Modifying the dinette

[gazingm42]

I have 2013 dutchmen 261BHS. The Dinette backside (seats on the right) is very week because of the material it made from.

When ever we get into I always telling my kids to be careful as I am afraid of them breaking it.

It only made from maybe 1/4" cheap board. Attached out the outer slide out wall, floor and the seat cabinets. I have done some reinforcement screws already.

The entire wall is 48 wide about 34 tall. So I considering making a Oak or white hickory. Simple because it very hard wood. I can
Joint about 5 or 6 inches by 1" pieces together and use the existing
one as a template. Giving it a stain and finish to match near the same color.

It will add some weight, which I not worried about. I just want some extra strength to the back.

Any thoughts?

[MartyG]

Speaking of dinettes, our last little Coleman only had one bed, and it was the dinette. Both of us are (ahem) "full-sized." I worried about the table-top supported only on the sides. I made an I-beam of 2x4's, cut to fit exactly beneath the table top to the floor, adding carpet at either end to wedge it and quiet it. It worked great! We've since traded that camper, but keep the I-beam in our current camper, where the dinette is a guest bed.

[gazingm42]

I would just like to get the wall that 1/4 that the back is on replaced with 1" oak. I think it will be much nicer in the long run.

[twinscrew]

Mine is the same. It has yet to break. Very cheap construction. Kind of like the rear bunk.

[gazingm42]

Made the change today!

It came out very nice.

I purchased 15 board feet of 1" red oak. Jointed them together and made a slab 48 X 32 then used the old back board (strong cardboard) that Dutchman used as a template.

After matching stain and varnish I made some nice improvments on the underseats and the wall mounts.

Need less to say very happy.

[DC8Captain]

I have a 275BH. How about some pictures please.

[gazingm42]

I am camping now with very limited internet...
As soon as I get access I will post them online. I choose not to replace the silly top cap.

Looks like your 275bh has the same silly design flaw. Which could use this upgrade.

[gazingm42]

First under the seat it has some 1.5 X 1.5 pine timbers making the seat frame. I doubled it against the backing by putting another one directly under the existing frame. Screw some #8 2" screws in them.

Then in the new back I made a 48" X 32" use the old back as a template and cut it to the same angle to fit the cushion. Then I
add some 1" X 1.5" and glue them to the back. So this I attached to the wall and long one on the floor.

Screwing under frame into the back with the 2" screws, several of them. Since it has a nice one inch top I left that old silly topper made from week cardboard off.