Flying Cloud Dinette Table Stowing?

[MFFJC]

As we did our walkthrough of our brand new, just-arrived Flying Cloud 25 RBT, we learned that we should transport our new Airstream only with the dinette table in the stowed position. This is not insignificant! This means every single time we hit the road, we have to stow the table (which involves moving each cushion - velcro fasteners and all) and then undo that each time we make camp! Pain in the bizunga!

I have a remedy or two in mind, but I am wondering if anyone has come up with a solution to this issue. Do you just leave the table up? If so, have the clips been pulled out of the wall? Or has the aluminum interior wall buckled?

Or have you modified/replaced the table so this chore no longer needs to be performed?

Thanks.

Josh

[FishByFly]

We have a 25’ FB Flying Cloud with a rear dinette table. Have never lowered the table while towing. Previous trailer was a 30’ bunkhouse. It had a dinette on the street side. Never lowered it either. Never have had any side effects.

[Genebuilder]

I found the only issue arising when leaving the dinette table up was the lone supporting leg would start to dig into the floor, leaving a small crater impression. Putting a piece if carpet under the leg solved that problem.

[rd tighe]

We have stowed our table for the last 15 years . We didn't stowe it when it was new. But some bad road's taught us a lesson with minimal damage. We have now fastened it up permanently so we will half to wait a nother 15 years to say if it's a good idea or not

[Mikey62]

I have never heard of having to “stow” the table while traveling. What would be the benefit of that?

[n2916s]

Have never stowed ours. 2008 27’ fb. Dinette is centerline rear…

[LAWBC]

Originally Posted by MFFJC

As we did our walkthrough of our brand new, just-arrived Flying Cloud 25 RBT, we learned that we should transport our new Airstream only with the dinette table in the stowed position. This is not insignificant! This means every single time we hit the road, we have to stow the table (which involves moving each cushion - velcro fasteners and all) and then undo that each time we make camp! Pain in the bizunga!

I have a remedy or two in mind, but I am wondering if anyone has come up with a solution to this issue. Do you just leave the table up? If so, have the clips been pulled out of the wall? Or has the aluminum interior wall buckled?

Or have you modified/replaced the table so this chore no longer needs to be performed?

Thanks.

Josh

Don't bother just leave in place, honestly what B S

[MFFJC]

Thank you for the feedback so far.

Our “Walkthrough Specialist” told us that the table can wobble back and forth as the trailer is towed. This practice is also suggested in the newbie guide from Airstream Life that we received when we picked up our trailer.

Because the table attaches to two clips on the front wall and has a single, somewhat wobbly leg, the table easily moves laterally. When doing so, I could see the clips, and the aluminum wall, move out and in when the table is manually moved back and forth. It takes minimal force to get the table, especially the end of the table furthest from the wall and clips, to move maybe an inch off center in either direction.

[Mikey62]

This practice is also suggested in the newbie guide from Airstream Life that we received when we picked up our trailer

What edition is that in. I did not see that in the guide that I received last year when l picked up my trailer. I have the fourth edition book.

[MFFJC]

Originally Posted by Mikey62

What edition is that in. I did not see that in the guide that I received last year when l picked up my trailer. I have the fourth edition book.

My error: it is not in the Newbie Guide. It is in the 2022 Flying Cloud manual, page 5-4. It is also suggested in the Pre-Travel Checklist on page 3-6.

[Dmvp]

Originally Posted by MFFJC

As we did our walkthrough of our brand new, just-arrived Flying Cloud 25 RBT, we learned that we should transport our new Airstream only with the dinette table in the stowed position. This is not insignificant! This means every single time we hit the road, we have to stow the table (which involves moving each cushion - velcro fasteners and all) and then undo that each time we make camp! Pain in the bizunga!

I have a remedy or two in mind, but I am wondering if anyone has come up with a solution to this issue. Do you just leave the table up? If so, have the clips been pulled out of the wall? Or has the aluminum interior wall buckled?

Or have you modified/replaced the table so this chore no longer needs to be performed?

Thanks.

