Sorry, I see where I didn't put enough details - 2012, model is 1160. I have owned it almost since new, although technically I am second owner, but only by 6 months.
I called Brad at Adventure, he's sending me the structural drawings for the bunk, and suggested I remove the mattress and carpet, then run a hole-saw from the top down, then squirt full of adhesive, and compress the way I was thinking originally. He said he's also going to find out what adhesive they use on the production line. I was thinking a couple tubes of Liquid Nail.
More pictures, but honestly, it's pretty much impossible to see anything other than I haven't washed the bugs off yet from the last trip.
