Reclining inside the Airstream

[Bob Thompson]

Our Ekornes recliners: http://www.airforums.com/photos/show...00&userid=3264

More photos in Member Photos, Bob Thompson

[cbgenrich]

Bob, your setup looks pretty ideal. Comfortable, appropriate, high end. Nice.

In many of the Airstreams, the shorter ones in particular, the reclining lawn chair or at least it's footrest would surely have to fit into the space "down the hallway" so to speak. Like in the kitchen area. What's the minimum width of that center passage on these things?

-CB-

[mouth012006]

Bob, love those recliners, we still have younger kids so we can' t pull up the extra sleeping yet. Would love to put in a pair of those recliners

[Bob Thompson]

We've had them for about 5 years now, but if I had to do it over, I'd go for a more traditional recliner, but in a small format and wall hugger configuration. I have encountered such chairs made by Barcalounger called St. Claire and Abbey (if my memory serves me correctly). We have Flexsteel recliners at home which are more comfortable to me than the Ekornes recliners, so I would us the Flexsteel brand as a place to start my search for suitable recliners.

One plus for the Ekornes chairs is the ottomans can be used as seating when we have guests over.

Here is a link to the Abbey: http://mfg.furniturefan.com/detail.a...ge=1&itemnum=3

This Flexsteel might be small enough: http://www.flexsteel.com/home/produc...dSkuId=2855-50

Possible Flexsteel choices: http://www.flexsteel.com/rvmarine/pr...&childCatId=21

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by cbgenrich

Bob, your setup looks pretty ideal. Comfortable, appropriate, high end. Nice.

In many of the Airstreams, the shorter ones in particular, the reclining lawn chair or at least it's footrest would surely have to fit into the space "down the hallway" so to speak. Like in the kitchen area. What's the minimum width of that center passage on these things?

-CB-

The corridor width in my galley is 36". Placing a reclining lawnchair (such as a Lafuma) in the space available would be a pain, in my opinion. Every time you'd want to get up to use the head, you'd have to fold the chair up to move it out of the way in order to clear a path. I think that the solution like what Bob posted above is ideal if you need a recliner. Also, as I posted above, the front gaucho(or side if there's a dinette) could probably be replaced with a Flexsteel reclining sofa without changing the function of the floorplan. I believe that they are wall huggers, so no need to pull it away from the wall.

[cbgenrich]

Hmm. 36". Nice I think. I'll have to measure a chair now. I guess that width is fairly uniform across different models?

I like the idea of the flexsteel wall-hugging recliner sofa type thing, as well as a couple of recliners with an end table between as an alternative.

Still, I would like to believe that the lawn chair option was available to me in an unmodified not-too-large Airstream. Maybe go to more drastic measures eventually if and when.

-CB-

[VIKING]

Our '64 Safari has room to sit in a recliner in front of the front gaucho but it would be much easier to get rid of the gaucho and have that space dedicated for the recliner. Still, it's possible.
I'm considering rebuilding the side gaucho to open up into a larger bed for two, and making the front area a dedicated livingroom with the dual recliners. That's for two people, though. If I was soloing the side gaucho would be sufficient as-is and the front would still be converted to a livingroom, but maybe with a desk area or writing table as well, and a single recliner.
The lawn chair idea is a good one if it meets your needs and comfort level. I also have a folding lawn chair which is also a rockingchair and it comes with me where I go.
Have fun, Rich

[Reganzo]

I bought my 34' Limited and removed the couch from the front of the salon. My LP tanks are the horizontal kind, so when I removed the couch I found the inverter on the floor and an aluminum enclosure that extended into the salon.

I moved the inverter to the top of this enclosure and built a box around them both. I made a lid that was hinged and I put air holes over the part that covered the inverter to allow air to help disipate the heat generated by the inverter. I made a storage space on the other side. This allowed room for my wifes lifting chair on one side, and I purchased a Flexsteel recliner for myself. We have plenty of room to recline and still have some space behind put to odds and ends. I replaced the carpet with vinyl flooring and Bob's your Uncle. We love our cozy sitting parlor!!!

Regards,

Reganzo

[Larry C]

Originally Posted by cbgenrich

I'm considering purchasing an Airstream for extended trips, basically full-time, just me and my dog. One thing I know about myself - I'm a recliner - and that's not going to change. I'm reclining right now in fact.

