Open Road Writer

Bunkhouse Travel Trailer Floorplans are Dominating the RV Industry

Since their inception, bunkhouse and bunk bed travel trailers have been the biggest selling RVs on the market for the past 20 years. These family-friendly RVs make the camping experience fun for the whole family. We’ll show you how dynamic they are by presenting you with five great examples of bunkhouse floorplans in many RV categories.

How RV Manufacturers Are Catching Up

If you’re asking yourself, where have all the new RV gone? The answer is, in people’s driveways or with them on the RV adventures. 2020 is the most surprising year for the RV industry. Dealers and manufacturers thought it was going to be the worst year ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, a few articles in the media and many internet discussions turned this year into the biggest ever. RV rentals are up 1,000 percent, and sales increased by 600%. In a world where social distancing and personal protection equipment are the new norms, RVs are the perfect way to escape daily life.

Unfortunately, the pandemic hit the Elkhart, Indiana area badly. For over six weeks, the RV Capital of the World had to shut down to doing their part to contain the worst of the virus. Many stepped up to build ventilators, donate trailers as triage units, and other things. Throughout the 20th century, the RV industry has always done its part to help our country.

In late summer/early fall, the industry is building its products at full tilt. To meet demand, they are focusing their attention on two categories: family-friendly bunkhouse floorplans and luxury couple coaches. Using this demand-oriented strategy will ensure that most consumers will have access to their products as quickly as possible.

Best Bunkhouse RVs for 2020

1. Coleman Lantern 242BH

Length: 28.11 feet
Dry Weight: 5,800? pounds
GVWR: 7,000? pounds
Tanks: F- 60 gallons/ G- 84 gallons/ B- 42 gallons
Sleep: 4-6 people

Coleman hadn’t released all of the specifications of this model when we researched this article. The dry weight and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) are best estimates. We came to these conclusions base on previous models, our experience, and other factors. Our calculations were conservative-leaning on the heavier side.

When it comes to quality, Coleman has been an RV industry trusted name since 1901. This camping accessory company has partnered up with other big names in the industry over the years. When they entered into each collaboration, their number one priority was making sure the partner kept to the high standard that Coleman symbolizes.

As a Dutchmen division, the Coleman Lantern Series is the best entry-level travel trailer brand in the market. Since consumer demand is so high for bunkhouse travel trailer floor plans this year, Coleman is creating SUV-friendly, affordable RVs that are family-friendly.

The 242BH is a new bunkhouse travel trailer under 6,000 pounds for 2021. Many SUVs, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee (7,200-pound towing capacity) or bigger, are well matched for this coach. The designers did a great job balancing full-size features while maintaining an open feel inside.

The double-sized bunk beds are very secure for children since three walls are keeping them safe. The floorplan image doesn’t show how much storage there truly is due to under the beds and dinette space people often overlook. The hinged entertainment center also gives the kids the ability to feel they have their own space with a moveable wall and a TV.

2. Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 28BKS

Length: 32.8 feet
Dry Weight: 7,975 pounds
GVWR: 9,995 pounds
Tanks: F- 80 gallons/ G- dual 40 gallon/ B- 40 gallon
Sleep: 10 people

Too often, RV dealers and manufacturers misuse the terms “four season” or “all-season” when describing their RVs. Most coaches can handle early spring and late fall temperatures in the snow belt states when adequately prepared. If you want a bunkhouse that’s the best RV for winter camping, you’ll need one built for the Pacific Northwest and Northern Canada.

Outdoors RV designs all of their travel trailers and fifth wheels for the harsh winters. This Oregon-based independent insulates its products with some of the highest R-values in the industry. Even the underbelly, storage bays, and hatches come insulated to minimize heat loss from any angle.

The Titanium Series is their top-end line compared to the Mountain Series. Many of the interior and exterior features get that extra upgrade for better aesthetic and comfort appeal. You’ll find more superior wood finishes, improved seating materials, and bigger appliances. It’s easy to dry camp with the optional gas generator, 170-watt solar panel, or 340-watt solar system.

The 28BKS comes with two double-sized bunk beds and a residential-sized queen master. The main TV maneuvers perfectly so everyone on the sleeper sofa, dinette, or bunk beds can see it comfortably. Even when it’s below zero degrees Fahrenheit outside, the oversized furnace will keep you warm.

3. Highland Ridge Silverstar SF374BHS

Length: 41.1 feet
Dry Weight: 12,545 pounds
GVWR: 15,500 pounds
Tanks: F- 85 gallons/ G- 132 gallons/ B- 80 gallons
Sleep: 10 people

Highland Ridge is an independent company but is a daughter brand of Jayco. Their goal is to manufacture affordable RVs that are more spacious and lighter in weight than their competition. This RV maker has a select group of pet-friendly floorplan RVs within their catalog of products to set themselves apart even more.

