Bunk claustrophobia?

Iraqvet05 · 07-28-2018, 05:07 PM

Does anyone have kids that are claustrophobic and do not like sleeping in a bunk house?

The DW and I are wrapping up a week long trip to Colorado. Our growing children (10 and 14) have made life in our 26bh a bit harder so she wants to upgrade to a larger unit with a slide. With that, she mentioned looking into a quad bunk design so the kids can bring their friends camping and so they don’t have to deal with the enclosed space of a traditional BH design (where the bunks are across from the bathroom). She also said her girlfriends don’t like the bunks in our TT because it made them feel claustrophobic. I certainly don’t feel the need to cater to her friends that use our TT once a year for “girls weekend” but my DD said she sometimes feels confined in her bunk but refuses to open her curtain or sleep with her head at the open end of the bunk.

Is a quad bunk the solution or is there a more open bunk design Jayco makes I’m missing?

**Midnightmoon** · 07-28-2018, 05:10 PM

Do us your 26bh have single over single bunks or double over double?

We have the double over double in ours and I haven heard any complaints from our kids with them. However, I've been in a few quad single bunkhouse models and I do think they feel more open.

Iraqvet05 · 07-28-2018, 05:15 PM

Our is a double over double. I assume the quad bunk designs are singles over singles which would leave the kids less space to put junk on their beds.

**Midnightmoon** · 07-28-2018, 05:18 PM

Does Jayco make a quad bunk floor plan?

NewBlackDak · 07-28-2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Does Jayco make a quad bunk floor plan?

There are a few across the lines, but they’re all pretty big.

bap · 07-28-2018, 05:37 PM

Usually you get into the 31’ or longer models to get the separate bunk room setup.

Octopus Prime · 07-29-2018, 03:31 PM

My kids haven't said that they feel confined, but it sounds like yours are bothered by the enclosed space.
Honestly, being closed in on 2 full sides and part of the other two sort of bothers me when I'm putting the younger one to bed.

The bunk rooms do have more open space.

We are frugal, so we wouldn't trade up if there were mild complaints. Maybe opening window shades will help until you upgrade?

michael.g · 07-30-2018, 07:47 AM

Our Bungalow 40BHQS has Quad bunks with a trundle under each bunk stack - so enough beds to sleep 6 in the bunk house. Each set of bunks are on a slide, so the bunkhouse is pretty large. The bunks and trundles are all singles.

Granted the TT is 40' long and not ideal for towing often. We have seen smaller Jayco TTs with quad bunks, but I don't remember what models they were.

-Michael

DocBrown · 07-30-2018, 10:23 AM

Have you considered a tent for the kids? It can be more fun for them and give you a bit more privacy. Just leave the door unlocked if one of them needs the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Iraqvet05 · 07-30-2018, 10:36 AM

Doc, that's a good idea if I can get my teen daughter to sleep in a tent with her friends. I think she's a bit spoiled having spent most of her camping life in a PUP or TT. My son, on the other hand, is in Cub Scouts and has endured the tent camping several times.

The 31' plus TTs maybe a bit too much for me. I see the bunks (although not quad bunks) in some of the other floor plans (28BHS, for example) are more open at the ends than my 26BH. I may have to take a drive to my dealer and walk the family thru a few bunk models with a slide to see what everyone feels comfortable with. The DW wants to sell our TT in the fall then buy the new TT in January or February so we have some time to look.

Bassdogs · 07-30-2018, 04:05 PM

How much are you willing to spend for a couple kids who sound a bit spoiled? You probably have a couple good years left with the older and a bit more with the younger. At 16+ kids get involved with school activities and sports and outings with the parents are less interesting. If you upgrade to something bigger you will find yourself with more than you are going to want to tow in a couple years. Do the tent thing and they will have their own space and not be stuck inside with the parents.

Octopus Prime · 07-30-2018, 08:30 PM

It sounds like they are wanting a new one anyway.
I remember looking at those with the bunks that were more open. If I recall, they had slides and were so much bigger than what we wanted; however, I can see where they would be an excellent choice for some people. In IraqVet's case, it sounds like they tend to bring non-relatives along, such as kids' friends and his wife's friends. And bunks are an efficient way to sleep everyone.

robert9999 · 07-31-2018, 05:34 PM

I have the 25 BH with the double bunks. I thought the top one was way to tight. The bottom one isn’t bad. I did have a 10 year old that loved the top bunk though for 1 week of camping. & an adult that would use it 1/2 the time without complaint for a 2 week trip last year. I was actually thinking about removing the top bunk altogether so it would be one large room & possible creating a shelve up close to the ceiling for clothing storage.

dkos · 08-04-2018, 07:18 PM

I have an older 28bhs and the bunks are tight. I put a battery powered fan clipped onto the wall for airflow. It seams to help the feel a great deal.

spoon059 · 08-05-2018, 10:16 AM

I grew up sleeping in a coffin bunk when camping... hated it. Confined and HOT in the summer.

We bought a 29qbs that has a bunk room. The bunks are open to the middle and have a central ac vent for air. Much much better design.

Macrosill · 08-07-2018, 05:36 AM

I had a 2007 27BH, same floor plan but we had the single above the double. I would not have liked to sleep in there. It was tight. We now have a triple slide quad bunk and the kids enjoy it more and I am more comfortable with it as well.

Tommyo · 08-11-2018, 12:08 PM

I would suggest those that get claustroph0bic that they offer to get up early and start breakfast or square away the camp. Later, they will enjoy the benefit of being home and grateful for that as well. Maybe facing the window would assist with coping.

RKHengst · 08-11-2018, 01:12 PM

We have a Jayflight 31QBDS with front quad bunks and a very nice rear bedroom for us. Our teenage grandchildren love the bunkhouse area, even though they did not get a vote when we selected the unit.

spark of insanity · 08-12-2018, 10:51 PM

Sadly we had to sell our Jayco for a bunkhouse. I love this forum and will stay even though we found a deluxe model coachman TT bunkhouse. I love it. And it is only a year old. As for claustrophobia? My mother and daughter sleep on the bunks and love it. My daughter is 20 and says she can now have a friend go camping with her now that we have expanded to sleeps 5. I would not cater and just say there is a table that can be converted to a bed if the bunk is too confining. Otherwise a tent sounds like

a great option. Especially when it starts raining. Good luck.

Macrosill · 08-13-2018, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spark of insanity

Sadly we had to sell our Jayco for a bunkhouse. I love this forum and will stay even though we found a deluxe model coachman TT bunkhouse. I love it. And it is only a year old. As for claustrophobia? My mother and daughter sleep on the bunks and love it. My daughter is 20 and says she can now have a friend go camping with her now that we have expanded to sleeps 5. I would not cater and just say there is a table that can be converted to a bed if the bunk is too confining. Otherwise a tent sounds like

a great option. Especially when it starts raining. Good luck.

I know the feeling Spark. We moved from the Jayco brand last year too but I still hang around here every so often. Jayco Owners will not shun you because you changed teams. LOL

You may also like: