184bh ideas and a family of 5

JuneC · 08-02-2015, 09:46 AM

We purchased this model in April, and couldn't be happier. As newbies to camping, we've had a blast traveling with the kids throughout the spring and summer. We just got back from a week exploring the eastern coast of Lake Michigan, stopping in several quaint beach communities along the way. Some of our sites were literally steps away from the water, so that was an added treat. I've attached a pic taken from our site in Grand Haven, Michigan. Beautiful views!!! So far, this camper has been a great fit for our family, and we can easily tow it with our Traverse.

With each trip, I've been searching for ways to make the space more livable for us. This website has been a huge help! It can get a bit tight with 5 of us, but we are really only inside to sleep, so it hasn't been a huge issue yet. Our 5 year old sleeps on the bench and the older kids get the bunks. We keep the dinette as a bed for my husband and I all the time now because changing it every day is a big pain. I plan on bringing a collapsible TV tray from Target on our next trip because the older two like playing card games and I like having a table for to avoid spillage of food and drinks.

So here are a few pictures of our setup. We used a tension rod for the curtains. The older kids like having some privacy in their bunks and I like that the little curtain under the dinette hides all our junk. That's been a great space for our camp chairs. I'd also like to hang a tv on the wall next to the bench, but we don't have cable or electric hookups there. Additionally, Ive been pondering how to go about strengthening the dinette bed. I see that some of you replaced the plywood in the seats, but I was thinking about laying boards between the cushions and our memory foam mattress. I also need to maximize storage under the dinette and lower bunk. For those of you with the 184bh, I'd love to hear more of your ideas!

JuneC · 08-02-2015, 09:49 AM

I'm not sure why these didn't post in the original message.

JuneC · 08-02-2015, 09:51 AM

Not sure why it's only letting me pose one picture at a time

JuneC · 08-02-2015, 09:59 AM

The older kids love having their own space

3fries · 08-04-2015, 04:55 PM

Hi JuneC! Welcome

Check my thread for some of the mods that we have done to make things easier in our 184BH. We are mostly only hubby and I and the dog these days, so we've removed one bunk. When our kids were younger and traveling with us (they are 26, 22 and 18 now) we always had their clothing in a backpack or duffle that they kept at the ends of their beds. It was their responsibility to keep their sleeping space tidy enough to be comfortable in! That would leave more of your cupboard space open for other necessities if you are short on storage space.

We have mostly emergency extras under the bunk in the storage area there, but have really considered making a hatch into that storage area the same as the one we did under the kitchen dinette for shoe storage - or bigger with a door. With your gang, I would say this would be a huge help to make access openings in both the dinette bench and the bunk storage area. We also made a smaller table just before our outing this past week and that was also a nice touch. So much easier to set up the dinette space for eating or cards and we kept our memory foam mattress (2") rolled up and contained with velcro straps at the front of the trailer with our quilt over the top of it. It made a nice place to lean for tv, and we know two people could still sit comfortably on either bench. I will try to post photos later tonight.

Four_Pirates · 08-08-2015, 04:03 PM

Hi, I like your mods. We just bought ours this year and have already used it a couple of times. We are loving it. It's much bigger than the pop up we had. A couple of mods we have been looking at doing is led strip lighting above the bench, kitchen counter, and under the front cabinet. The interior lights are too bright. Putting a powered vent in the bathroom, and a TV on the bunk wall. Like you I wasnt sure how I would route the power but today I was looking at it and I think I am going to get a long power cable and route it behind the stereo through the cupboard and plug it into the same outlet that the ac is plugged into. We don't usually get reception so I will take a little longer to tackle the coax problem. I will use it for watching movies from a USB drive. I an pretty sure a 24" TV will fit there. I think we will also strengthen the front bed with the mod I've seen on here using some wood to strengthen the supporting brackets.

3fries · 08-08-2015, 04:18 PM

check my album to see our tv mounted on the bunk wall. We have a 12v connection right near the tv, which is where it was placed in 2012, rather than by the sink in the kitchen area. We do have a 12v/120v tv so we do use it occasionally on 12v. Otherwise we run the power around the bunk wall and plug in there. I like your ideas of LED strip lighting!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Four_Pirates

Hi, I like your mods. We just bought ours this year and have already used it a couple of times. We are loving it. It's much bigger than the pop up we had. A couple of mods we have been looking at doing is led strip lighting above the bench, kitchen counter, and under the front cabinet. The interior lights are too bright. Putting a powered vent in the bathroom, and a TV on the bunk wall. Like you I wasnt sure how I would route the power but today I was looking at it and I think I am going to get a long power cable and route it behind the stereo through the cupboard and plug it into the same outlet that the ac is plugged into. We don't usually get reception so I will take a little longer to tackle the coax problem. I will use it for watching movies from a USB drive. I an pretty sure a 24" TV will fit there. I think we will also strengthen the front bed with the mod I've seen on here using some wood to strengthen the supporting brackets.

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