The Silverstar SF374BHS is pet-friendly and one of the best bunkhouse travel trailers for full-time living. The pet-focused features include vinyl flooring, heat registers off the floor, and other accommodations that make the RV experience for your four-legged children as enjoyable as possible.

It features a full bathroom with direct access to the master bedroom and a half bath in the bunkhouse. The kitchen pantry doubles as your washer/dryer closet. For the most space available, the master bedroom has a closet on the slideout.

You’ll notice that the bunkhouse has a two-seater dinette. Full-timers use this space as a desk for homeschooling. Many of their RV destination plans revolve around their kid’s learning. The State and National Parks offer educational lesson plans to enhance the experience. Some repaint their RV walls with a special dry-erase paint to convert it to a presentation board.

4. Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH

Length: 34 feet
Dry Weight: 8,368 pounds
GVWR: 11,525 pounds
Tanks: F- 49 gallons/ G- 70 gallons/ B- 35 gallons
Sleep: 10 people

Half-ton towable fifth wheel floor plans have boosted 5th wheel category sales due widening tow vehicle options. If you’re going to use a half-ton pickup truck, like the Ford F-150, make sure you purchase one with the heavy-duty tow package capable of towing weights up to 12,000-13,000 pounds. You must consider the gross weight over the dry weight.

A great example of this is the Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH. While it’s dry weight is less than 8,400 pounds (most ½ ton trucks can typically pull up to 10,000 pounds), it’s GVWR is over 11,500 pounds. After you walk through this fifth wheel, you’ll find it’s worth the heavy-duty pickup’s extra cost.

This 5th wheel is the best bunkhouse travel trailer for those who enjoy cooking competitions at their favorite campgrounds. You can prepare your most lavish gourmet meals with the residential-style kitchen appliances, closet pantry, and deluxe outdoor kitchen. As you prepare to become the next Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, remember your family needs to eat.

After all of that chopping, cooking, and completely roasting the competition, you can end the day on your residential queen-size master bed with the Relax brand mattress. The kids will also enjoy the extra space of their full-size bunk beds in their room at the other end. As you drift off to sleep, you can look at your trophy sitting on your nightstand as it glistens in the moonlight.

It’s been 12 years since we’ve seen the name Kountry Star on a Newmar product. The Kountry name goes back to the 1971 Kountry Aire when Newmar was in its infancy. In these uncertain times, Newmar brought back its legacy brand with nine floor plans, including a class A RV bunkhouse diesel.

The full-length driverside slideout comes with two twin-size bunks that have drawers below. Parents won’t have to worry about their child due to the built-in top bunk bed safety rail that’s apart of the bunk’s structure. The kids won’t have to worry about missing that all-important missed text since each bunk has a mesh cell phone holder against the wall.

Even though this motor coach has a classic name, Newmar made sure to give it the latest innovations and best technology. Newmar is known for its Comfort Drive Steering System and V-Ride Drive Axle Suspension. These two engineering marvels give you a luxury driving experience you would expect from the highest-end auto brands like Lincoln or Cadillac.

You’ll find many creature comforts throughout the coach. The 2000-Watt inverter and 400 amp-hour house battery unit power the multimedia centers, LED lighting, appliances, and tankless water heater. Sitting up in bed is comfortable with the power lift master bed. To keep your mobile mansion clean, you can opt for the central vacuum package.

Features That Weren’t Mentioned

There are many other features to a bunkhouse travel trailer we didn’t get a chance to mention above. RV designers consider families of every demographic possible. Children of different ages have different needs.

Bunkhouse RVs come equipped with tub-style showers so parents can bathe their toddlers and young children. Outdoor showers come with both hot and cold nozzles to keep the “fun in the mud” outside (this includes your two-legged kids, four-legged children, and husbands).

If the RV doesn’t have a washer/dryer prep area, some now include laundry chutes that feed to an exterior bay. Having your laundry basket ready to go in your bay makes it that much easier when you have to run to the laundromat.

Legacy campers will appreciate the bunkhouse campers for their kids. When they were young, their sleeping space was the fold-down table or sofa. They knew it was time to wake up when mom or dad told them it was time to put the table together so everyone could eat breakfast. Bunkhouse floorplans give kids a permanent space that doesn’t change during the day.

No matter the brand or specific floorplan, bunkhouse travel trailers are perfect for the 21st-century family. Full-timers, part-timers, and entry-level families will enjoy the whole experience. Welcome to the RV community and happy trails!

