cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Dinette or Booth

2Bhamsters
Explorer
Explorer
Do you prefer a dinette to a booth? I'd like to hear opinions on why one would be better than the other......Thanks
Total Newbies Joe & Heidi
29 REPLIES 29

sowego
Explorer
Explorer
Dinettes:
* provide a lot of storage below
* do make into a bed but only long enough for children and not too soft
* they are bolted down so are quite stable and many usually have seat belts (however I've heard that seating children at dinettes with belts can be dangerous because in the event of a sudden slow down or swerve they can bash their heads into the table top edge causing severe facial damage)
*however for folks that are bit a large around the middle...they are too tight to use.
* the seat cushions aren't that comfy
*dinettes are designed for 4 people but all of those adults need to be very tiny! 4 kids...wonderful but not while going down the road.

Table & Chairs:
* they are often loose so there is a slight possibility they can move around and be a hazzard during a sudden stop, swerve or accident.
* many times I found the chairs they offer aren't comfortable. I'd switch out the chairs for rolling office chairs but do find a way to tie them down during travel.
*worst of all you lose all that wonderful drawer space the dinette offers.



We have a dinette and I'd not change it out for a loose table and chairs.

I'd opt for a table built along the wall that can double as a computer desk with storage, room for office supplies, etc. and allow 2 chairs to be pulled in breakfast bar style.

If you need the extra sleeping space I'd get an air mattress.
2002 Tiffin Phaeton
2005 Malibu Maxx toad

Community Alumni
Not applicable
I personally prefer a booth. There is storage along the wall of my dinette so the gain in storage is not the reason. I like sitting back to the wall legs up on the cushions. If I were to change my dinette it would be for a larger wraparound booth.

AllegroD
Nomad
Nomad
Crdenza w/ table and chairs.

2Bhamsters
Explorer
Explorer
Wow...Thanks for all the great replies. Looks like majority winner is dinette, although I guess it depends on weather one needs the extra bed.;)
Total Newbies Joe & Heidi

1BryNelson
Explorer
Explorer
Down home. Left my table in as it was. Removed booth seats, added chairs.
Bry Nelson and a yet to be discovered MoHo momma. '99 Pace Arrow Vision 37ft F53 chassis (plugs tightened) Allure flooring, 15k BTU front a/c , 6-6 volt batts with 1120 watts of solar Magnum inverter Remote BMK Trace C40 2005 Ford Ranger "Toad on a pad".

down_home
Explorer II
Explorer II
Had a table and chairs, in our Fifth Wheel. Liked it. Have a booth, in the coach. Not so much. got a big belly ferget it. Get the occasion we will change it. reason haven't done it sooner, trying to figure out how to deal with the wall mounting of the this table.

Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Explorer
Both the free standing dinette and booth are good. We chose the free standing table that expands if needed when we had the Dynasty built. The chairs are loose which has not been a problem. Ours has a built-in buffet for storage which as worked well.

In the new coach, we ordered a J-booth with an electric moving top so if you are sitting at the booth, you are facing the kitchen and can still see the TV.

All the configurations have their advantages depending on your needs.

MM.
Mr.Mark
2021.5 Pleasure Way Plateau FL Class-B on the Sprinter Chassis
2018 Mini Cooper Hardtop Coupe, 2 dr., 6-speed manual
(SOLD) 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach, 45 ft, 500 hp Volvo
(SOLD) 2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42 ft, 425 hp Cummins

kab449
Explorer
Explorer
Booth for additional sleeping for visiting grandkids and for me. My coach has cushions against the wall so I sit sideways against the wall cushion with my legs on the seat cushion staring out the front window or watching the overhead TV. Very comfortable and relaxing for me.
Had a table and four chairs in my previous fifth wheel. It was ok but the booth in this coach is better.
2017 Heartland Bighorn 3160Elite/2017 F250 Lariat Ultimate
2018 Coachmen Galleria 24Q Class B Mercedes Van
Keith & Brenda
Marley the Maltese
Central PA

chuckftboy
Explorer
Explorer
Last coach had a table and we could pull it out for extra room when playing cards. that was great. We now have a booth and it works better for us with the storage under. The extra sleeping space is also a real plus. When its just me and the wife the table is nice. When we take the grand kids we prefer the booth. So its really whatever works for you.
2019 Horizon 42Q Maxum Chassis w/tag
Cummins L-9 450 HP / Allison 3000
2006 Jeep TJ and 2011 Chevy Traverse Tows

bobjogone
Explorer
Explorer
We use the table to double as computer table - added keyboard tray.

bobjogone
Explorer
Explorer
We use the table to double as computer table - added keyboard tray.

Bill___Kate
Explorer
Explorer
sailor_lou wrote:
We've had both and prefer the table/chairs for the following reasons:

1) More seating flexibility in the ability to move the chairs around,
2) The table has the ability to extent for additional seating,
3) Chairs are more comfortable by providing the option to be closer or further away from the table and you do not need to climb out of them,
4) Looks and feels more like home, whereas the booth always felt like we were eating in a diner and
5) We now have space out of the traffic path for the fur kids food bowls.

Although the booth provided some storage and could be folded down for additional sleeping, these are features are something that we personally do not require.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy


Our feelings exactly ... last trailer was a booth, this one a table and chairs that suit our lifestyle much better ...
Bill & Kate - Stone Harbor, NJ
w/ Bailey (standard poodle) and Zeke (partipoodle)- both rescues
2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab w/ 6.2L gasser
2014 Forest River Wildcat 272RLX fifth wheel

J-Rooster
Explorer
Explorer
I prefer a booth in my coach and a booth when I'm eating in a restaurant! I don't care to sit in a chair unless it's a Lazy Boy!

FIRE_UP
Explorer
Explorer
RognBon wrote:
When the kids were young a booth dinette worked fine. Now that there are just two of us, we prefer the freestanding table and chairs in our current coach. It all depends on your particular needs.


My exact answer, word for word. Good one.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4x4 Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND