Flying Cloud 25FB Recliner, Drapes, and Folding Table

[Luckyducks]

My wife and I purchased a new Flying Cloud 25FB this past year and desired to make the floorplan more liveable. We just aren't dinette people and wanted a living area layout that was more comfortable. This post is about the modifications we did.


The first thing I did was remove the dinette table and the curbside part of the dinette booth. Then we installed a new recliner, new drapes, and a new flip up table. Photos showing the finished product are shown below. What we did could also apply to the 27FB Flying Cloud or 25FB or 27FB Classic models.


Chief's and Roadtoaster's recliner modifications inspired us (see their posts on their mods). We are very happy with how everything turned out and both of us are very comfortable in our living area (whether relaxing, watching TV, or dining).


Recliner - from Benchmaster Furniture. 1-877-638-0556. The Ventura model. They have a website too - BenchMaster Leather Swivel Recliners
This leather recliner is on a riser and the riser is screwed in to the floor. The recliner still swivels and is held onto the riser by velcro straps.

Drapes - from JPA Drapes. We had a Classic trailer previously and my wife really wanted nice drapes again (with pleats). JPA sent fabric swatches and measuring forms first. Finished drapes were shipped within 3 weeks and packed impeccably. The drapes fit perfectly, required no ironing due to the way they were packed, and are of outstanding quality (lined too). Call Audrey at 800-813-7686. They have a website too - Drapes For Airstream and Argosy Trailers


Table - from Roettger Hardwood, Inc. Call Dennis Roettger (owner) at 1-937-538-0316. This company does most of the real wood cabinetry for Airstream (think of the hickory and oak interiors in the Classic line). They are located in Kettlersville, Ohio just 10 minutes from Jackson Center. The table is made from solid oak and the stain matches the other oak pieces in the Flying Cloud line. It also flips up and then folds out to seat 4 adults comfortably. I wanted this table to look factory made and it does. Quality is outstanding - fit and finish is like fine furniture. Shipping was perfect too (very well packed).


Let me know if you have any questions.


Russ

[rbs]

We are in the early planning stage of a remodel, and really appreciate your post. Where would we find Roadtoaster & Chief's threads about their remodeling?
Thanks,
Rod & Jane

[Luckyducks]

rbs,

Do a search on recliners and you'll find quite a bit. Here are links you can look at:

LI Pets - this link has pictures of Chief's modifications on page 3 -

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f353...7fb-78185.html

Roadtoaster -

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...too-49794.html

Russ

[SL4BLLT]

Wow, nicely done.

We're in the process of installing a Villa U-shape dinette 82"x48" (milkweed UL) with a 27" x 40"table on stainless steel legs, in the front of our 1971-31' International. If for some reason we need some additional help, we'll contact those folks you mentioned.
We did a complete set of drapes last June with JPA Drapes. Audrey did a great job and the trailer was given another 20 years of life. It is really amazing what you can do with Airstream with the folks that know the true dimensions. It may cost a little more, but in the long run, you spend allot less.

Thanks for sharing.

SL4BLLT

[karenjude]

I saw this this trailer and the modifications at the recent Canopener I have to say the finished product looks even better in person. Very high quality, beautiful mod. Great job Russ and Linda!

[Ridgerunner3]

I really like what you have done. I think this should be one the floor plan options from the factory for the 25 & 27.

[Foiled Again]

I did a "non" modification on my 25 FB recently. I stowed the back cushion of the side couch in my bedroom - made it sort of a headboard for my bed. (I'm short, and in the winter nothing wakes you up faster than flopping an arm onto the cold aluminum side wall) Then I bought a wedge shaped cushion for my back. I now watch TV lying on the couch with my head nicely elevated on the wedgie!

I like the recliner - but boy it takes up a lot of space. Look at Colonial Airstream's web page. They have a 30 international with recliners where the foot support tucks in under the seat. I like the look of that for the small space in the AS. Anyone know what the brand is on that one. I've seen one similar but it's about $1200.

Paula

[mutcth]

Those are clever modifications - I like that recliner a lot. Thanks for sharing!

Tom

[Hoonanea]

Russ -- I've contacted Dennis Roettger and I'd really like him to make the same table for my 2012 23D. I've captured the pictures you posted and will send them to him so he knows which table I'm talking about.

