Maintenance & Restoration

ninklink · 12-05-2015, 02:39 PM

For sleeping spots my wife and I are fine as are our 2 grandaughters but I have a 12 year grandson we have to fit in somehow. Has anyone figured out a quick bed above the dinette that can be taken down in the morning? Our trailer has the bed in the rear. There are over head cabinets front and back. The last time we camped he was in the back of the SUV but I locked it and he had to pee in the middle of the night. The bloody alarm woke up the campground as he stood there in the rain crying. I said never again so now I'm looking for a solution. I cannot move up as I have no room to park larger at my house.

Byron Kinnaman · 12-05-2015, 02:43 PM

Children often prefer to sleep in a tent. You might consider that. My kids when they were little (the youngest 4) were going backpacking and sleeping their own tents.

theresa p · 12-05-2015, 04:20 PM

What about a re-allocation of space? Would it work if the girls took the main bed and you, the bottom bunk with your grandson up top? I don't know the ages of the girls, but it's a thought.

Good luck! I have this image in my head of your poor grandson, needing to pee, setting off that alarm

...and it brought back alot of memories of my own 3 boys on various camping trips many years ago. Thanks for the laughs and smiles.

Gilda · 12-06-2015, 12:06 AM

Depending on the size of the girls...perhaps they could share a bunk by sleeping with their heads at opposite ends and their feet overlapping a bit. If they each had a sleeping bag and the girls are short and slim, this could work handily and would free up a bunk for the 12 year old boy.

Donna D. · 12-06-2015, 06:29 AM

Is this an "every camping trip" thing, or just once-in-a-while? What you decide to do may be influenced by frequency. I've found kids to be very resilient. They're just happy to be going. An air mattress on the floor/in a sleeping bag may be the easiest solution. Draw straws and make it a GOOD thing. They'll pick up on your attitude about it.

But, I have to say you're braver than I! I have three grand girls. I'm only planning on taking one at a time. That child will get 100% of my time while camping. I hope to help each child make terrific memories of camping with grandma.

kirkman · 12-06-2015, 07:12 AM

I put one of these on top of my tear drop for my kids to sleep in. you could mount it to the top of you truck. Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot - Green : Target
Or go the high end root with one of these I bought for when me teanagers no longer wanted to sleep in the camper with us. http://www.bigfoottents.com/
I know this does not answer your question I just thought I would through it out there.

Bob Miller · 12-06-2015, 07:39 AM

This is a friends solution for car sleeping emergencies. They attach a small flat LED flash light to the side with rubber bands. Press a button and it lights it up at night.

ninklink · 12-06-2015, 11:10 AM

Thanks all for your thoughts. It looks like some did not understand from my dilemna that the bigfoot 17.5 only has a rear small bed for 2 and the dinette sleeps 2. Where to sleep our grandson inside the camper is the issue. We have bears and cougars here in BC and would prefer him inside. I think the air mattress on the floor might do the trick and keep the door to washroom open.

Byron Kinnaman · 12-06-2015, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninklink

Thanks all for your thoughts. It looks like some did not understand from my dilemna that the bigfoot 17.5 only has a rear small bed for 2 and the dinette sleeps 2. Where to sleep our grandson inside the camper is the issue. We have bears and cougars here in BC and would prefer him inside. I think the air mattress on the floor might do the trick and keep the door to washroom open.

Yup, gotta watch out for them bears and cougars, they et all my ancestors at very young age.

Bob Miller · 12-06-2015, 06:46 PM

If he can stay in the SUV to "P", there's not much concern for bears or cougars.

Jon in AZ · 12-07-2015, 07:23 AM

If the mattress on the floor doesn't work, a couple of other options...

(1) Head-to-toe sleeping might allow you to squeeze three kids into one bed. Tapered or mummy-style bags keep feet out of others' faces. We sleep head-to-toe in the small dinette bed in our Scamp. My wife was skeptical, but after one night she was surprised at how much roomier it felt.
(2) If you're more ambitious, take out the overhead cabinet over the rear gaucho bed and build an upper bunk (assuming you have the gaucho layout- you didn't say). The bunk was a factory option some, I believe.

A lot depends on how often you expect to need the extra bunk.

Roger C H · 12-07-2015, 02:59 PM

We purposely bought a 13' so we could be alone and not be able (read have to) take along grandchildren.

Here's an idea for a solution:

"Sorry, we can't take you this time."