Dinette vs. table and chairs

[sailors]

We have always had a dinette in every RV we have ever owned. We are looking to buy a new fifth wheel with three slides and although the three we are interested in (Jayco, Cougar and Open Road)show the dinette in their brochures, all the dealers have only the table and chairs. We hated to lose the extra bed and storage space and were also worried about having to secure them while traveling. What have you forum members found to be the pros and cons of dinette versus table and chairs?

Thank you.

[Yosemitebobr]

We bought our 5'ver with table and chairs, with intention of changing it to a booth. So much for that, the boss loves it the way it is. At Christmas time, we lose two chars (we are only two) and one easy chair and we have room for the Tree and other things. Al depends on where we go. But to tell you the truth, I like the chairs and table myself as well.

[roy67ss]

I did something different in my unit. It came with table and 4 chairs. I took 2 chairs out and leave them in the house. I built a half booth in the corner. It is wide enough for 2 kids or 1 adult comfortably. I have a drawer under that serves as a filing cabinet plus room for other knick-knacks. The table legs can partially slide under the booth to keep it from wandering during travel. The space used is the same as the table and 4 chairs but is more functional with the added storage. I carry a folding chair for company if needed.

[fly-swatter]

Table and chairs for us as the kids have moved out. All the seats lift up for storage as well, good for cards,games and maps and such. Our last unit had terrible bench's, sat way too low.

[dennisgt60]

We prefer to eat, slumped into our leather recliners and thereby, dropping food all over our shirt/blouse. ALL my shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, jackets are food-stained. Yea, I 'm a camping slob.

[travelnutz]

Had several of both and learned the table and chairs has so little true comfort if sitting for any longer periods other than quick eating. The dinette gives a a lot of hidden storage right in the kitchen area under the thickly and firm cushioned seats for those heavy liquid bottles and canned goods in easy to slide plastic storage containers that so easily slide on the carpet in there and like having an additional pullout pantry down low. Nothing can move while traveling because it's walled on all 4 sides. That's important because dinettes are usually over or very close to the RV's wheels and keep unessary added weighty items off the pin or ball front end.

Our dinette seat backs are not uncomfortable at all and if wanted some find they are, a throw pillow behind your lower back makes them far more comfortable than any of those hard thin chair seats and backs that push on your bones. Cheap RV usually have lousy quality foam cushions on their dinettes and they bottom out, we've found. They are nothing like the very good quality cushions some RV's have. Huge differences! Buy cheap, get cheap!

Also the dinette easily converts to a very comfortable bed for 2 if and when needed and that's unbeatable. Dinettes have many multipurpose features/uses while table and chairs have so few. Then add in that when using the puter on the dinette table, I can swing my legs up on the rest of the seat cushion and sometimes even put a throw pillow behind my back and just lean back and it's like a soft cushioned recliner. Real comfort when surfing or researching etc! Sure is nice when using the puter or just us two talking and/or snacking or daydreaming when it's cold outside or windy or raining. So darn comfortable that we often doze off for a little nap. So relaxed!

A real PIA with 4 present for the inside person to get in and out with chairs but so easy with a dinette as they can simply slide out. For sure, no tables and chairs RV's for us again as we've learned the lessons well!

[ddschuman]

We had a booth in our TT and table/chairs in our FW. To us, the table and chairs are much more comfortable and our FW has storage space that never gets used anyway so we don't miss the added storage of the booth. I imagine that would not be the case if we were fulltimers vs vacationers. As far as securing table/chairs...our table came with bolts anchoring it down (those could easily be removed if needed) and even though there are anchors in the floor and straps to connect to anchors for the chairs, when we purchased our FW, the guy doing the PDI with us said the anchors are not necessary. He actually said that nothing was necessary on the chairs but if it made us feel better, just use one of the straps and strap the 4 inner legs of all chairs around the center of the table (this is what we do).

[webslave]

We've had both and actually prefer the table and chairs...but, not for the reason(s) most people list. It is just the two of us and we actually prefer to eat off of tv trays (we have two that adjust for height and angle that serve multiple uses). We removed the table and chairs altogether; much easier to do than removing a dinette booth unit. In its place is one of the DW's weaving looms. When we travel she can spin her yarns (she has several spinning wheels) from raw materials and then weave the yarns into fabrics. The area is her "hobby" space and looks like it was made for it since the carpeting is the same throughout the area. She gets a lot of "looks" when she is sitting outside with her spinning wheel or people spot her through the big dining room window while she is weaving...

[B_O__Plenty]

We much prefer the table. I'm a big guy and the booths are usually too cramped and sit too low..I'll never have another one.

B.O.

[attuco]

Having both, I like the table and chairs. Normally have just 2 chairs and use folding chairs if we need to seat more. I did have to put bolts through the table legs into the floor to keep it in place. I put a strap around the table and chairs.

[mockturtle]

Had four RVs, two with booth, two with table & chairs. Much prefer the booth.

[fj12ryder]

We've had both and the dinette is nice for the storage, but my preference is for the table and chairs. I've never sat in a booth that was as comfortable as a table and chair. I like to be able to move the chair when I want and the set distance from table to dinette may not be to my liking. Peggy loves booths and therefore prefers the dinette.

We never secured the table and chairs while traveling and never had a problem with them moving around.

[RollandB]

Before moving to our 5er our TTs all had dinette booths and preferred those to table and chairs. If we went back to a TT it is probable what our top choice would be just for the added storage. In our 5er we love the table and chairs. No problem with them falling over when moving. The best part of them is the flexibility of how we have it laced out and the chairs are a lot more comfortable.

[DutchmenSport]

Our first 2 TT's had booths. I though both of them were uncomfortable. As I'm getting older, my middle is also getting bigger. We don't use the booth for bed space, but the storage under the seats was nice. Except the last 5 or 6 years, we downsized all our junk, and both seats were almost completely empty. We kept a couple extra blankets under one and a set of kitchen knives under the other. I hated the table wobbling on 2 posts also.

Our new Outback has table and chairs. We took 2 of the chairs completely out of the camper, and turned the table 90 degrees to provide more passage when the slides are in. I like the table-chairs much, much more. The table can be moved around. The chairs can be moved around. You can actually take them completely OUT if you really want to. Or replace them if you want to.

As far as travel goes? The table is anchored to the floor with 4 screws through the feet to keep it from moving. When I turned the table 90 degrees, I put them back in the floor so the table doesn't move. The trailer came with anchor on the floor and straps that snap into the anchors that we use when traveling. The rocker recliner chairs also have those same anchors on the floor and the trailer came with straps for them too. So nothing moves.

And we NEVER missed the storage under the benches from the old trailers.

[0rion]

Tim F. wrote:
We just got a new 2014 Arctic Fox, and ordered it with a dinette, Love it. When we go out and eat I always ask for a booth.

we're cut from the same cloth it appears. I hate sitting at a table when we go out to eat. I tell my wife if I wanted to sit at a table and chairs I could've just stayed home. 😄



As far as the OP's question. I think it boils down to what you'll get the most use out of. For us no doubt that we get more use out of the storage and bed of a dinette than we ever would table and chairs. Be patient and you'll find the floor plan you're looking for.