Why even have a dinette?

[85MH325]

Another minority opinion here. I am NOT a dinette lover. They're generally much to small for the "average" person of 6'5" height to sit at comfortably. They're too upright, and don't offer nearly enough leg room. I have a couch/removable table setup similar to the table setup in Kevin's Overlander, but a little different. (yes, I know this isn't in an Airstream, but it is another option.).

Roger

[Jimandrod]

...another vote for a dinette!

[moosetags]

We've spent over 300 nights in our 25FB in the past 2 years. We couldn't live without our dinette, but to each his own.

Brian

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, we, I guess are with the minority. We purposely ordered our trailer without a dinette. With the fold out table we can vertually do anything you people have mentioned. Play cards, eat meals, use lap top, or anything else you do with your stationary dinette. We can double the size of our table at the flick of the wrist, or just put it away, completely out of the way. If needed our gaucho makes into another bed. I think the gaucho / credenza combination is the most universal set up.

But in your defense, we no longer have any pets and our children have their own children, so it's just the two of us. If we were a young family with little kids and pets, I think a dinette would be more practical. But we are old, not having any more kids, and still thinking about the possibilty of whether or not to have another pet or two.

[stowaways]

Guess we too are in the minority. Our 27FB has an L-shaped leather wrap around couch and the table has only been "up" once. We're fulltimer's and enjoy the extra lounging space. Of course, learning to balance a plate with peas took a few tries! : )

[dogpound]

I believe that it is all of what everybody has become accustomed to in their A/S. We have had drop down tables in both of our units and that is what we have become used to. I agree with Brian (Moosetags), TB Rich, Bob (Robertsunrus) . Dinetts can be extremely useful but again it's all in what you are used to. You however don't want to give up some of these perks because you never know when you will have to stay inside your A/S because of inclament weather.
Bob
Member 4CU/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR # 28748

"Life is an adventure, live it to the fullest."

[dbradhstream]

I dislike the dinette in our 2006 28'er. Since we use our trailer a lot for tailgating at sports and other events I would very much prefer to have a sofa in its place so we'd have more seating for guests. It would also give us more floor area to move around b/c the dinette takes up a lot of space.

So ... I have a question. How difficult would it be for me to remove the dinette and replace it with a sofa? And what kind of sofa and where would I get one that would fit there?

[whitelight]

We had (totaled in an accident this summer) '75 22' Argosy with the front couch, side "L" shaped lounge with a removable table. We transformed the front couch into a permanent 54" wide bed and removed the table as it was very award to get around, sit in the L lounge, etc. We kept 2 small folding tables around for eating when inside, which worked really well for us.

Our '96 34' front kitchen was one of two built without a dinette - it has a fold down, extendable table with real chairs.

Yes, we have had several other trailers with dinettes, so have a reference point of experience.

Guess we both don't like sliding into our seats! Even at a restaurant, we always prefer a table over a booth.

[BWH-Utah]

As mentioned before it all depends on how you use your trailer.

I have a 1965 Safari that has a gaucho in the front and another on the street side opposite the kitchen. The one on the side is history, soon to be replaced with a dinette.
I want to be able to leave maps, guide books, sea shells, current project, you name it, spread out on the table when I go to bed and finish what ever I was working on the next morning.
Plus, the dinette table provides valuable extra counter space for the kitchen when needed.

But, that is how we use our trailer.
BWH