Additional bunk ideas for a Birchaven?

[dave silva]

23 feet- side wet bath, queen in the rear, dinette folds into a bed. - that's it. comfortably sleeps THREE if two of them are married.

There is a pull down bunk over the rear bed but we'd prefer not to have a kid sleeping over us.

The boys are 9 & 12 - getting to big to share the dinette.

So, looking for options from quick and dirty- like a cot across the front seats to something more robust, like an original GMC hanging bunk over the
dinette (i could live without the cabinets)

thanks
--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC

74 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff

 

[timthenomad]

Hi Dave,

We have a 1 and 3 year old in a SB Birchaven and are currently getting by with one playpen in the dinette and another that squeezes inbetween the
front seats over the engine hatch. We are going to be in the same boat as you guys before too long. (without the drop-down bunk in back that I'm very
jealous of though.) Here are my ideas..

1. If they are under 6' or so you might be able to get away from the "married couple" feel in the dinette by sleeping lenghtways. I know it's about
the width of the twin bed, but if you check out the originaly brochure for the dinette (
https://www.gmcmhforum.com/resources/coachman-its-so-simple-uni-lounge-manual.32/download ) It has this bit in it.. "Extention arms and cushons are
available from your dealer to increase the with of the bed". I've never seen anyone that had these but I'm guessing that the 2 end pieces slide all
the way you out and you clip in a couple of cushined boards to make it about 6 feet wide. It would obstruct the hallway, but could work.

2. When I was young my a VW bus that had a hammock that hooked into the A and B pillars and sat over the driver (you removed the headrests and tilted
the steering wheel down). I think with the stock driver and passenger seats swung out and the wheel tilted you migh be able to rig something like
this DIY version of it..
https://www.doityourselfrv.com/hanging-cot-idea-sleep-space-rv/

3. Swap out front seats with Sienna seats
Pratically a tiny house's worth of room up there with them folded down.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6879/medium/92.jpg

--tim
--
Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6

 

[Tom Pryor]

I have a 77 side bath Birchaven. I replaced the original furniture in the
rear and purchased two single Ikea foundations mattresses. Installed them
as bunk beds crossways in the rear. The ,QUEEN, uses the lower bunk and I
use the upper. Not really any different than the upper bunks that were
used in the main salon of the 26' coaches.

--
Regards,

Tom Pryor
4188 Limerick Dr
Lake Wales, Fl 33859
Cell 248 470 9186

1977 23'B named "CASPER", HARDLY ORIGINAL, (455 EFI) (Pwr. Drive)
(tailgate) (rear bunk beds)
(Webasto petrol boiler) (MB Elect fan clutch) (Brake reaction arms) BUT
STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS!

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[dave silva]

I have the same coach and the same question. With the two of us in the back we'll have the 12yo on the dinette and the 10yo will go wherever we can
fit him.

One option is a cot across the two front seats.

Another option is a cot that hangs over the dinette like original GMC bunks

--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC

76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff

Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021

It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.