Replacing front couch in Tradewind

[Paul and Sue]

I have a 79 Tradewind and am thinking of replacing the couch at the front with a Lazy Boy love seat or small couch with two built in recliners. Anybody tried this.

[silver 67]

Hey Paul and Sue - Welcome to the forum.

We have a 67 Sovereign that was minus the L- shaped gaucho in the front, so we are starting from scratch with furniture. We plan on being comfortable and will install at least one recliner and some other comfy chair or love seat. The problem will be getting something that will fit through that 29 1/2 " door.

We priced the small recliners at Camping World. They are over $500 and my hubby's head hung over the back.

Anything is possible, just take lots of measurements and have fun making your Tradewind your own with your own personality.

[overlander64]

It shouldn't be too difficult finding a Lazy-Boy recliner or a Lazy-Boy Loveseat with dual-recliners that will fit through the Airstream door. The back of both the regular recliner and the twin recliner loveseat that I have can easily be removed by releasing a safety catch on each hinge that allows the hinge-halves to separate and the back simply lifts out of the base. It made my movers job much easier as I had one of the twin-recline loveseats and six of the recliners in my house last fall when I moved South.

Good luck with your search!

Kevin

[Rog0525]

You need to bear in mind that your fresh water tank is beneath the existing couch and the couch is framed around it.
Lazy boys or standard couches will not snug up to the front wall.

[balrgn]

Originally Posted by Paul and Sue

I have a 79 Tradewind and am thinking of replacing the couch at the front with a Lazy Boy love seat or small couch with two built in recliners. Anybody tried this.

Yes, We have a Leather Sofa in place of the gaucho. Very comfy!

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Rog0525

You need to bear in mind that your fresh water tank is beneath the existing couch and the couch is framed around it.
Lazy boys or standard couches will not snug up to the front wall.

Roger, I THINK in that Tradewind the water tank is beneath the floor under the galley area. At least that is what reliable sources (someone that had one) told me.

[sovereignrwe]

Sounds like a plan in the making! Assuming you actually have a goucho in the front, PM us if you are not planning to keep the hardware for the goucho.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Paul and Sue

I have a 79 Tradewind and am thinking of replacing the couch at the front with a Lazy Boy love seat or small couch with two built in recliners. Anybody tried this.

One of the local WBCCI members has done this to an Argosy24, they have installed twin reclining conversion van seats. they face rear, and swivel, and IIRC, they can face each other, and recline, to make a sort of bed for a single guest. I am guessing the arms on the seatbacks remain in the open position to keep the occupant from rolling over, and falling out of bed.
The same coach has a two part air conditioner, one part mounts on the tongue, then the refrigerant lines go into the coach, and the evaporator part is mounted over the two aformentioned chairs, on the front end cap. It is better aerodynamically, and it is one less hole in the roof to leak.

[bighowdytex]

This was made for RVs, weighs about 165 lbs total and comes in 3 pieces. I have made measurements of the sofa space in my 67 Overlander and I think it will clear the fresh water tank shelf, but I will have to cut down my original table or better yet just make one that is not as wide to make it all work. Won't really know of course unless I spend the time and money.

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