My husband posted this somewhere else as a Dinette question, however, at this point I need some advice that doesn't involve BUILDING something...I don't have the time or energy (remodeling the '67 Caravel was enough work for me) with two small kids. Okay, here is the question:
We just purchased a 2000 Safari with a front couch that jackknifes into a bed. We bought it so the kids could be seperated in the back on the rear twins, and we would be able to use the front while they slept. We spent 3 nights on the front couch last week when we went to FL to check it out. We NEED to replace this couch with another couch or a dinette. There is no foam...all you feel is springs. It is very springy just sitting on it. We put an egg shell mattress on top, it didn't help. I am having trouble finding resources for putting a dinette or couch in there "aftermarket". I don't know if the new ones are any better, but there has to be some sort of "upgrade" in the comfort department! Any suggestions/resources for purchasing a couch/dinette (leaning towards the dinette) that has MORE FOAM and LESS SPRINGS would be welcomed and appreciated! Thank you!
If they can be removed, you can replace the existing cushions with a futon matress. I have done this with great results. I spent about 250 for a very good mattress.
Smily
__________________ Ken Smillie
My 1994 36' Classic MH is for sale See it in the classifieds
Unfortunantly, the couch is one big unit..fixed cushions. If they were seperate cushions, I would just put new foam in like you said. I could probably have someone re-upholster it with new foam...don't know.
Have you tried calling the A/S factory to see if they had a dinette/bed option for the 2000 Safari still available? Seems like they ought to be able to help since it's still a somewhat "current model"...
Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Hi Sheri!
I just got off the phone with them...not very helpful. She said I would have to go through a dealer (yes, there was a dinette option). My husband called the dealer and they said it would cost THOUSANDS of dollars, as they would have to relocate some key items, etc. So, that puts us back to square one. Now I am on the hunt for salvege parts...maybe from a newer airstream that was totalled or something like that...but has a good interior. Who knows. I wouldn't mind keeping a couch, just want a more comfortable one. Maybe replacing it with a futon might not be such a bad idea. Not really sure how that would look and if it would be lower, as we would still need to use the table and don't want to use booster seats!
I wonder if the Pillowtop Memory Foam Mattress Pads on the A COUPLE OF SALE ITEMS thread might work better than the egg crates you tried.
You might ask RoadKingMoe for his input, since he sleeps on one.
I've tried foam rubber pads on my couch and it's more comfy than sleeping without them.
...vintageairstream.com has instructions how to build an old-style gaucho couch -- carpentry skills would be needed. But you would be rid of the springs and can customize the cushions for a wee bit more comfort...it is mostly chopping up lumber, not finish-carpentry...
We have a 2004 Safari with an L-couch -- no springs, but we are going to semi-customize the cushoins so adults can sleep on it...
There are dealers who sell the flex steel sofas that fold into a bed...they run700 dollars and up depending on what fabric you use, also Camping world sells these.
They are standard sized fold out couches with good padding.
One dealer who is very knowlegeable is
I redid my jacknife sofa, in my 82, having extra foam pad put on top to make it better for sleeping, it seems to work out well now.
We also use an air mattress on the floor for extra sleep space.
__________________
Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
Wow! Thanks everyone for your help. I will look into all of the above. All the advice sounds good to me, just need to make some decisions, then get the trailer up here in a few weeks to work on it!
We bought some memory foam off of ebay for around $100. It made a great improvement on sleeping on the couch. We just roll it up in the morning with sheets and all, put a bungee cord around it and put it to the side.
They have several couches that are made from mostly foam - no springs - that might do the trick. They're also cost effective. Also - go to a futon store. Futons have changed a lot in the last few years - they look good (like normal furniture) and of couse the cushions are replaceable over time or recoverable if diaster strikes. Consider leather - it wipes off nicely.
I'd agree with the foam thing first. I mean, size does not seem to be the issue, it's comfort. Perhaps the least overhead would be to try one of the foam things first...I would think if that failed, then maybe getting deeper into it.
Size isn't that big of a deal...we both fit on it fine, so I am not worried about that. I will most likely get the memory foam either way, as it can only help. We have an Ikea 15 miles from here, so it is worth a look if they have the dimensions we need. Having something that folds very flat would be nice, as the jackknife couch doesn't do that very well either. Maybe we should just move the kids to the couch when we want to go to bed and sleep on the twins! Sort of defeats the purpose of buying the trailer in the first place (they are opposite sex...don't really want to share their sleeping space!) I think I am getting sold on the idea of getting a new couch and just replacing this with something meant to be slept on. Again, I appreciate all the input!
Positive comment about our new trailer (comparing it with our '67 Caravel):
Wow, how nice to have a larger fridge, a seperate shower, convection oven and all that storage! Overall , I cannot complain...somehow I don't feel deserving! I shouldn' t be complaining about the couch. Less than two weeks until the new owners of our Caravel come to get it! I am trying not to get too sad...I don't want to be here when they come to take it away!
Quick Links
The WORST Couch EVER!! HELP!
Any suggestions/resources for purchasing a couch/dinette (leaning towards the dinette) that has MORE FOAM and LESS SPRINGS would be welcomed and appreciated! Thank you! 
I am trying not to get too sad...I don't want to be here when they come to take it away!
Linear Mode
