Forum Discussion

michaelb2's avatar
michaelb2
Explorer
Dec 05, 2012

Hybrid conversion?

I recently acquired a hybrid (23' 2000 Aerolite Cub) and rebuilt the front bunk end. Time and weather permitting, I'll be rebuilding the floors, which are quite soft. After reading these and other forums, I'm beginning to think the bunk ends are not really for me. After taking it apart and putting it back together (new luann, new foam interior; i used the blue stuff from Lowe's), I'm having doubts about putting two adults on such a flimsy surface to sleep. So maybe a hybrid wasn't for me? I don't know.

I'm wondering if anyone has converted a hybrid to a "normal" travel trailer. I've unscrewed the trim and removed the tent material from the front bunk. I'm thinking of permanently sealing up the door and installing a nice slider window/screen... Any thoughts and discussion would be greatly appreciated.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jul 24, 2013
    Looks like his last post was 04/12/13 - Maybe he has moved on to something else by now...

    This is what I was gong to do to the bunk room regarding the X213 JAYCO to replace the BUNK ROOM for an OFFICE/HAM RADIO/COMPUTER ROOM L shaped desk with hutch and office chair. Even had room for dual computer monitors, HP printer and all of my Ham radio items I would want to operate on my trips. I ended up not getting the X213... Still running my OFF-ROAD POPUP.

    before:


    after (shown in dark blue):


    Was going to modify this BUSH DESK unit to fit the area...


    I already do all of this in my OFF-ROAD POPUP but room is at a premium haha..



    Roy Ken
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2013
    lascassas_camper wrote:
    I want to do the opposite! I have a 2005 Sun Valley x-treme lite, its perfect just need another bunk...Where can i get the materials or material list?


    this thread is over 6 months old.
    are you asking about the bunk end door? if so, there's many that have rebuilt the bunk doors on their hybrids.
    problem is, none owned a Sun Valley hybrid.
    i suggest you get the dimensions and see if you can match another hybrid brand's bunk doors.
  • cga0641's avatar
    cga0641
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2013
    If you want to do it, id say go for it. After all these are box trailers, they have virtually no re-sale value anyway, none worth arguing over anyway. A white box is a white box.....
  • cga0641's avatar
    cga0641
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2013
    I want to do the opposite! I have a 2005 Sun Valley x-treme lite, its perfect just need another bunk...Where can i get the materials or material list?
  • llowllms's avatar
    llowllms
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2012
    If you don't need the front bunk now, leave it closed and just use the rear. There may be a time in the future that you had that front bunk. If nothing else to store things while camping. I would reinstall the canvas and leave it up if I didn't need it. AND as stated, what will it do to the value if you make the changes you suggest?
  • mdcamping's avatar
    mdcamping
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2012
    michaelb2 wrote:
    I recently acquired a hybrid (23' 2000 Aerolite Cub) I'm wondering if anyone has converted a hybrid to a "normal" travel trailer. I've unscrewed the trim and removed the tent material from the front bunk. I'm thinking of permanently sealing up the door and installing a nice slider window/screen... Any thoughts and discussion would be greatly appreciated.


    The issue I would bring up would be is, how well is this going to look after you put your hard work into this. Definitely NOT saying you work wouldn't look good, but from what I've seen most people don't do this kind of exterior work on the entrance level TT's. If you do make the change and decide to sell afterwords...might have a harder time selling...just my 2 cents. :)

    Good Luck,
    Mike
  • haroldpe86's avatar
    haroldpe86
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2012
    Just due to heat/cooling losses and if there were only two of us (which is not the case), our ideal camper for now would be just tenting in the rear. I would like a sealed front. Just a place for water to get in during rain, while traveling. No way would we seal up both. Love the canvas too much, and need the space. Where would we sleep? Horrible tiny couch or horrible tiny dinette?
  • electrician549's avatar
    electrician549
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2012
    I would try the bunk ends first before you seal it up. The whole point of having a hybrid is the extra space gained by having the pop outs. We recently turtled and it wasn't to bad for a night or two but would switch to a TT if it was permanently sealed.

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