Added Dinette to '71 Tradewind, Gaucho removal.

[bendavanza]

I have always liked the design of the dinette that turns into a bed. I really don't care for the rear facing gaucho in the front of my Airstream. It seems a shame to face away from such a nice outside view through the front windows and door. I also don't really want to face the hall to the bathroom. I don't like the position of the fold out table, it's hard to get in and out of the seat. A friend bought a similar model to mine and it had a rather crappy homemade dinette that he was junking. If it had been better I would have bought it from him. He said he would buy my gaucho, so that was what it took to push me over the edge. Out it came, and he's a happy camper.
Before and after:

[bendavanza]

I'm not a woodworker so I enlisted the help of my dad, and I did a lot of research here and other places on the web for ideas. I wondered how we could replicate the curved interior, and read about the "story stick" which worked wonders. I didn't take any pics of the template making, as my hands were full.
First job was to find the center of the trailer pop some chalk lines on the floor. Lucky for me I already pulled up the carpet and tiles in this area so I could mark right on the floor. We used 3/4" birch plywood. I know it's overkill on weight but it will be sturdy. At least we ripped the 2x4's in half for framing. The foot board is backed by a 2x2" framed wall and topped with a piece of 3/4" hard wood making a ledge for the tabletop to sit on. Next we cut the curved face panels. This simple curve was easy to trace on a crude cut piece using your finger as a spacer for the pencil. We flopped it and used it as a template for the other side. It fit. Next we made an interior wall out of plywood strips around 4" wide that will support the seat's hinged area. Then we cut out the seating panel, using the story stick. We used a stick of 2x2 with a squared end. It wasn't perfect but it fit within reason. Nothing is square or consistent in these trailers. We cut out a hatch and installed piano hinges. We cut out the backs and I had to pack it up and finish at home. I neglected to take pictures of the framing but I'll ad some in the next few days.

[bendavanza]

We made some perimeter support posts for the seat area to go around the curved wall, and screwed it all together. I added hinges to the backrest so there would be more storage, and used a magnet latch to secure it. I may beed to add another latch on the other side. Now comes the most difficult fit: cutting a shelf panel that follows the curve of the wall, is square to the back rest to support it, and square to the side panel. This time I used a pointed story stick and made 3 times as many tracings. It paid off. I can't tell you how satisfying the little shelves were, I did not thinkI would be able to get such a good fit. The contour worked for the opposite side, too but not the square dimensions. Metal angle brackets secure the shelf to the wall and side panel. I used "danish oil" medium walnut. I got a table hinge and folding leg from VTS. I am very pleased with the result. We picked up some simple outdoor seat cushions at Target. The plan is to get Aluminum edging from Outwater Plastics for the visible plywood edges, and have a local upholsterer custom build a booth style pads in some colors to compliment the new "feeling groovy" curtains. The tabletop will get a retro laminate when the kitchen counters are replaced in the near future. Probably boomerang.

[Becky B.]

Looks great! That front curve is a bugger, that's for sure! Keep up the fabulous work.

[bendavanza]

Here are a few more pics. It's so nice to have somewhere comfortable to sit with a table, and the view is exactly what I was looking for. I look forward to using it this weekend at Texas Vintage Trailer's spring rally this weekend.
Thanks to all of you on this forum who share knowledge and inspiration.

[chadloose]

Fantastic, looks great. Want to do the same, but have the water tank under the Gaucho that makes the resulting dinette less comfortable...

Thanks for sharing the pics!

[bendavanza]

Couldn't the water tank be relocated under one of the seats?

Originally Posted by chadloose

Fantastic, looks great. Want to do the same, but have the water tank under the Gaucho that makes the resulting dinette less comfortable...

Thanks for sharing the pics!

[kevin242]

Looks great! We much prefer the dinette over the gaucho in our Tradewind as well.

[Flynavy]

Did the same with ours. I think Kevin is the one who pposted the measurements to follow which was a great help.

[albert]

Originally Posted by kevin242

Looks great! We much prefer the dinette over the gaucho in our Tradewind as well.

Kevin,any chance of getting those dinette measurements again? Love what you did!
Thank you!

[bendavanza]

I roughly followed these dimensions and used the other two pics for shape, these three images I found on other dinette threads at airforums.com.

[albert]

Could you show/explain what a story stick is, please! I'm about to tackle the same nightmare and could use any help in getting the curves right,
Thanks!

Originally Posted by bendavanza

We made some perimeter support posts for the seat area to go around the curved wall, and screwed it all together. I added hinges to the backrest so there would be more storage, and used a magnet latch to secure it. I may beed to add another latch on the other side. Now comes the most difficult fit: cutting a shelf panel that follows the curve of the wall, is square to the back rest to support it, and square to the side panel. This time I used a pointed story stick and made 3 times as many tracings. It paid off. I can't tell you how satisfying the little shelves were, I did not thinkI would be able to get such a good fit. The contour worked for the opposite side, too but not the square dimensions. Metal angle brackets secure the shelf to the wall and side panel. I used "danish oil" medium walnut. I got a table hinge and folding leg from VTS. I am very pleased with the result. We picked up some simple outdoor seat cushions at Target. The plan is to get Aluminum edging from Outwater Plastics for the visible plywood edges, and have a local upholsterer custom build a booth style pads in some colors to compliment the new "feeling groovy" curtains. The tabletop will get a retro laminate when the kitchen counters are replaced in the near future. Probably boomerang.

[albert]

Any chance of seeing some shots of your framing?
Thanks, I really hope mine can turn out as nice as yours did!

Originally Posted by bendavanza

I'm not a woodworker so I enlisted the help of my dad, and I did a lot of research here and other places on the web for ideas. I wondered how we could replicate the curved interior, and read about the "story stick" which worked wonders. I didn't take any pics of the template making, as my hands were full.
First job was to find the center of the trailer pop some chalk lines on the floor. Lucky for me I already pulled up the carpet and tiles in this area so I could mark right on the floor. We used 3/4" birch plywood. I know it's overkill on weight but it will be sturdy. At least we ripped the 2x4's in half for framing. The foot board is backed by a 2x2" framed wall and topped with a piece of 3/4" hard wood making a ledge for the tabletop to sit on. Next we cut the curved face panels. This simple curve was easy to trace on a crude cut piece using your finger as a spacer for the pencil. We flopped it and used it as a template for the other side. It fit. Next we made an interior wall out of plywood strips around 4" wide that will support the seat's hinged area. Then we cut out the seating panel, using the story stick. We used a stick of 2x2 with a squared end. It wasn't perfect but it fit within reason. Nothing is square or consistent in these trailers. We cut out a hatch and installed piano hinges. We cut out the backs and I had to pack it up and finish at home. I neglected to take pictures of the framing but I'll ad some in the next few days.

[bendavanza]

Story Stick:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...pes-29321.html

[SCopp]

Could you please tell me which aluminum edging you used? I am looking at the Outwater website and there are a couple of choices. I want to round-off the front two corners of our table like you did.

Thanks,
SCopp

[bendavanza]

I haven't done any edging yet. Hopefully someone else can chime in on what they used.

[Becky B.]

I used this in my Bambi II:

Countertop Edge Moulding - 3/4" Polished

[jal4509]

Could any of you tell me at what angle is the backrest? We are also building a dinette booth and don't want the back to be straight up. Thanks!

[bendavanza]

Originally Posted by jal4509

Could any of you tell me at what angle is the backrest? We are also building a dinette booth and don't want the back to be straight up. Thanks!

I measured 10 degrees out of vertical. You might want a few degrees more.

[jal4509]

Thank you!