Sleeping Solo in 17B using small dinette

[Sarandipity]

Hi to my new Escape family. I'm making BIG plans for my future tiny travel trailer. I will be full timing come 2016 and have chosen the Escape 17B because I love the floor plan.

Here's why: most trailers use a good percentage of the floor plan for the bed, assuming two people will be sleeping in it. Makes sense, but I will be going solo, so I don't want my bed to take up too much room in an already tiny trailer. I want to have the smaller, two person dinette be permanently set up as my bed. It's out of the way, almost like a little room.

My only worry is, I can't seem to find the dimensions for it as a bed. I'm a medium build, 5'7 female and want to make sure I'll fit comfortably. Are there any other adults using this smaller dinette as their regular bed? Did you find it was enough space for you to sleep comfortably?

Thanks for the input. I can already tell you'all are going to be a huge resource for me as I work towards my dream!

[gbaglo]

When camping with my buddy, I take the front dinette/bed and give him the double. I sleep just fine.
When camping with my wife, we share the rear dinette/bed with an overweight beagle.
I think I sleep better at the front.
If you plan to make it permanent, you'll need access to space under the benches for storage.

[Sarandipity]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

When camping with my buddy, I take the front dinette/bed and give him the double. I sleep just fine.
When camping with my wife, we share the rear dinette/bed with an overweight beagle.
I think I sleep better at the front.
If you plan to make it permanent, you'll need access to space under the benches for storage.

Thanks. It's reassuring to know you were comfortable. If you don't mind my asking, how tall are you? Or better yet, do you happen to know the dimensions of the front bed when it's set up?

[gbaglo]

I'm 5'8" and shrinking.
Bed is 30" wide and 78" long.

[soultrek]

The few times I have gone without my wife I have used it comfortably - with a suitable mattress pad. Bed size was not an issue (I'm maybe 5'6" and definitely shrinking).

[KarenH]

I believe the single front dinette in the 15A might be a wee bit narrower than gbaglo's but I use it as my bed and do fine in it (I'm 5'6"). It is not a permanent bed but has the regular cushions with a double 3" memory foam mattress on top. I did not make it permanent so as to keep my options open.

[Sarandipity]

Love the picture, Karen. I envision setting up my bed similar to yours. It looks lovely. The measurements and feedback were very helpful, Gbaglo and Soultrek.

Picture me with towels laid out on the floor to fit the measurements you gave me, laying down on top with my pillow and testing out different sleeping positions. All the while, my dog is licking my face and wondering what in the heck I'm doing. Conclusion from my (non-scientific, yet practical ) test is that the bed size should be fine. Thanks for all your help!

[reetired]

You can always check the owners map for a 17b in your area...call them and politely flop around on it! Tee hee!

I wanted to see the bathroom in person...to see if there was enough room....shower wise!

[rbryan4]

Welcome Sara.

There's another option you might want to consider- a permanent bed where the small dinette goes, omitting the semi-closet by the door. This makes the "head" of the bed wider, and the foot area (which doesn't require as much space) narrower. The bed would be shaped as sort of a trapezoid. I've seen a couple photos from 17 owners who've done it. Then, the larger dinette area can stay a dinette, and no making up the bed every night. The storage you lose by omitting the semi-closet is made up for by the increased under bed storage.

You could even keep the semi-closet by the door and just have them do a single rectangular bed, but it might feel tight and confining while laying down because of the closet or bathroom wall.

We went with a 19 because of the queen bed, but then again, there's two of us and we like our sleeping space.

[Vermilye]

I also travel solo in a 17B. I converted the 4 person dinette into a permanent bed. I prefer having the extra room the 3/4 bed provides. I've camped with a couple that traveled in a tent, and a few times the weather was bad enough that they wanted to sleep in the trailer. I gave them the permanent bed & I set up the front single. I fit fine - I'm 6' tall & 175 lbs. That said, I felt a bit cramped, not because of the width, but because the bathroom and closet walls are "right in your face". Reminded me of camping in a mummy bag. If that doesn't bother you, I say go for it. There have been times that I wished for the 4 person dinette back, but not enough to give up my comfortable bed or go to the trouble of setting it up every night...

[Sandra L]

I am in Jon's camp for the layout. I like to read a lot, and so the larger bed doubles as a lounge. I also use the underside of the large side for storage, and the width and depth is enough for 2 storage bins (one in front of the other) and two camp chairs (in bags) and the grabber for the awning switch. (& 2 pair of shoes too). You could also, if you decide to use the small dinette as a bed, cut the wardrobe down so it would be taller than the bench, but not so tall as to be claustrophobic, and then have shelving or drawers.
But, it really comes down to what your planned usage is and your own personal preference. Welcome and welcome to the world of choices!

[gbaglo]

When I sleep, my eyes are closed. I don't have a problem with claustrophobia.

[OneOleMan]

I'm 5'10", (and shrinking), weigh 175#, am able to stretch out completely and sleep quite comfortably up front. It's the length of a twin bed and a little narrower than an Army cot. With no modification to the closet I joke that there's now way this OleMan will fall outta bed. I like it enough that Wednesday I'm picking up a mattress from ETI.

[gbaglo]

It's a heck of a lot easier to "make the bed" using the front dinette. For me, that's straightening the sleeping bag and getting the pillow off the floor.

[Fox hunt]

I camp alone in a 17b I haven't slept in the small dinette space but my friends have they say it's comfortable I put a memory foam mattress on it I sleep on the larger one because I share my bed with two dogs.

[EDarby]

My plan as well Glenn!

I love to do art/collage so look forward to the larger dinette being permanent and being able to spread out supplies. (hoping my art supplies don't put me over the weight limit for the TV!) (kidding)

Originally Posted by gbaglo

It's a heck of a lot easier to "make the bed" using the front dinette. For me, that's straightening the sleeping bag and getting the pillow off the floor.

[akoaoka]

The front dinette in our 17B has the bunk option and it is setup as bunk bed permanently. We replaced the seat cushions on the lower bunk with this sleeping pad and it sleeps comfortably.

If you had been tent camping and/or backpacking before, you probably know that the 30" width is quite generous when compare to most backpacking mat on the market. But comfort is a very subjective matter....

[David H]

I am also camping solo and use the single dinette as my permanent bed, 5'8" +140 lb. it works well for me. I purchased a 2" euro latex pad which goes over the top of the dinette cushions which makes it quite comfortable. The closet and bathroom walls do not bother me. I like the extra living area which the double dinette provides, overall it makes the small space seem larger.

[Sarandipity]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone. I'm feeling really good about my choice after reading your comments. I have 3" memory foam I use on my bed at home right now, and plan to cut it to size and leave the bed set up most of the time. I don't think the closet/bathroom walls will bother me. Will store seldom used items underneath, so hopefully I won't have to get into the storage too often.

[reetired]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

When I sleep, my eyes are closed. I don't have a problem with claustrophobia.

Too funny