Eagle Dinette Conversion

[highz]

A long while back (during the summer) I had a dinette conversion done by Chicali and crew at FWC. I promised to post some photos. It's certainly taken a while, but here they are. I should have taken "before" pictures, but didn't. If you look at the layout on the FWC site, that is what I had. There were storage cabinets under the bench couch, but no cabinets at the front (cab side) of the camper.

I'm very happy with the conversion. The Eagle doesn't have much room to spare, but I've wound up having more storage space without sacrificing living space.

Here's a view facing front.

They decided not to use the rollover couch hinges in the conversion. The hinges stuck out and stabbed people - especially in the narrower Eagle. Instead, they put a masonite backrest in with a sleeve in the back cushion that goes over the backrest.

A view looking down from the bed. This gives an idea of foot room. There's enough space - barely.

Now, the conversion to a bed. First, you slide the seat cushion off.

Next, you pull the backrest out and fit it into its space under the storage lids.

Then set out the cushions and you're done. I haven't slept on it yet, but my sis says it is comfortable.

The storage battery was moved to the front compartments. They also added the little corner cabinet, which also doubles as a great little nightstand for the cabover bed.

I'm very glad I had the conversion done. I love not having the window blocked by the back of the couch.

 

[billharr]

Looks great. I love my dinette on the Hawk, you will love having a window you can look out of while eating. What is the size of your table? Does the cushion over the port a pot lift up?

Bill

 

[highz]

Looks great. I love my dinette on the Hawk, you will love having a window you can look out of while eating. What is the size of your table? Does the cushion over the port a pot lift up?

Bill

Had to go out and measure. The table is 16 inches by 32 inches. Yes, the cushion and board over the porta-potty can be lifted out.

I've used it several times since the conversion, and I'm with you about having a view while eating. Very nice. I envy you the extra width in your Hawk, but I went smaller because I already had the Ranger and because of some rugged property I own. I'm not sure a larger truck and camper could fit up here and still leave room for getting out of the truck.

 

[DirtyDog]

Dinette looks great highz. I wish I had that setup. In the pic of your property - is that a switchback you have to drive right there?

 

[Argonaut20]

Nice looking and useful conversion. How does the backrest get support when it is in backrest position?

 

[DLN]

Nice looking set up, FWC is getting better at the dinettes every time they do a new one. Yours seems to have more foot room then their first models. I also noticed they added in the small storage available between the seats on the camper step, I had opened that space up under our seats but never got around to posting it before we sold the camper. Over all very nice work. Congrats.

 

[Hittheroad]

We bought an Eagle in June with this configuration and have been very happy with it. I notice that your porta-potty fits under the shelf extending as the rear of the bench. We had a happy accident that has greatly improved our ease of use of the Eagle. We had previously purchased a larger porta-potty that did not quite fit under the shelf. To get it in I had to remove the shelf and place the bench cushion directly onto the top of the porta-potty. This means that the potty can be used without moving it, simply by removing the cushion. This is a great relief in the middle of the night or if traveling in green apple quick step territory. I have not timed the dash from cab to pot but it can be done in seconds even with the top down. We use a non slip shelf liner under the potty and it has stayed put on some fairly mild 4-wheel drive excursions.

Having dithered a good deal over the Ranger vs the Eagle I now realize that the big advantage of a Ranger is you can setup a two-holer.

 

[highz]

DD, the truck is parked on an old logging blaze that dead ends 30 yards or so behind the truck. I back up in 4W low. It's kind of flat starting where the truck is, has a good view and is my preferred camping spot. The bit of road you see at the bottom is the access road. I don't try to make that tight turn. The road goes straight through past the blaze, and I take the easy turn. It's all 4WD. The property is all mountainside, which is why I could afford it But, it borders National Forest; it's exactly what I wanted for my refuge.

Argo, the backrest is thick enough to be rigid. It sits deeply enough into a slot that there is very little flexure. It's a simple concept that has worked well, so far.