Bunk Removal on 176 - Event Date: 29 Aug 2013

Welcome.  Since I have the 171 I can't answer your question but many others here can.

Originally posted by podgirl Has anyone removed the top bunk in the 2012 R Pod 176? There is not enough head room on the bottom bunk and was wondering what else might be done. Thanks

I have a R-POD 176 and DID remove 1/2 of the top bunk!
I left the part of the top bunk right behind the entertainment center shelving for storage of bedding or for whatever you might need extra storage for! It does help getting in and out of that bottom bunk AND gives a good spot for sitting as well!
As for taking it out..... real easy! Just pry up the piece (sheet) of wood on top of the bunk and you will see the framing and the screws that go into the walls and all you have to is remove the screws and take out the top bunk! It might make it easier to cut it in 1/2 to remove it since you don't have a lot of room to get it out whole.
I'll try and get some pictures of mine so you can see what I did!
Hope this helps!    

We bought our 176 used in November last year. We knew then that we couldn't both sleep on the dinette bed - he's too tall and has to angle in the bed. So I took the bottom bunk. As I'm not too young and have back issues, it was kind of hard to fold myself in the bunk. So hubby did a large cut out of the top bunk - leaving enough space on the back wall and outside wall for shelf space. He then added about a 7" edge around the cut-out to keep the stuff in as well as an L bracket on the outside edge to give it more support. We're on our way home now after more than a month on the road and it's worked out great. We also added a wire shelf above the bunk shelf on the outside wall so I can't complain too much about storage. Then he made a shelf with legs that fits over the storage containers on the top bunk behind the entertainment center that I use for food storage in a container. Of course everything will fall off that shelf when moving, so I anchor it with a dinette cushion stuffed in. Lastly, we added a battery operated led light on the wall above where my head is so I have good reading light. It's all made life easier in our Jackpod.

Thanks for the information. I do believe that making changes in that area will definitely make the pod better.

Wow!! It looks so much larger. Did you cover the remainder of bunk with a laminate or did you stain it? Also, did you use part of the trim for the side or add another piece? This really helps. Thanks so much for the pictures!