I really like the reclining lawn chairs that are available these days. I'm sure I will spend many hours under the awning in one. Kindof my objective, really.

Sometimes the weather or other factors will be problematic - that's why they come with heaters, airconditioners, and window screens I suppose. I'm trying to picture myself reclining in an Airstream.

Here's the thing - I don't see recliners in Airstreams. The only solution I can see is to bring my reclining lawn chair inside at those times. I'm sure some Airstreams have enough open floor space to handle that, SO units for example. I suspect some don't.

How do others meet this need?

-CB-

I don't know how the rest of them handle it, but here's what I did. First I got rid of that god awful thing they call a sofa, and put in two recliners built by Lambright Aluminum Fabricators, in Shipshewana, IN.
I built new storage areas on both sides of the trailer and across the front wall. I do have a fairly good woodworking shop, (this helps).
Pictures below (if I can figure out how to do it).....if you have questions, let me know.
Larry

[3 Dog Nite]

Tami & I have been wanting recliners in our MH. part of the generator box is under the couch. This leaves us with 68" of usable space for the recliners. We can't seem to find a comfortable recliner that is 34" wide (outside measurement). We've come up with a plan B if our search fails. A reclining love seat. We'll have to drive the MH to the furniture store to make sure whatever we purchase fits through the door.

[Bob Thompson]

3 Dog Nite, the Barcalounger Abbey is 29-1/2" wide. It can be set as close as 3-1/2" from a wall. I've set in this chair and it is surprisingly comfortable. It has good leg support and a clever "pop-up" head rest which deploys when you pull the recliner handle. See: Gordons Fireplace Shop:

[hookedonclassic]

We have the 34' with the L couches. If I were to put in a recliner, I would leave the love seat and corner entertainment stand in across the front and take out the long couch on the side which would give me good room for a recliner. The way it is now works well for us. We each take a couch and put a pillow under our feet on the shorter couch.

[hookedonclassic]

Just looking at my post above, it could work taking the short couch out instead.

[Journalist]

I just use a couple of pillows against the wall and lay on one of the two gauchos. I didn't have to remove anything and it cost me nothing (I use the same pillows we use for sleeping) True, I actually have to pick my legs up rather than having that recliner pick them up for me, but I can really use that exercise.

[Boondocker]

I have been known to bring my walmart lafuma knock-off recliner in on cold evenings and read in it. Its a low tech solution, but it works well enough.

[Cstar]

We have a 06 28' Safari SE and are in the process of adding two Ekorne recliners to the floor plan. We had the factory remove the dinette and cover the exposed wheel well with the same laminate used for the walls. We found a local furniture store that was closing out their stock of Ekorne chairs and picked up two leather models that by measurements will fit. Still a little skeptical it won't be a crowded but I know it will be more comfortable. The dinette is fine for meals but was wasted space for us otherwise.

Right now the chairs are in our living room at home. They are definitely comfortable and I can't wait to get them in the Airstream and try them out. We will be on the road for a few extended trips this summer and expect the "new" setup to be just what we wanted. I will post photos to this thread this spring when we get everything set up.

Corky

[Cstar]

This spring came sooner than expected. Made a quick run to LA and TX and decided to take the recliners. Here is the temporary set up. Seems to work well, so far. We do have to move one of them for TV viewing but they are very comfortable and much better than the dinette.

[Larry C]

Originally Posted by cbgenrich

I'm considering purchasing an Airstream for extended trips, basically full-time, just me and my dog. One thing I know about myself - I'm a recliner - and that's not going to change. I'm reclining right now in fact.

I really like the reclining lawn chairs that are available these days. I'm sure I will spend many hours under the awning in one. Kindof my objective, really.

Sometimes the weather or other factors will be problematic - that's why they come with heaters, airconditioners, and window screens I suppose. I'm trying to picture myself reclining in an Airstream.

Here's the thing - I don't see recliners in Airstreams. The only solution I can see is to bring my reclining lawn chair inside at those times. I'm sure some Airstreams have enough open floor space to handle that, SO units for example. I suspect some don't.

How do others meet this need?

-CB-

Take the time to check out page three of this thread, you'll see what I did with our 31 foot AS.....The has proven to be a very comfortable arrangement, and I more than doubled the amount of storage as well
Larry