To couch or not to couch?

[Safari Tim]

I cleared out the front of the trailer and started measuring. We are wanting to get a couch bed that will at least be a double in the bed position. Funny how the front of the trailer gets really small when you start measuring it.

I’ve measured for a 74″ wide sofa that sits out at 32″. When in the bed position it goes to 48″. In this photo the solid tape line is the couch position and the dashed line is when its pulled out to a bed.







You can see it does not leave much room . I need to sit five people up here for watching TV at night and for eating as well. So I will also need some kind of a table.

The tape measures are set to 25″ designating if I built a wrap around dinette from scratch. That would give more seating area but utimately would not be as comforatable as a comercially built couch.

Ho hum, when's it going to be fun?

[thecatsandi]

Couch. More room for kids and guests.

[2airishuman]

hi tim

seating for 5?

and dining?

and sleeping?

how about some storage too?

one word...

gaucho!

the C shaped goucho with a pull out center makes a quick bed.

yes foam cushions are generally not as comfortable as a real mattress,

but add a 2 inch rollup quilted futon like topper that doubles as a back bolster...

makes a nice bed.

you would then have the option of a rectagular or round or square pedestal table...

or fold up end tables...

and open space in the center with under storage.

airstream used these gauchos with good reason; actually several good reasons!

cheers
2air'

[Safari Tim]

Humm... A C gaucho... any pictures?

Or are you talking a wrap around dinette, I'd have to build?

[SRoffe]

Something like the L shaped lounge in the 23 foot?

colonial airstream has pictures there - in the seat, bed, and table configuration.

Robyn

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

Humm... A C gaucho... any pictures?

Or are you talking a wrap around dinette, I'd have to build?

Tim,

I am planning of a "U" shaped dinette in the front of the Liner, when I get that far. You got a problem with woodworking? You have the countertop down, the rest of the cabinetry should be easy.

Bill

[2airishuman]

sorry no pix...

you'd likely have to build it for your exact space....

some what like a C shaped sofa or dinette only with a center slider board that pulls out on rails at the top/bottom on the C.

the 75th anniversay model uses a partial slider of this type to covert sofa to bed...

once the cushions are down it's a full size bed from the sofa/dinette configuration...

tall cushions along the walls serve to complete the sofa AND bedding....

gives storage on 3 sides too, under the seating platforms...

the center island table can be free standing or on a pedestal mount in the floor.

since there are no hinges or sofabed hardware the build is pretty easy...

perimeter framing supports, plywood seatbases and tambour or flat doors for storage....

high quality foam with zip-on custom upholstery and the rollup futon topper...

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by SRoffe

Something like the L shaped lounge in the 23 foot?...Robyn

hi robyn...

YES! somewhat like the L shaped on in the 23...

only with the 3rd side included...

then the pullout is supported on 3 sides....

here is the link to colonials pics of the modern 23...

Colonial Airstream " Of New Jersey " Airstream New Inventory Updated Daily

while the lower doors are upholstered, they could be wood or laminate or tambour...

and the L shape works too, just a tad less seating....
cheers
2airi

[Fyrzowt]

I just purchased a 3" memoryfoam topper to smooth over the crack in the cushions - Works great!
Dave

[wheel interested]

Just a few ideas, these are web grabs.

[Safari Tim]

That's pretty nice. Question is can a home handy man who only owns a skill saw and a jig saw build one that nice?

That table looks interesting too. Looks like it slides in somewhere out of the way.

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi robyn...

YES! somewhat like the L shaped on in the 23...

only with the 3rd side included...

then the pullout is supported on 3 sides....

here is the link to colonials pics of the modern 23...

Colonial Airstream " Of New Jersey " Airstream New Inventory Updated Daily

while the lower doors are upholstered, they could be wood or laminate or tambour...

and the L shape works too, just a tad less seating....
cheers
2airi

[NorCal Bambi]

Tim, I am looking for solutions for my 55 FC. There are some great ideas here. I also really liked the open space with no gouchos. I've bee trying to think of things that fold up into a narrow wall cabinet space. Ive seen some tables in Airstreams that fold up in a similar way. The reason I would like to keep as much open space as possible is so I can have a large area to work on Art project while on a trip. Open for ideas from out there in Airstream ciber space.
Don

[Safari Tim]

Here is my problem.

I promised my wife a really nice couch/gaucho. We were talking Ultra Leather. I also want something comfortable. The gaucho foam couch in my '71 Safari was very uncomfortable for both a bed and couch.

But now that I look at the space, even a nice $$ gaucho will only sit like three. And it takes up the whole area.