RV Buying Options With $50,000

Congratulations on your decision to step into the RV lifestyle.

With so many options, it can be quite confusing where to start your RV search. The best way to begin is the same way you began any other major investment: identify your needs, wants, and refusals. Meanwhile, keep it fun.

Researching the Fun Out Of It

Answering questions like how many people you need to sleep, some of the destinations you want to journey to, and questions like this are the easy part. The difficult part is the reality part.

Do you want to buy a new or used coach?
Do you want to tow or drive your RV?
What are you going to do with it when you are not using it?

This is where online research comes in handy. Reading up on the latest blogs, manufacturer websites, customer reviews, industry magazine homepages, and websites can give you the information you need. Other great sources of information are the people themselves. You will find that RV people are generally good people. We love to share and help others out. If you find the right person, you may want to pull up a chair, because their stories may take a while, but their information is probably sound.

RV Rentals

Renting RVs have come a long way. Companies like RVshare and Outdoorsy allow people to rent RVs from owners who are not using their coaches. These rental opportunities allow renters to test out every type of RV and every model configuration out there. Gaining this first-hand experiential knowledge can help narrow down what you want in an RV.

RV Show

Of course, then there is the “Superbowl” like events for every RVer. The various RV shows. This is where all of the dealers and manufacturers come to one place. Each year they show the new lineups and latest technologies in the RV industry. This is your chance to walk through virtually every new RV on the market. Many dealers offer special event pricing that you won’t see at their locations. Each state has its own RV show. Some areas hold them multiple times each year. To see when and where the next one is, check out this listing.

New Or Used: How Do You Want To Spend Your $50,000

In the RV World, $50,000 opens a lot of doors. Many new towables are priced under that amount. Those that are priced above 50K brand new, you can find used.

Used RVs

Like your car, RVs do not appreciate in value like your “bricks and sticks” home. According to Credit Karma, a new RV depreciates about 20% in its first year . You can use this depreciation as an advantage to buy the coach of your dreams instead of the unit you can afford.

If you complete a price comparison between a current year model and a previous year model of the same RV, you will find that there is a significant price difference. Many people have saved money by buying a previous year’s model at their RV dealership just by taking that very strategy.

Another used strategy is looking at an RV that is five or 10 years old. As long as it’s in good shape, you could find a hidden gem. Many RVs sit for long periods of time. While the interior may show some wear and tear, the automotive parts could have less than 40,000 miles on them. As long as the fluids have been kept up with and the maintenance, these engines can have ratings for over 1 million miles or more. Yet the price of the RV could fit your budget easily. With the money saved, others have restored and customized their RVs to fit their needs and wants.

New RVs

There are many advantages to buying a new RV. You are buying a coach that came right off the factory floor that has a warranty, has never been owned before, and is in its peak condition. Another benefit of buying new is the ability to finance RVs.

Financing

Many bigger dealerships have already partnered with banks and lending companies, but it never hurts to approach your own bank to check the lending rates they offer. You never know who is going to have the best rate unless you look. Remember, due to the depreciation factor, more than likely, a down payment may be required when financing your new RV.

Unlike a car, an RV loan acts like a second home loan. These loans (depending on the size and rate) can go for 15 to 20 years. Rates can be between 4-6% depending on your approval factors. With a $50,000 down payment, and good credit factors, that RV with the washer/dryer and the dishwasher may not be out of the question (don’t forget the airhorns though).

Average RV Prices

Pricing is based on many things. For a more comprehensive discussion of how RVs are priced, you can read The Average RV Costs with 19 Examples prices . For this discussion, we are going to feature two different RVs per type to show a range of pricing. For standardization purposes, we will use the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) rather than dealer prices. The first coach will be the more basic units the manufacturer offers. The second unit will generally be bigger and have more deluxe features.

The Great Debate: Towing Or Driving

Which one is better, towing or driving your RV? The answer to this question boils down to personal preference. There are advantages and disadvantages to each side of this.

Towables

Towable RVs vary in price, space, amenities, and features. It depends on where you want to be on the scale between basic to luxurious living. With your $50,000, pricing is not much of a hurdle for you. Before you sign on the dotted line, there are other costs to think about. The first, and most important is what are you going to tow your RV with?

Tow Vehicle

Besides price, you have to consider the weight and what you are going to tow your RV with. Many of the lighter RVs, like the folding campers and ultra-light trailers can be towed with a mid-size SUV. The heavier travel trailers require full-size SUVs. Fifth wheels require trucks since the hitch connects into the bed.

