Remove bunkbeds to make work space?

[coachellacanuck]

I am going to be living full time this summer in my 35' TT and working online from there. There is a work surface at the rear of the trailer but it is very small and I am thinking of removing the two bunkbeds that are on the opposite wall. The upper is more narrow than the lower so I might keep that as extra-deep shelf space but the lower is a "double" sleeping surface with drawers and a trundle bed below.

If I remove the lower sleeping/storage area I would have room for a much larger work surface with storage below and above.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of modification?

How difficult do you suppose the job will be to remove the lower sleeping area?

What do you suppose I will find beneath? I have to replace the lino flooring in the kitchen/dining area and in the bathroom already because it split during the cold Canadian winter and was planning on removing the carpet in that back area as well to replace all with Allure. Will I find carpet or lino beneath the bed/storage or just subfloor?

Appreciate any guidance you can lend.

[coachellacanuck]

TXcampingfamily wrote:
It's not the same layout as yours, but checkout this link. He converted a bunkbed to an office in a class A.

Oh wow that is beautiful! And inspiring.

My bunks are also on a slideout but with no windows. I am so encouraged by everything you guys are posting.

Thanks!

[mgirardo]

coachellacanuck wrote:
Yes, I realize that but I am wondering how difficult a challenge it will prove to be as a DIY project.

Our bunks are basically just a frame of 2x2s and plywood. The frame is held onto the wall with 2 screws on each short side and 4 screws on the long side. That's it. Under the bottom bunk there is an electrical junction box for the slide's power. I forgot to mention, these bunks are on a slide. Being on a slide, there was no other utilities under there. Actually there are drawers under the bunks, so there couldn't be utilities anyway.

I too had thought about removing the bottom bunk to put in a small desk and office chair. We decided to just make the bottom bunk larger so it is the same width as a standard twin bed. The kids stopped using the bunks because they were too narrow. Now our daughter uses the cab over bed and our son uses the bottom bunk. The top bunk will be turned into storage.

I was surprised how easily the bottom bunk came out. I had to remove it so I could relocate the drawers' stops on the floor of the slide. The top bunk is attached the same way.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that our setup is exactly like the link above posted by TXcamping family.

-Michael

[TXcampingfamily]

It's not the same layout as yours, but checkout this link. He converted a bunkbed to an office in a class A.

[Almot]

Yep. Have a few ugly screws sticking from the inside where I shortened the microwave cabinet (those idiots made the cabinet almost 1ft deeper than MW). Not a big deal, my screws are high near ceiling. With enough patience, and if there aren't too many, they can be cut manually with Close Quarter Hacksaw and filed flush.

[westend]

SoundGuy wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:
... the problem I ran into though was that the framing for those beds had been secured to the inside wall by running screws through from the outside before the trailer's outer wall had been installed. This may be a common construction technique but of course I didn't realize it at the time so when I finally did manage to pull that bed framing free it left some pretty large holes in the trailer's interior sidewall where the screw heads pulled through the interior wall paneling.

westend wrote:
Instead of pulling the fasteners through the framing, you could have cut them with a reciprocating saw.

True, but as I already said - "... but of course I didn't realize it at the time". Even if I had I don't own a reciprocating saw anyway ... didn't then back in 2007 and still don't. :W

Gotcha.
I thought I'd throw the saw idea out there in case the OP runs into a similar situation.

FWIW, I have an 18V cordless set and picked up the saw for it a couple of years ago. It cuts where others won't. It also shines for cutting in electrical boxes in drywall. All the dust seems to remain inside the wall. Very nifty tool.

[SoundGuy]

SoundGuy wrote:
... the problem I ran into though was that the framing for those beds had been secured to the inside wall by running screws through from the outside before the trailer's outer wall had been installed. This may be a common construction technique but of course I didn't realize it at the time so when I finally did manage to pull that bed framing free it left some pretty large holes in the trailer's interior sidewall where the screw heads pulled through the interior wall paneling.

westend wrote:
Instead of pulling the fasteners through the framing, you could have cut them with a reciprocating saw.

