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Panther 3/4 Dinette


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#1 ScottBailey

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 03:41 AM

While camping with my folks, my wife found herself desiring a dinette.

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Sitting in a C class dinette. Much bigger than our 3/4 dinette.


I'd already read DLN's [thread=1302]Eagle mini dinette thread[/thread] and bobg333's [thread=1339]Grandby dinette thread[/thread]. So I started planning and...

Well, I'm done! At least, for now. I still need to upholster and build the final table, but I'm going to use it first and see what, if anything, needs to change.


On to the pics!

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Notice how I've left an opening on the passenger side and how easy it is to get to the turnbuckle ports. That's the old settee cushion (well, half of it) sitting loose on top of the cab side bench. It's not wide enough, but I needed something for testing!


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Here's a pic of the back of the roll-over seat. Thanks go to Mtn-High for his spare hardware. Big thanks!


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Here you can see the seat's distance from the galley cabinetry. The seat takes up an extra 2 inches of aisle, but 2 adults can sit in the camper easy while a 3rd cooks!

Note the Porta Pottie. We can use it where it is, but just barely. We'll be upgrading to a model with a larger holding tank soon.


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Here is the seat back folded down. I suppose I could make an extension over the potty to have a full length bed... I'll think about it.


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The seat from a different angle. Note that I've left the front open here, also. Not only does it make easier to store long items, but it gives you more foot room; less kicking each other under the table.


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The seat bottom lifts up somewhat to make storage access easier. Also, getting to the turnbuckle is a snap! (As a side note, the seat bottom will flip vertical, but it's kind of a PITA: flip the back horizontal, bottom flips vertical, then back flips vertical. Will do if the stored object is unwieldy.)


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Here's the cab side storage. 5 gal gray serendipitously fits in the box. Yay on that happy accident!!! (Of course, it intentionally fits between the galley and cab seating nicely. But I like it in the box better.) The rest of the space is for towels and rags. The battery moved a little to the driver side, but not much. 2 inches, maybe.


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Here is the passenger side storage. That's a shovel and one of our long camp chairs. Great storage! Sure, you can't really sit at the dinette when lots of stuff is stored below, but so what? I think it'll work well enough.


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Jakey sitting on the ledge!

If we put one of our folding stools in the aisle (next to the seat) and I build a table with an extension, we can seat 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children. Not counting a single ledge sitter, that is...


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Clickable thumbnail of the original floor plan.


Anyway, I didn't reuse any of my settee. I wanted to keep it pristine in case I didn't (or don't) like the dinette.

Seats are 42" x 20", and 24" by 20". Big and comfy. I raised the height by about 3/4" from the stock settee (stock was 13"). Side's are 1/2" birch. The seat has a 3/4" 'lip' around the top (for the folding hardware to bolt to). It is further reinforced by 1/2" plywood. The cab side seating has a 3/4" lip along the cab.


The camper feels so much bigger and brighter. The difference is amazing. And it better be: I worked on the camper instead of camping! (We missed our December trip... Bummer.)
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Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove. 
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel


#2 K6ON

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 05:04 AM

It looks super.. would love to see it in person...you going to make Death Valley in a couple weeks??
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2007 Dodge 2500 5.9 CTD QC 4X4, *1996 FWC/ATC hybrid* *2021.5 GeoPro 19FBS*  "If you can read this, Thank a Teacher.  Because you read this in English, Thank a Vet."


#3 DLN

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 06:02 PM

Scott,

Your Dinette came out very nice, well thought out and applied, good job. The amount of space in and around it is excellent and of course the openness in the camper really adds to the comfort level. I'll be looking forward to seeing the final product with the cushions finished.
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#4 ScottBailey

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 06:37 PM

It looks super.. would love to see it in person...you going to make Death Valley in a couple weeks??


First, we're going to miss the DV trip. To far (8+ hours?) for my little guy and I'm out of vacation time at work. Further, It'll be a lot more interesting to see when I have the little kinks worked out, the seats upholstered, and the table built.

Let me tell you: my workmanship is OK at best. You can't see it at a distance, but when you get up close it's quite a bit clearer that I'm an amateur. None the less, I'm happy with the result.

Interestingly, when I gave up on perfect and went for good enough my quality of work improved significantly and my speed drastically improved. Mood got better, too. I think a table saw and jointer would both speed me up and add a real level of quality to my work. Might as well get a planner too, right?

A couple further notes:
  • This mod has taken about 20 hours to do. Would have been way less (1/2 to 1/3) if I'd had the aforementioned tools.
  • Cost so far was about $100 to $150 for wood, screws, and cabinetry mounting hardware.
  • The fold-over hardware can be purchased for abput $150 + shipping from FWC. Mtn-High sent me his on the condition I donate some amount of my choice to an animal shelter. He even paid the shipping himself. Very selfless. (We sent $100 to goldenrescue.com.)

SB
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Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove. 
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel


#5 ScottBailey

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 07:02 PM

I wanted to publicly say thank you to Ben. He is always available by phone to answer the dumbest of questions. (I'd failed to remember which lead to the battery was negative. Calling Ben confirmed it.)

This level of after sale service is impressive.
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Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove. 
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel


#6 Mark W. Ingalls

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 07:37 PM

I agree with the idea of using it awhile before buttoning up. Some people get 80% of the way and never finish, but some people are in a hurry to finish and then have regrets. It's the details that really bring joy over time. I'll try to ask how it's going from time to time.

Nice project.
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#7 mtn-high

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Posted 03 January 2009 - 09:55 PM

Great job, scott.

THANKS for the donation to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. The dogs appreciate it! FYI, I often find myself on the road...heading to remote places in CO/UT/NM to transport dogs and help deliver them to Denver where they can find *forever* homes.

Now to figure out what to do with the couch back. LOL.

thanks again.

mtn
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#8 ScottBailey

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Posted 05 January 2009 - 10:13 PM

Adding a couple more pics for your perusal.
  • A fun pic of testing. Note that we are scrunched together (for the pic) and their is another foot (or more) of space on the bench to the left. Also, the little guy is actually sitting on his plastic camper meal chair on the ledge!
  • before
  • Gimped up an after floor plan.

Attached Thumbnails

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Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove. 
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel


#9 Mark W. Ingalls

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Posted 07 January 2009 - 02:23 AM

How does it sleep?
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#10 ScottBailey

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Posted 07 January 2009 - 05:32 AM

How does it sleep?


I really won't know until I've made cushions. I can tell you that the "bed" length is around 51 inches. The only child who sleeps in the camper is good for at least 5 years (after which I might put the cab pass through in and he can sleep there). Furthermore, since the "bed" is 3 cushions, and the folders don't seem to lay perfectly level (mild angle, I can probably fix when with hot wire cutter) I don't expect a lot of comfort.

That said, my wife wanted the dinette so she'd have a good place to sit while reading, drawing, using a laptop or whatever. This mod is--according to her--a vast improvement.

Of course, storage got more complicated: what we once threw on the shelf, captured between wall and couch, now requires different containment. While simple solutions exist (e.g. Rubbermaid containers, netting, milk crates, duffel bags), I haven't settled on one yet.
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Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove. 
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel





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