Has anyone converted a dinette to a couch?

[Silver Egg]

We have a 2006 16' Bambi. The front dinette uses lots of space. We have little use for the table, and we'd prefer to have a full-time couch. However, just converting the dinette to the bed and using the wedge cushions for the back beneath the windows is not comfortable for sitting, and isn't an efficient use of space.

We were thinking of building or having made non-permanent containers or some type of table spaced to fit behind the curved wedge cushions beneath the front window. These would act not only as a back to the newly formed "couch" but also, with a hinged lid, as extra storage. Or if that's too complicated, we could make some type of simple plywood spacer that could be used as a table and top storage. We would not like this as a permanent remodel - we would like to be able to use the table or use it as an additional bed if necessary.

Has anyone on the forum done this? Tried searching and came up blank.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Cheryl and Roger

[Aage]

Hi there! Did you try the search function for this? Up top in the blue bar is a button named "Search", and in there you will find several choices as to how to look.

I find the Google one the fastest and bestest, personally.

I put your exact question in there (convert a dinette to a couch) and it came back with six pages of links.

Not trying to push you away from asking a question, but if you took a bit of time and read some of those, you might get a better idea of what has been said about the question in the past. The first on in the list was actually to do with a Bambi!

Good luck with your project!

[JulianneJ]

I have seriously considered doing that in my 22 International CCD. I don't use the dinette. For now I just keep it down, made some nice pillows and use it as a sofa, this works for now.

Good luck, would love to see pics when/if you do this project.

[triplenet]

Our 25'FB had the dinette removed when we bought it.
We knew from looking at other coaches the dinette would have to go.
We found a sofa with a curved back that fits very well and is a lot more comfy than the dinette. It also gives us a place for a kid to sleep.

[Pahaska]

I did it in an International 22. I rotated the dinette seats to form a couch. I had to make a curved insert for the cutout in the seats for the wheelwells. I mounted the converter in the cutout. My change was permanent.

That was about 6 years ago. The photos should still be on this site under International 22.

[Jimbo17]

I've converted dinette but on another trailer, not on bambi.

I simply took it out and built a couch out of plywood and then had it upholstered in Mexico for cheap. I've put two sliding drawers under the couch. It doesn't recline and it is fastened to the floor with "L" shaped metal pieces and screws.

I was thinking about putting a regular piece of furniture there but couldn't find anything that would fit, and had drawers and wasn't too heavy.

The new couch can be removed easily though building it was a bunch of work.

[shantz]

I am getting ready to convert our 25' Tradewind to a dinette and make better use of the space and increase our storage capacity. I will post pictures of the project as I proceed. This will have a hydraulic table that retracts to help support the bed. Trying to get it ready before the Chincoteague Pony Penning vacation in late July.

[biggoofball]

If you lived closer I'd take that dinette off your hands. I bet I could make it fit in my Overlander instead of the front gaucho.

[AirstreamGypsy]

I didn't really convert a couch to a dinette, but did convert a goucho (L shaped couch) to a couch/bed and dinette combo. Love it!

[Madjack]

We have a 27' Classic and would like to convert the dinette into a comfy couch.
We don't use the dinette at all and we could get TV trays for eating inside, which we don't do often.
I'll bet we could purchase a couch from AS and have the dealer do a custom install, cha-ching.. .

Just a thought.

Good luck with your search!