Fed up with dinette table

[maggiek]

As previously decussed by lots of folks on this Forum, we to have come to a point where we have to do something with the dinnet table that Forest River has supplied with several of it's products. As most know, the table is of very poor design/construction causing it to "wiggle" at any contact with the result of some sort of spilt refreshment or other unpleasant mess.
So, we have been researching what others have done to make things better and have come up with a couple of possible solutions that could work for us. Now the "but". The mods that we are considering involve mounting a support member below the dinnet window. Before I start drilling or other wise modifying anything below the window and maybe causing some serious damage, I'd like the to know what's there. Does anyone know how the wall in the dinnet window area of the Mini Lite 2304 is constructed? Is there infact studding etc below the window? Does anyone have some drawings, plans, blueprints of that area? A contact at Forest River I can talk to would be helpful also. Any help will be appreciated.

[Gregg Willow]

I modded my wiggly table. There is another thread in this forum about what someone else did. I copied that. I had the two leg table. I removed the cones from the table and the floor and then installed a single fold-up leg to the table bottom. I then used a 1x1 and attached it to the end of the table on the bottom for the whole width. I cut a duplicate and mounted it to the wall. I then got a hinge that just slips together so the table can be removed. This was an improvement but not firm enough for me. When I mounted to the wall there was only one stud available below the window for the width of my table. I cut a new piece of 1x1 that crosses three studs under the window and that did the trick. Solid! I then stained the 1x1 pieces and permanently screwed to the wall. It looks good.

A little long winded, I know. Use a stud finder. They find both wood and aluminum studs. I forget which thread it was. Search for 'wiggly table' and 'wobbly table'.

[kz08h5]

I installed one of these:

V40 - SNAP 2 Folding Table Base - Price: $69.00 - Factory RV Surplus - 1611 W Bristol St, Elkhart, IN 46514 (800) 325-1461 (574) 262-3327

Just attach table top. Nothing to mount to RV. You can move it any where you want, even outside. Since it uses your original top it fits the dinette just fine. Our top is MDF and my wife couldn't raise or lower the table. Now she can.

[GASPEDDLER]

Originally Posted by kz08h5

I installed one of these:

V40 - SNAP 2 Folding Table Base - Price: $69.00 - Factory RV Surplus - 1611 W Bristol St, Elkhart, IN 46514 (800) 325-1461 (574) 262-3327

Just attach table top. Nothing to mount to RV. You can move it any where you want, even outside. Since it uses your original top it fits the dinette just fine. Our top is MDF and my wife couldn't raise or lower the table. Now she can.

I like your solution. Any chance you can post up some pics of the finished product in the eating and sleeping position? How sturdy is it in the eating position? I'm tired of spilling my drink into my lap.

[kz08h5]

I will try to get some pictures this weekend. I think the table is pretty stable. Definitely more stable than the original legs, which were flimsy stamped sheetmetal that my fishing buddy managed to bend up the first time he came out for a fishing trip.

[timarti]

LOL, that was what was in our trailer originally and had to be eliminated. Way too wobbly, too many spilled drinks!

[wneise]

I've thought about putting in a cross brace from the top of one leg to about 2/3 down the other and a wood rail on the wall to rest on or be locked down on.

[sdelam]

Anyone ever mount a pedestol base like for a boat seat? Seems the single post would make it much easier to get in and out of. Not Sure if the floor would support it in my 21ss.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by sdelam

Anyone ever mount a pedestol base like for a boat seat? Seems the single post would make it much easier to get in and out of. Not Sure if the floor would support it in my 21ss.

Someone did this here. It looked like a Mod I would be interested at the time.
Then I saw the new legs and I am still thinking about what I want to do.

If my legs break (and they will one day), I will have to decide.

[GASPEDDLER]

Originally Posted by timarti

LOL, that was what was in our trailer originally and had to be eliminated. Way too wobbly, too many spilled drinks!

Do you mean you started out with the snap 2 base stand and later eliminated it?

[iluvlcy]

You may like the snap 2 but I think a few of us who have had them have replaced due to wobbles.

[wneise]

Another idea would be to cut a 2x4 the width of the table and rip it down the middle. Mount one piece to the wall for the table to rest on and the other to the underside of the table so the original rip lines meet. Next install one of those rotary casement window locks on each on the bottom at the ends of the wood strips to lock the two pieces of wood together. Might try to do this mod next week while we babysit a fireworks stand.

[maggiek]

Originally Posted by Gregg Willow

I modded my wiggly table. There is another thread in this forum about what someone else did. I copied that. I had the two leg table. I removed the cones from the table and the floor and then installed a single fold-up leg to the table bottom. I then used a 1x1 and attached it to the end of the table on the bottom for the whole width. I cut a duplicate and mounted it to the wall. I then got a hinge that just slips together so the table can be removed. This was an improvement but not firm enough for me. When I mounted to the wall there was only one stud available below the window for the width of my table. I cut a new piece of 1x1 that crosses three studs under the window and that did the trick. Solid! I then stained the 1x1 pieces and permanently screwed to the wall. It looks good.

This is the direction I think we will be going eventually. The SNAP 2 Folding Base is essentially what we are trying to replace. There are a couple of ideas, however, that I'd like to try before attacking the dinnet wall. The addition of "L" brackets to the verticals at the junction of the legs and where the table top supports entersect the verticals seems like something that some have had some success with. As we are heading out to a local campground Monday for a few days, I think we'll give it a try. The base is going to be replaced anyway, right!!!
Will let everyone know how it works.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Someone did this here. It looked like a Mod I would be interested at the time.
Then I saw the new legs and I am still thinking about what I want to do.

If my legs break (and they will one day), I will have to decide.

Lou, do you not have the pedestal table and 4 chairs?

[timarti]

Gaspeddler, this is what we had originally and replaced with the wooden base.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by timarti

Gaspeddler, this is what we had originally and replaced with the wooden base.

Looks like a lot of metal that could be used to make something useful.

[timarti]

When engineers go rogue!

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Lou, do you not have the pedestal table and 4 chairs?

NO, ordered Dinette for storage and bed.

[GASPEDDLER]

Originally Posted by timarti

Gaspeddler, this is what we had originally and replaced with the wooden base.

I can see how that stand might produce the death wobble. That wobble that sends everyone's drinks and bowls of captain crunch Into daddy's lap. Thanks for the picture and info.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

NO, ordered Dinette for storage and bed.

I have some 2-1/2" sq. x 1/8" wall stl tubing, I'll make you some legs that won't wobble. Would only increase your wt by about 75#.