I made a "dinofa"

[Kevin A]

Alright... I'm just gonna say it... I HATE dinettes. Outside of the 20-30 minutes you might sit down for a meal, I find them completely useless and uncomfortable. Terrible for chilling and watching tv on a rainy day.

So I remedied my problem... introducing the Dinofa! This is simply an Amazon futon without the legs on it. I measured and shopped for a while to find one that fit across the two dinette seat bases, can fold down and still make a bed, and has a cushion short enough for the bunk ends to slide over it when it's time to close down. I also wanted something that didn't require structural modifications to the dinette. All I had to do was unscrew the wooden flip down back rests for the dinette. My camper also has a free floating table, so I can still set the table up in front of the sofa, if need be. My pop up is a hardside and I have a tv wall mount on the wall directly across from my new "dinofa." I think it made a pretty cool little lounge area!

Whatcha think?

 

[theseus]

That's pretty sweet. How does it fold for closing up?

 

[Kevin A]

That's pretty sweet. How does it fold for closing up?

Pull forward on the back rest part of the sofa, it clicks, and then lays all the way backwards flat. The seat bottom doesn't move. That was something I had to look specifically for to make this work. A jack knife sofa wouldn't work in this case. That was my first idea was to simply buy a jack knife sofa out of a scrapped travel trailer, but trying to keep the dinette structurally intact prevented using a sofa with a jack knife mechanism.

 

[PopUpSteve]

VERY NICE! Do you still have storage underneath?

 

[Kevin A]

VERY NICE! Do you still have storage underneath?

Technically yes, but I never really used it. The water heater is under one seat and the electrical converter is under the other with a large sticker that says "This is NOT a storage compartment!" haha So no great loss in storage.

 

[Anthony Hitchings]

so how do you dine using it?

 

[Kevin A]

so how do you dine using it?

My camper has a free standing table, so I can still set the table up in front of the sofa, but we almost always eat outside.

 

[tfischer]

I think the "din" in "dinofa" is missing lol.

We use our dinette for board games much more than eating. We'll eat inside if it's particularly nasty out. But sometimes in the evening, or in the hot afternoon if we happen to have Shore Power and bring the A/C, it's nice to go in and play a game. We're not TV people when camping (truthfully I'm not a TV person ever, but my wife is).

 

[Sjm9911]

Its a great idea.

 

[Drufus]

Custom tailored to your personal camp style.
Nice work!

 

[xxxapache]

I like it. I also hate dinettes. I find them small and uncomfortable. I am glad my TT did not come from the factory with a dinette.

 

[jmkay1]

What a great find and fits nicely.

 

[jonkquil]

That looks so posh! very nicely done. Sounds like it's perfect for your style of camping.

 

[J Starsky]

I didn't think actual back support could be had in that spot. Bravo on the automotive carpentry there bud!

 

[1380ken]

I think the "din" in "dinofa" is missing lol.

We use our dinette for board games much more than eating. We'll eat inside if it's particularly nasty out. But sometimes in the evening, or in the hot afternoon if we happen to have Shore Power and bring the A/C, it's nice to go in and play a game. We're not TV people when camping (truthfully I'm not a TV person ever, but my wife is).

I think the din is in the sofa. I eat on my sofa at home all the time.

 

[Oldspurs]

Nice custom setup, of course my DW, asked how do you eat when forced inside by weather, answered by reading your post. She still insisted that individual TV trays would be better, I told her to go away we men had it figured out. I am still locked in my shop to keep her from hitting me with a large metal object. lol Great concept, for your type of camping. See you on the trail.

 

[J Starsky]

I think the din is in the sofa. I eat on my sofa at home all the time.

Well, more of a Davenport to me, but I'm not one to mince words. I'll admire the back support in a PUP from afar...
Yeah, Davenette has a ring to it that's the ticket.

 

[Susan Premo]

That was the 2nd thing we took out of our aliner, the first was the microwave, there's not really anywhere to store stuff inside, not 1 drawer, so that nook that held the microwave is it mostly.

 

[tfischer]

That was the 2nd thing we took out of our aliner, the first was the microwave, there's not really anywhere to store stuff inside, not 1 drawer, so that nook that held the microwave is it mostly.

I'm sure if I had a microwave and Shore Power camping I'd find ways to use it, but I've always been baffled as to why they get built into even the smallest campers. Are people bringing frozen TV dinners camping? lol.

About the only thing I might want to do with it is reheat coffee.

 

[Jimbow]

Nice customization.

We're dinette fans, evening games primarily, or stretched across while reading. But we've always had a dinette and sofa.