Suggestions requested – “Grandkid camping”

[VAfan]

We bought a 27ft Cherokee (non-bunk) in 2007 and love the layout; perfect for my wife and I. We took our 3 yr old granddaughter camping in June and she/we had a blast.
I built an extension on the side of our queen bed but she spent most time sleeping next to Nana while I was on the sleep sofa. She now has a brother due in September and live in WVA.
Sorry for the long story but basically we plan to have her and her brother camping with us maybe 3 times max a year.

Papa needs to come up with the best solution. Options include buying a used camper with bunks just to camp with them (and keep our Cherokee); buy a ~27ft ultimate “grandkid camper with bunks”….or just have them stay with us with no bunks. I’m thinking they would love to have their own bunk.

Not obvious solution from a search. Any suggestions/comments ?

[VAfan]

Thanks everyone, always a great mix of suggestions and ideas.
Temporary bunks are an interesting idea; maybe place them in the table space.

[avoidcrowds]

These are cheaper bunks than buying a new trailer.

[Scooter86]

I would just make arrangements in your current unit. Either convert the table or use air mats/cots for bedtime. The youngest could be in a pack and play or something for the first couple years anyway. My kids never used the top bunk in our bunkhouse, one always slept on the couch or both on the bottom bunk anyway.

[SoundGuy]

Expanding on my previous post about the Coachmen Freedom Express 254DSX my only complaint about this trailer has always been it's length - 29' 7" - which is about 3' more than I can accommodate on my driveway and 4' to 5' longer than my personal maximum preferred length in any travel trailer of about 25'. A couple of years ago we downsized from a triple bunk bed KZ Spree measuring 26' 9" to our current Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS which measures just 22' 6" coupler to bumper - great size for just a couple of adults, easy to tow, easy to store, has everything we need in a camper BUT certainly tight when one of our adult sons decides he'd like to tag along. This doesn't happen often so he either sleeps on the sofa or more recently in his own tent ... works fine but I've often thought if Coachmen would build a model similar to their Freedom Express 254DSX but one that is shorter, closer to 25' in overall length, it would have been the perfect solution for us and for many others wanting a couple's model that also offers the option of accommodating occasional guests in their own bed. To that end I've blended Coachmen's existing Apex 239RBS with the rear hybrid bed from a Freedom Express 254DSX and come up with what for us would be an excellent mid size adult's model and one especially suited to grandparents who would like on occasion to take their grandkids along camping with them.

Modified Coachmen Apex 239RBS Grandparent's Model

[SoundGuy]

VAfan wrote:
Options include buying a used camper with bunks just to camp with them (and keep our Cherokee); buy a ~27ft ultimate “grandkid camper with bunks”….or just have them stay with us with no bunks.

Although I'd agree with others that investing in another trailer for the purpose of accommodating a couple of grandkids just three times a year is an awfully expensive solution I could however point out for anyone reading this who may be interested that there is another alternative out there to the conventional bunk bed trailer - this unusual Coachmen Freedom Express 254DSX.



It's difficult to find though as many dealers won't carry this model, mistakenly believing it to be a "hybrid" when in fact it's a conventional couple's trailer that offers the option of creating a second queen size bed for occasional guests, be they grandkids, adult relatives, friends, etc. When not needed there's no need at all to deploy the rear bed but should guests arrive it takes but a minute to drop the bed platform and create that extra "bedroom". Those Coachmen dealers who have had the wisdom to recognize this not as a conventional hybrid and do stock it have found it to be a very popular model, especially with the grandparent crowd. 🙂

[Mike_Up]

When my son was young he had his own dedicated bunk. BUT he always wanted to sleep on the sofa bed or the dinette bed. It was more exciting to him for some reason.

When I was a kid, us 3 kids and my parents all slept in a 1970s Shasta 17' travel trailer (14' box, I measured it). Just got rid of it a few years ago.

It has a double size pull out sofa sleeper on the rear. It had an accordion double size folding bunk above, and a twin size dinette sleeper in front. It slept 6 people and we had room left for 1. 🙂

I'd have the kids sleep on the dinette or sofa sleeper. I would not buy another camper.

[Executive45]

Yeah! they'll sleep in a chair if you let em....my oldest grandkids have spent their past 6 summers traveling with the old folks. One's now 14 the other 15. The 15 yr old just went home to school but says he's looking forward to next summer. Great way for them to see the country and learn more than they possibly could from books. Two years ago they wanted to swim in all the Great Lakes, so I headed north and they did it!. Listen to them and they'll tell you what interests them. I also have them take their own pictures and I get a copy. Interesting to see what interests them while traveling....Dennis

[coolmom42]

I would not buy something special for a few times a year.

I would try working out something with the sofa, the dinette, or a pallet in the floor. When they get too big for that, try a tent.

[Carlos___Ranae]

It looks like the sofa for the next few years or get something with bunk beds.

[Mark_and_Linda]

Does your table area make a bed? We have a Puma 25RS with a couch that can sleep two young people or one old person..we then convert the table to a bed for the younger one. We just had two teenagers go with us a few weeks ago..tent for one night but then they liked the AC, one on the couch and the other in the floor.

[Tequila]

mikeflys wrote:
You are a very blessed man. I had plans on taking my granddaughter camping with us. Then came the divorce and now I'm told we will never be allowed to do so. Count your blessings, don't worry to much about how, just enjoy the fact that you can spend time with your grandkids.

You have to be kidding, it''s amazing how many adults dont act like, well adults. I feel for you and hope they come around.

[galexander]

DW and I found that the grandkids love to sleep in a tent next to the camper so they can have their somewhat own privacy. Has worked well so far but now the grandkids have not gone camping with us for two years now. They are now into other things, IPhone, IPad, IPod, girls, boys, soccer, baseball, etc. Sure do miss them but time marches on.

[mikeflys]

You are a very blessed man. I had plans on taking my granddaughter camping with us. Then came the divorce and now I'm told we will never be allowed to do so. Count your blessings, don't worry to much about how, just enjoy the fact that you can spend time with your grandkids.

[silverfz]

I will get a Ikea bunk bed that you cab assemble for the 3 trips. By the time the grow up and decide to to join go for the bunk house model. For now a bunk bed.

We are younger and our 4 and 8 yr old love camping so bunks make alot of sense.not for 3 times a year