Triple Bunks - yes/no?
Hi - I currently have a Bailey Pageant Provence S7 5 berth which suits current family needs (me, wife and 3 children aged 9, 7 and 4). Currently the two youngest children share the rear double bed and the oldest uses the pull-out bunk.
Looking to the future we are thinking about triple bunks and I quite like the look of the Bailey triple bunks that I've noted whilst pitched up. So my questions are this:
- What do people think of triple bunks? (do they work??)
- What are the alternatives? (given the ages, not yet comfortable with children sleeping in the awnings - nor me, before anybody suggests it
) - Is there such a thing as a lightweight twin axle triple bunk suitable for towing with SMax 2.0D (140bhp)? I don't really want to run a 4x4 for the rest of the year only to really use it for towing, but I do like the idea of the extra space afforded by a twin axle.
Thoughts/wisdom/advice please 
Comments
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Given the ages of your kids, would suggest NO. I've a 2010 Sprite Major with triple bunks and my (two) kids are starting to outgrow it at ages 8 and 9. The eldest uses the top bunk and he's now struggling to get in and out because the vertical space of each bunk is pretty tight. Was perfect when they were younger, though. Would suggest that a double bunk and a side dinette might give you more room to grow. Triple bunks now out of favour with most manufacturers. Weirdly fixed double bunk layouts now seem available only in mid-weight single axle models? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
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You say you are not comfortable with children sleeping in the awning.
We had similar concern with granddaughter at the age of 9/10
We got an awning bedroom ( she was not comfortable with that)
So tried a 2 man festival popup tent (cost about £20) inside the awning
Her own personal territory - so chuffed she would use it both in a daytime whilst reading and at night
Now approaching age of 15, her best friend on holiday, she ,last week decided a week with grandparents in Derbyshire appealed
Still using same tent both during the day and night but instead of reading spends much time on smartphone
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I wouldn't get one. We bought a double bunk van a few years ago and the mistake I made was that the top bunk wasn't evenly spaced to the bottom one and was too near the ceiling but had slightly more room than the triple version. Once my daughter got to 12 it was impossible to use and in reality we should have changed it earlier than we did.
With the triple versions the space between the other bunks is extremely limited so you will be setting yourself up for a van change fairly early on
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We have the Bailey 646 with triple bunks at the rear.
Ours are 12 and 9 and have no issues on the bunks, plenty of room still.
Unless they have friends, it's middle and top with the bottom used for storage.
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Thanks for theses responses - really useful. I've been concerned that the gaps between the bunks are very small potentially giving rise to a feeling of claustrophobia, but there seems to be the advantage that the bunks don't have to be put away to create extra space. I like the idea that each child has their own personal space in the bunk with some extra space in a dinette.
I guess we'll have to take a closer look at one. If anybody with s triple bunk lives in/near mid Wales and doesn't mind my wife and I taking a look please let me know 👍.
Please keep comments coming! They are really useful.
Incidentally, what is the caravan preference of other families-of-five? I doubt vey much we are the only ones 🙂.
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Bailey 646 for us as well, we use all three bunks, we like that all three beds are ready to use at bed time, the best bit is the wooden door so we can close it whilst they go to sleep
A 646 may be too heavy for your motor, 546 are single axle and lighter.
The 646 has a separate shower and the extra room comes in handy.
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