As I get older, stiffer, and have less upper body strength, I find it more and more difficult to lift the bed up into the table configuration. Any ideas--other than leaving the table up and sleeping on the front bench, leaving the bed down and eating on my lap, or getting a different trailer?
Convert the front bench into a small dinette with a table? Lots of folks have done that. Now you have the best of both. A full-time large bed and an eating area.
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Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
As I get older, stiffer, and have less upper body strength, I find it more and more difficult to lift the bed up into the table configuration. Any ideas--other than leaving the table up and sleeping on the front bench, leaving the bed down and eating on my lap, or getting a different trailer?
Easy peasy... convert your present bed into a wraparound couch, the table is MUCH easier to put up and down, and you can even have a full 30" bunk behind with the table up when wanted.
That's a bunk,a couch and a table for two with the table in the up position, or a couch and full sized bed when needed.
We went to the front dinette too. I found lifting the dining room very back breaking difficult and now just leave it down. If i were to use it I would get rid of the heavy top and go with honey comb board or something like that. Splitting it into 2 pieces or hinging the 2 pieces would be an option.
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
I had seen the front sofa / bunks converted to a small dinette before and love it. I know that Scamp wants to keep things simple and constrain customization costs, but IMHO, this is one option that Scamp should implement.
If my skill level is sufficient, this is one mod I think I will be making in the first few years of ownership. In the meantime, I plan to leave the rear bed in bed config all the time and use a tray table while sitting on the bed or front sofa.
For simplicity can't beat the small camp tables in a bag or that fold. Useful outside as side tables around the chairs and sufficient to eat on inside the camper.
True I'm sitting on one end on the bed and DW is on the other end at the couch but we can just pretend it is the Richie Rich mansion and we are eating on a really long dining room table (minus butler to pass the salt & pepper).
I think it does depend on how many of your meals you prepare and eat inside vs. outside. We almost always are outside and would only eat inside if weather was really pretty bad. Heck then we would mostly just snack anyway. Some nuts a couple of pieces of cheese with some crackers, no real need for a formal table. Others are more inclined to inside meal preparation and eating so a second table is a great addition.
Scamp does offer a side dinette model with a table for 2 in part as a response to boomers who don't need bunks for kids anymore (and make the grandkids sleep in a tent outside)
I had seen the front sofa / bunks converted to a small dinette before and love it. I know that Scamp wants to keep things simple and constrain customization costs, but IMHO, this is one option that Scamp should implement.
If my skill level is sufficient, this is one mod I think I will be making in the first few years of ownership. In the meantime, I plan to leave the rear bed in bed config all the time and use a tray table while sitting on the bed or front sofa.
Scamp does offer front dinette at the custom deluxe level...
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
Scamp does offer front dinette at the custom deluxe level...
Yes, what I am looking for is the same kind of front table in the 16 Std as in the 16 DLX Layout A.. I just can't bring myself to spend money and carry the unneeded weight of all that wood (even if it does look nice).
Might well be the best option for the OP.. a new trailer.
Yes, what I am looking for is the same kind of front table in the 16 Std as in the 16 DLX Layout A.. I just can't bring myself to spend money and carry the unneeded weight of all that wood (even if it does look nice).
Might well be the best option for the OP.. a new trailer.
There's that fiberglass urban myth again, anyway it is a very easy conversion for a standard, which can be done in one day with ordinary hand tools.
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
There's that fiberglass urban myth again, anyway it is a very easy conversion for a standard, which can be done in one day with ordinary hand tools.
Well the only data I have seen on the weight (real world spreadsheet) has only one 16 DLX and it was a few hundred lbs more.. but who knows why. The 13 DLXs were actually lighter I think, so I will accept your word about it being a myth.
The money however is not a myth.. and still an obstacle.
When I get ready to convert the sofa/bunk to a table I might have to call on you for advice. None of the user mods I have seen are as nice as the one in the DLX that you showed above and I would like to do as good a job as possible, maybe even keep it so one bunk could be made up.
Trailer: 13 ft 2005 Scamp Deluxe; 2002 Subaru V6 Outback
Oregon
Posts: 291
I tossed my table for the same reason - too hard on the back, and the hinge connected to the wall was distressed, ready to break.
I use a three piece folding varnished wood insert that fits between the two sofas. The three pieces are hinged so that each piece folds into the center piece. Unfolded, they are perfect bed foundation. Folded, it's width fits perfectly between the two sofas. It serves as a bench or a "coffee table".
Well the only data I have seen on the weight (real world spreadsheet) has only one 16 DLX and it was a few hundred lbs more.. but who knows why. The 13 DLXs were actually lighter I think, so I will accept your word about it being a myth.
The money however is not a myth.. and still an obstacle.
When I get ready to convert the sofa/bunk to a table I might have to call on you for advice. None of the user mods I have seen are as nice as the one in the DLX that you showed above and I would like to do as good a job as possible, maybe even keep it so one bunk could be made up.
The money side can also fool ya. It depends on what options you choose.
The Deluxe interior does cost more but it comes with some niceties and choices not available on the Standard. Also some options are included which are extra cost on the standard. Depending on what you want, the end cost of the Deluxe option can be mitigated by nearly half.
My advice is to price it both ways when you get down to purchase, then make your decision.
Unless of course you really like one over the other, then buy what you like the best.
Honestly if there is a bit of a budget stretch involved then buy what you really like then add a couple of items later.
You can't easily convert a standard to a deluxe, but you can save on the intial investment by getting A/C prep (free I think) instead of A/C or get the awning later for example. There's a couple thousand$ postponed.
After eleven years My Scamp Deluxe has paid for itself repeatedly and I have never looked at it even once and thought... If only I had....
Great ideas, I never thought such a conversion can be done. Love that idea. The table is heavy - not sure why it was made like that - there's got to be a lightweight alternative that would be strong enough to eat/sleep on. Though I understand price is also a consideration Scamp most likely needed to keep in mind. Anyone have any ideas on economical lightweight table/sleep board? Ours is a bit warped and will need changing out until we get brave enough to convert front bench into dinette.
I think the table may be particle board which is much denser than plywood or even real wood in most cases. Denser also means heavier.
Plywood cut same size as table and of same thickness would probably be lighter, could possibly use plywood sized one thickness down also and still have enough strength. But that is a guess since I have never tried.
Even without the nice box seat across the back one could do a stand table (center pole) using the existing table cut down or used as a pattern to trace. Then just lay a board with small blocks to hold it in place across the back. Couple of cushions and your in business.
Or worst case you have to use a front board to support that back piece. Either way painted white it would probably look fairly decent, provide the lighter table and even allow two people to nap without making the bed.
Just for the record I'm talking about making a quick version of this layout, can always come back later to make it nicer.
Eggy-Sue (the pull-it surprize)
"The Eggstacy"
Boomerang
If only I had....
2002 Scamp
Linear Mode
