I've got another thread going about specific trailers, but I wanted to get input from those who have moved from a bunkhouse to a rear living design - while you still have kids at home.We have four kids ranging from married down to first grade.The trailer will be used for numerous weekend trips, and probably one longer (week or two) trip per year. The rest of the time it sits on some land and it is just me going out there.We have asked the younger kids and they say that they are OK making out the couch each night and storing their belongings during the day. I'm sure they are OK with it, but as is, they fill the bunkhouse with their stuff and I'm just afraid we will regret them not having a place of their own. (for our benefit as well as theirs). We do have a larger family and it is common for us to have 10+ people all inside together eating, playing games, etc.We are leaning towards a rear living floorplan, but are also considering some of the new mid-ship bunk floorplans as options. My main concern is the overall size of the new bunk floorplan trailers. We enjoy state parks and a 45' trailer is going to be much harder to get into allot of them.I don't think we would upgrade to another traditional bunkhouse design. We would just keep what we have.Thoughts?

I can't give specific feedback on moving from a bunkhouse to a rear living arrangement. However, we had a TT and our two boys had to sleep in the dinette and the couch. They loved it because instead of sleeping in a coffin sized bunk they got 3/4 of the trailer forward of the bathroom to themselves at night. We did have to limit the stuff they brought and that was okay. Kids never complained. I will say that the couch needs to be examined closely. If it's a couch that converts to a futon type bed then I suggest YOU laying on it and seeing if you can streatch out. Some of those futon couches are short. You want a longer one. If the couch is shorter try to go with the fold out air bed set up. One other consideration...the rear living trailers CAN have high teen tongue weight percentage. Like 15 plus % tongue weight loaded. Just remember to take that into consideration. On edit...I forgot I was in the fiver forum. Pretty sure normal fiver pin weight % applies here. Thanks!Jeremiah

Starting from about age 10, our kids always stayed in a large tent. Staying our trailer wasn't an option. They loved having their own space and being able to bring their own stuff and friends.Our kids are adults now. Last Memorial Day, our son and his friend came camping with us and were going to stay in a tent...until it poured. They ended up sleeping in our 25' trailer with us. One on the couch and one on the dinette. I hated it. That was the last night we spent in that trailer and we upgraded to our current rear living 5th wheel. Our sons slept on the new sleeper sofa one night (it was awful), then on the floor one night. Know what he asked me the next time he camped with us? "Where can I put my tent?"Having kids sleep in the living room (and all of their stuff) isn't ideal. If you can afford and tow a nice bunk model, that's where I would lean, especially if your kids don't/can't tent camp. Keystone Avalanche makes a couple nice models that have a bunk room with double slides, a living area and a nice master suite.

We have two teenagers and purchased a new rear living room in December, FR Sierra 360 PDEK. The kids really enjoy he extra day space and have no issues sleeping on the couch, recliners or floor. They have dedicated storage areas for their stuff. Our opinion always has need, this is mom and dads Rv and if you want privacy go outside. Good luck.

I have a rear bunk type fiver now and the daughter does not come with us anymore do to job and life. I can't wait for when I can afford a new one (or if I ever will) with a full back living room. I feel I have lost about 7 feet of living space right now.

The new mid bunk floorplans on the market provides the best of both. You get your rear lounge and a private bunkroom. When the kids dont travel it becomes more storage or if they no longer go it could very easily become an office or hobby room. Coachmen offers two of these floorplans in their Chaparral line-up...360 and 390 and in the Brookstone is the 395. Good luck!

Moved From a Bunkhouse to a Rear Living - Thoughts

Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Feb 04, 2015
I have a friend who was looking at 2 different RVs because her two granddaughters go with them a lot. Don't temember for sure that one was a bunkhouse or not but it was something more for the girls comfort. The other was one with a nice rear living area. I told her to get the rear living area as the kids don't care where they sleep. That is what they ended up getting .& she thanked me later.
getontheroad
Explorer
Feb 04, 2015
Two of our boys are grown and our oldest rarely comes with us now because he has school and internships in the summer. The 18 year still comes along often and we have a 13 year daughter. We moved from bunkhouse to a rear living room. My daughter was not happy but hey mom and dad pay the bills. The dealer that we bought our new rig from gave us these XL cots for our boys Lamp-rite oversized quick cot . I hope they fit in the living space as they are a little big. The cots are sturdy and can hold up to 400lbs. The dealers said to throw down a rug set up the cots and you can have 1-2-3 beds in an instant, or they can use them in the tent. We will see how well this goes over once we can start camping in May.
zackyboy3rs
Explorer
Feb 04, 2015
Just made the move. Have not been camping yet. Plan to use high end air mattress (2) when need extra sleeping. Will update.
fredhershberger
Explorer
Feb 04, 2015
The new mid bunk floorplans on the market provides the best of both. You get your rear lounge and a private bunkroom. When the kids dont travel it becomes more storage or if they no longer go it could very easily become an office or hobby room. Coachmen offers two of these floorplans in their Chaparral line-up...360 and 390 and in the Brookstone is the 395. Good luck!
jjj
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
I have a rear bunk type fiver now and the daughter does not come with us anymore do to job and life. I can't wait for when I can afford a new one (or if I ever will) with a full back living room. I feel I have lost about 7 feet of living space right now.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
We have two teenagers and purchased a new rear living room in December, FR Sierra 360 PDEK. The kids really enjoy he extra day space and have no issues sleeping on the couch, recliners or floor. They have dedicated storage areas for their stuff.

Our opinion always has need, this is mom and dads Rv and if you want privacy go outside. Good luck.
davosfam
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
Starting from about age 10, our kids always stayed in a large tent. Staying our trailer wasn't an option. They loved having their own space and being able to bring their own stuff and friends.

Our kids are adults now. Last Memorial Day, our son and his friend came camping with us and were going to stay in a tent...until it poured. They ended up sleeping in our 25' trailer with us. One on the couch and one on the dinette. I hated it. That was the last night we spent in that trailer and we upgraded to our current rear living 5th wheel. Our sons slept on the new sleeper sofa one night (it was awful), then on the floor one night. Know what he asked me the next time he camped with us? "Where can I put my tent?"

Having kids sleep in the living room (and all of their stuff) isn't ideal. If you can afford and tow a nice bunk model, that's where I would lean, especially if your kids don't/can't tent camp. Keystone Avalanche makes a couple nice models that have a bunk room with double slides, a living area and a nice master suite.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2015
I can't give specific feedback on moving from a bunkhouse to a rear living arrangement. However, we had a TT and our two boys had to sleep in the dinette and the couch. They loved it because instead of sleeping in a coffin sized bunk they got 3/4 of the trailer forward of the bathroom to themselves at night. We did have to limit the stuff they brought and that was okay. Kids never complained.

I will say that the couch needs to be examined closely. If it's a couch that converts to a futon type bed then I suggest YOU laying on it and seeing if you can streatch out. Some of those futon couches are short. You want a longer one. If the couch is shorter try to go with the fold out air bed set up.

One other consideration...the rear living trailers CAN have high teen tongue weight percentage. Like 15 plus % tongue weight loaded. Just remember to take that into consideration.

On edit...I forgot I was in the fiver forum. Pretty sure normal fiver pin weight % applies here.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

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Moved From a Bunkhouse to a Rear Living - Thoughts

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