Fish House Bunks

[MJBaldwin]

Wondering what thickness you guys use for your bunks if you use plywood/osb on the bottom. My plan is to make it out of 2x2's as then screw that to the studs and throw a piece of osb on top just not sure of the thickness for that let me know what you use i was thinking 7/16" would be plenty. I also plan to have two supports in the middle.

(this is actually for a deer shack but same concept)

[randerson]

I think 7/16 would be fine if you are bracing the underside other wise I would go 3/4 if your just framing the perimeter

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I'm having a tough time visualizing based on your description. The thickness totally depends on the framing. I used 1/4" for my top bunk, and 3/4" for my bottom bunks.

[Redlineracer12]

I used 7/16 OSB and they're plenty sturdy. I used 2x3's and two braces in each. They are pretty heavy though (32x72), I am thinking about going to aluminum tubing for the frames. Only bothers me because I need to move them in order to use as toy hauler.

[MJBaldwin]

Thanks for the replys guys, Lip Ripper please see attached image for my visual of it.

[dougger222]

For the the LOW sleeper house used 7/16in OSB but used 2x4 framing as weight is not an issue.

[MJBaldwin]

A side note these will never have to be moved, We are going to have three of them stack on the wall for us to sleep on they will be 3' wide and approximently 7'-6". Thanks again

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

If they aren't going to be moved, and weight isn't that much of an issue, just use 7/16 or 1/2.

[MJBaldwin]

I was trying to get by is cheap as possible is why i was thinking the 1/4" but maybe ill just do the 7/16 not too much more only about 6 bucks a sheet.

[leech~~]

Here's a few questions to ask.

How long do you think that you will be using them and want them to last?

Will the same guys at the same weight always be sleeping on the same one or will other hunters be joining the group later?

Are you going to have some kind of ladder to get up to the tops ones or step on the lower ones to get to the tops ones? Just because someone may weigh #250 lbs the weight they are putting on it climbing in is way more then that as their weight is not spread out as they climb up on one end or the other to get up.

And lastly, if you have some buddies that like to drink a little bit to much in camp and jump on and off the bunks like monkeys or do the big passout crappie flop when they crash! You may want to build them a little heavier for longer use!

[MJBaldwin]

Leech - You would suggest the 7/16". We have some made there now but they are a little over built and we want to have three instead of only two. A little less head room on there but it will take less space up. Same people will be sleeping in them. and only once in awhile we have too much thats in my buddies past now so not much booze flows like it used too!

[leech~~]

There are a lot of ways to skin this pig!

First, do you have a son and dad or two brothers who will not kill each other if they slept side by side? If so you could do the bigger two wide bottom bunk with one smaller over the top bunk still sleeping 3.

Second if you have a smaller shack, I would do one well built bottom bunk for the heavest guy and then two fold out bunks built above them so during the evening when everyone is sitting around shooting the cr@p the bottom one could be used to sit on. I would build them out of 2x2 with some good cross bracing and yes 7/16" ply. Or 2x2 inside cross bracing and 2x3-4" outside boards to give more strength and help hold the mattress in.

Third, this one gets a little more complicated to visualize but is really pretty simple. It's made to sleep 3 people in the same space as two would sleep side by side. To make it work you do have to have enough room stright out from one wall as wide as two bunks. You more or less build one higher and longer bunk. Then build a second lower less wider bunk and then build one more lower less wider bunk yet. When not in use you just slide the other two under the tallest one. When in use you pull out the other two only half way out from each other enough so each guy can climb in to sleep and each bunk would still be half way under the other so not to take up as much floor space. Kind of a nesting thing.

I know you are trying to keep the cost down so the second one may be the one that may work the best for you. Just do yourself a favor and get a ladder of some kind to get into the top two bunks as there is nothing worst then having your buddy step on your head in the middle of the night getting down from the top bunks when they are going out to take a Pi$$! I know.

[MJBaldwin]

Thanks leech, Like your ideas I think there more for a fish house where we have a larger shack butted up next to a smaller one all one now but was two at one point. So this like probably 8x8 we use for just sleeping and is mouse proof (as far as I have ever seen) then we have the larger shack which is about 12’X18’. Where we have a table/couch and a little fireplace to relax after the long days hunting if it’s not too cold out we always like good old fire outside! Anyways I think I will be using the 2x2’s on the wall then do some cross bracing with the 2x4’s and finish it off with a sheet of 7/16” osb. Thanks for all your help!