Flip-up tables in dinette

[NW Cat Owner]

Okay, I was all set to order two flip-up tables in the u-shaped dinette on my build sheet.

However .....

Yesterday I went over to Tom Fraser's house to look over his trailer (a 21 footer) inch by inch. His was the very first Escape trailer we saw back in April or thereabouts. After that visit they added on a narrow flip-up table on the frig side of the dinette. Tom pointed out something that I had never thought of or was aware of, so I'm wondering how others deal with it.

With the table there, you have the hinge stuff attached to the wall, which sticks out a bit. How easy is it to lift up the cushion and access the storage underneath? Do you have to peel the cushion back a bit to get it off? Does the cushion rub against the hinge and/or the table? It didn't seem like it would be that easy to access the storage.

Mind you, Tom had the dinette table (the large one in the middle, in case you're confused) in place. I don't plan to. I'm wondering if that would make a big difference and having the flip-up tables will be fine. I don't want to make it harder to access the storage (I have little patience, so I can see myself chucking stuff all over the place as I'm super annoyed at how difficult it is). Nor do I want to mess up my cushions and/or the fabric on the cushions.

I also was not aware that you could get those flip-up tables in different widths. The ones we saw in the dinette area were the same size as the ones at the end of the kitchen counter. Tom had a narrower one in the dinette.

So, am I needlessly worrying about this? (That's par for me, so nothing new there.) Comments from those with real life experience with this situation will be appreciated! Thanks!

PS, tested out my new decals against his trailer! Score on my part! I'm super thrilled at how they look!!!! (Tom's been sworn to secrecy on what they are.)

[Donna D.]

I like the stooge tables, glad I have them. I've gotten into the dinette storage plenty of times and don't fine the tables to be a problem. Now wrestling with the cushions, that's the problem! Looks like a comedy going on....

[padlin]

Have a different hassle with the fold down table. We have one at the door side of the sink, the hinge is a pain to put down, you have to have it just right to work. Anyone else have this?

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by padlin

Have a different hassle with the fold down table. We have one at the door side of the sink, the hinge is a pain to put down, you have to have it just right to work. Anyone else have this?

Hi: padlin... When our counter extension is deployed and needs to be put down I put my arm under the hinges so I can push on both at the same time. Works for me!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

I told ETI to cut the plywood door that lift under the cushion to miss the closed table, they may be doing that standard now. No issue with the cushion. I have 3 of these installed in BlackJack, if you remove the rear table and cover it to a lounge area, the lift up tables are very handy.

[Jermother]

We love ours.No problem at all.

[Sandra L]

Would door openings on the front of the bench seats help? I've done that for my rear dinette as I keep it as a bed as it is not practical to lift the cushions and topper and bedding to access the under bench storage. One could have doors arranged so as not to bump into the table pedestal.

[float5]

We have to have the flip-up tables closed to get into the benches. But we do not use the area for a bed. A door there on the front would certainly help those who make up a bed.

To get a flip-up table closed, I think you lift the table up, then push the supports in.

[Donna D.]

One thing nice about the stooge tables when they're in the up position is they keep the back cushions in place! Through no fault of ETI, since I got a really early 5.0TA build, those back rest cushions are about 1-1/2 too short to fit tight. They fall down easily.

[thoer]

Ok, I'll ask - what is a stooge table? Moe, Larry, Curly?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by thoer

Ok, I'll ask - what is a stooge table? Moe, Larry, Curly?

Those flip up tables folks are talking about. I think it was Jim that started the stooge word... I like it.

[gbaglo]

I know what a stooge table is. What I wonder is how and why anybody would come up with 'stooge' as a name for it.

stooge |sto͞oj|
noun
1 derogatory a person who serves merely to support or assist others, particularly in doing unpleasant work: you fell for that helpless-female act and let her make you a stooge.
2 a performer whose act involves being the butt of a comedian's jokes.
verb [ no obj. ]
1 move around aimlessly; drift or cruise: she stooged around in the bathroom for a while.
2 perform a role that involves being the butt of a comedian's jokes.

[thoer]

Must be some Keystone State thing....

[Donna D.]

Don't care how the name came about, I know what it means and automatically know what folks are talking about... kinda like Rat Fur

[gbaglo]

Could call it an envelope table - you know, a folder.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by thoer

Must be some Keystone State thing....

I resemble that.....