Convert Dinette to Bed

[ccblank]

Hi all!
I have a 1983 Lance Camper with a U-shaped dinette.

I feel confident that the dinette should convert into bed because 1. I don't think Lance overlooked this incredible useful feature even back then and 2. There appear to be support rails for a plank to fit in flush with the seats. HOWEVER, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove the pole form the floor without unbolting the thing. The table easily removes from the pole, but the part that secures into the floor will NOT budge. I have a friend who insists that it unscrews, but I cannot get this thing moving.

Does anyone have any insight? Is it possible that the pole and floor support are actually a single unit? It's hard to find info on these older models, so any insight would be much appreciated!

[flamingo139]

wnjj wrote:

flamingo139 wrote:
I have converted from table to bed on my Forest River Cruise lite so many times, that now the table is wobbly. Anyone know how to remedy this problem?

Why/where is it wobbly? Are the tapered ends of the post compressed smaller than they should be? Maybe you can widen them by forcing something inside to spread the crimped ends a bit.

Or how about putting some tape on the pipe ends to shim them tighter?

[wnjj]

flamingo139 wrote:
I have converted from table to bed on my Forest River Cruise lite so many times, that now the table is wobbly. Anyone know how to remedy this problem?

Why/where is it wobbly? Are the tapered ends of the post compressed smaller than they should be? Maybe you can widen them by forcing something inside to spread the crimped ends a bit.

Or how about putting some tape on the pipe ends to shim them tighter?

[flamingo139]

I have converted from table to bed on my Forest River Cruise lite so many times, that now the table is wobbly. Anyone know how to remedy this problem?

[mkirsch]

Well, I assume you've been wiggling and pulling for 5+ days now. Any progress?

My table was so useless I unscrewed the bracket from the floor so I no longer have to trip over it. The dinette has been permanently left in "bed mode" for use as a shelf/couch.

[deltabravo]

Ditto on all the above. My parents had campers built in the 70s, and the table / post was the same. Friction fit at both ends.

[realter]

WD 40 on base and then wrap with Duct Tape for a firm grip. Only 2 tools I ever use??

[ccblank]

Ah ok! Good advice everyone! I'm gonna give it my best shot, and I'll report back!

[wnjj]

What they said plus you may need another person to rap on the tube or the base with a 2x4 while you pull up.

[sljohnson1938]

wiggle the post and lift up.
with a 35 year old camper it is probably stuck in there really good.

[sljohnson1938]

wiggle the post and lift up.

[NRALIFR]

The campers I have had with a pole supporting the dinette table were just a friction fit at the top and bottom of the pole. Sort of the way that a vacuum cleaner wand goes together. If the previous owners rarely or never used the dinette bed, the pole could get jammed into the floor socket pretty tight, and be very difficult to remove.

Try this: take the table top off the pole, and grab the top of the pole with both hands. Move the top of the pole around in a circular motion while pulling up on on it. Hopefully it will loosen up and come out.

Once you get the pole out of the floor socket, the table top is typically sized so that it sets down in the open part of the “U” and the cushions will rearrange to make a mattress.

:):)

[Lwiddis]

Thirty-five year old Lance? Wow. Any pictures for sharing?