Modify OR Access Easily Over cab Bed for the Older Camper

I had a Winnebago View with a cab over bed and a jackknife couch. I tried the cab over bed twice and ended up sleeping on the jackknife couch. Had I kept the MH I was going to make a better ladder, possibly using a library ladder kit to build something solid and sturdy with wide steps (I say library ladder because they are nice looking and well made, not referring to the part that rolls on a track, just the wooden ladder itself.)

Charles

rv4jimnme wrote:
Have a 2011 24ft Fleetwood DSL on Sprinter Chassis. Forever I have been looking for a safe way for older folks to get into and out of top bunk (the lift up bed above the cab). The ladder won't work for us. We did use a secured rope to pull us up and let us down but searching for ladder with feet.. well its not safe. I have researched bunk bed stairs and other clever ideas. I would love to modify this top bed into drop down but the built in part looks very complicated to remove. Maybe it is not. I doubt seriously if hubbie would let me even attempt that. lol So every once in awhile I get looking again. Of course with all the head room in cab the upper bunk is too high to just stand on sofa and get up...I bet there is some clever solution out there? I even thought of motorized lift chair thing..some wild ideas appreciated. I am thinking the best solution for old folks would be a drop down bed...???

I believe this link might show your motorhome's floorplan: https://www.rvt.com/Fleetwood-Jamboree-DSL-24D-2011-Forest-City-IA-ID9654648-UX77725

If the above is your floorplan, then it's almost identical to our Itasca's floorplan, except our dinette area isn't in a slide but it's in the spot your's is in.

Doesn't your dinette make into a full size bed like ours does? Ours makes into a nice full size bed, especially if we lay an additional layer of foam on the dinette cushions which are used as this bed's mattress. I'm 6'2" and have slept in it.

For what it's worth, I'm 78 and use our overhead cab bed all the time. Our ladder has flat steps in it so they don't dig into the pads of my feet at all. As an idea - how about using two ladders held side by side, with two sets of anchor brackets, to get up into and down out of the upper bed. This would be much safer because of the extra width - put one foot on one ladder and the other foot on the other ladder ... this would provide better stability when going up and down.

This is not what you want to hear, nor asking for, but the right solution is to change motor homes to one that has a main floor double or queen bed, or twin beds as is popular with older folks.

I just did a quick search on the motor home you own and note that you have a rear dinette that could be made into a rear corner bed. That is of coarse one option to consider. That situation is what we deal with.

14 years ago, we bought what we hope will be our final motor home purchase. Our 2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350 SEEN HERE remains in tip-top condition that is easy accomplished with heated indoor storage.

We are turning 63 years old this year. We continue to have no trouble (only the expected inconvenience) with our limited access rear corner main floor double bed, but we anticipate it will be more challenging as we age. We will find out whether we give up such travel from the limited access bed, or we are too old and dangerous to safely drive the rig that comes with a general loss of independence. I hope it is the later happening much later. The plan would be to sell our house to include a motor home in the garage to sweeten the deal.