Using E-Track to Make Bunk Beds Inside of an Enclosed Trailer

Updated 10/13/2015 | Published 10/12/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Rack'Em Shelf Kit for Enclosed Trailers

(24)

$245.48

E Track Wood Beam Socket for Standard 2" Lumber - Qty 1

(198)

$10.09

Erickson Vertical E Track - Zinc Plated Steel - 2,000 lbs - 4' Long - Qty 1

(1213)

$28.46

Question:

Thank you for your ingenuity in creating the vertical E-Track with 2x4inch brackets system. It is the solution I have been looking for. My new cargo hauler / hunting trailer has a ceiling height of 64, and width of 80. The interior walls are 1 1/2inch tubular aluminum framing with 3/4inch thick interior plywood. My hunting buddy and I each weigh 300 pounds. Allowing 100 pounds for the narrow bunks, our total sleeping weight would total to about 600 or 700 pounds. Your advised weight limit is roughly 500 pounds total sleeping weight for the 4 E-Tracks needed to build a wooden bunk bed. Could we compensate for our collective over-the-limit weight by adding a 3rd vertical wall rail on each sidewall to support an additional long/centered horizontal 2x4inch or 2x6inch joice board under each plywood sheet bed, or must we each go on diets? Or, I could trade-in my hunting buddy for a much lighter grandkid. Please advise. And thank you again. PS: DO NOT let my wife see this email and your response, or she will certainly put me on a diet irrespective of your forthcoming advice.

asked by: Jim C

Expert Reply:

Sorry Jim but your wife already got to us and I'm afraid you'll have to go on the all-beet diet! I kid, I kid. The Rack'em shelf kit # RA-13 is great for shelves but to make some bunk beds I recommend going with E-Track # E19146.

This single 4 foot long section is rated for 6,000 pounds (of course the way it is mounted and what it is mounted to also would have to be rated that high to get the full capacity). But if you used 6 of these (2 extra for added support) then you and your hunting buddy or grand kid, would be good to go.

You could then use 6 or 8 of bracket # 59149 to start creating the bunk beds. You just need to make sure that where you have the E-Track attached to the trailer can handle the 700 pounds.

expert reply by: Michael H