Dinette mod?

[monica4patience]

We have a U-shape dinette. The back bench is worthless. It doesn't allow for anyone to sit there comfortably because there's no leg room. Plus the table itself is too small. It looks like you could seat 5 people but the reality is that 3 fit comfortably.

As we often take extra boys along and Grandma, it would be great to have a bigger table and more room, if only for rainy days, or playing games at night.

I'm thinking of taking out the bench under the window and making/purchasing a larger rectangular table, and using a chair at the end.

Has anyone done this mod?

Thanks for any help!

[GaryWT]

I know some trailers they got rid of the U shape and went back to the 2 benches. You can most likely do it somewhat eary but if you us the area for a bed be sure that everything fits together.

[{tpc}]

Originally Posted by GaryWT

I know some trailers they got rid of the U shape and went back to the 2 benches. You can most likely do it somewhat eary but if you us the area for a bed be sure that everything fits together.

Heck Gary, even if you don't make the mod you should make sure everything fits together! LOL

On ours the table was just slightly too small...I think cause of the nice curved shape they tried to put on it, and if you had it in a bed and shifted ever so slightly, a corner could slip through and boom your butt on the floor.

I attached an extra thickness piece of wood to the trim already there for that purpose, stained it the same color and whatnot, solved the issue.

As for the usefulness of the back bench...well thats for the kids pretty much, so we let them squeeze their little behinds back there hehe.

[gregrc75]

I did it ...I will see if I can find the thread.

Here it is:

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18844

[monica4patience]

Thanks Greg,
That looks just like what I want to do. Can't wait for the campground to open so I can check it out.

What did you make the table out of? I don't want to worry about making sure it can turn into a bed. We can house 4 teen boys in bunkhouse, Grandma on the couch and DH and I in the bed. I do not want to have anymore people than that in the trailer. I'd go bat crazy!

[gregrc75]

Haha, I don't blame you. Mine is not made with the ability to serve as s bed either. I made it from a prefinished woodpanel from Ikea. It happened to match the wood quite well in my trailer. It was 8' long and I got it from the scratch and dent clearance section for about 20.00 I believe. I have enough left over to make another table and I don't remember finding any scratches or dents on it. You could use just about any prefinished or unfinished table top.

[GMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by monica4patience

Thanks Gary,
That looks just like what I want to do. Can't wait for the campground to open so I can check it out.

What did you make the table out of? I don't want to worry about making sure it can turn into a bed. We can house 4 teen boys in bunkhouse, Grandma on the couch and DH and I in the bed. I do not want to have anymore people than that in the trailer. I'd go bat crazy!

Then would you be better served with a table and chairs? When we bought our trailer, it had the table and chairs instead of a dinette. I was worried at first that I wouldn't like it and now there is no way I would go back.

[monica4patience]

Oh, oh, lucky for me that Ikea is local...only 6 miles away!! Unfortunately the trailer is 155 miles away on our seasonal site. So we'll have to wait a little longer for this modification.

I'm thinking about adding a hinged leaf at the back. Then we could enlarge the table to add 2 chairs at the side and one on the end. Sometimes we just need indoor table space for a crowd! ...like if it's really cold out and storming and we've got a crowd playing Settlers of Catan, or NCIS, or even Uno!

May want to go with a table and chairs, instead of booth seating, at some time. But right now, just taking out the back bench and making a bigger table should do the trick

[monica4patience]

[QUOTE=gregrc75;167246] I made it from a prefinished woodpanel from Ikea. It happened to match the wood quite well in my trailer. It was 8' long and I got it from the scratch and dent clearance section for about 20.00 I believe. /QUOTE]

one more question: what was the width of the tabletop? Did you have to trim to size?

[gregrc75]

[QUOTE=monica4patience;167319]

Originally Posted by gregrc75

I made it from a prefinished woodpanel from Ikea. It happened to match the wood quite well in my trailer. It was 8' long and I got it from the scratch and dent clearance section for about 20.00 I believe. /QUOTE]

one more question: what was the width of the tabletop? Did you have to trim to size?

Nope, the width was perfect for my set up. Maybe 30" or so? I was fortunate too since all 6 sides were prefinished. The only cut I had to make was placed facing the wall.

I actually went to purchase an unfinished table top at IKEA and it was out of stock at the time:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/
Since it was out of stock I was browsing for an alternative. That is when I found the prefinished panel I used. For the price of 20.00 it was worth the shot. I think it will wear probably after a couple of years so I may eventually buy a real table top and finish/seal it at some point.

[monica4patience]

Great! Guess I'm making an IKEA run tomorrow!

[xaugievike]

Not the U-shape, but took mine out a couple weeks ago. Put it to use last week and loved it.

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21658