everything in its place and a place for everything.We use are RV as a rolling condo,it is always loaded with our stuff and ready to go. For me it is not a difficult decision . Would you buy a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom condo? More work translates into less time to relax. There are lots of camping chores setting up beds does not have to be one of them. Relaxing is the ultimate goal for everyone.

Lantley wrote:For me the advantage of the bunkhouse is the kids and adults can have a dedicated separate space. THe kids have the bunkhouse area they can call their own leaving the adults an area they can call their own. Sleeping is not only about the beds. The bunkhouse gives the kids a dedicated area to store their stuff as well. They have a dedicated area for clothes,games,toiletries etc..I agree the rear lounge area is nice,but it requires too many things to be in flux. No permanent beds, no dedicated storage for kids. The net result is more work for the adults keeping things in order vs. everything in its place and a place for everything.We use are RV as a rolling condo,it is always loaded with our stuff and ready to go. For me it is not a difficult decision . Would you buy a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom condo? More work translates into less time to relax. There are lots of camping chores setting up beds does not have to be one of them. Relaxing is the ultimate goal for everyone.Thank you for your insight and experience on this issue. This decision is something that we have been struggling with as well and your post makes perfect sense to me. As parents of a 4 year old who seem to be constantly picking up and cleaning up I can really relate to your comment about having a place for everything.

Two years ago we were in the same boat as you are, bunk house or rear living room. We settled on a front livingroom for these reasons, bunk beds all to short, if kids need privacy go outside and the FL bath had a ton of storage for the kids clothes and personal items.This coming Saturday we pick up our new Sierra 360 PDEK, a rear living room with a back deck. The kids always slept on the couch or floor as they did not like the blow beds in the couches and we all did not like the confined feeling of the front living room.When shopping for the rear living the kids came along and checked out the couch, recliners and everything else and said the recliners would be their new beds. Having the rear deck will be easier on my knees and back, not having to go up and down the stairs all of the time to sit outside.We can't wait until Saturday to pick up our new new COW (condo on wheels)//Happy camping

We are in our third 5th wheel. This third is a bunkhouse and it works well for us as we’re raising our three grandkids. It’s a quad bunk so there is an extra bed, and we usually have one of the kids friends along like we had this past weekend.The advantages I see is their stuff can be closed off and it is out of sight. Also I get up a lot earlier than anyone else, and with the separate bed area, I do not have to step over beds, I can use the dinette, sit on the couch, make my breakfast and coffee and not disturb anyone.The other grandparents have a rear living 5th and when the kids camp with them, they use the floor, the couch and the dinette for beds and the kids prefer the bunks. It also gives a place for them to dress with privacy, and they can go to bed earlier and sleep later than if their beds are in the living space.Jim

Bunkhouse or Rear living room? | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Ric_Flair
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Baja Man wrote:
I am throwing around the idea of a TH as suggested. Wife doesn't like the "industrial feel" of a TH and prefers the comfortable standard TT/5er. However, the double electric queens in rear, a front bed, and all that storage for toys, is enticing

Those that are considering a TH or have switched to one, did you go TT or 5er? I have to keep my weight at 10K GVWR so I am limited to what I can haul.

They make them all sizes and configurations. I saw one the other day that was a bumper pull that couldn't be more that 15' long.

Mine is one the other end of the scale. 44' and 20k LBS loaded, not including the truck.
Baja_Man
Explorer
Oct 22, 2014
I am throwing around the idea of a TH as suggested. Wife doesn't like the "industrial feel" of a TH and prefers the comfortable standard TT/5er. However, the double electric queens in rear, a front bed, and all that storage for toys, is enticing

Those that are considering a TH or have switched to one, did you go TT or 5er? I have to keep my weight at 10K GVWR so I am limited to what I can haul.
oughtsix
Explorer
Oct 22, 2014
Just another option to throw into the mix. A toy hauler with dual rear roll down queen beds.

I have given this a lot of thought and think this will be my next trailer. We don't have quads or motorcycles but we do have bicycles and kayaks.

The hard part seems to be finding a toy hauler with 2 or more slides for maximum living area.
Ric_Flair
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
We had a bunkhouse and now have a toy hauler.

It's like having a bunkhouse with 2 queen bunk beds (on a lift). Plus, you get the garage to haul either your toy or all your extra junk (BBQ pit, corn hole boards, etc....)

Look into that as an option too
Baja_Man
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
I looked at two units and they meet most of what we want....UVW: just over 8000#; Dry hitch: around 1385#; GVWR is 10,700 or less#

Negotiated them both down to $16K plus tax and lic..about $17600 OTD. Both have new awning fabric (Jayco is power) and new tires

Any thoughts on this make and model?

http://www.thervspa.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=793075&p=1&make=jayco&vc=fifth%20wheel&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

or there is this one.....

http://www.thervspa.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=908016&p=1&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory
Baja_Man
Explorer
Oct 16, 2014
Thanks for the replies....keep 'em coming. These two fit in my weight requirements and are both bunk models....

1. http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-wheels/2015-eagle-ht/295fbds/

2. http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-wheels/2015-eagle-ht/295bhds/

Are the 30"X74" bunks small for an adult? My one DS is nearly 6' tall. My other DS 10yo will probably be as tall.

Very good thoughts and pints on bunk and Rear LR.

I do get up much earlier than my kids and like to lounge around. Not having a couch or table (occupied with kids sleeping on them) would be a problem. A place to call their own and put "their stuff" is a very good point too.
Merrykalia
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2014
I really like the floorplan on the Coachmen, but those bunks are only 64" long. That's 5'4"!!! Most boys and a large percentage of girls that are 10 years old are taller than that! Why would they do that?
focijoe
Explorer
Oct 15, 2014
There are a few that have both a rear living room and bunks although they are bigger than what you are looking for.

Coachmen 360ibl
Cruiser cf345bh
Sandpiper 371rebh
Open range 3x427bhs
Merrykalia
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2014
There are 4 of us; myself, DH, DD 10 yo and DD 7 yo.

We had a conventional bunkhouse TT, but we fulltime from May until Labor Day and the girls needed more room. We went with a front bunkhouse that has a couch and a bunk on the bottom and two bunks on top.

I have slept on the bottom bunk several nights when 7 yo had a stomach virus and needed Mommy. It slept well and the 10 yo moved to the top bunk while we slept on the couch (laid down to make a full size bed) and bottom bunk.

Our floorplan
jerem0621
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2014
Next one for is will be rear living. At night the kids have the entire living area as their "bunk house" instead of a small room for their beds. Momma and I still have our seperate area so all is good there.

I would much rather have the space for living than for sleeping.

But...many people really enjoy having a bunk house...they are not for us...but that's why they make different models.

Thanks!

Jeremiah