26BH bunk ladder

[Gone campin]

My 5yo daughter decided she is big enough to sleep in the top bunk this season (wants to get away from her 3yo brother). So, I had to come up with a way for her to get up and down. I will take it back out and sand/stain it, but wanted to see how it works next weekend... I made the left side higher to help her get in and stay in - figured I could cut it if need be. Even our 3yo goes right up and in... Pretty happy with the results.

[Gone campin]

Sorry the pic is sideways - can't figure out how to turn it and make it stay...

[Nukeneck]

Looks good. As far as the pic being sideways, if you used your smartphone you just need to turn it 90 degrees to take the pic. I'm sure there's someone out there who's tec savvy enough to come up with a better idea but this was an issue I had and the fix for it

[Gone campin]

Originally Posted by Nukeneck

Looks good. As far as the pic being sideways, if you used your smartphone you just need to turn it 90 degrees to take the pic. I'm sure there's someone out there who's tec savvy enough to come up with a better idea but this was an issue I had and the fix for it

Thanks! It was loaded off of my laptop and it is right on here... who knows...

[Lakehound]

Looks good. I made one out of 1" PVC that works pretty well.

[Adammcrow]

You taking orders? Looks great!

Originally Posted by Gone campin

Thanks! It was loaded off of my laptop and it is right on here... who knows...

[grizzlypower2001]

Originally Posted by Lakehound

Looks good. I made one out of 1" PVC that works pretty well.

How did the PVC hold up? I was afraid of it snapping?

Sent from my mobile office

[Lakehound]

Originally Posted by grizzlypower2001

How did the PVC hold up? I was afraid of it snapping?

Sent from my mobile office

Its actually holding up quite well to my surprise. My little girl weighs under 50 lbs. Before I let her use it, I climbed on it and I weigh in at 225 with no cracking.

As far as looks go, its white PVC pipe. I didn't want paint scratching and pealing off. It has worked well but will eventually build one from 2x4's and dowel's.

If I get a chance to swing by storage, I will take a picture and post it in case anyone wants to try their hand at it.

[Lakehound]

Originally Posted by Gone campin

My 5yo daughter decided she is big enough to sleep in the top bunk this season (wants to get away from her 3yo brother). So, I had to come up with a way for her to get up and down. I will take it back out and sand/stain it, but wanted to see how it works next weekend... I made the left side higher to help her get in and stay in - figured I could cut it if need be. Even our 3yo goes right up and in... Pretty happy with the results.

How did you secure your ladder to the bunks?

[Lakehound]

Here is a pic of the PVC ladder, my wife said she noticed it bending a little on our last outing so I think I am going to build one from wood. Thanks Gone Campin

[grizzlypower2001]

Nice idea, I wonder if you would slide a dowel inside of the PVC if that would help the flex

Sent from my mobile office

[Lakehound]

Originally Posted by grizzlypower2001

Nice idea, I wonder if you would slide a dowel inside of the PVC if that would help the flex

Sent from my mobile office

I'm sure a dowel would definitely take the flex out of it. It would just need it on the sides, the rungs are pretty solid.

[BAreEhD]

Originally Posted by Lakehound

Here is a pic of the PVC ladder, my wife said she noticed it bending a little on our last outing so I think I am going to build one from wood. Thanks Gone Campin

Where did you get that curtain? I've been struggling to find a solution for mine.

[Lakehound]

Originally Posted by BAreEhD

Where did you get that curtain? I've been struggling to find a solution for mine.

The curtains came with it. I thought they all came with them.

[BAreEhD]

Originally Posted by Lakehound

The curtains came with it. I thought they all came with them.

No curtain came with my 2014 264BH. I've been looking for an aftermarket solution.

[Gone campin]

Originally Posted by Lakehound

How did you secure your ladder to the bunks?

Sorry, was camping and didn't have internet. I used metal L brackets and screwed them to the ladder and the bunk frame under the mattresses.

[Gone campin]

If you are looking to make one like I did, I used 2x3 studs for the sides and 1" dowels for the rungs. I used a bore bit and drilled the holes and glued the rungs in. I used metal L brackets as said above. I put wedges on the left hand side at the bunk so it didn't go in against the curved bunk - keeps the bunk from sticking out between the rungs and making it difficult to climb up.

[Lakehound]

Originally Posted by Gone campin

Sorry, was camping and didn't have internet. I used metal L brackets and screwed them to the ladder and the bunk frame under the mattresses.

No problem. I was going to just use heavy duty hooks and mount them upside down so they sit on the inside lip of the bed frame. I wanted it to be removed so I could climb under the bottom bunk to access valves etc..

[Gone campin]

Originally Posted by Lakehound

No problem. I was going to just use heavy duty hooks and mount them upside down so they sit on the inside lip of the bed frame. I wanted it to be removed so I could climb under the bottom bunk to access valves etc..

Because my kids are small, I wanted it solid mounted. There is still plenty of room to get into the bottom bunk - I climb in to say goodnight to my son. I climb up on the ladder to say goodnight to my daughter too.

[justman]

Made one similar for my last camper. I used 1x4's for the sides and 3/4 dowels for the rungs...I think. The only thing I did different was I drilled holes all the way through the wood and glued the dowels in. No nails, brads, etc. Once the glue set, the dowels weren't going anywhere. The kids used that ladder for 6 years before I sold the trailer.