Dinette Bed

Fparsons wrote:
Also, what do you use for a table on raining/cold times when we'd want to eat inside?

When downsizing a few years ago from out triple bunk bed K-Z Spree we intentionally chose a 19' couple's model with no dinette, just a slide sofa, reasoning that we eat outside more often than inside and would therefore get more use from a sofa. For those times we do want to eat inside we just set a couple of folding TV tables at the sofa. This works particularly well as they each weigh but a few pounds, are easy to handle, and take up no space at all to store. :B

I would just take off the bunk cushions and put a solid support, like 1/2" plywood all the way across. Get a memory foam mattress close to the right size and cut it to fit. You could upholster the backs of the dinette seats for a headboard and footboard if you wanted to.

I would also get a drawer put under the dinette seat on the side not blocked by the kitchen. And you would have the space in the middle for tubs, large items, etc. You would lose easy access to the space under the dinette seat that is blocked by the kitchen.

If you use a memory foam mattress, you need the support to have holes in it for air flow, or use some stuff called HyVent under the mattress. Otherwise you body moisture will condense under the mattress and can cause mold.

Many dinettes are too small for adults. They are really designed for kids.

Our dinette makes into a full size queen bed. A standard queen sheet fits it just perfect. We never set up our dinette table and just use it as a lounge area to watch tv since that is where the tv mount is.

We bought a new 2011 Jayco 184BH and owned it for two years. We used the table and made it into a bed with the cushions as designed and then bought a 3 inch memory foam topper from Walmart and left the bed made up most of the time. On the rare occasions that we ate inside, we sat at the couch with folding TV tables. I did cut a plywood piece to put in place of the table, and that worked ok, but, we found that occasionally we wanted to set up the table and make the dinette again. By using the table and the memory foam topper, we could roll that up and place it in the top bunk and still have a dinette table to use. We never put the plywood back in.

Our camper has no dinette. The original floor plan came with a sofa instead of a dinette. While it came with a "portable" table, it was too heavy and awkward to be practical so we came up with a better solution. I made a gate-leg table that can be used in any of three configurations:



With both leaves down, the table is only about 6" wide. It takes up very little space and serves as a nice side table.



With one leaf up, it makes a small desk.



With both leaves up, it is large enough to set for dinner.

As I said, I designed and built this table, but they are available commercially. If interested you can find several choices marketed by Ikea and perhaps other sources.

Nice, but that should be a Guinness on there.