Pros/cons of Springfield pedestal

[rootedoutside]

Finalizing our build sheet now, and wanted to hear about your experiences with the Springfield pedestal.

It sounds like the Springfield is a permanent pedestal, i.e., the legs drop down and cannot be taken out. What are the pros/cons of this upgrade versus the standard table legs?

Also, what are the pros/cons of the slider option, i.e., moving the table side to side?

Thanks!

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by rootedoutside

Finalizing our build sheet now, and wanted to hear about your experiences with the Springfield pedestal.

It sounds like the Springfield is a permanent pedestal, i.e., the legs drop down and cannot be taken out. What are the pros/cons of this upgrade versus the standard table legs?

Also, what are the pros/cons of the slider option, i.e., moving the table side to side?

Thanks!

It really depends on how you use your dinette space. Standard or U-shaped, Always a table for 2 or 4? Or sometimes a guest bed.

For us, we occasionally have guests so having the Springfield makes the conversion to a bed and back to a dinette each morning and evening much, much easier. We had the stock twin posts on our prior Escape and the daily conversion was a pain.

The side to side slider is standard, not an option. Of course you can ask that it not be installed but I wouldn't. Particularly if you have the full size table. It would be next to impossible to get into the side with the fridge on the 5.0 and the 21 if the table did not slide out of the way.

[davidmurphy02]

Are you getting the U-shaped dinette? If so, it comes with a smaller table top. If there are only the two of you using the trailer most of the time, an option is to have the slider installed front to back rather than side to side. With the table slid back against the rear wall seat back, it is much easier to get in and out of the dinette without having to move it. With just two people at the dinette, even with the table slide to the back there's still adequate room to sit for meals. And you can always slide it forward if you need to seat more people.

[P&L]

I hope you get to try the options somehow; it is good you are asking the question.

We just installed our Springfield and our camping trips with it have been limited since CV-19.

We have a u-shaped dinette and with the double posts, we had to find a place to put them and table top when we converted the area to a lounge area. Also, the leg room is really limited with the double posts. We no longer use our seating area as a lounge due to the permanency of the Springfield post.

With the Springfield we like the extra leg room when sitting around our u-shaped dinette as a result of having one larger post, rather than two smaller posts.

We don't miss the double posts. We would install the Springfield again.

[C&G in FL]

The Springfield is not easily removable, making it difficult to use the rear of the 5.0 TA as a lounge (couch) area. It is, however, far more solid/stable as a table base and easier to convert to a bed. I installed mine only for the stability as I have never used it as a bed; there is just the two of us. While some may disagree, if you opt for the wrap around dinette, tell ETI to make the table top to slide front to back rather than side to side. If the table slides side to side, the rear bench seat is totally unusable and useless except as an upholstered storage shelf. Well, not totally........Gumby (if you remember Gumby from childhood cartoons) may be able to fit in the rear bench or any person who is no more than 3-inches thick from front to back. Side to side works OK with just the side benches but unless locked in place after people are seated on both sides for meals, it can be annoying if someone on the other side accidentally pushes on the table or pulls on it as your plate will suddenly move toward or away from you. With front to back slide, you can slip into the side bench, slide the table forward, and then scoot to the back without having Gumby’s physical dimensions, reversing the process to get out. And with the Springfield is installed, while the assembly cannot be easily removed, the table can be rotated, and by removing one “stop” screw on the slide tracks, the table top can be removed for easier access on the infrequent occasion work needs to be done inside any of the benches.

[davidmurphy02]

If you have the U-dinette and smaller table top, another option is a removable single pedestal like this: https://www.marineteak.co.uk/removab...ixed-height-24. It has a very slim mounting plate on the floor and a threaded shaft on the post that screws into it. It's more solid and secure than the standard mounting pole fixtures.

We replaced our table with a 36" round wood drop leaf table on heavy duty drawer slides, and it is very heavy - I added reinforcing brackets to the pedestal securing it to the back dinette wall, which I also reinforced. The brackets make it more involved to removed the post, which we never do. But when we picked up our trailer our trip home to Texas was with the stock table and the post was not reinforced. The stock table top is very lightweight, and a single one of these posts supported it just fine on the 2,500 mile trip back to Texas. The post is easily removed by unscrewing the base from the floor (the table top lifts off a socket similar to the standard posts, but more precisely machined and tighter fitting). I covered our post in sisal rope to make a scratching pole for the cats.

