Best Layout for family of 5

[5Youngs]

We are in the market for a new camper. We have had campers before but not since we have added to our family.

Of course the kids want a bunkhouse but are they really worth it. We will only be getting something about 28-30 ft so we will not have the bunkhouse with the double beds in a room. It will either be the double beds tucked into a corner or 3-4 small bunks in a room.

For those with kids from ages 2-9 what do you think? Do they get tired of sleeping on the narrow bunks? Do they really use the bunkhouse? As is at home they are always wherever we are.

We are considered a very nice RE that has adequate sleeping without having to step over people or remake the sofa/table before walking through.

TIA for any feedback.

[westend]

When I had my Grandkids into the trailer for the first time, they were running each other over to get into the bunks. I have two that are 34" W x 76" long. Gkids were 12 and 8 at the time.

There is a lot to be said about using a tent for the kids. Typically, they love having their own space and away from the 'rents. A tent will also keep the clutter down. Only downside is supplying sleeping bags and pads. If I had to do it again, I'd buy the interlocking gym type pads and build a floor in the tent--no sleeping pads needed and more comfort for the kids.

[Merrykalia]

We have a grown son that does not camp with us anymore and we have two daughters, 10 and 13. We took both of them on their first camping trip when they were 3 months old and since the second daughter arrived, we have had some type of bunkhouse. We had a TT bunkhouse that had 2-twin sized beds and 2-bunk size beds; then we had a fifth wheel with the front bunkhouse. It had 3-bunk sized and a jack-knife sofa.

We would never consider anything that has the kids sleeping in the common area since the teen likes to sleep late and the younger goes to bed early. We camp at least 60 nights each year, usually closer to 100. We camp-host from May through September, and that is a lot of time to be cooped up in a little bitty area if everyone doesn't have a "space".

[Rustycamperpant]

We love our bunkhouse. We have two double size bunks in the corner as you've seen in some layouts. The two boys sleep on top ages 10 & 12 and our girl age 9 sleeps on the bottom (her "room"). My wife and I sleep in the RV queen at the front of the TT. My older boy is now starting to like sleeping on the jack knife sofa and we are all fine with this. I can no longer watch TV late due to my boy sleeping in the sofa, but I added one in our bedroom so I can watch if I want to.

Everyone has thier own space if needed, nice if the weather is bad...

[2gypsies1]

afidel wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
We've got the 4 small bunks, our kids are 14 and 16, but the bunks are 75" long. Hopefully my 14 year old doesn't out grow it, he's pushing 6' now.

They love having the bunks, it gives space for a friend or 2, and we can put their Grandma back there when she goes with us.

I couldn't imagine fitting 4 bunks in a small trailer but after looking this up, I'm very impressed. Perfect for a family!

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2018-Forest-River-Rv-Wildwood-Heritage-Glen-300BH-5000650463

At 38' and 8500lb dry that is NOT a small trailer!

Oops! Normally you can go by the Model # which incorporates the size. It looks like the actual size of Forest River is 7' longer than the Model #. Sorry.

http://www.forestriverinc.com/travel-trailers-and-fifth-wheels/wildwood-heritage-glen

[afidel]

2gypsies wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
We've got the 4 small bunks, our kids are 14 and 16, but the bunks are 75" long. Hopefully my 14 year old doesn't out grow it, he's pushing 6' now.

They love having the bunks, it gives space for a friend or 2, and we can put their Grandma back there when she goes with us.

I couldn't imagine fitting 4 bunks in a small trailer but after looking this up, I'm very impressed. Perfect for a family!

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2018-Forest-River-Rv-Wildwood-Heritage-Glen-300BH-5000650463

At 38' and 8500lb dry that is NOT a small trailer!

[afidel]

We did 3 kids in our small bunkhouse, two 17 year olds and a 10 year old. Bunks were a must for us as our two would fight so much on a common mattress that we had actually bought portable bunkbeds for the tent before we bought the trailer! We did 3 weeks straight without any real discomfort, it was a little less convenient to have to convert the dinette every day but it only takes a few minutes and if we would have bought any larger we would have needed a bigger truck since we were at ~90% of weight on the truck when packed for 3 weeks and with the extra kid.

[ford_truck_guy]

jplante4 wrote:

DrewE wrote:
What's an RE?

Rear Entry

-- OR --

Rear Entertainment.. depends on the manufacturer

[2gypsies1]

wowens79 wrote:
We've got the 4 small bunks, our kids are 14 and 16, but the bunks are 75" long. Hopefully my 14 year old doesn't out grow it, he's pushing 6' now.

They love having the bunks, it gives space for a friend or 2, and we can put their Grandma back there when she goes with us.

I couldn't imagine fitting 4 bunks in a small trailer but after looking this up, I'm very impressed. Perfect for a family!

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2018-Forest-River-Rv-Wildwood-Heritage-Glen-300BH-5000650463

[jplante4]

DrewE wrote:
What's an RE?

Rear Entry

[PartyOf_Five]

I like the ideas to re-purpose a trailer here - we have a 31' C but they're finishing grade school and so can still fit "longways" in the cabover.

After a couple days of elbows, 1 moves down to the couch, and they have plenty of space. I think this arrangement should work for a while - till they don't want to travel with us anymore!

[the_bear_II]

I would consider a toyhauler...the garage area can be customized to provide sleeping areas for the kids; fold down or drop down bunks. Plus there's room to carry bikes, water toys and other stuff to keep the kids active.

[wowens79]

We've got the 4 small bunks, our kids are 14 and 16, but the bunks are 75" long. Hopefully my 14 year old doesn't out grow it, he's pushing 6' now.

They love having the bunks, it gives space for a friend or 2, and we can put their Grandma back there when she goes with us.

[toedtoes]

I agree about the bunks. They are great when the kids are under 10, but then they're too short, too claustrophobic, etc., and just end up as storage space.

Personally, I think hybrids are perfect for families for camping. You've got a nice living area and at least two large beds that open out. Add a tent and all the kids will be set. Plenty of room and when the kids don't want to come, you can leave one side closed.

If you're RVing (as in going to private RV parks), then that's a different story. Many won't let you do a tent, so your limited to the trailer.

When we were little we camped in a truck camper. Parents slept in the cabover, sibling and I slept in the cupboard bunk above the dinette, and younger sibling slept on the loveseat. When we got older, we three slept in the cabover and parents slept on the dinette.

So, my personal feeling is don't worry so much about the kids "not having their space". If you're camping, they can have all the space they want outside. Heck, we were outside unless we were sleeping - rain or shine - and not one of us has bad memories of camping trips.

[ford_truck_guy]

We started with a bunk house and they work great with kids that age... Then we realized that we were loosing living space, and the kids really only slept in there.

We then purchased a RE ( Rear Entertainment ) back in "08" when our kids were 14 and 9.. They had to fold down the couch to sleep, and we did not loose any valuable living space.. It worked GREAT ! !

We now have a RL ( Rear Living ) and the kids are 24 and 19.. they either fold down the couch, or sleep on a portable 3" thick X 36" mattress and are perfectly fine with it !