A sit down table inside teardrop? Is this possible?

[Little Foot]

Hi guys and gals! I'm trying to solidify a plan for my first build. I have just placed an order for a Ironton (Northern tool) 5x8 foot trailer kit. Tentatively, I was thinking about a 5'x9-10' build because I know for sure I want to accommodate a queen size mattress and as much room as is practical for myself, my wife, and our one dog (and possibly a future dog). I believe I've seen builds where a small table and some type of bench seating was incorporated into the interior design. I believe there might be a way to convert the bed into some kind of seat, and have the table top then come up from the floor (or stored somewhere else). However, now I'm trying to search for examples, and I'm not having much luck finding builds like that. Am I crazy (about this, anyway!), or is it possible to have a little sit down table area inside a typical teardrop? I should mention I am probably going 5' tall, but hadn't really planned on doing a stand up camper or going much taller. Also, we as tent campers always brought along one of those screened kitchen tent/shelters, and for the most part we would still use that when camping with our future teardrop. But, I just thought it might be nice to have a way to sit down inside the camper for meals on the days when it's really raining hard, as it does frequently in our usual playground, the New York Adirondacks. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas about this? Is this what they call a "settee", or maybe that's a manatee's cousin?

Thank you in advance for your help!

[halfdome, Danny]

To make a place to sit in a teardrop, with a small table, you need a foot well with a lid.
The lid/table top is attached to RV table hardware and socket that's in the floor of the foot well and the under side of the lid/table top.
It's all connected with a connecting pipe that can be cut to your desired length.

You'll need to make the mattress in 4 equal sizes so two will be seats and 2 will be back bolsters.
I did just that in my first teardrop and we never used it because it involves tearing apart the bed and placing the bedding in the tow vehicle.
We have a canopy for over the galley area and chairs.
We use a purchased break down table that fits in a bag, a much easier solution.

I no longer make a teardrop with inside seating, in my opinion it's a wasted effort.
Danny

[Little Foot]

Hi, Danny! Thanks for the fast reply. I sould have been more clear that I knew there would be a post for the table hidden In the floor, and that the table top could possibly be the cover for that hardware in the floor. My biggest concern is the mattress. Thanks for pointing out how much of a pain it might be to take the bed apart, I wasn't really thinking of that. However, I was concerned that the mattress could not be one piece, and I was imagining that the pieces with their seems would then be uncomfortable to sleep on. I remember when I was much younger I had what I thought was a great idea to push two twins beds together to make a larger bed, but I remember it was very uncomfortable because of the seem between the two beds. Any thoughts on having the mattress be in several pieces like you described?

Thanks again!

[halfdome, Danny]

Hi, Danny! Thanks for the fast reply. I sould have been more clear that I knew there would be a post for the table hidden In the floor, and that the table top could possibly be the cover for that hardware in the floor. My biggest concern is the mattress. Thanks for pointing out how much of a pain it might be to take the bed apart, I wasn't really thinking of that. However, I was concerned that the mattress could not be one piece, and I was imagining that the pieces with their seems would then be uncomfortable to sleep on. I remember when I was much younger I had what I thought was a great idea to push two twins beds together to make a larger bed, but I remember it was very uncomfortable because of the seem between the two beds. Any thoughts on having the mattress be in several pieces like you described?

Thanks again!

Little Foot, the 4 piece mattress seams are horizontal, not vertical, and pose no problems while sleeping.
I now have my mattress made in two pieces to help ease the task of making the bed and getting to the storage foot well lid.

I forgot to mention you also have to find a place to store all the junk that's stored in that foot well when making up the table.
We have a foot well now, but it's for storage and the junk only comes out when the need arises.
Danny

[jstrubberg]

There is a build with a table in the hall of fame called the Lil' Diner. Very nice build.

[KennethW]

I at first thought is would be nice. But,I realized that to set the table up and take it down and remake the bed would be a pain.( a real pain in the rain)
On top of that, sleeping on a cut-up bed would not be as comfortable.
A good thought, but in practice I don't think one would use it much. If one want to set-up just move to your TV with nice bucket seats that recline. climate control, lots of windows with a view and a good sound system. If you still want a small table I would think if you scoot up and have a small table fold down from the wall(door?) would work better with almost no setup or take down. Plus, You could nap at the same time your better half was reading. Are even a extra wide breakfast in bed tables? http://www.amazon.com/b?node=681147011 That could be stored along the wall.
Just my thoughts.

