179 Dinette sleeping - Event Date: 05 Apr 2017

 I have a  posting with pictures elsewhere in the forum about this.  We ordered a duplicate of the seat cushion cover from FR and went to a local foam shop to get a piece of foam cut to size.  They even did the stuffing of the foam into the cover for us, no small chore.

I had a piece of cabinet grade plywood that we had moved to two other addresses through the years.  Not necessary to use quite that high quality, but in the end, it looks pretty good and with staining, almost matches the other wood trim. 

I took aluminum L-angle and made tracks, mostly just to eliminate the ends of the plywood rubbing against the walls.  They are attached only with gorilla glue and have held up well for two years now.

Then we got folding TV tables from Target to replace that quirky table, which is now in storage.  The corner cushions are with it, but the smaller flat cushions make good armrests when watching TV or reading.  And if we want a table outside, those tables are a LOT easier to move than that original thing, 

The new cushion is interchangeable with the original, so it doesn't make any difference which ends up as the seat or the back.  When used as a couch/dining area, the new cushion does stick up some, blocking the view a bit.  That's none too good to start with, but we live with it.  We think that's the only real compromise. 

There is about 3/4" of difference in height vs the original bed height when the plywood and cushion are out, but I have a couple of short pieces of 1x8s that we stick in place on top of those hassock-type gizmos.  So far, everything has stayed in place overnight. 

Fairly simple changes, and the improvement in sleeping comfort is hard to overstate.

When traveling, the TV tables and 1x8s stow on the floor between those two hassocks.

Fairly simple changes, but the result is good.

I use the strap that holds the table on the couch to hold the cushions on the bed. It doesn't help with the comfort though. . I'm planning on making bunks in the slide out for my kids so that I will always two seats and the table available when they are both sleeping.

After 2yrs and several options, to get our 172 dinette into comfortable bed we have:

If it is just one person, the main cushion is adequate. One of my fellow church members slept on it (remove the back and corner cushions), and you are left with a cot-width bed, which is perfectly adequate for one. However, the situation remains when you are trying to fit more than one.

Other alternatives I have seen are to make a board that slides under the seat cushion and have blocks made that put it at the same level as the seat when it is pulled out and laid over the ottomans. The table may have to be left out. I'm going from memory and I don't have a picture in front of me to which I can refer. One then has a cushion made which replaces the back and corner cushions. Since you can have the seat and back cushion at the same thickness and since the seat and extension board are at the same level, this should address the problem. Some decorative pillows can replace the corner cushions.

Used our 179 for the first time last weekend.  Loved the layout of the dinette for eating, lounging and even sitting on to get items from wardrobe or tying shoes.  Read about the cushions before we bought ours so I tried out the main one and it was firm and comfortable enough for me.  However, the 2 "ottoman" cushions are of different densities!  One is firm like the bench seat and other is definitely softer and slippery on the base.  In fact, we could not keep the cover straight as it would move because the cushion compressed so much....great Forest River quality control.  Thought about contacting them to see if they could send me 2 new ones.