Question for you though. . .
His recollection was that you had electrical outlets behind the table and that was the reason for the access door that is shown in the picture with the extension table in the "up" position. My 23D has 4 outlets in this area and I believe they are not exactly centered under the window. I'll have to check that out this weekend. Do you happen to have a picture that shows the access door open and the location of the electrical outlets behind the door? I'm curious to see if it's configured like mine. If not, I'll likely need to work with Dennis on some slightly altered dimensions for a good fit.

Many thanks!

[Hoonanea]

Shoot, and now I've thought of one more question for Russ. . .

Does the original access door under the couch still open completely? It's hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like it might only open partially because of the side panel of the new table.

[Luckyducks]

Hoonanea, send me a PM with your email and/or phone number. I will send you additional photos and I can talk about a few things I would change. I'll check on the outlets location. The cabinet access door you are asking about does open completely when the table leg is up/ table is folded down - otherwise the table leg being down only allows the access door to open about halfway (which is enough for the rare instances we use that cabinet). We leave the table up all the time. Russ

[Fly at Night]

A beautiful and seamless refit. Looks like it came right from the factory. You've inspired me to do same.

Also love how you have co-ordinated the uphostery, throw cushions, and rug. Great taste!

Agree with Ridgerunner. This should be an optional floor-plan layout.

[Luckyducks]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

A beautiful and seamless refit. Looks like it came right from the factory. You've inspired me to do same.

Also love how you have co-ordinated the uphostery, throw cushions, and rug. Great taste!

Agree with Ridgerunner. This should be an optional floor-plan layout.

Thanks for the compliments. We really have enjoyed this layout on the trips we've taken this year. On rainy days when you are inside a lot, this layout is much more comfortable for day to day living. Although I had the table made by Roettger Hardwoods, who does the custom cabinetry for AS, you could use a local cabinet maker. Maybe find the table hardware/hinges from a donor table. These folding tables have been used by AS for a long time and occasionally come up in the classified section of AirForums. Maybe check for tables from AS wrecks. BTW, my wife is the one with the eye for upholstery, cushions, rugs, colors, etc. We also wanted the table to have the exact color and same oak material used elsewhere in our Flying Cloud so it would look factory made. Roettger Hardwoods does the real wood cabinets but AS does the plastic laminate cabinetry in house. Russ

[Linda Kay]

Russ and Linda,

My husband and I have a 2011 27FB Flying Cloud. We found the bench seating and the dinette uncomfortable as well. We at first thought we would rip out the whole thing and put in two recliners but after seeing yours, we decided to leave the long bench seating and remove the dinette table and the seating by the door exactly like you've done.

Keeping the bench seating will give us room for our two preschool grandkids to join us from time to time.

We've ordered our recliner and have contacted the cabinet maker you used to build a cabinet similar to yours. We are still in the planning stages with him. You said in another post that you would suggest some changes to the cabinet. We would appreciate hearing about those as well.

We are ordering the replacement drapery as well from the same company.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your photos for us all. VERY NICE!

Linda

[Pitou49]

Hi, did somebody figure to replace the sofa by two swivel chairs and keep the table ?

Chris.

[MaxAB]

Great looking upgrade! We love those recliners... Thanks for sharing.

[Luigi123]

We just looked at the Recliner model in the 2014 30 ft Flying Cloud. My wife was comfortable however she is 5'3 I am 6'2 and Recliner was was too short and too unstable. We are ordering it and struggle with want the recliners but not sure they have the right product yet for us average size people. It is a $1,200 option only to take them out- at least one of them and replace it. If that is the case we might as well go with the couch at the present time. Heck, maybe a person just two Airstreams, one stock and one to modify.

[TXMYTX]

THIS IS IT! Thanks!

[Aggie90]

Are y'all still happy with this re-model?

[MaxAB]

We removed the Goucho in 2012 and replaced it with two recliner chairs. My wife is 5'5" and I'm 6' - they work great, give us more space in our '85 25-footer. We travel a lot and normally don't have visitors staying inside the rig with us - so it works well. The table between the chairs folds down and slides under the oak "credenza" that's under the front window.

We also removed the refrigerator bulkhead table section that normally goes under the street-side window where the stock AS folding table attaches. If you have kids - this is not the option for you. See the pix below...