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Old 05-08-2016, 10:10 PM   #1
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Dinette table - haven't seen this one before

I know lots of folks complain about the folding dinette table. I haven't been thrilled either. Had one in my Roo and now one in my Mini Lite. Today's issue:

Went to raise the table this evening and the bar that the big spring is attached to broke off from one of the smaller pieces that's bolted to a short tab that's welded to the table leg. Then when I grabbed the horizontal bar, it broke off of the smaller piece on the other table leg.

I was surprised that the smaller pieces were tack welded to the horizontal bar; I would have thought they'd be bolted together so they could swivel. I went on-line and found a pic of a "V-40 -SNAP 2" folding table leg. Looks just like mine, except for the locking mechanism, AND the bar and smaller pieces are bolted together and swivel.

What do the rest of you folks have? Tack welds or bolts?

Pic 1 is the bar the spring attaches to; you can see tiny broken tack weld

Pic 2 is one of the short bars. It's bolted at one end to the tab that's welded to the table leg and you can see the broken tack weld at the other end.

Pic 3 shows the short tab welded to the table leg with the short piece bolted to it.

Pic 4 shows the V-40 SNAP-2; the horizontal bar is clearly bolted to the shorter pieces, not tack welded. However, it looks like there's no tab; the short piece may be welded directly to the table leg.

Pic 5 shows another shot of the V-40. The locking mechanism on the V-40 is different - it seems to have some kind of knob, while mine just has a small yellow button.

I'm thinking I can just drill some holes and install bolts and be back in business, but who knows?
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Old 05-09-2016, 06:17 AM   #2
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I have pretty much the same table and have had similar "issues". The weld on the draglink (the bar that goes one end to the other) broke. I didn't want to reweld it since that would really goof up the paint. I clamped it together at the crack, drilled and tapped the piece and put a locknut on the back side. I did it in two places so it would have to shear two bolts to break again ( either 8-32 , 10-32) Then I went to the end that didn't break the weld and put in one bolt in the same manner. The pivot points were very tight initially and all got a shot of WD40 and it worked every thing loose enough to get it up and down with little effort.
Mine had a small yellow plastic button that was pressed into the latch release lever that came out. I had to make a new knob and hardware to screw into the lever. Adjacent to the lever is a small spring loaded pin that also needs to move freely. It holds the lever out just enough to allow the lever to clear the legs when you fold and unfold. If you look at it closely and often you will see what's going on with it. Crazy arsed mechanism that could have had a better execution.
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Old 05-09-2016, 07:09 PM   #3
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Thanks, Jeff. I was at a Rockwood dealer today and took a look at a new one. Looks like the short legs are welded perpendicular to the draglink, and the draglink is above the short legs. So I immediately thought of what you did - put two bolts into each end of the draglink. I'll do that when I get home later this week.
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2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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Old 05-10-2016, 07:55 AM   #4
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We have same setup on 2014 model. We had trouble breaking it down initially but about have it figured out now. The floor model we looked at before ordering ours was broken just like yours but ours is still holding up. We started out dropping our table for travel but then figured out that it really does not move around anyway so we just leave it up for travel now. Less wear and tear on it. Good thoughts on repair if it ever does break.


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Old 05-14-2016, 07:45 PM   #5
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Here's my repair. Clamped the horizontal bar to each shorter one, one at a time, and drilled 2 holes for screw/nuts. Hardest part is keeping the two bars at 90 degrees to each other. First 2 pics is one side. Second 2 pics is the other. On this one I got the holes a little too close together, so I had to put one screw in from each side. Last pic is an overall shot.

I also sprayed some WD40 onto the hinges and it's a LOT looser and easier to raise now.
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1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
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2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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Old 05-14-2016, 07:53 PM   #6
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We fixed ours permanantly by tossing it in the back corner of the carport.Anything out there that doesnt get moved or used in a year goes in the unlimited pickup(after ive had my way with it useing the fel) !
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Old 05-15-2016, 12:32 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by trbomax View Post
We fixed ours permanantly by tossing it in the back corner of the carport.Anything out there that doesnt get moved or used in a year goes in the unlimited pickup(after ive had my way with it useing the fel) !
If I had a viable alternative, I'd do the same!
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1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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Old 05-15-2016, 02:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Klbrown53 View Post
We have same setup on 2014 model. We had trouble breaking it down initially but about have it figured out now. The floor model we looked at before ordering ours was broken just like yours but ours is still holding up. We started out dropping our table for travel but then figured out that it really does not move around anyway so we just leave it up for travel now. Less wear and tear on it. Good thoughts on repair if it ever does break.


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We got lazy a couple of years ago and left our table up and on the way home it bit the dust. Now just use 2 pedestals and do take it down for travel.

But a new mod is coming soon!
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Old 05-15-2016, 02:55 PM   #9
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I just ordered the Dream Dinette mechanism from Cass Hudson. Using your existing table top and with the flip of a lever you can easily push the whole table down for a bed then flip it again and you can use your finger tips to pull it up for a table. It stay level the whole time. No more laying it on it's side to fold out the legs.

A little pricey but it will be sooo much easier setting up the table from now on.
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Old 05-15-2016, 03:12 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by dea49 View Post
I just ordered the Dream Dinette mechanism from Cass Hudson. Using your existing table top and with the flip of a lever you can easily push the whole table down for a bed then flip it again and you can use your finger tips to pull it up for a table. It stay level the whole time. No more laying it on it's side to fold out the legs.

A little pricey but it will be sooo much easier setting up the table from now on.
Unless they have a free standing table mechanism, that won't help those of us who have the U shaped dinette.
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Old 05-15-2016, 03:22 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by itat View Post
Unless they have a free standing table mechanism, that won't help those of us who have the U shaped dinette.
That's true. The mechanism is designed for the booth style dinette that also drops down for a bed. Mine has a free standing table that I have to permanently remove the legs and then attach the mechanism to the bottom of the table and the wall.
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Old 05-15-2016, 03:32 PM   #12
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Mine's a U-dinette so the Dream Dinette's out. Also, some folks with the pedestals complain about being loose. The table's OK when up; my problem was getting it up and down. So at this point, now that I've loosened up the mechanism, we'll see how well it goes.
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1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
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2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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Old 05-22-2016, 01:12 PM   #13
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Had same table problem. Crazy design and not well made. After it broke, did the same thing as others here. Reinforced the whole contraption, removed pads on the bottom, and secured it to the floor permanently. We don't use the dinette for a bed anyway. Rides well, and is fairly stable. So far, has held up.
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Old 08-14-2016, 06:59 AM   #14
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Last night was the very rare exception when we needed ours to make the bed. My wife took 3 grandkids out driveway camping.
For RR people the table is a problem as it has to be moved to get the toys in and it only folds halfway down. Many of us need the main bed to sleep on at Walmarts etc when we travel, so there's no where to put the table.
If I needed a bed setup at the rear of the RR I would rebuild the seats into one of the pull out beds like on the ones on Pinterest. I have been thinking about it as I only put 1 bike in and leave one seat down when travelling.
I'll be keen to see other people's mods/fixes for this table.


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