[rootedoutside]

Originally Posted by arniesea

It really depends on how you use your dinette space. Standard or U-shaped, Always a table for 2 or 4? Or sometimes a guest bed.

For us, we occasionally have guests so having the Springfield makes the conversion to a bed and back to a dinette each morning and evening much, much easier. We had the stock twin posts on our prior Escape and the daily conversion was a pain.

The side to side slider is standard, not an option. Of course you can ask that it not be installed but I wouldn't. Particularly if you have the full size table. It would be next to impossible to get into the side with the fridge on the 5.0 and the 21 if the table did not slide out of the way.

Great questions! We have the Standard dinette and envision that most of the time it will be used as a table for just us two and our fur baby. We anticipate occasionally converting the area into a bed for sleeping or just hanging out, but most of the time it will remain a dinette space.

And good to know that the slider is standard. Seems like a useful feature to get in/out of the dinette area. Thanks much!!

[padlin]

Pros... much more sturdy, only one leg

Cons... Can't remove, pricey

[Fox hunt]

I have the Springfield and the standard slider it doesn't matter which way it slides because the table can rotate with the Springfield - so i turn it what ever way i like to use the slide to its best advantage. Also the front corners are cut off the table to make it easier to get in /out i had the back corners cut too. We make it into a bed frequently so i couldn't use a round table- but that looks great

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

If i was getting a 5.o i would consider the lagun

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...hts-12137.html




on my 19 i ordered the Springfield because we had teh full table and reviews on the two pole system was not so good.

[Chotch]

Definitely check out the Lagun mount. Way more leg room and way more positions for the table. When table is removed nothing in the way when it comes to accessing storage areas or for maintenance.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

If i was getting a 5.o i would consider the lagun

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...hts-12137.html

Originally Posted by Chotch

Definitely check out the Lagun mount. Way more leg room and way more positions for the table. When table is removed nothing in the way when it comes to accessing storage areas or for maintenance.

But rootedoutside will occasionally make it into a bed. Isn’t that difficult with the Lagun mount vs. Springfield?

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

But rootedoutside will occasionally make it into a bed. Isn’t that difficult with the Lagun mount vs. Springfield?

you can still make into bed just have to remove it may take a little longer. at least thats the way i understand it

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

But rootedoutside will occasionally make it into a bed. Isn’t that difficult with the Lagun mount vs. Springfield?

No, it’s not difficult, Dave. There are many options that can be done to change over to the bed. We don’t need the full bed much, but we just use our optional filler board, and then we have a second small filler board cut to complete the bed platform. Custom Teak table removes in seconds with post, take it to truck, bring in small filler board, put in place and make bed.
There are no options to remove the Springfield to use the lounge if desired which is one of the big advantages of the Lagun, in addition to the seemingly unlimited ways it can adjust for any situation.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

If i was getting a 5.o i would consider the lagun

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...hts-12137.html

One issue with the Lagun is that it needs a sturdy place to mount it. With a U-shaped dinette that is not a problem. But the OP said they're getting the standard dinette. One the 5.0 the rear panel on a standard dinette would not support the Langun. One would need to add some structural modification to support it.

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

But rootedoutside will occasionally make it into a bed. Isn’t that difficult with the Lagun mount vs. Springfield?

I used the standard table which is designed to convert to a bed takes about 90 seconds after you do it a couple times.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by arniesea

One issue with the Lagun is that it needs a sturdy place to mount it. With a U-shaped dinette that is not a problem. But the OP said they're getting the standard dinette. One the 5.0 the rear panel on a standard dinette would not support the Langun. One would need to add some structural modification to support it.

I missed that in the op. That is correct without the u shaped dinette it does not work well. that was the same problem I had in the 19 , so I went Springfield .

[Ronn]

Originally Posted by Chotch

I used the standard table which is designed to convert to a bed takes about 90 seconds after you do it a couple times.

Ditto, 4 steps, easy peasy
1. loosen handle 1/2 turn
2. loosen vertical handle 1/2 turn
3. slide vertical onto bottom of table
4. place table onto support to create bed.

[Ronn]

Added 7" bench extension, works with table up or down

[Mark&Elaine]

My Lagun choice! We love the u shaped dinette with this table. I have two narrow plywood panels easily stored to make up the bed. Takes a couple of minutes. Having nothing permanently mounted to the floor is a big advantage!