Moved From a Bunkhouse to a Rear Living - Thoughts

[scotjima]

I've got another thread going about specific trailers, but I wanted to get input from those who have moved from a bunkhouse to a rear living design - while you still have kids at home.

We have four kids ranging from married down to first grade.

The trailer will be used for numerous weekend trips, and probably one longer (week or two) trip per year. The rest of the time it sits on some land and it is just me going out there.

We have asked the younger kids and they say that they are OK making out the couch each night and storing their belongings during the day. I'm sure they are OK with it, but as is, they fill the bunkhouse with their stuff and I'm just afraid we will regret them not having a place of their own. (for our benefit as well as theirs). We do have a larger family and it is common for us to have 10+ people all inside together eating, playing games, etc.

We are leaning towards a rear living floorplan, but are also considering some of the new mid-ship bunk floorplans as options. My main concern is the overall size of the new bunk floorplan trailers. We enjoy state parks and a 45' trailer is going to be much harder to get into allot of them.

I don't think we would upgrade to another traditional bunkhouse design. We would just keep what we have.

Thoughts?

[jjj]

I have a rear bunk type fiver now and the daughter does not come with us anymore do to job and life. I can't wait for when I can afford a new one (or if I ever will) with a full back living room. I feel I have lost about 7 feet of living space right now.

[Halmfamily]

We have two teenagers and purchased a new rear living room in December, FR Sierra 360 PDEK. The kids really enjoy he extra day space and have no issues sleeping on the couch, recliners or floor. They have dedicated storage areas for their stuff.

Our opinion always has need, this is mom and dads Rv and if you want privacy go outside. Good luck.

[davosfam]

Starting from about age 10, our kids always stayed in a large tent. Staying our trailer wasn't an option. They loved having their own space and being able to bring their own stuff and friends.

Our kids are adults now. Last Memorial Day, our son and his friend came camping with us and were going to stay in a tent...until it poured. They ended up sleeping in our 25' trailer with us. One on the couch and one on the dinette. I hated it. That was the last night we spent in that trailer and we upgraded to our current rear living 5th wheel. Our sons slept on the new sleeper sofa one night (it was awful), then on the floor one night. Know what he asked me the next time he camped with us? "Where can I put my tent?"

Having kids sleep in the living room (and all of their stuff) isn't ideal. If you can afford and tow a nice bunk model, that's where I would lean, especially if your kids don't/can't tent camp. Keystone Avalanche makes a couple nice models that have a bunk room with double slides, a living area and a nice master suite.

[jerem0621]

I can't give specific feedback on moving from a bunkhouse to a rear living arrangement. However, we had a TT and our two boys had to sleep in the dinette and the couch. They loved it because instead of sleeping in a coffin sized bunk they got 3/4 of the trailer forward of the bathroom to themselves at night. We did have to limit the stuff they brought and that was okay. Kids never complained.

I will say that the couch needs to be examined closely. If it's a couch that converts to a futon type bed then I suggest YOU laying on it and seeing if you can streatch out. Some of those futon couches are short. You want a longer one. If the couch is shorter try to go with the fold out air bed set up.

One other consideration...the rear living trailers CAN have high teen tongue weight percentage. Like 15 plus % tongue weight loaded. Just remember to take that into consideration.

On edit...I forgot I was in the fiver forum. Pretty sure normal fiver pin weight % applies here.

Thanks!

Jeremiah