Chairs instead of a dinette

I am 6'6" tall and my Keystone factory dinette was useless for me. I built a table with one leg that mounts to the wall and sits 2-3" taller than the dinette did. I now have chairs. But I still don't like it. Most all trailers give you about 6' to mount a table and chairs. The exception is with the ORV dinettes which are about 7' and very comfortable although still a couple inches too low for me. Next I intend to modify the table I built by narrowing it about 6" and raising it to accommodate tall counter height chairs. This way I'll have much more leg room underneath and a easier time getting under the chair backed up from the table to get in and out.

MikeInOregon wrote:
We also thought that the dinette was uncomfortable. In our Creekside, there was an electrical outlet in the dinette that had to be moved to the wall. After moving the outlet, we replaced the dinette with two swivel, rocking, reclining chairs. Now we are very comfy when sitting inside. We use a small folding table when eating inside. We found the two small chairs at a local furniture store. The back of the chairs are removable. This really helped to get them through the trailer door.

That photo looks just like the back window interior of my Crekside 26RLS, except that mine is stock. Dinette + couch is in the slide-out.

We removed the dinette. Didn't have enough room for two chairs so went with a love seat. IKEA was a great fit could be put together in the trailer.

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Back again. I am looking for an ultra light trailer and I find that most dinettes are just uncomfortable and would prefer two chairs I see the Escape has a bed in back and a dinette in front. Does anyone know if you can remove it and install chairs or does it cover the water tank?

If the Escape you are describing is the 17, I removed the front cushions & replaced them with West Marine High Back Chairs. Far more comfortable, although you lose the ability to make the table into a single bed. By the way, the West Marine High Back Chairs are on sale at 1/2 price until July 24th. A very versatile chair - I've taken it out & used it on picnic tables, it back packs & can be used on bleachers, and folds flat to form a very short bed - kids, not adults.

To see one of the chairs in the Escape, go to 2013 Modifications, and scroll down.

As to the water tanks, the fresh tank in behind the axle, but the black tank is under the front driver's side bench (in the 17). It doesn't take up the entire space, but enough of it that a floor mounted chair would be difficult.

After much looking at smaller trailers, we finally decided on no dinette at all. They just take up too much room and don't offer comfort for things like lounging or watching TV (not that we do that much of that when we are out camping, but just in case...) We finally settled on a Starcraft Ultra Light Launch 21FBS. It has no dinette at all, but a sofa slide-out. For a table if you ever want to eat inside there is a folding table stored on a rack under the bed that you can take out and put up in front of the sofa to eat. And there is room to put two folding chairs on the opposite side of the table as well if you have need for more seating. So far, we like it really well. And we've used the table only once.

My DW wanted to replace or dinette with a table and chairs in our 2010 Dutchmen.

Under the left seat is the furnace. It is not going anywhere. Under the right seat was a storage drawer and the water pump. I was able to remove the storage drawer and 2/3 of the right seat leaving 1/3 of the seat to cover the pump and an area large enough for a small kitchen chair.

If I replace the dinette table with a small kitchen table I loose the ability to use it for an extra bed.

I also added a 2 inch hard foam "cushion" under the existing cushion for better padding.

Almost everything in a TT covers something else.

braindead0 wrote:
is 'uncomfortable' just due to the padding or poor layout? We replaced out foam with some high quality high density foam suitable for seating and it made a HUGE difference. If the design is poor, cushions of course aren't going to help.

Where did you get the high density foam?

I am sitting on my dinette booth in my new trailer right now and I'm basically sitting on the plywood. I would love to replace with something more supportive if I can

Sorry for the hijack OP. :)

DutchmenSport wrote:
Murphsmom... you beat me with your response by .04 seconds! Now THAT'S close!

LOL!

You may want to look at the Casita's as well. One or two of their models have a side dinette with captains chairs. I've always liked that feature.

Roy&Lynne wrote:

FrankShore wrote:
Are you looking for something like the newest Lance 1485, which is a no slide, 2 easy chair design, and ultra lightweight. It might be the 1495, I don't know the specific model number off hand. It's small and lightweight.

Wow, I like that one alot. Thanks Frank.

You're welcome. Lance stands above the crowd because the materials they use to construct their trailers, CNC precision, Azdel and Lite Ply + a regular regulation queen sized bed - worth a definite look!