KDOG2010
New Jersey
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I have a '09 Kodiak 195 hybrid and I noticed that when hitched up the bunk end when down is still about a foot away from the back window of my 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. Even when "knifed" it doesn't come close to it. Which means of course I could drive with it down if it wasn't for the tent fabric. So I started thinking - what if I took the tent assembly off (except the support cables) and made a "hard" permanent bunk end assembly for the front bunk end. Ideally it would be fiberglass but wood would work also if constructed properly. (I'm still considering building one of those teardrops which are almost exclusively made from wood). This would give the "primary" bunk in my trailer insulation and noise reduction qualities as well as an actual window or two. Depending on the shape I could get more aerodynamic qualities while towing as well.
What do you think? Does my idea have merit or am I crazy?
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crashpilot
Green River, WY
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Joined: 02/17/2005
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I have 2 of them on my camper. One of the hard sided moveable pieces slides out and has my dinette and couch on it, the other "slide" is the kids bunk beds..
I don't think it sounds crazy at all. 
Straight Board -
2008 Chevy 4X4 Z71 Crew Cab K2500HD LTZ Duramax/Allison
2005 Jayco JayFlight 31BHDS
2007 Kawasaki BF 650 4X4i Camo (mine)
2007 Polaris X2 500 EFI Deluxe (hers)
The mountains of Wyoming as my backyard.
Powder River, Let 'er buck!
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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Well, if I am reading correctly and understanding your plan..what you are doing is turning your hybrid into a travel trailer...right?
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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So you're planning on inventing a 5th wheel except it wouldn't have any of the advantages OR disadvantages of a 5th wheel? Why not 
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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carringb
Corvallis, OR
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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Will you still have enough clearance when making a hard turn up an incline? Such as when turning into some gas stations and grocery stores?
Bryan
2000 Ford E350 DRW Wagon (14-pass all captains chairs)
V10 w/ Banks PowerPack, Diablo Predator, 4.56 LS, 250,000+ miles
Had: Weekend Warrior 41' FSW
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KDOG2010
New Jersey
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Yeah I guess that what I'm doing. LOL.
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KDOG2010
New Jersey
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Good question. But I have some more measuring to do anyway. I HAVE discovered that the bed itself can come in about 8 inches, because I wouldn't have to deal with the hinge area. Which means I could cut the bunk-end shorter 8 or so inches which would lead to even more clearance. However instead of destroying the bunkend, it may be prudent ot just remove it and build a whole new section, so its completely reversible in case it doesn't work out....still got some thinking to do....
carringb wrote:Will you still have enough clearance when making a hard turn up an incline? Such as when turning into some gas stations and grocery stores?
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DavidP
Raleigh
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Tongue weight needs to be factored in as well. Depending on materials you could be adding considerable weight.
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KDOG2010
New Jersey
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Also a good point. What I will have to do is weigh what I remove and weigh what I put on and see what differences there are....
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Mike Up
NW Indiana section of Chicagoland
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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To me, it sounds like a bad idea. Your bunk door likely doesn't have the structure integrity to hold all the additional weight besides the bouncing, and vibration from road surfaces. Add to the fact that this door is only a glued sandwiched laminated panel held on with only small gauge cables, it's a disaster in the making "IMO".
I'd sell it and buy a camper that has a hardwall expandable bed as a Jayco Jay Feather 213. Then again, if you could, I scrap the idea of a laminated built trailer all together and get a larger TT if it could be done.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Have a good one.
2008 Jayco Jay Flight 19BH
22.5' long & 3900#s dry
2008 Ford Sport Trac 4.6L V8 4X4
7000#/730# rating, 131" WB, 292 Hp/300# Torque
Reese Strait-Line 800 lbs Trunnion Bar Sway Control
Sleeping on ground > Tent > PUP > PUP w/HWH & Bath > Finally to a TT 
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