Eddie Bauer Dinette Conversion

[jasperkins]

We have the EB 27' and after 4 months of full-timing we scrapped the dinette and went with 2 Lambright recliners with removable side tables. The dinette with 2 fold up couches was very uncomfortable.

I created a coffee table and another dinette table for the couch over the furnace. I reused the old 3'x4' dinette table to make 2 smaller tables. Both are removable so we can still use the back door and store large items in the Eddie Bauer rear area. The recliners are wall hugging (need 2 inches of back space) and swivel 360 degrees. We can use the removable side tables, or swivel and use the coffee table, or swivel and extend our legs out the back door (trifecta)!

We still have about 24" of clearance between the 2 recliners with the back door open to slide things in the trailer if needed. I remounted the tie-down hooks (cant be seen) in case we need to tie down cargo.

The couch over the furnace is now 5' long by 24" wide to make room for the recliner in extended position and 18" x 34" table. I borrowed this idea from the PanAmerica model. This table also can be stored. The bench seat can still be tilted and stored in the up position. Its just not as long or wide as it was originally built, so we could create a table for 2.

* Also in the picture is KarnDean Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring I installed throughout. Its a major step up from the industrial laminate, and as its LVP its super hard were the dogs cant tear it up.

[Sun Rambler]

That looks wonderful! What a great conversion. How long did the floor take?

[Royce]

Good on you! Excellent way to customize for your own use.

[Hittenstiehl]

That is a beautiful conversion!

It looks comfortable, functional and attractive. We enjoy seeing how owners take a good product but recognize the shortcomings it has for their own use and make the modifications.

Although we have vintage if we ever had a newer model the Eddie Bauer is one we would consider highly and your conversion would be an inspiration.

Thanks

[dkrug]

Very nice! It looks very comfortable.

[AnnArborBob]

That looks wonderful!

Did you use the same floor mount as AS does for the second table?

Did you lay the new flooring on top of the original or did you remove the original covering?

Thanks for sharing.

[jasperkins]

The flooring is Karn Dean LVP. Basically we wanted the strongest for wear / dogs, and best looking to real wood. The goal all along was to keep to the original theme of Eddie Bauer Outdoors.

I have installed flooring before, but with the curves and counters it took me 4 full days to measure / cut / lay / caulk. However the finish came out awesome! its tacked on via adhesive.

Yes, I reused the same mounting hardware as it can be removed to store things into the back door. I also installed over the vinyl flooring as it was a smooth surface. I just had to remove the corner edging, and utility hooks. I cut one of the poles a little shorter to accommodate the height settings of the 2 chairs. I then just cut 1/3 of the original table and put on new edging for the couch table. We wanted to keep with the intended design of the Airstream, and not go crazy in the individual customizations.

[dkottum]

Nice job jasper', we did something similar with our front dinette Flying Cloud.

The Eddie Bauer looks quite receptive to this conversion. Compared to other rear dinette (FB) models, the furnace looks to be located maybe a foot forward giving more space for the recliner.

Another curiosity. It looks like both Eddie Bauer 25 and 27 have the axles located further aft than other front bed models in the FC, Int'l, and Classic line. Perhaps to allow extra loading through the rear hatch or to account for the additional structural weight at the rear?

Maybe someone else could compare side views of Eddie Bauer and their front bed counterparts to give an opinion on axle location of each.

[Castaway]

We just bought the same recliner for our 25 FB FC. We removed our table and side bench and replaced it with a smaller custom built one. BTW,the recliner is very comfortable.


Gary

[AnnArborBob]

Jasperkins, thanks for the answers to my previous questions. Are the recliners secured to the floor?

[AnnArborBob]

For the axle location comparison proposed by dkottum, here is a pretty good side view of our 27 foot EB. Anyone have a similar view of a non-EB 27 FB?

[AnnArborBob]

Here is the same view of a 27' Flying Cloud FB. There is definitely a difference in the location of the wheels/axles. Looks like the rear axle on the EB extends further aft as previously suggested.

[wncrasher]

Looks the same to me. If you are using the windows as a reference, look at the space between the last window and the corner window - it's wider on the EB.

Since the carrying capacity is so low (~1500lbs), they didn't need to move the axles.

[AnnArborBob]

Originally Posted by wncrasher

Looks the same to me. If you are using the windows as a reference, look at the space between the last window and the corner window - it's wider on the EB.

Since the carrying capacity is so low (~1500lbs), they didn't need to move the axles.

I was actually using the vent cover above the wheel well as my reference. Also, see the location of the furnace exhaust on each unit. Based on that, the rear axle looks slightly aft of the on on the FC. Would you agree?

I did notice that the rear structural pillars are larger on the EB than the FC, I suppose that is to add rigidity to the frame due to the rear hatch.

[AnnArborBob]

The more I look at these two images, I realize that it's hard to make an accurate comparison from the images alone. I see now, for example, that the furnace vent on the EB is located quite a bit forward of the one on the FC. Probably the best thing to do would be to actually measure two different models and get some accurate results!

[nilesrob]

I've been lurking on this thread because I was intrigued with the seating.

I just measured our non-EB 27 foot 2008 Ocean Breeze and it is 100 inches from the rear of the wheel well to the rear most point on the back bumper, for what it is worth.

[wncrasher]

I would guess that the difference in the body in the window area has more to do with the hatch opening and hinge for that big door, than any kind of cargo load carrying.

[mefly2]

Very nice work, but the recliners would defeat the reason we bought the EB with rear door and fold up benches. Commendable effort, however.

[Aggie90]

We too did a remodel on the table and banquet. My husband wanted more counter space and I wanted to retain sleeping space for one person. We removed the roadside banquet and had 2 different tables built. The one under the tv is stationary. The one next to the chairs is on wheels and the height is adjustable.


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[zzlay]

Aggie90 - did you shorten the couch to fit the table under the TV? If so, how? Thanks


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