Well, we were in a position to have to get rid of our 5er and did so. I was able to keep my truck which allows us to borrow my parents 5er when we want to do some travelling. They have a Bighorn 5er, 36' Rear Living floor plan. The floor are in the living area is really open so a pallet for the kids is what we will probably do for the sleeping arrangements. We won't have anywhere to really put their clothes and stuff for an extended trip, but I won't have any vacation with my new job until August anyway. We are figuring on weekend trips and maybe a long holiday weekend here or there. Does anyone else travel like this? Its a lot different than having our bunkhouse 5er but better than not travelling at all. Any hints or tips for making it work and not drive us all crazy? With out previous 5er we could shut the kids up in their own room and have the rest of the camper to ourselves if we needed!

A tent. Seriously. Bring a tent along and let the kids sleep in it. That eliminates all their mess from the 5er.Packing cubes for their clothes. You can stuff them most anywhere during the day so you're not fighting it. A plastic bin for each to hold electronics, etc. - make them stackable bins to reduce the footprint. For sleeping, they're kids - sleeping bags on the floor. In the morning, toss the bags on the bed.

We have a rear entertainment center with 2 leather recliners and a sofa bed .. All back in the rear.. Up to this year we always took our 2 daughters and our 2 nieces to Disney... They are now 16..16..20..21 and have had no issues staying on the floor...we got a couple fold up single mattress pads.... Good to go

We did the tent thing. They all liked it.

A tent works great for us as well. Inflatable mattress works inside when the weather is too cold for grandkids. We use storage tubs stored in truck bed for extra stuff.

Good ideas already posted. You wrote short trips due to new job, they won't need much stuff for long weekends! Remember your beer.......and all will be good!

Rear living floorplan with 6 people | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Toolguy5
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2015
We have a rear living area. Couple times a year our son his wife and our grandson go with us on a holiday weekend. They keep there close in their vehicle or in duffle bags where ever they can find. Our son and grandson sleep in the sofa bed and daughter in law sleeps in recliner.
I slept in the recliner for a weekend when just the grandson stayed with us. They our very comfortable.
zackyboy3rs
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
ford truck guy wrote:
zackyboy3rs wrote:
ford truck guy wrote:
We have a rear entertainment center with 2 leather recliners and a sofa bed .. All back in the rear.. Up to this year we always took our 2 daughters and our 2 nieces to Disney... They are now 16..16..20..21 and have had no issues staying on the floor...we got a couple fold up single mattress pads.... Good to go

We just moved to rear living. Just the 4 of us we are good. More than that we are going to use blow up mattress. I plan to have tri fold couch, 1-3 twin air mattress or 1 twin & 1 queen. We are going to make it work.

Where there is a will..... There is a way.... We have used an mattress.... Twin mats... You name it.. Kids are resilient , kids love that kind of camping...my me it's all about memories and family.... Togetherness

100% CORRECT!
abc40kids
Explorer
Jan 21, 2015
I believe it's the Sierra that has a rear living but also a bunk room near the front next to the master but it's own room. I walked thru it this past weekend and I think it was a Sierra. Think it was 5 slides, it didn't have a 2nd bathroom or outside kitchen so I didn't spend a lot of time in it.
HaulinBass02
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Great ideas all of them. We very well will be doing the tent thing when the weather allows. The boys would love that anyway. We have a small fold up mattress that I'm sure they will otherwise be on. I'm sure we can put their bags in the front closet as we won't fill it up anyway for short trips. Thanks for all the input at least I know there are others out there doing the same thing.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jan 20, 2015
zackyboy3rs wrote:
ford truck guy wrote:
We have a rear entertainment center with 2 leather recliners and a sofa bed .. All back in the rear.. Up to this year we always took our 2 daughters and our 2 nieces to Disney... They are now 16..16..20..21 and have had no issues staying on the floor...we got a couple fold up single mattress pads.... Good to go

We just moved to rear living. Just the 4 of us we are good. More than that we are going to use blow up mattress. I plan to have tri fold couch, 1-3 twin air mattress or 1 twin & 1 queen. We are going to make it work.

Where there is a will..... There is a way.... We have used an mattress.... Twin mats... You name it.. Kids are resilient , kids love that kind of camping...my me it's all about memories and family.... Togetherness
zackyboy3rs
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
ford truck guy wrote:
We have a rear entertainment center with 2 leather recliners and a sofa bed .. All back in the rear.. Up to this year we always took our 2 daughters and our 2 nieces to Disney... They are now 16..16..20..21 and have had no issues staying on the floor...we got a couple fold up single mattress pads.... Good to go

We just moved to rear living. Just the 4 of us we are good. More than that we are going to use blow up mattress. I plan to have tri fold couch, 1-3 twin air mattress or 1 twin & 1 queen. We are going to make it work.
Allworth
Explorer II
Jan 19, 2015
Bins and crates. All stackable.

With our built-in vacuum I can reduce the storage cube bags to almost nothing during the day. I do have a short hose so I don't have to drag out the 30 footer.
SkiSmuggs
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
Ours has a rear kitchen and the sleep sofa almost blocks access, so our next 5er will have the sleep sofa at the rear and kitchen in the middle. In the meantime, the grand kids are fine on the floor with sleeping bags and mats. One more kid and we would go with the tent solution.
Steeljag
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
Good ideas already posted. You wrote short trips due to new job, they won't need much stuff for long weekends!

Remember your beer.......and all will be good!
wlstroud
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
A tent works great for us as well. Inflatable mattress works inside when the weather is too cold for grandkids. We use storage tubs stored in truck bed for extra stuff.