Replacing an RV Dinette Table

You may find that the dinette table that comes with your RV lacks practicality and durability. At least for us that was the case. The table was heavy and oversized making it a pain to setup. Since there was no way to hold the table in place during travel, it had to be stored under the bed meaning we had drag it in and out every time we traveled. We tried leaving it in place once which resulted in having to repair a cabinet after it came loose and was flung across the RV. The final straw was when we went to use the dinette as a bed for a guest. The old table stuck out so far that it made getting in and out of the bed difficult and there was a risk of it breaking if weight was put on the unsupported extension sticking out 12 inches past the end of the dinette seats.

So, we decided to replace the table with something more appealing, and it was surprisingly easy and relatively cheap.

Click the links through-out this post to see the products I used on Amazon

The tabletop measures approximately 20x40 inches and is made from 3/4 edge-glued stain-grade board purchased from a local Lowe's. I cut it down to size and sanded all the edges and surface as well as sanded off any sharp edges. On the bottom side I screwed 1/2 plywood on for strength and rigidity using 1-inch wood screws. The plywood was cut down to about 16x36 inches to leave a 2-inch gap around the outside for proper fit in the holders and to hide the plywood from being seen.

The tabletop was finished using Watco Butcher Block Oil and Finish. It took about 4 coats to get a good build on the finish. I found that the key to a good finish is to ensure the wood is sanded smooth to start with. Then coat it using a lint free rag and the finish. Let it sit for a few hours to dry and then lightly sand it using something around 220 grit or higher. Then repeat the application process until you have a solid and even sheen.

I reused all the hardware off the old table. That was pretty straight forward and simple with the hardest part being to measure everything out for a good fit.

Then came tackling the issue of being able to leave it in place while traveling. To accomplish this, I simply added a nylon strap with a buckle. I secured the strap to the top brace under the seat with 1/2 inch wood screws. To locate the top brace I lifted the plywood cover under the seat cushion and fed the strap over the finished side into the compartment. The strap sits under the plywood and can be tucked under the cushions when not in use.

Outside of waiting for the finish to cure, this project was pretty simple and straight forward. A simple process that definitely enhanced the useability and visual appeal of our RV.

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Click the in-text links to see the products on Amazon

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