RhythmMachine
Advanced Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2021
- Messages
- 47
We're in a small/cute/cramped size fun-finder (word used depends which family member you ask) which has a dinette at the front that converts into a queen bed, a fold-down bunk above that, and then the galley kitchen in the main part of the trailer with a bench (almost works as a couch if you squint right) opposite it. No slide, so space is at a premium for our family of 4 plus 2 small dogs.
We've found that the best configuration for us, most of the time, is to keep our bed/dinette in "bed" mode and lounge on it throughout the day with a bunch of pillows so we can stretch out there or sit on the bench to hang out, read, watch a movie, or eat. It would be nice to still sometimes have access to a table, but it's a pain converting from bed to dinette and back, especially with the mattress topper that makes is so much more comfortable for sleeping.
Just setting up TV trays or a folding table won't work well since the space between the bench and kitchen cabinets is so narrow, and we'd like to be able to still move through or use the kitchen with the table in place. Pretty much everything portable is designed to either sit over top of its legs (in which case the table is right in the walkway) or to have legs that slide under a chair or bed, which won't work since we can't slide things "under" the bench (unless we get out the router and make ourselves some openings in the base of the bench specifically for that purpose).
We've considered a few things... buying a larger trailer (would be great, but obviously the most complex and expensive option), installing some pedestal receivers in the floor in front of the bench to get a very skinny table in there (just concerned about the possibility of stubbed toes, but perhaps recessed mounts could do the trick?), or mounting something like a Lagun table, either to the base of the bench or the wall:
I like the idea of the Lagun table since it's quite flexible and we can use any dimensions that we want for a table top. We would likely mount it beneath the bench, either on the supports between the two cabinet doors (to be used by a couple of people seated on the bench) or at the end nearest the bed so it could be shared by someone on the bench and someone sitting on the edge of the bed, facing into the "hallway". Either way, we may add a board inside the bench to provide a bit more backing and support to make sure we are safe with the max 50lb weight limit.
Obviously we're not planning on this being a table that is anything like the dinette (for all 4 of us to eat at) but if we can have something stable for the kids to eat at and reduce spills or to write or draw at, or for us to play games on but then tuck neatly out of the way (the system is designed to be easily removed from the mounting bracket, so we'd likely just tuck it out of the way when not in use). Anyone tried something like this? Anything we should be keeping in mind?
We've found that the best configuration for us, most of the time, is to keep our bed/dinette in "bed" mode and lounge on it throughout the day with a bunch of pillows so we can stretch out there or sit on the bench to hang out, read, watch a movie, or eat. It would be nice to still sometimes have access to a table, but it's a pain converting from bed to dinette and back, especially with the mattress topper that makes is so much more comfortable for sleeping.
Just setting up TV trays or a folding table won't work well since the space between the bench and kitchen cabinets is so narrow, and we'd like to be able to still move through or use the kitchen with the table in place. Pretty much everything portable is designed to either sit over top of its legs (in which case the table is right in the walkway) or to have legs that slide under a chair or bed, which won't work since we can't slide things "under" the bench (unless we get out the router and make ourselves some openings in the base of the bench specifically for that purpose).
We've considered a few things... buying a larger trailer (would be great, but obviously the most complex and expensive option), installing some pedestal receivers in the floor in front of the bench to get a very skinny table in there (just concerned about the possibility of stubbed toes, but perhaps recessed mounts could do the trick?), or mounting something like a Lagun table, either to the base of the bench or the wall:

I like the idea of the Lagun table since it's quite flexible and we can use any dimensions that we want for a table top. We would likely mount it beneath the bench, either on the supports between the two cabinet doors (to be used by a couple of people seated on the bench) or at the end nearest the bed so it could be shared by someone on the bench and someone sitting on the edge of the bed, facing into the "hallway". Either way, we may add a board inside the bench to provide a bit more backing and support to make sure we are safe with the max 50lb weight limit.
Obviously we're not planning on this being a table that is anything like the dinette (for all 4 of us to eat at) but if we can have something stable for the kids to eat at and reduce spills or to write or draw at, or for us to play games on but then tuck neatly out of the way (the system is designed to be easily removed from the mounting bracket, so we'd likely just tuck it out of the way when not in use). Anyone tried something like this? Anything we should be keeping in mind?