Layout for family of 5

[Ed44]

Hey everyone! As soon as I can sell my gasser I will be in the market for a used DP. I really love both the Entegra and Newmar brands, but find it difficult to find a layout that sleeps 5 comfortably. Newmar has a few, but not seeing the same with Entegra. I like the 44R, but a new one is not in the budget. Looks like the SL will fit us all, but do not see many for sale. Any suggestions on best layouts for a young family that wants to hit the road? Thanks in advance!

[NH Dave]

Originally Posted by Ed44

Hey everyone! As soon as I can sell my gasser I will be in the market for a used DP. I really love both the Entegra and Newmar brands, but find it difficult to find a layout that sleeps 5 comfortably. Newmar has a few, but not seeing the same with Entegra. I like the 44R, but a new one is not in the budget. Looks like the SL will fit us all, but do not see many for sale. Any suggestions on best layouts for a young family that wants to hit the road? Thanks in advance!

Hello.

We're a family of 5 as well. I posted a thread about this not too long ago called 'The Elusive Triple Bunk' and was just fishing for ideas. We have a 2017 Fleetwood Discovery 39G which we're very pleased with. Its a bunkhouse model, which really has a great floor plan and plenty of room for the 5 of us and it would be REALLY, REALLY great if it only had 3 bunks. I'm going to try and add an additional bunk in ours.

Right now, all 3 of our young kids sleep in the bunk room and take turns up on the bunks. I made a 'mattress' out of upholstery foam, so we can have a 3rd bed in there now and we just set it up on the floor at bed time. This way all of our kids are in the bunk room at bedtime and we can watch tv and be up n about in the coach without disturbing them. It works pretty well, but I'm on a mission to solve the 3rd bunk thing I guess.

Not sure why more coaches don't readily have multiple bunks as options without spending north of $1m on a Prevost or something. Its a pain to open/setup/close a sofa daily and it also makes it difficult for the adults to move around the coach or watch tv if a child is out in the living area on a sofa, thats why I made that other mattress in the bunk room which does work great...for now anyway.

Good luck on your search and keep us posted if you have any luck!

Heres the thread I was talking about:

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/in-s...nk-320380.html

[Matt D]

Review post #5 in this thread..

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/bunk...-a-232290.html

Cory spent some money on customization, and sacrificed the rear closet in the process, but got what he and his family needed, wrapped in a CS!

Honestly, I think Cory made a really wise choice and has one heck of a coach to tote everyone around in.

-Matt

[Ed44]

Thanks, guys! Dave, I really like the 40g. Do you feel like you have enough room? Can't beat the price! How is the quality?

[Ed44]

Sorry, Dave...i meant the 39G. By chance do you know the price difference between the 39 & 40G?

[derba]

44SL... all the way.

We have a 2015 44SL and 5 family members. 3 boys and Mom and Dad. We even still have a Pack and Play (crib) and sometimes guests.

44SL. We thought this was the right floorplan and it has definitely met all needs.

[MisterT]

we looked for the same scenario for our boys...

while most of the high-line makes of motor coaches have a 'bunk house' model in one of their lines, none have more than two bunks.... but,

if you consider some mid-line coaches, you might be able to find bunks for all three...

- Thor Palazzo 33.3...with two bunks and Power Drop-Down Hide-Away Overhead Bunk with Cotton Cloud™ Mattress, Bunk Ladder & 500-lb. Weight Capacity

- FR Coachmen Sportscoach 404 or 408...with 12' Salon Drop Down Bunk over the booth and couch, which might could sleep all three(at least while they're young!)

[HarleySG]

My 2012 Entegra RBQ model has a king size sleep number bed, Full size pull out air mattress (in one couch) and the second couch has a fold down Jack knife bed. Sleeps 5 easily.

[Bslagh]

I converted the rear closet of a TS select to 3 bunks. Love it!

[NH Dave]

Originally Posted by Ed44

Sorry, Dave...i meant the 39G. By chance do you know the price difference between the 39 & 40G?

I think the price is about $10k higher for the 40G, and for that you get the 380HP Cummins, instead of the 360HP Cummins that the 39G has and some under coach LEDS. Not too much else.

We just got ours late last summer, but so far we are VERY pleased with the 39G! Its a good amount of coach for the dough. Quality is decent. Ample HP/Torque for towing our 6600lb toad (even on our steep grades in NH). Also, with the slides in, 5 of us can still move around in the coach and get wherever we need to get while on the road without having to unbolt tables etc. as with some other coaches. Plus the U-dinette seats all of us comfortably without the need for extra chairs etc. The bunks are closed off which is nice because no one has to sleep out on the couch or where us adults hangout once the kiddos are in bed and there no setting up/closing up of a sofa bed etc every single day…which gets old fast! It also has a tankless h20 heater which is great for all of us showers, running the dishwasher etc… As I said, we are very pleased with it and its a good amount of coach for the dough. I've looked at coaches that are 2 and 3 times the money, that the 5 of us simply would be much less comfortable in…including while on the road. So it was hard to justify the extra money that I wouldn't mind spending if that weren't the case.

If you have any questions, just ask, I'd be happy to answer what I can.

[NH Dave]

Originally Posted by Bslagh

I converted the rear closet of a TS select to 3 bunks. Love it!Attachment 149331

That looks GREAT!!

[Matt D]

Rusty, I agree your floor plan will sleep 5 (or more) comfortably.

We chose a setup with dedicated bunks largely due to two factors:

-We don't like setting up or breaking down the bedding arrangement in order to move.

-We like the kids having their own space.

This is all simply preference, and without kids to consider we would be using different priorities.

-Matt

[MisterT]

most of us who full time, or at least travel extensively with our children, quickly realize that 'pull out sofas' and 'convertible booths' are not the answer when traveling....

[Ed44]

Love the responses! Thanks to everyone. We are not full timers so all options are on the table. Appreciate all the feedback!