Thats why the idea with this L shaped or U shaped apeals to me. The problem is can I make it nice like I promised and comfortable too?

Can I make a real couch that looks nice?

[3Ms75Argosy]

Whenever you start off with "I promise (dear)...." you have troubles. Yes, this is where you have your problem. Let's look at this another way... did you make any promises that you have not kept from when you proposed... (i.e. - big house, nice car, fancy shoes, certain number of children, won't watch football on Sundays AND Monday nights, beer with the boys, etc...) If you can answer that you've fullfilled these, then YES, I say go ahead and build your own goucho.

Let her know that YES, your self made goucho IS MORE COMFORTABLE then that nice Ultra leather couch.... fabric is warm vs. the cold leather, you won't make any embarrising noises when you move on it, and to top it off, you PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE FOAM for any type of bedbuds, critters, etc. Who knows WHAT is in the machine bought foam of the "germ infested" Ultra Leather Couch!

Any of that help? No?... hmmmmmm I say cut out football on Sundays and you've got it made in the shade!

Seriously though... how thick was the foam on your old seats. I made new cushions out of 6 inch high quality firm foam (certainly more expensive than the garden variety stuff), and it is very comfy to sit and sleep on. Personally, I view the large taper and crack in the middle of the sofas you see at Camping World and the like as very unfortable. I'd take my cushions any day!

Good luck - I say go with the wraparound. See Sequoiacoast's wrap around for a nice inspiration. I'd bet she might help you out!
Good luck..... uh... how warm is the doghouse at night?
Marc

[wheel interested]

Cushion materials and contruction are probably key to comfort. Even mattresses can be comfortable on a platform. I thought I read on one site that Flexsteel does custom and modifications.

Marc you are funny.

Flexsteel - RV/Marine Main

[sfixx]

Maybe if you didn't spend ALL your money on tape measurers you could afford more useful tools! When you "measure twice" it's okay to use the tape

I agree the key to comfort is in the foam. The trick with homemade built-ins is not wasting space and maximizing storage. My dinette isn't going to be a "C" but I moved my water tank to the side and want more room for sitting. Also, my front section in the 20 footer is kinda short past the door.

I'd encourage you to build again and design just what you want...then you will have finished 2 dinettes before I complete my one!

Then again looking at your picture you could build a nice shelf between the back of the couch and the front window. For me it would hinge on being able to get the couch donated to your project.

Best wishes,

Steve

[2airishuman]

hi tim

it's true that many simple platform/cushion combos are uncomfortable...

the reasons according to me butt-o-meter...

1. cushions too thin
2. poor quality foam
3. lower section too deep
4. back cushions not deep enough
5. no arms
6. simple plywood platforms
and so on...

take a look at the dinette bottom in a new classic...

they have spring steel webbing and this makes the butt-o-meter smile...

it's easy to use this material OR use furniture webbing instead of a full wood platform.

alternatively build the platforms a little lower and use 2 layers of cushions...

6 in latex foam base cushions and 2-4 inch topper cushions of wool or dacron or cotton batting...

i prefer wool batting, it's cool and warm and soft and stinker proof...

better futon shops have vendors who can make custom shapes and thicknesses...

here is a link with some ideas. these folks made me a custom airstream shapped 4in wool topper 20 years ago. it was sublime.

also check out their 'double layer' setups and other goodies....

Soaring Heart Futons

my stick-house bed is a '3 layer system' they made 22 years ago, and it's still the best sleeping bed i've owned...

IF ultraleather was the promise have the covers made with it.

ultraleather sews like most other polyester upholstery cloth and comes in some fun colors too....

cheers
2air'

[Safari Tim]

You guys crack me up!

I'm going to give it a try. Maybe make a simple mock up first.

On the L couch shown earlier. Do you have any idea how the drawer pulls out that makes the bed? It looks like the cushion you sit on stays put and the slider pulls out below it.

VTS sells sliders so that might be a source.

[Fyrzowt]

One of the photos posted earlier is from PizzaChops conversion. You may want to PM him.

[SRoffe]

Hi Tim,

We have the 25FB and the "sofa" has a platform that pulls out from under the
deck the cushions sit on, and above the storage - it is quite sturdy. You use the back cushion to make up the full bed. At this point we don't use the pullout part much because the couch is just the right size for our 8 year old and that gives us more walking room if he is still asleep. The 17 year old sleeps on the table/bed.

Also my in-laws had a new mattress made from a custom futon place that combined the futon and memory foam. It is very comfy too.

Robyn