Josh

We have a 27fb international, but same deal. We lower the table, but rest it on top of the cushions...cant be bothered to lift up everything to stow it "properly" every time. I know people who dont lower it to stow either, but our dealer told us we should.

[ATaber]

We have a 2018 25 FC FTB. The table always wobbled when we slid in to eat and the folding leg was putting dents in the vinyl floor as noted above. Two years and some 10,000 miles ago we replaced it with a detachable tube leg that is secured to the table bottom side and to the floor. We do not remove it or stow it for travel. No problem with the rear hooks holding the table to the rear wall. When we want to watch TV we unscrew the leg, lift the front of the table, unhook it and drop it on to the wood drawers below to form the bed or lounge. The slow part is pulling the cushions from the Velcro. The table no longer wobbles and our drinks do not splash over the edge of the glasses. The key is to align the bottom receiver with the top flange so the tube is vertical. Use a plum bob or a laser. We are happy with this solution.
Here is a picture of the leg at the link to Amazon.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Wayne&Sam]

We also have a 25 RBT and have never stowed the table, never had a problem

[rfequity1]

Originally Posted by MFFJC

This is not insignificant! This means every single time we hit the road, we have to stow the table (which involves moving each cushion - velcro fasteners and all) and then undo that each time we make camp! Pain in the bizunga!

It hardly takes me 3 minuets in ours to move the cushions and stow. Travel a little bit and you will see how much things in the back get thrown around and you will see what your table leg does to the floor and you might think differently.

It's not the most industrial design so it will take a beating.

[dmartinez]

I have a 2014 International 25FB. I replaced the top with Corian to match countertops and installed gas charged lifting device. No problem leaving up, looks much better.

[Hermes]

In my unit, the dinette table wall brackets are screwed into the dinette wall. We never stow the table but we noticed that the wall bracket screws would loosen and come out, most likely due to the vibrations when traveling.

I replaced the 8 screws with Olympic rivets, shaved and polished them with a Dremel and now the wall brackets are solidly in place with rivets that look just like buck rivets.

Then we noticed a bit of sideways movement of the table, so I drilled a small hole in the center of each of the two wall brackets and screwed in a "jam screw" (a short metal screw) which jams the table's bracket against the wall bracket and stops the table's sideways movement.

[RFP]

Like many others, we never lower the table to travel... or for any other reason (!)

Actually, I made an all-new table that folds to roughly half size. It is one of our favorite modifications. Video below.

Robert

https://youtu.be/MXTakGksNEA

[SpikePoet]

We were stowing our dinette table on our 28' FC RB but forgot on trip home (last travel day.) We had a little rough road and when I got home, the spring loaded release on the support leg had broken, causinug the leg to "travel" a little toward the wall and stress the wall clips. AS fixed it under warranty and we stow everytime (we hope.) We don't have move cushions to drop the table but I don't think I would consider that a major disincentive.
Spike

[MFFJC]

Originally Posted by ATaber

We have a 2018 25 FC FTB. The table always wobbled when we slid in to eat and the folding leg was putting dents in the vinyl floor as noted above. Two years and some 10,000 miles ago we replaced it with a detachable tube leg that is secured to the table bottom side and to the floor. We do not remove it or stow it for travel. No problem with the rear hooks holding the table to the rear wall. When we want to watch TV we unscrew the leg, lift the front of the table, unhook it and drop it on to the wood drawers below to form the bed or lounge. The slow part is pulling the cushions from the Velcro. The table no longer wobbles and our drinks do not splash over the edge of the glasses. The key is to align the bottom receiver with the top flange so the tube is vertical. Use a plum bob or a laser. We are happy with this solution.
Here is a picture of the leg at the link to Amazon.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ATaber,
Brilliant! Did you have to cut the tube or was it the right height out of the box?

Josh

[MFFJC]

Originally Posted by RFP

Like many others, we never lower the table to travel... or for any other reason (!)

Actually, I made an all-new table that folds to roughly half size. It is one of our favorite modifications. Video below.

Robert

https://youtu.be/MXTakGksNEA

Robert!
What an engineering feat! I may do something like that down the road, if I can figure out all the angles and dimensions needed. Excellent job!

Josh