Converting Freedom to Spirit seating - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-31-2003, 07:32 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Converting Freedom to Spirit seating

:o I've spent a lot of time searching the archives on this subject and the only thing I've found is the one, from Steve I think, where he built the frame over the chairs and left them in place as near as I can tell.

What I want to do is take out the Barrell chairs and contstruct the two Bench Seats as in the Spirit model so we can use that as a bed if needed. I can always put it back if I choose. I just would like to hear from anyone who has done this and see some pictures if possible. I know I've seen some info on it but I'll be ''dipped'' if I can find it. I can't even find my SIGN.

Thanks,



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 01:04 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Freedom Mod

We, (I mean my husband), took out the chairs and built a long bench with a hinged top for storange underneath. New foam cushions for the seat and back. We still have yet to decide on the Freedom side table placement. We leave the back made up into the bed so I miss not having a table to eat at in the morning, otherwise we are always outside but for naps and sleeping. It works out great for us, our toddler has a place to sleep, (we put up a foldable bed rail), and the space and storage seems expansive. We did the mod last year about a month after our '97 Freedom aquisition and would have liked to have two seperate bench seats but decided to stop fussin', build something quick so we could get out camping. We had so much fun!

Casita may be able to sell you an actual Spirit kit for the bench seats.

We toyed with the idea of a welder creating two cage-like or lattice sided benches with strong, lightweight metal, each with a lip for the "bed board".

I am glad we made the mod but I will keep the chairs just in case we ever sell the trailer. Good luck and get camping!



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 05:21 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Maybe a bed and couch combined

On the Casita site and on this one it seems lots of folks would like to make another bed on the side of the Freedom or Spirit for small children. We have the Liberty so my idea is just from memory of how the others look and I may be completly wrong in something I have thought about. I'm going to throw it out just for something to consider. The Casita we have has 2 tables and there are 3 of the holes in the floor. The smallest one with removable table top and pedestal could be added to the center floor of where your table is now. If your chairs are removed that leaves space to build a full length bench or couch. If the top of the couch has a hinged piece on the outside edge it could be folded out at night to make a wider bed of perhaps 36 inches or so from the wall to the uutside edge. During the day the board would be folded back over the top, bedding arranged and you have a couch. At the very outside corners of the small hinged piece you may need to add some type support leg which coud be as simple as some pvc pipe. These would be removed when the bed extension is folded back on the seat. Replace the table only when needed. You would probably have to have some kind of filler board to go against the wall to make the board be level for seating. You probably would have to design your own bed cushions yourself. My thought (without much thought) would be to have 2 pieces of foam the length of the bed. One would be seating size and the other would be back rest. Might have to have a couple of throw pillows to make the back rest part high enough for comfort. Without having done this I have no pictures and naturally without having one to look at I can't see all the problems I would face. It would have to be built where there is access to anything underneath if you need it. Seems like there is an electric plug under there somewhere so you would have to consider putting one somewhere else but we did that in the Liberty anyway. I wish I could test my theory but that is not going to happen so maybe this will be a starting point for someone. This idea is rough and would need to be refined a lot I know. Seems to be a safer way to have a bed for a small child or two without considering bunk beds which I consider unsafe. If anyone ever does make something like this I hope you post pictures so others may copy your work. Good luck.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 10:51 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Conversion

According to the previous owner of my '89, that is exactly what he did.

He built a platform and got the kit from Casita. His cutting wasn't the best, so we cleaned it up by adding the trim tape and putting rivet caps over the screws.

When I put in new flooring, I closed off the hole for the large leg and added a different kind. Gave us more leg room.

This picture shows it a little bit.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ece1ad422565CarpetTile Combo-edit.JPG/>



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 10:54 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Could build your own

I don't have the doors on the front that they now have. I would really like to have those.

Rather than totally redo it, I just 'cleaned up' and refined what had been done. Although you could build it quite easily, the kit makes it a true Spirit, and not a converted one. Whether that matters or not is strictly up to you.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 11:57 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Thanks to all of you, so far, for the ideas. Keep em comin for me and others out there. I hadn't thought about a kit from CASITA and I'll check into that as it might be the best way. I'm capable of building something myself but it might be re inventing the wheel.

SUZ, I'm a little confused, which isn't that hard to do, about your layout. Do you have any other pictures?

Thanks all,



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 08:33 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Other Pictures

I'll take a look.

I had the trailer out for an excerise run today (keep those bearings lubed and to do a highway check on my new axle) and it's currently down in travel mode so a picture wouldn't tell you as much.

I'll dig through my disks and see if I can come up with something. If not, I'll try and get you a couple in the next few days.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 08:46 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Pictures

I didn't find anything that would be helpful. I'm going to charge up the battery on the digital tonight and I'll try to get you a couple of pictures tomorrow, ok?



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 08:55 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
OK

:)
Sus,

Don't go to too much trouble over this. When you get a chance to send some pictures that will be great. I'm just starting the thought process so we've got a lot of time yet. Thanks for all you're doing, though.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Spirit Deluxe versus Freedom Delux Glenn Wolfe Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 8 08-19-2009 05:42 AM
Seating/Cabinet Removal shelley w Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 4 08-06-2009 12:40 AM
converting 12 Volts to AC with a Used UPS ? Marty Smiltneek Modifications, Alterations and Updates 3 07-17-2009 02:38 PM
Comfortable seating, achievable? Per Walthinsen Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 21 11-22-2006 01:34 AM
70mph and dinner seating for 9 Legacy Posts Rallies, Get-togethers, Molded Meets (Archive) 5 05-04-2003 09:26 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.