We currently have a folding camper and following a wet weekend away we are now seriously considering a caravan. We have 3 children all under 7 so need a 6 birth. The thing we liked about the camper was the fact we could leave the beds made up so we are interested in triple bunks. However we have only ever seen double bunks so we are wondering how much room is available in a triple bunk. We would love some feedback from people who have experience of them, can children sit up in them and do they feel comfortable in them? Thanks
best bet is take the tribe to a caravan dealer and if you take shoes off most dealers will let you all into the caravan and then the children will demonstrate how wonderful they are and will probably tell you exactly what they think with bunks you can leave up all their stuff is in one place and the advantage of a caravan is you can leave a set of clothing in situ we get ours from car boots and the only ones that know is us
Thanks.
We went to a dealers without the kids and dismissed the triple bunks as they looked small. However having looked at a few reviews this has not come up as a negative.
I think you're right the best way to tell is to get the kids to try them.
There were quite a few new triple bunks two seasons ago but some manufacturers have moved to double bunks - there are still manufacturers which sell them and you will find used triple bunks but they may be in demand. We have a triple bunk Lunar Quasar with children 7 and 4 and are really pleased with it.
Currently the 7 year old sleeps on the top with the 4 year old in the middle. The bottom is used as storage when travelling and on site but when kids friends come along it gets used. There is slightly more headroom in the middle bunk on ours than the top so the kids may swap in a year or so and therefore it would be worth checking the headroom of each bunk. We think the triple layout will be fine for at least another 2-3 years but approaching the pre-teen years will probably need the extra headroom of a double bunk.
We find the layout suits us perfectly, they love their own dinette at the back of the van to play or watch dvds - they occasionally eat there but mostly they eat in the awning or outside. Obviously its great to be able to put them to bed at a reasonable time and close the area off to watch tv etc of an evening when the weather doesn't permit us to sit outside or in the awning.
That's good to know. Our eldest is a tall 6 yr old. We hope to get a 2nd hand one and keep it for a few years. We hoped that the bunks might be adjustable so that we could change to double bunks in future years, but they seem to all be fixed.
Thanks for the response.
We have the Bailey Ranger and ours manage ok [just] DS is 17 and 5'9" and just fits now he had to move to bottom bunk this year due to his weight, so we will probably make the bed up for him in future but DD2 is 15 and only 5' 3" so is fine.
If we'd got the GT60 he would of still fitted as the bunks are slightly bigger.
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Yes its all down to how long the caravan is, how big the front bunks are, how wide the bathroom etc etc. Also each bunk inside a caravan can vary in length and headroom. Shortlist your favourite caravans and go on the their websites and compare bunk details in the technical specification
Not so easy to find on the second hand market, but I really liked the Adria Altea 542DT; excellent solid and generous bunks (most bunks don't seem up to the job IMHO), spacious van and good build. Nearly bought one, but the current van came up at a 'not-to-be-missed price', plus kids growing too quickly
There's also a 542DK with bunks, slightly different layout as you can close off the back bunk area.
Good idea ref. adjustable bunks, but never seen. Maybe impractical to build the option into van, while keeping weight a consideration.
We have 3 under 10s and only have a 5 berth. The layout has L-shaped seating at the rear which converts to a double, and a bunk above. Two sleep in sleeping bags on the double, and one above, although at times all three have slept on the double before now.
The added benefit is the kids have their own lounge with table and telly for during the day too. I'm not keen on fixed bunks at all really. If the kids get fed up with the arrangement when they are older we will put a sleeping annexe in the awning.
Fixed bunks just look so tiny and take up so much space!
Quote: Originally posted by G7ACU on 23/9/2011
Not so easy to find on the second hand market, but I really liked the Adria Altea 542DT; excellent solid and generous bunks (most bunks don't seem up to the job IMHO), spacious van and good build. Nearly bought one, but the current van came up at a 'not-to-be-missed price', plus kids growing too quickly
There's also a 542DK with bunks, slightly different layout as you can close off the back bunk area.
Good idea ref. adjustable bunks, but never seen. Maybe impractical to build the option into van, while keeping weight a consideration.
What are you planning to tow with?
I agree the 542DT has got good sized bunks at 6'3" in length and 2'6" wide. These are one of the biggest bunks on the market. Our twelve year old still fits fine and I have slept in one also without a problem. You won't be able to sit up in any of the triple bunks though. Our kids are 12,9,and 4 and they don't have any issues. I fitted 9" tv's to each bunk. It also has a side dinette and a good sized washroom. The DK has twin bunks and you will be able to sit up and has a dinette oposite that will make into a double bed and the back can be closed off from the front. The only downside is the washroom. The shower is basically over the toilet. If you don't intend to use the shower than this is a good layout
Another 542DT owner here. My children are 12 and 11 and love the bunks (which they treat as a combination of personal play/reading room and place to sleep. I've slept on the bottom bunk myself (when I wanted a nap somewhere out of the way) and it was fine for me.
Watch out for the width of bunks as well as the length - some are really skinny.
I Have the Adria Altea 542DK with double bunk and the quality of build is great. My freind has the DT model which is triple bunk and they have 3 young kids (oldest is 8) and they all love it.
We also looked at the Bailey Ranger 540/6 which has the Triple bunk but decided on the Adria.
Cheers
Richard
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Try and see as many as you can, with having smaller kids you may find it easier to shower them in the caravan. If so having a separate shower cubicle may be what you look for. We decided that was more important than a huge front bed, so we have the quasar 546 with shorter front dinette.
The different makers may have similar layout but theyre all that little bit different in the flesh.
Happy hunting.
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Topic: Triple Bunks