To give you some perspective, U.S. News and World Report’s article on the 21 SUVs with the Best Towing Capacity shows their readers the tow limits of each vehicle currently out in the market. They also have an article on truck towing capacities if that is what you are looking for. When you start shopping for your RV, you will want to factor in the cost of a new vehicle if your current one will not pull the coach you have in mind.

When you get that vehicle, make sure you tell the sales representative that you want the tow package. You don’t know how many people have shown up to their RV dealer with the right vehicle, but without the tow package option. There is a lot of internal wiring and other equipment that goes into vehicles with tow packages when they are assembled. It is virtually impossible to add tow package equipment after the vehicle is built.

You also want to know what your actual vehicle can tow . Just because your vehicle has a the tow package, does it have the most powerful engine and supporting parts? For example, let’s say you buy a full-size SUV that has five different models. Between those models are three different engines, and three of the five models offer tow package options.

Before this turns into an SAT or GRE test problem, the point is, if you have the model that has the middle powered engine, that means that your towing capabilities can be different than the model that has the biggest engine. You want to understand what you have, how it affects your towing capabilities. The last thing you want is to crack a cylinder head in the middle of the Kentucky Mountains because you are over-stressing your engine (don’t ask, my father swore me to secrecy).

Drivables

Bursting Gas Bubbles

What’s better than sitting on top of the world with a panoramic windshield to view the world? The family is in the back stretched out, engrossed in their devices or whatnot. You are master of the road (until that 18-wheeler passes you by and reminds you who the real master is).

You look down at your gauges and notice you need gas. Finding an exit to pull over at, you swing your RV into position to fill your gas tank up at the service station. Here is where reality kills your dreamlike state.

Six miles to the gallon, multiplied by 80 gallons of unleaded (if you are driving a gasser). After 15 to 20 minutes, when the gas pump stops, take a look at how much you just spend filling up your RV. Do you need to sit down for a moment to get over that three-figure gas bill? Was it above or below $150? What really breaks the camel’s back is the alternative energy t-shirt your daughter is wearing when you climb back in. Remember, she means well.

While we try to paint a humorous picture of the gas situation, one of the most expensive things about driving Class A or Class C motorhomes are keeping gas in the tank. To help the situation, many people are adding solar panels to the roof of their coaches to minimize the use of their generators while they are off-grid, but getting from point A to point B still requires a gas or diesel engine.

Toads or Dolls

Another consideration is if you are going to tow or toad your car with you. The term “toad” refers to towing your passenger car without the use of a trailer. If your car is capable of toading, this keeps your vehicle flat on the road. It makes towing more stable and it’s less strenuous on the suspension of your toad vehicle.

If your passenger vehicle does not have toad capabilities, you can use a two wheeled trailer called a dolly that lifts up the drive wheels of your car. Trailers take your vehicle completely off the road. Dollies are a less expensive alternative, but trailers can protect your vehicle from the dirt and debris from the road.

Don’t Let Reality Overwhelm You

Remember what we said from the beginning: keep your search fun. The realities of the RV lifestyle can be overwhelming. Choosing the best type of RV for you and your family is difficult enough. Then there are the after-effects like tow vehicles, gas prices, and other considerations we did not even mention yet.

Here is some hope though: RVs have some of the best insurance rates out there! Shopping for RV Insurance is not as difficult as most people think. Many of the big names in the insurance offer it. Think of it as part auto and part homeowners. There are different considerations for full-timers and part-timers.

The best way to determine how to spend your $50,000 on an RV should be a balance of what fits best with what you and your family want on one side. The other side should be the realities of RV ownership.

Some have bought RVs that were too small for their needs. They had more than enough money and time to travel with their coach, but the unit itself did not fit the family’s lifestyle. RVing can be about getting back to the basics, but it does not mean that everybody has to be miserable about it. This lifestyle allows people to enjoy their experiences and get away from their regular routines.

Another extreme is when a family buys a coach that is too expensive. They end up not using it at all because they cannot afford to use it. When they do get a chance, it might be to a local campground for a night or two, yet everyone is stressed out because they do not want to overspend. This is defeating the purpose. RVing is not necessarily a cheaper way to vacation. It’s a different way that can bring families together. It promotes a slower-pace of life and yes there are cost-saving advantages.

Whatever you decide, welcome to the RV lifestyle and we can’t wait to see you down the road.

We Broke Down, What Do We Do Now?

With proper maintenance, your RV is designed to be very sturdy. Yet, a nail on the road takes out a tire, a hose springs a leak, or something else happens. Hopefully, no one is injured.

The choices you make in the next few minutes are going to determine how pleasant or horrible this experience will be. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through this event.