True, but as I already said - "... but of course I didn't realize it at the time". Even if I had I don't own a reciprocating saw anyway ... didn't then back in 2007 and still don't. :W

[westend]

SoundGuy wrote:

coachellacanuck wrote:
... I am thinking of removing the two bunkbeds that are on the opposite wall.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of modification?

We owned a triple bunk bed KZ Spree for six years - two beds along the back wall that ran the full width of the trailer and a third, smaller bed that ran along the rear curbside wall. We didn't need that third bed so I removed it to open up the space in that area ... the problem I ran into though was that the framing for those beds had been secured to the inside wall by running screws through from the outside before the trailer's outer wall had been installed. This may be a common construction technique but of course I didn't realize it at the time so when I finally did manage to pull that bed framing free it left some pretty large holes in the trailer's interior sidewall where the screw heads pulled through the interior wall paneling. I used caulking to fill the damaged areas but it sure looked ugly so I found some wallpaper border at Home Depot that looked similar to what had been used by the manufacturer in other areas of the trailer (similar colouring, similar patterns) and ran that around the wall, covering the damaged areas. Once completed no one would have known the difference. :B

Instead of pulling the fasteners through the framing, you could have cut them with a reciprocating saw. Cutting them flush with the interior paneling and a gentle tap with a nai lset would get them below the surface of the paneling and then a small bit of spackle could be used to fill the holes.

[coachellacanuck]

Bumpyroad wrote:
I would guess that you will find some utilities, etc. under it unless the drawers completely fill the area.
bumpy

Oh, good point. In fact, I wonder if I will find a way to add electrical outlets in that area.

[bluie5]

I'm considering doing this when my kids leave the nest. Turning the back bunk room into a den, office or TV room.

[Bumpyroad]

I would guess that you will find some utilities, etc. under it unless the drawers completely fill the area.
bumpy

[coachellacanuck]

SoundGuy wrote:

coachellacanuck wrote:
...the problem I ran into though was that the framing for those beds had been secured to the inside wall by running screws through from the outside before the trailer's outer wall had been installed. :B

:)See, this is the kind of thing I wondered about. Thanks so much for posting this information.

I will know what to watch for now if I decide to tackle the job.

Members, any other things I should watch for?

I found a youtube video about my unit that shows the bed arrangement except that the lower bunk seems to have been replaced with a boxspring/mattress. I guess that means it's doable!I found a youtube video

[coachellacanuck]

Triker33 wrote:
You can modify it any way that will work for you.
In my MH I took out a love seat and put in a entertainment center with a 46" screen.

Yes, I realize that but I am wondering how difficult a challenge it will prove to be as a DIY project.

I also removed the uncomfortable love seat/bed and put two Ikea chairs and an ottoman with storage in its place. That was easy but I fear this mod with the beds may be more than I can handle with my trusty power drill and toolbox.

[SoundGuy]

coachellacanuck wrote:
... I am thinking of removing the two bunkbeds that are on the opposite wall.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of modification?

We owned a triple bunk bed KZ Spree for six years - two beds along the back wall that ran the full width of the trailer and a third, smaller bed that ran along the rear curbside wall. We didn't need that third bed so I removed it to open up the space in that area ... the problem I ran into though was that the framing for those beds had been secured to the inside wall by running screws through from the outside before the trailer's outer wall had been installed. This may be a common construction technique but of course I didn't realize it at the time so when I finally did manage to pull that bed framing free it left some pretty large holes in the trailer's interior sidewall where the screw heads pulled through the interior wall paneling. I used caulking to fill the damaged areas but it sure looked ugly so I found some wallpaper border at Home Depot that looked similar to what had been used by the manufacturer in other areas of the trailer (similar colouring, similar patterns) and ran that around the wall, covering the damaged areas. Once completed no one would have known the difference. :B

[Triker33]

You can modify it any way that will work for you.
In my MH I took out a love seat and put in a entertainment center with a 46" screen.