[deleted]

The Vistabule has lots of tables and a folded bench/bed for daytime seating. Tiny Yellow Teardrop did a great blog post with pictures better than I could find on the Vistabule website: http://tinyyellowteardrop.blogspot.com/2013/04/featured-teardrop-trailer-vistabule.html

[jstrubberg]

I can definitely see using a sit up/table arrangement on those rainy days. Being stuck lying down all day would probably land me in the chiropractor's office.

[Socal Tom]

Is the concern having someplace to eat if the weather goes bad? Sitting on the bed works, so does sitting in the Tow vehicle. A couple of TV trays could be carried pretty easily ( they could double as shelves in your galley as well), and used when needed for inside dining, or playing cards in the TV.
http://www.amazon.com/Home--Folding-table-breakfast-Bamboo/dp/B00PHS97EU/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1452208948&sr=1-3&keywords=tv+trays
Tom

[kayakdlk]

Steve Frederick's built 'Lil Diners 1 and 2 which have seating areas. Check this link out http://www.campingclassics.com/diner10.html

Dan

[Cosmo]

As Stacie noted - the Vistabule table works fine for computer desk, snacks, drinks, projects, writing or dinner for one.
For a dinner for two I have to use the two door tables in addition for a full meal with glasses, silverware candles etc.
But if its raining and the shelter is not up its very useful.
The single table leg fits into a hole in the floor. The table also comes with and X shaped base for free standing use outside the trailer. Table comes apart and stores under the futon in the floor wells. A very simple table setup.
One of the videos below shows the table in action.

I usually only accept reservations for a dinner party of two inside - but that's the whole idea.
When hosting a larger dinner party, I do it outside


Cosmo

[grant whipp]

The first teardrop I built (in 1984) and the vast majority of the ones thereafter had interior seating packages ... 8 footers sat two, and 10 footers sat four, comfortably at a table with a footwell that stowed the table leg and table itself ... the 8 footers had 3-piece cushions and the 10 footers had 4-piece cushions which (when designed and fabricated correctly) were pretty damn easy to set up or down (with not much practice, I could do the whole process, either way, in much less than a minute). Even with the first one, I realized that making the table the same size as the floor cutout would make it a real PITA to get in and out with the table set up, so mine were smaller and stowed inside the footwell, and the cushions that bridged the footwell had 1/2" plywood backing and stiff-backs/cleats where needed (which also helped with nicely angling the seat cushion). Unless you are a fan of fitted sheets & bedding, stowing the bedding was also easy ... just roll it up under the rear cabinetry when you want the table up, then roll it back out when you want to go to bed ... and I never experienced any discomfort with regards to the multi-piece cushions! I once squeezed 5 good-sized guys in an 8-footer during a downpour, and we all enjoyed a good long came of cards! So, it can be done ... and comfortably, too ... with careful planning and execution. The picture of me sitting in my #1 trailer pops up occasionally in the rotating gallery at the top left of the pages of this Forum. Good Luck, happy camping, and as always ...

CHEERS!

[Little Foot]

Hi guys! Sorry about not replying sooner, but thank you very much for all the great advice! I definitely will have to think about this some more. Although many of you have said that it's no problem sleeping on a mattress that's several sections, I'm still not so sure about how comfortable that would be. And I was just planning on ordering a 4-8" memory foam mattress topper from that big online bookstore. I wouldn't even know where to look for a custom mattress, and I doubt I'd be able to cut the regular mattress myself and have it work right. I was already thinking of small, fold down, "airline style" tables on each bedside, and the tray tables were definitely a great idea too. Certainly, you have all given me lots to think about. Anyway, I do really appreciate all the replies and ideas, and I will definitely weight all these options before I decide what's best for us.

Thanks again everyone!

[deleted]

If you do decide to go with the mattress in pieces you can order custom cut foam here... http://www.thefoamfactory.com/ I got the latex foam from them as it doesn't freeze hard when the temperature drops the way memory foam will. Also, if you get one large piece and need to cut it I did research at one point because I'd like to cut mine in half just to make it easier to move around when I need to and it sounds like using an electric kitchen knife is the way to go.

Here's one example:



I already picked up a used electric knife at a yard sale for just a few dollars but haven't gotten around to making the cut yet

[Little Foot]

Thanks, Stacie! I didn't realize the memory foam would freeze..... I'm going to have to think that one through a little more too!