Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
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Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
Hello
I have a tintop T25 and need an idea of where my son can sleep other than the floor as he's a bit of a wriggler and would keep me and the Mrs awake if he shared the rnr bed.
Any helps would be great. Not interested in a cab bunk
Thanks
Roo
E D I T..... Sounded a bit harsh on Bluebird... And i like them !
I have a tintop T25 and need an idea of where my son can sleep other than the floor as he's a bit of a wriggler and would keep me and the Mrs awake if he shared the rnr bed.
Any helps would be great. Not interested in a cab bunk
Thanks
Roo
E D I T..... Sounded a bit harsh on Bluebird... And i like them !
Last edited by robber_roo on 23 Mar 2010, 17:29, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
can't see what you mean as mine works great
- windysurfer
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
Give Bluebird a call and explain your problem,I'm sure they'd be happy to sort it out for you
If Carlsberg made Coachbuilts...........
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have double fabric.
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
I'll try to get in later to take pics
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have double fabric.
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)

I'll try to get in later to take pics
Karen x
We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun. -hmmmmm
1982 2l Aircooled with a name!
We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun. -hmmmmm
1982 2l Aircooled with a name!
Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
windysurfer wrote:Give Bluebird a call and explain your problem,I'm sure they'd be happy to sort it out for you
^^^^^^ What he said, like i say our 12 yr old grand daughter uses ours and it works fine.
- jamesc76
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
robber_roo wrote:Hello
Not interested in a cab bunk
Thanks
Roo
E D I T..... Sounded a bit harsh on Bluebird... And i like them !
Then a pop up tent out side is ya only answer!
DJ at Dubdayz Summerfest
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
Thanks
Spoke with Bluebird earlier. Very helpful as always. I just don't like the sprung poles. Got the old style when I had a bay and it was great. Each to there own.
I edited the first post as I didn't want to be down on Bluebird and I was just venting.
Spoke with Bluebird earlier. Very helpful as always. I just don't like the sprung poles. Got the old style when I had a bay and it was great. Each to there own.
I edited the first post as I didn't want to be down on Bluebird and I was just venting.
Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
robber_roo wrote:Thanks
Spoke with Bluebird earlier. Very helpful as always. I just don't like the sprung poles. Got the old style when I had a bay and it was great. Each to there own.
I edited the first post as I didn't want to be down on Bluebird and I was just venting.
they are the same as the old ones in as much as one pole fits into the other the only differance is the method of fixing to the van, try it some more
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
dirtygertie wrote:1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have double fabric.
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
![]()
I'll try to get in later to take pics
Thanks for all your replies

This sounds good as i've decided the 'bunk' would be better suited in the rear of our van with feet underneath. Could use it as a parcel shelf too


Thanks all
Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
Glad you've worked out your issues. I tried to fit my new T25 bunk today and the fabric is a good 2 inches too narrow so doesn't even get to the B pillar
...I even read the instruction a dozen times and did it all the right way. Pretty gutted as I though..."Won't do the DIY thing; why reinvent the wheel!?"
Anyway e-mailed Bluebird and waiting to see if they will swap the fabric or replace FOC!?
Hopefully will get a response tomorrow with a new fabric to follow...or will be sending the fabric back for a partial refund(?) to make my own. LIke the poles and have already drilled the A pillar.


Anyway e-mailed Bluebird and waiting to see if they will swap the fabric or replace FOC!?

Hopefully will get a response tomorrow with a new fabric to follow...or will be sending the fabric back for a partial refund(?) to make my own. LIke the poles and have already drilled the A pillar.
It's only money....
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
same problem with the fabric. Weird ??
Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
robber-roo, did Bluebird say anything when you contacted them? Have they made you any offer of replacement or exchange? Would be keen to know as if I don't have an e-mail from them tomorrow I will call them and see what they say. Hopefully they'll come good else my daughters gonna nagging me to get THE sewing machine out!
It's only money....
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
when i called they said if i sent the whole lot back they would offer a full refund. Can't get fairer than that 

- Doctor Foster
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
Mikey9 came up with a good parcel shelf bed. Here is the post https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... rcel+shelf&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
start=15
And a link to his pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/15533407@N ... 979456859/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
start=15
And a link to his pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/15533407@N ... 979456859/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- High Peaker
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Re: Cab bunk FAIL.. Anyother ideas??
I've just installed the Bluebird cab bunk with the springy poles.
Did not want to drill a new hole in the A pillar to fit it, because:
a) There are already plenty of holes in it, so why weaken it further
b) It is a sodding thick piece of steel, so wondered how many drill bits I would blunt (and windscreens I would break)
so I used the lower of the grab handle slots. As these are 15mm higher that the proposed position, I had to shorten the front pole a bit (4mm or so) and the rear one (more like 10mm, but it was never going to fit anyway).
Tested it out last weekend. If Georgia hadn't been teething, it would have been fine!
Need to cut some small holes in the curtains though so they wrap all around.
Next - how to devise a safety net / curtain to prevent wriggler getting out.
Did not want to drill a new hole in the A pillar to fit it, because:
a) There are already plenty of holes in it, so why weaken it further
b) It is a sodding thick piece of steel, so wondered how many drill bits I would blunt (and windscreens I would break)
so I used the lower of the grab handle slots. As these are 15mm higher that the proposed position, I had to shorten the front pole a bit (4mm or so) and the rear one (more like 10mm, but it was never going to fit anyway).
Tested it out last weekend. If Georgia hadn't been teething, it would have been fine!
Need to cut some small holes in the curtains though so they wrap all around.
Next - how to devise a safety net / curtain to prevent wriggler getting out.
Alex, High Peak
1983 Hightop Reimo-esque Camper
1983 Hightop Reimo-esque Camper