I really like the forward bath, aft dinette of the Bigfoot 10.4, looked for one for several years and found one (new old stock) in 2013. While I like the general arrangement, the dinette is quite small, especially for two tall people. This is the compromise of this floor plan. We lived with it this long, but the seats are uncomfortable for more than a few minutes (like most camper dinettes) and they are too close together, so your legs and feet interfere with the person facing you. It is only about 30 inches in width and 66 inches in length, useless as a bed except for small children.

So for years I have noodled on changing it, probably something I would never do. Then along came Covid 19, eliminating all other plans for this year. I had 3D modeled it over the years, and had settled on this design, turning the seating sideways, with proper slopes to the seat bottom and back rests. There are many constraints, mainly the black water tank and furnace under the forward seat, and the window and exterior access compartment aft.

So I demo'd the living room and started in on it. I discovered some 'interesting' construction methods used by Bigfoot, but eventually cleared it all away to the floors and walls. This is still has the original base or plinth for the dinette, that was cleared away down to the linoleum and walls.

Next was to mock up the design out of scrap plywood to see where I had made bad assumptions. I had to get right down on the heat ducting, and step the back of both seats up so that the back cushion starts at the top of the seat cushion - only way to leave room for the stuff I couldn't easily change.

Actual construction was cut from ApplePly, an American made version of baltic birch, considerably better quality (with a price to match!). It took two sheets with only a little left over. I cut the pieces corrected by the mockup, prefinished them outside the camper. The corner joinery uses yacht style oak corner posts, everything is pocket screwed together. It took a bit of experimentation to get the stain somewhat matching the original BF "photo finish" plastic wood.

Nearly finished, extra space behind the forward seat forced by the furnace was used as a storage compartment, shelf above was created out of the original table as the Formica matched the galley counter opposite. Edging of counter and seats were done with a teak boat molding as I could buy it with the round corner pieces (to save the shins...).

I remodeled my BF10.4 living room - picture heavy

HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
Final touch was to sew the cushions. Tried to find a shop to do this but they are all on Covid vacation of very busy so I ended up doing it myself. The seat bottoms are sloped about 2 deg, the cushions are tapered to an additional 2 degrees. Backs have about a 20 degree slope. All that is missing in most dinettes as they keep them flat and upright so it will turn into a bed. The furnace ducting was relocated and simplified.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
Nearly finished, extra space behind the forward seat forced by the furnace was used as a storage compartment, shelf above was created out of the original table as the Formica matched the galley counter opposite. Edging of counter and seats were done with a teak boat molding as I could buy it with the round corner pieces (to save the shins...).
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
Actual construction was cut from ApplePly, an American made version of baltic birch, considerably better quality (with a price to match!). It took two sheets with only a little left over. I cut the pieces corrected by the mockup, prefinished them outside the camper. The corner joinery uses yacht style oak corner posts, everything is pocket screwed together. It took a bit of experimentation to get the stain somewhat matching the original BF "photo finish" plastic wood.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
Next was to mock up the design out of scrap plywood to see where I had made bad assumptions. I had to get right down on the heat ducting, and step the back of both seats up so that the back cushion starts at the top of the seat cushion - only way to leave room for the stuff I couldn't easily change.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
So I demo'd the living room and started in on it. I discovered some 'interesting' construction methods used by Bigfoot, but eventually cleared it all away to the floors and walls. This is still has the original base or plinth for the dinette, that was cleared away down to the linoleum and walls.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 10, 2020
So for years I have noodled on changing it, probably something I would never do. Then along came Covid 19, eliminating all other plans for this year. I had 3D modeled it over the years, and had settled on this design, turning the seating sideways, with proper slopes to the seat bottom and back rests. There are many constraints, mainly the black water tank and furnace under the forward seat, and the window and exterior access compartment aft.

Forum Discussion

I remodeled my BF10.4 living room - picture heavy

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Fixing the skylight on BF10.4 - picture heavy

Shower Remodel

Bathroom Remodel - Thor Vegas 25.2 (2018)

Toy Hauler Pictures

Picture