Bunk bed failure?

[bono]

Hello,

Just noticed something wrong with the bunk bed. See photos below. Is the bed failing? I am really concerned as my kids are sleeping on the lower bed. The upper bed capacity appears to to be 600 lbs. We have occasionally somebody sleeping there. He is around 220 lbs, so not even close to the declared capacity.

I did not notice any other signs of failing, just the front. Front of the bunk bed is flexing when you are climbing to get there, so maybe this is the reason for this...

Any way to check the condition of the bed?

This is already second major issue I noticed just after my warranty expired in August his year. First was a bolt coming from the floor.

Thanks!

[Redslider]

One thing to remember about a capacity rating is it refers to a loading evenly distributed over an entire area. If a 220# individual concentrates their weight in one spot then that area can easily be over loaded.

[bono]

Apart from the fact that (as I mentioned) the front of the bed is flexing when you are climbing on the bed (then the total weight hangs in the front of the bed), I do not know how to evenly distribute weight of an adult over the bed. Should an adult sleep with arms and legs spread out?

[wallacemf]

I have to really question the 600# weight limit. I have a 2013 28BHBE with full size bunks. My son has always slept on the top bunk, but now that he’s 17 years old, 6 feet and 200#, that bunk is awful creaky. Scares the hell out of us with our daughter sleeping on the bottom bunk. We are trying to get them to switch places now.

You might try to brace it somehow, that’s what I’ve been investigating....

[skids]

I agree. A 600 lb rating should hold 200 lbs. Distributed loads are for things like snow loads an a roof.

[jloco]

Time to get some wood and shore that thing up. If you don't feel comfortable yourself, I'd contact a general carpenter to take a look. I'm sure a good carpenter would do a much better job strengthening that than a dealer would.

[Jagiven]

I guess I am missing something in the images. All I see is some trim that looks like it was pulled out. Sliding in and out while rubbing on the trim can do that.

[bono]

The front of the bed is pushing the trim out. In fact, the front of the bed is lower now, so I cannot put the trim back in place.

[skids]

I don’t have your model, so I am not sure... From the pictures, it looks like the floor of the bed is supported by horizontal angle members (angle bracket) where you can only see the bottom edge (but painted?). One of the close-ups does not show a bracket where the bed floor makes an angle. I have to wonder if the existing brackets were screwed into the wood frame behind the paneling. Also, the rail that goes across the front should be supported by a vertical member to the floor on each end, I would think. That said, I am not sure if the floor could handle a point load.

[spoon059]

Your warranty expired in August, its just now October. I would contact Jayco and send them pictures and request that they look into this. From my experience, Jayco has been pretty receptive to customers and might be willing to help you out.



Don't go to a dealer first... go directly to Jayco.

https://www.jayco.com/site/contact/service/

[Camper_bob]

I would start carefully removing the trim to see exactly how that thing works. It's definitely more than just trim moving around (as OP already knows). If you can get the trim all pulled off and see how exactly it is attached to the walls, you will likely discover the failure point, and then you can fix it.

FWIW, my 2014 28BHBE held my wife (over 250#) and son (around 36#) along with a bunch of junk and never moved at all. Even when they were horsing around; not like there's a lot of room to get too crazy, but still... I even climbed up there several times (around 280#) and it never felt the least bit unstable. But we mostly just used the upper bunk for storage, so to be fair, it didn't really see a lot of use over the 4 or 5 years we owned that trailer.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Our '17 28BHBE only has a 300# rating on the top bunk. Even that is questionable. Very flimsy up there.

[wallacemf]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

Our '17 28BHBE only has a 300# rating on the top bunk. Even that is questionable. Very flimsy up there.

Wow our 2013 28BHBE is “rated” at 600#. Jayco must have made it even flimsier. Or, maybe it’s the same and they realized it has a problem?

[Phxchica]

I don’t think the bunk beds are rated at 600 lbs. I think some of you might be confusing the bunk beds with the overhead bunk.
I have the model with the bunk beds and they are not that sturdy. The lower bunk broke this summer after my niece, around 180 lbs tried to use the bottom to get up to the top. I repaired by placing 2x4 supports along the sides and middle under the bottom bunk. It feels sturdy now. Only kids, under 110 lbs are allowed on the top although it shows no signs of problem.

[pauley_b]

Originally Posted by spoon059

Your warranty expired in August, its just now October. I would contact Jayco and send them pictures and request that they look into this. From my experience, Jayco has been pretty receptive to customers and might be willing to help you out.



Don't go to a dealer first... go directly to Jayco.

https://www.jayco.com/site/contact/service/

I agree with Spoon, I had work done on my floor after the expiry of the warranty and Jayco agreed to have the dealership do the work at no charge to me.

[nevermind]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

Our '17 28BHBE only has a 300# rating on the top bunk. Even that is questionable. Very flimsy up there.

I just took the top bunk out on my 24mbh. It was made from 1x1 furring strips, stapled together, no glue and then screwed to the walls in 3 places, with 1 screw on the headboard and 1 or 2 on foot board. Looks to be 3" long 1/8" diameter wood screws. Top and bottom was skinned with lightweight luan paneling stapled, no glue, to the furring strips.

FWIW, there is no way on earth I'd have a 220lb person sleeping above a little girl.


With that said, I am going to use part of the top bunk "assembly" for a TV shelf. I picked up some 1" dowels from Home Depot to use as legs. I'm starting with 1 on each side of the open end and might put one in each corner too. I'll drill pilot holes through the 1x1 and into one end of the round dowels. I'll fasten that with a 4-5" steel deck screw. I'll just toe-nail the bottom so it won't get kicked out and bring whole enchilada down.

[Tinyhse]

Great job on the pics bono.
Spoon is right on. Since your only 3 months out of warranty any reputable company would consider your request and as a good will measure would handle the issue.
Please keep us all posted.
My 2018 145 has been in the shop for a few weeks with a punch list.
They are having a third party come in and look at the trailer box.
Right side wall is sagging and floor is bowed. Trailer box is out of square.
Yikes...I had a lot of winter camping planned.
My plan when it is complete is to have an independent RV inspector check it out top to bottom before I travel 8 hours to pick it back up.
I would hate to get out there and find some of the repairs had not been taken care of.
Anyone have recommendations for inspectors.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Phxchica

I don’t think the bunk beds are rated at 600 lbs. I think some of you might be confusing the bunk beds with the overhead bunk.
I have the model with the bunk beds and they are not that sturdy. The lower bunk broke this summer after my niece, around 180 lbs tried to use the bottom to get up to the top. I repaired by placing 2x4 supports along the sides and middle under the bottom bunk. It feels sturdy now. Only kids, under 110 lbs are allowed on the top although it shows no signs of problem.

Nope, on my trailer there was a big sticker on the wall of the upper bunk that clearly rated the top bunk to 600 lbs.

The cabover in my motorhome is allegedly rated to 700, but I don't recall seeing a sticker on this one.