Have started shoppping...

[Dingit]

The beds and dinettes and dinette beds are all pretty sturdy. No need to worry about that. (I suppose if they were in poor repair there could be an issue.)

 

[BillyMc]

How sturdy are those dinette beds?

They are pretty sturdy, but have been known to break if you put a lot of weight in the center of it. Ours has support on three sides, I cut a support leg to place under the forth side. The DQT generally slept there and once she started driving and got a part time job the junk food she consumed wasn't kind to her.

 

[Ladiesman]

They are pretty sturdy, but have been known to break if you put a lot of weight in the center of it. Ours has support on three sides, I cut a support leg to place under the forth side. The DQT generally slept there and once she started driving and got a part time job the junk food she consumed wasn't kind to her.

I built three little 2x4 frames for the dinette in my TT, I keep them under the dinette seat and when we need it for a bed I slide them under the table and they take all the weight. I had the factory support break on my PUP when my oldest son kind of hopped into bed. Not taking anymore chances. I just measured from the floor to the bottom of the table when in the bed position. Work perfect and It is solid as a rock.

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

Thanks for the info about the 1006. As you can see, the floorplan for the 12UD has one dinette to the side. That one can be converted to a smaller sleeping area if needed and then the U-dinette space can be used as a bed as well. I am thinking that parents on one end...the queen bed and the 2 boys on the other...the full bed. However, I can see how climbing over another bed/person could become tedious and annoying over time. It would be nice to have that extra sleeping space if needed, but as you said it may / would get old if you are the one (and it would probably be me) shifting it back and forth each night and morning.

Again, we are thinking that a pop-up would be "easier" than setting up two tents, four cots, four sleeping pads, and all the other stuff that we wrestle with in the tents. The pop-up would be "mostly" for sleeping but would be used for shelter in the rain etc. We currently spend time in our 10 - 14 screen tent, along with a picnic table, coolers, food storage bins, and dog when it is raining, so we are thinking a day under the awning and inside the pop up would be similar (maybe even better)...I mean, isn't one of the big reasons to go camping is to spend time together? Playing cards...telling jokes...arguing about who got the last of the Oreos and that sorta thing?

How sturdy are those dinette beds? If I step on the U-dinette bed is it going to support me and whoever is sleeping on it? What should be considered a safe weight limit for stepping or sleeping?

As I mentioned earlier, that's the same floor plan we had.

When we started, the boys had the bunk and the little one slept on the small dinette. [she out-grew it, eventually]

We did some trips with 4 teenagers with us and, I would say that the U-dinette held 300 lbs with no problem.

Our very last trip, the big bunk became un-useable after the 1st night[long story] so, the second night, DW and I slept on the U-dinette [Tween & her BFF had the small bunk].... total weight on the "U" was probably pushing 400 lbs [they say that I'm a Big Man LOL ]... it held ... but.. I was REAL careful getting in and rolling out!

Long story, short... if you have young kiddos, I'd say your good to go.

Happy Trails!

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

PS...

I just noticed that you asked if you could "...step on the u-dinette bed..."

I WOULDN'T step on the dinette table.... and we always cautioned the kids NOT TO.

Step on the the side cushions. At least, if you break through one of those, you can just cut up a replacement piece of plywood... replacing the dinette table could be "problematic"

Happy Trails!

 

[Susan Premo]

For pee cassette toilets are great. For poo they are really good. We only used it for pee until DW proclaimed public toilets toxic and off limits due to the 'rona. For poo you'll have to experiment to see what works best for you. Put water in bowl, do business, then flush works well, but fills the tank quicker. Vertically line the bowl with a couple layers of TP, do business, then open blade valve and run water works fine also and doesn't fill the tank as fast. The dry method makes for more solid and less liquid and dumping the cassette not as easy. Note, forget the messy liquid chemicals. Get the little pods, drop one in and add a quart or two of water to the cassette after dumping and rinsing. Also have a portable that is similar to the cassette toilet and works just as well. The luggable is a thing of the past.

What pods? Where would I get them?

 

[nhlakes]

What pods? Where would I get them?

https://www.amazon.com/Walex-TOI-91799-Porta-Pak-Deodorizer-Drop-Ins/dp/B0006GF5SK/

 

[BillyMc]

What pods? Where would I get them?

The link above or most places that sell camper supplies have them.