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uniquemicro · 12-09-2008, 01:50 PM

Hi All,
I have a 22' argosy. Mine has a front guacho and a side dinette that is parallel to the curbside. I want to redo the interior and have been thinking of ripping out the couch out and replacing it with either a two bench dinette or replace with wrap around seating with a center table. One requirement here was to have the capability to support a bed as well (i.e. table folding down to make bed)
Then it hit me: Since I have a table on the side AND I will be doing most of my camping in spring/summer/fall (where I can use an outside picnic table) why do I even need to accomodate a table and bed combo. Why not just dedicate the front to a full size bed only (like the newer AS's). I could even use an air mattress as the bedding and have storage underneath.
What do you think???

InsideOut · 12-09-2008, 01:58 PM

Everybody uses their trailers differently, however I for one would not live without a dinette. Our Globetrotter didn't have one and we added one. We camp in inclimate weather all too frequently so "dining out" is not always an option. Coupled with the fact that we like to play card games in the evenings and often have our laptops along for the ride makes a dinette come in real handy ~

Shari

Silvertwinkie · 12-09-2008, 02:12 PM

I agree. Having a dinette is very functional. There have been many times when outside it's been hot, cold, wet, etc and the dinette has come in handy.

Folds into a bed, has storage in the seats...to me I am from the camp that would also not be without one.

**Stefrobrts** · 12-09-2008, 02:17 PM

I would double Shari's reply almost exactly! On a rainy day, relaxing in the trailer, playing cards, there's nothing like having a dinette. Plus if you want to drop it down into a bed and stretch out you can do that too. I think in tiny trailers the more options you have, the bigger the trailer feels.

TBRich · 12-09-2008, 02:32 PM

Not having a dinette would also make it more difficult to sell should you decide to do that at some point...

InsideOut · 12-09-2008, 02:44 PM

Sounds pretty unanimous to me!

Shari

overlander64 · 12-09-2008, 02:47 PM

I am in the minority on this one as I wouldn't have a coach with a dinette. I much prefer the independent drop-leaf table in my Overlander or the fold-down Credenza table in my Minuet. I find the dinettes confining and claustraphobic so was happy to find two Airstreams with lounges rather than dinettes.

Kevin

safari57 · 12-09-2008, 02:53 PM

I find the dinette very functional. We read there at night, play cards, snack, and in inclement weather we use it a lot. We built ours out so the beds were in the back and that way if one wants to hit the sack early or sleep in the other can have a fully functional area to eat/read/play cards/computer stuff/bugs etc. regardless of what the weather is outside. We also pull into rest stops for a quick bite to eat and there is no setting up a picnic table to deal with. It does fold into a bed when someone joins us but for the most part remains set up as a dinette.

I have friends who bought a trailer with a small hide-a-bed and swivel chair up front and they now have a dinette. They realized that for their type of camping which includes a lot of card games and writing there is nothing like a dinette set up.

Barry

silverhawk · 12-09-2008, 03:22 PM

I love the dinette in my 64 Safari. It is nice to sit and visit with friends sitting around a table.

jdalrymple · 12-09-2008, 03:52 PM

We prefer the stock fold-away table along the street side wall to a fixed dinette. We purchased a couple director's chairs for additional seating on the side away from the gaucho. Works great for us.

05ModPod · 12-09-2008, 04:14 PM

OMG you don't know why???

Just ask Taz!!! WHY!!!!

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Totally agree - there is no need for Dinettes - we just eat off the floor......

DrPlay · 12-09-2008, 04:21 PM

I purchased a 25' CCD SS because it has a bed, full-size couch (L-shaped), and dinette. I like to be able to eat, play cards etc without asking someone to get up or not go to bed yet because I want the dinette for a purpose other than sleeping. In my previous 22' Safari w/dinette I converted the frony bed to a gaucho because we needed the extra living space. Convertible space is a big plus in smaller units.

Brian

**Kevin245** · 12-09-2008, 05:52 PM

Our 76 has a gaucho and our 73 has a dinette...I definately prefer the dinette for versatility. I do think there is more "useable" floor space with the gaucho though. We plan to ditch the gaucho when we start the 76's restoration. We'll either go with an L-sofa, or a dinette in it's place.

The dinette is great when we have guests, and if there's football on the tube we drop the table kick back on a couple of throw pillows and enjoy the game. Silverhobby told me with the dinette you tend to look more out the front window which I think is true.

94Tri · 12-09-2008, 07:13 PM

Our dinette comes in very handy for eating inside with our two small boys in rainy, etc. weather. Plus our 3 year old sometimes wants to sleep in his own bed(dinette). Very functional for our family of four and occasional guests.

Jim Foster · 12-09-2008, 07:27 PM

What Shari says except change Globetrotter to Caravel.

SilverGate · 12-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Our 2007 23' Safari came with the L-Lounge and stow-away rolling dinette table which works fine for our style of camping in Southern California where the weather is generally very nice.

We keep the lounge extended all of the time and have only needed to pull out the dinette table 2 or 3 times in the past two years.

See details and pictures here. And:

Dinette used to make Dim Sum. L-Lounge fully extended.

The trailer is roomier and more comfortable with the dinette stowed away.

silverleeper · 12-09-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT1963

OMG you don't know why???

Just ask Taz!!! WHY!!!!Attachment 72431

Totally agree - there is no need for Dinettes - we just eat off the floor......

Taz is showing you who the real owner of the trailer is...LOL! Love the photo.

For the record I like dinettes. The Caravel was a blank page for us and we liked the dinette in the Safari so much the Caravel got one too.

BigAl · 12-09-2008, 08:27 PM

Dinette was a must have item for us.
Al

flyfshr · 12-09-2008, 08:38 PM

We love our dinette and it was one of the requirements when searching for a vintage unit. Appears that a dinette was not something the Ohio plant made for the '59 and '60 TradeWind's though as my registry doesn't indicate one on any of the 32 listed. So glad ours is a California one just for that reason alone.

Brad
FF

TBRich · 12-09-2008, 08:53 PM

We like our dinette...we use it most of the time...of course a Bambi is small so the convertible space of the dinette is important. We need to table top for food prep and also to work/play on the Mac. We can make the dinette into a bed or a comfy lounge, too, if we want, and we can leave it that way if we are somewhere where we can use an outside table for meals. (Besides, where would the fresh water tank, drawer and audio system go...it's all under othe dinette seats.) Viva la dinette!