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astewart · 09-09-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanB

I'll try to get some shots.

It's really still in the "prototype stage". Construction is somewhat rough and unupolhstered.

I originally was trying for a foldup assembly, but that didn't work out so well.

Thanks Dan. Don't worry about no quite done as any ideas will help. Once the "how" is figured out, the "pretty" is easy.

Alex

STREAMTEAM · 09-09-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzag

Looks good, funkill. I like your idea of separating the seat from the back.
We just took our first trip with 3 occupants, so our gaucho was used as a bed. The report was that is was less than comfortable. We already had determined it is not comfortable as a couch. We can't seem to keep the seat in place when it's set up as a couch....gives you that slouching feeling as the seat slides forward and the back becomes an incline rather than a vertical seat back. Tried several things to keep back in place, but it prefered to disappear under the shelf and slope. Anyone else who's had this problem and found a solution?

Hi zigzag, This was our solution..got rid of it..put in a new dinett with lots of storage..and I don't have to turn sideways to look out the windows...allways had a problem with the fold up table...we did go back and forth for several years about changing over to a dinett since everything was original in our 73' Safari, comfort and practicality won out...
Mike

3 Dog Nite · 09-09-2009, 06:00 PM

Here's some photos of my newest project. It's a 74 Tradewind. The back is supported by a smaller cushion. This is the yellow cushion that goes against the wall in bed mode. It has the plywood backing for supporting the gaucho back.

Ricky

JohnE · 09-10-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STREAMTEAM

Hi zigzag, This was our solution..got rid of it..put in a new dinett with lots of storage..and I don't have to turn sideways to look out the windows...allways had a problem with the fold up table...we did go back and forth for several years about changing over to a dinett since everything was original in our 73' Safari, comfort and practicality won out...
Mike

WOW!! That dinette looks amazing - I would love to do something like that - did you build it yourself?

RichHog · 09-10-2009, 04:00 PM

I have the old one in Houston if anybody wants it. Was made of "Hurculon" fabric, I think the same stuff Superman's suit was made of, pretty indestructable. I used it as a template to have a new one made of naugahide.
My gaucho wad in great shape so saw no reason to remove and go for the much desired dinette

funkill · 09-10-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnE

WOW!! That dinette looks amazing - I would love to do something like that - did you build it yourself?

Man, I agree. It's beautiful! Nice work. What is the base made of - those nice rounded corners!!

Me's in luv...

Laura

STREAMTEAM · 09-10-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnE

WOW!! That dinette looks amazing - I would love to do something like that - did you build it yourself?

Hi JohnE, thank's we really enjoy the new dinette...credit goes to Timeless Travel Trailers in Wheatridge Co.
Mike

Tom Nugler · 09-10-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

This was our solution..got rid of it..put in a new dinett with lots of storage

Very nicely done.

The curved table reminds me of my first canned ham.
The Tradewind is getting a dinette this winter.
A few quick questions. There is a vent on the streetside bench. Is it functional? How well does it work? Simple galvanized curved extension?
I hadn’t even given this detail any thought. Thanks for jogging my synapses.

Tom.

DanB · 09-10-2009, 08:39 PM

As promised, heres some pic's of my latest project.

Please be warned that it ain't pretty, I'm just trying out the geometry!

funkill · 09-11-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanB

As promised, heres some pic's of my latest project.

Please be warned that it ain't pretty, I'm just trying out the geometry!

Good design! It reminds me of a product that I've been a part of in development: the "Pooch Prop". After 6 years of paper/legal stuff we finally found a small shop to start producing it. It's essentially a board that is hinged and pulls from between your mattress/box-spring then a portion folds down 90 degrees to form the *legs*. This might be an idea for you folks .... ?????

I don't have any pics here but below is a quick sketch of the concept that we started with. The hinge area was modified a bit - but I think you can get the gist!

Laura

DanB · 09-11-2009, 12:00 PM

If anyone cares to take a closer look at the photos, you may be able to decifier the original design intent. The 3/4" legs were previously hinged to each side of the plywood. They were made to interlock and drop down for use.

They ended up not be rigid enough without some more bracing. I'm sure if I was patient enough, I could work it out.

funkill · 09-11-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanB

If anyone cares to take a closer look at the photos, you may be able to decifier the original design intent. The 3/4" legs were previously hinged to each side of the plywood. They were made to interlock and drop down for use.

They ended up not be rigid enough without some more bracing. I'm sure if I was patient enough, I could work it out.

Ahhhhhh. So THAT'S why it looked familiar! Our second (or third) prototype was made of paraply and gave the nicest finish. I guess ours was more rigid because the foot-print is quite a bit smaller than yours. We seem to have been on the same page - or at least in the same book!

Laura

zigzag · 09-11-2009, 10:55 PM

what a lot of great ideas and pictures. Thanks. I really like the dinette conversion. I think I feel a winter project coming on

STREAMTEAM · 09-12-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzag

what a lot of great ideas and pictures. Thanks. I really like the dinette conversion. I think I feel a winter project coming on

A few more picts of Molly's new dinette with some detail of the storage we gained and how they framed it in...we realy like the new bambo flooring, so far seems easy to take care of and is also very durable.
Mike

zigzag · 09-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Doing the "after-trip" clean and fix. We took another look at why our gaucho was so hopeless. We discovered that the plywood on the back part was way out of place....had shifted downwardly, allowing the cushion to cave in under the shelf and the seat to shift forward. We unzipped the upholstry, slid the board up to better defiene the seat back. Better have two strong people working when you try to zip it back up. Once we had the back plywood in the right place, we discovered the back "sits" on the small, curved cushion that is behind the seat. That keeps everything in the right place. Amazing!! Now, it seems to be a comfortable couch. I did get a memory foam topper for the next time we use it as a bed. Still like that dinette do, tho. May still be a winter project.

**Kevin245** · 09-20-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STREAMTEAM

A few more picts of Molly's new dinette with some detail of the storage we gained and how they framed it in...we realy like the new bambo flooring, so far seems easy to take care of and is also very durable.
Mike

Streamteam,

Very nice work on the dinette.

loudruff · 09-21-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzag

Doing the "after-trip" clean and fix. We took another look at why our gaucho was so hopeless. We discovered that the plywood on the back part was way out of place....had shifted downwardly, allowing the cushion to cave in under the shelf and the seat to shift forward.

While we had our gauchos out so I could reupholster, I made a long pillowslip type fabric cover for that back board, so that it could slide in, and put it inside the new cover. I left the fabric just enough hem on the top of the board to use the sewing machine to "tack" it to the back piece of upholstery. That keeps the board from rubbing through the upholstery fabric and the "tack" keeps the board from sliding up, down or sideways. It seems to be working great.