I’m going to be honest… I thought I was going to hate the bunk windows. In my “overwhelmed and frustrated” post on Day 17, I was really struggling with the decision to buy these 20″ x 15″ bunk windows that were not at all like the long and skinny bunk windows I had imagined in my head (and in our 3D model).
However, when they arrived, I warmed up to them. They’re proportioned almost exactly like the step truck windows that we installed in the kitchen and sliding door, just smaller. And they seem to be made well, they’re already tinted 17%, and they were only $240 for two of them. Even with the broken plastic latch on the one (which customer service is going to replace), I am pretty happy with the quality.
Window Placement
The part that always takes the longest when installing the windows is deciding where to put them. Since these windows are going above the bed, we wanted to make sure that they would be placed with the bed height in mind. We are planning for 38″ in the garage space below our fixed bed, which should be enough to fit a 36″ wheel mountain bike. Inserting the bike will be another challenge since we were planning on 2×4 construction for the bed frame, which would limit the entry space to 24″. Also, we planned for approximately 35″ above the bed platform (to the ceiling covering) for our mattress, mattress topper, and sitting space.
It was really important to me that we have enough height so I could sit up straight in bed, not only so we could work or read in bed, but also because if we didn’t have enough height, I’d probably hit my head daily. Since we have a 5″ mattress and a 3″ foam mattress topper that compresses a lot when we sit on it, we measured the compression under me and used that for reference.
In the van, we marked out the height of the bed platform and the height of the mattress + topper. Originally, we were going to place the mattress right up against the window on my side of the bed (the side with no overhead cabinets).
There are constraints to where we could install the window based on the cutout area indicated on the side of the Sprinter van. Additionally, we wanted the windows to look level with the top of the larger windows we had installed in the kitchen and on the sliding door. Given the constraints of the area we could install the window, and the height we wanted to install it, the mattress will overlap the window by about 4 inches when not compressed.
So, we decided that we will center the mattress on the bed platform, giving both of us some space next to the mattress for a little “side table.” I already know my side table will be covered with plants 🙂 Centering the mattress will help the mattress not restrict airflow from the windows.
We also decided we will push our bed platform back to the very edges of the door, cutting out the corners to accommodate the odd shape (like Far Out Ride did) so that we can gain an extra 5″ of living space in the living room and kitchen areas. This means our wheel boxes will protrude past the end of the bed, which doesn’t matter because there will be a closet on one side and the couch on the other covering the boxes.
Window Install
We followed the same steps I outlined in the 12 Steps to Installing a Window build journal I wrote up when we installed our junkyard step truck windows in the kitchen and sliding door.
Even though the RV windows were meant to be installed with a trim kit, they were made for 1.5″ RV walls. So we decided to machine the screw holes into the frames and install them with screws and silicone adhesive, as we had done with the other windows.
Additionally, instead of trying to catch the metal shavings in the bucket, we tried to tarp the area below the windows with a sheet to keep the mini pieces of flying metal from getting into the exposed wall cavities and crack at the edge of the subfloor (which was not a concern last time we installed windows, the wall coverings were still on).
Verdict
I can safely say that I LOVE our bunk windows. I thought they would look ridiculous being so small on the side of such a large van. I also wasn’t convinced I would like their square-ish shape. However, once they were installed and I could see them next to the larger windows, I really liked them. We did a good job of lining them up so that they look even with the other windows, which is visually pleasing as well. And I think they will work perfectly for our ventilation needs!
9/21/2020
Build Day #23
Hours Worked: 15
- Austin – 8
- Becky – 7
- Total Project Hours: 249
Money Spent: $18
- 100 pack of 10mm Plastic Trim Clips (Amazon) – $6
- Solar Double Cable Entry Housing (Amazon) – $12
- Total Project Spending: $19,684
Tasks Complete: 1
- Install bunk windows
Questions Googled: 0
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