After Market bunks - gaucho type DIY in 17B

[harvest]

We are interested in an older model 17B that we might be able to purchase, it doesn't have the gaucho bunks option. I have been looking through posts and found a post from 2009 that showed pics of a 2x4 type DIY build and one from a while ago that showed a PVC build. Both seem like great ideas/designs. Has anyone done an after market DIY bunk build that is also removable - being able to use the dinette (and also for resale value)? I really want to be able to buy the Escape - as it seems impossible to find any for sale that are anywhere near us and in our budget, but it has to sleep 4, 2 adults and 2 young kids.
Thank you!

[Doug2000]

I did start to add bunks, but there just isn't enough height. Our kids ended sleeping in a tent which worked out in the end. Everyone had lots of room.

We sold our 17B to a young family, and after 1 trip it was up for sale, they said it was just too small, too much stuff.

This is what I had mocked up.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...age-11059.html

[harvest]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

I did start to add bunks, but there just isn't enough height. Our kids ended sleeping in a tent which worked out in the end. Everyone had lots of room.

We sold our 17B to a young family, and after 1 trip it was up for sale, they said it was just too small, too much stuff.

This is what I had mocked up.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...age-11059.html

Thank you! This looks very cool. How did you get the top bunk up securely? I think I see a metal post in the corner?

[Doug2000]

I’m a machinist by trade, so I build stuff. I built plates with pockets for each seat. Square tube hoops sat in the pockets on the bench supporting cross bars that the fabric fastened to.

I never finished it. There wasn’t enough height without removing the bulkhead cabinets and I wasn’t doing that.

For a young family, get a tent trailer, there’s so much room for your gear. The only way to make a 17B work is if you have a big truck for all your stuff.