It’s Time To Have Your Insurance Work For You

Calling the Experts

When an RV breaks down, it’s not as easy to find a towing service and a repair shop as you might think. If you have a motorhome, heavy-duty tow trucks must be used to tow your RV, and not every tow company has one.

Some chassis can only be worked on at authorized repair shops. If you have a Mercedes Chassis, finding a service center that can work on your RV can be difficult if you break down in a rural area.

Finding these services can be challenging where you broke down. Then you have to coordinate everything so your hotel is near the repair shop. Once there, you will also want to make sure that the hotel is in a developed enough area where you can get something to eat.

Many insurance companies have done the leg work for you. Their claims representative has access to a complex database that can help you find everything close by:

A tow truck company that can tow your RV
A reputable repair shop
A safe and comfortable hotel/motel to stay at that is near the repair shop
Reserving and getting to the rental car
Local restaurants

What could take all day doing yourself, one call to your insurance company can get the ball rolling on everything you need. You may need to make other calls, but at least they can point you in the right direction.

Vacation Loss Coverage

Major insurance providers offer many features with RV Insurance. Vacation loss coverage is another dimension of RV Insurance. This component gives you an agreed-upon amount of money to live on while you are waiting for your RV to be repaired. It can be used to cover hotel costs, rental car, food, and other unplanned expenses due to your breakdown.

While you would have money for your normal vacation expenses, the insurance companies understand that due to this unforeseen circumstance, your expenses have significantly increased. This allows you to set your mind at ease about how you are going to live during this experience.

Let Someone Know Where You Are

You will want to call someone back home and let them know what’s going on. Besides easing the suffering of those that worry (especially if they are only getting the social media complaints of your kids), having someone at home that knows the truth can help. The repair may throw off your vacation time table, so you may need someone to check on your house, mail, and other things at home.

More directly, through the repair process and insurance, there may be documentation sent to you via U.S. postal mail. Most everything is done electronically, but every now and again, there are documents that have to be taken care of on paper that require signatures for legal reasons. That person at home can have those documents overnighted to you, once they show up at your home mailbox.

Bar, Bars, My Kingdom For Bars

If you travel often in remote areas where reception becomes an issue, signal boosters could be your best friend. Having a device like this gives you that extra boost you need for your cell phone and internet data connections.

These devices do what their name suggests. In remote areas, these devices strengthen your signal. This can mean the difference between having the ability to call for help or not. Cell phone companies do their best to cover the country with reception, but due to natural barriers like mountains, there is only so much they can do.

Get Yourself Noticed

One of the first things you should have bought when you purchased your RV was an emergency roadside kit. Some of the best kits are going to have a little of everything in them:

Road hazard signaling items
Jumper cables
Tow cables
First Aid Items
Survival items

Many of these kits you can buy already put together. They have all of the road hazard, first aid supplies, and other things you will need. Make sure that they have items in there that truckers would use. Your vehicle is bigger than a car, and needs to be marked as such.

Balancing Water And Weight

Traveling with freshwater in the holding tank is always a good thing. How much you bring with you is a question for the ages. No matter who you ask, you will always get a different answer. Here is what you do need to know.

Water is heavy. The heavier your RV, the more fuel you are going to eat up. The more stops to the gas station mean less money for your actual vacation (of course while you are paying for the fuel, the family are going to add snacks, drinks, and other things to the tab too).

If you are going to be dry camping (without any shore hookups), bring as much water as you can. Traveling without water in the storage tank can dry out the freshwater lines. Having water to use while traveling is always recommended. You never know when someone needs a drink or needs to use the restroom.

For breakdown situations, having water available is essential. Until help shows up, you are on your own.

You Broke Down, This Is Not The End Of The World

Unless you are driving away from the zombie apocalypse or nuclear holocaust, breaking down is not the end of the world (if you are driving away from these two events, more than likely, you are in trouble anyway. It’s not like you are driving a racecar).

Before you do anything, calm yourself down. If you have your family with you, go outside and vent out your frustrations. They don’t need to hear it or see it. The representatives you are about to call will be a lot nicer if you can speak with them in a respectful tone.

They are the recipients of customer’s bad moods all day, every day. You never know what extra level of service they may provide for you when you are respectful and patient.

Remember what is important: You are together, you are safe (assuming this is true), there is food in the RV, and a few phone calls will get the ball rolling.

Once all of your phone calls are made, turn the situation into a positive one. Grab the camera phones and see who can get a really cool animal picture. Maybe you can get to some of the outdoor game equipment (if there is a safe place to play it) nearby. Be creative. This situation could turn into one of your best RV memories.