Last Updated on October 7, 2022 by Lori
If you’re looking for ways to add support to your RV Table Bed, here’s an easy way we used to build additional support for your camper table bed conversion.
When our young adult children go camping with us, we convert the camper table into a bed. However, we knew we would need to add some support to prevent the dining table from cracking.
Let’s face it, the RV dinette bed size isn’t really made to support adults! But, here’s an RV Hack that is easy to do which may be just enough support for what you need.
Adding Support To Your RV Dinette Booth Bed
We love our 23′ Jayco Travel Trailer! You may be asking, what exactly do we love about it?
Well, we love the fact that the travel trailer sleeps six (6), has a nice layout, and a slide-out that creates a “roomy-enough” living area, and we love the door that leads from the bathroom to the bedroom.
But, what I really love – and I am most thankful for – is the counter space I have in this travel trailer!
Related Reading: You may enjoy reading The Best RV Kitchen & Pantry Must-Haves For Your RV
We are what some RVers call “Weekend Warriors” where we camp for long weekends and a few long trips during the summertime.
Most of the time it’s just my husband and me, along with Buddy our Golden Retriever, who are heading out on our camping adventure, so this sized trailer suits our needs just fine.
We rarely use the dining table as a bed, unless it’s a rainy day and we are staying inside to read or watch movies.
So, the first time our kids (who are young adults) decided to go camping with us, we knew we needed to somehow add additional support to our RV dining table when it was made into a bed.
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience which means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more information.
RV Table Bed Support
Why was my husband worried about the dining room table?
Well, for one thing, the table is only made out of pressboard and the last thing we wanted to do was pay for an RV dining table replacement.
Although there are two metal brackets that support it, he was worried that the pressboard might crack when our 6 ft. 5″ son moved around while sleeping on the bed.
Yes, my son was elected to sleep on this bed because my daughter and her husband would be sleeping on the pull-out sofa.
While there was plenty of room for all of us, my husband still worried about how to stabilize the table when it was made into a bed.
How To Make Your RV Table Bed Conversion Sturdy
Do you use your RV Dining Table as a bed?
One of the things we love about our 23′ Jayco Trailer is that it can sleep six (6) people.
When our young adult children come camping, we can all sleep comfortably for the long weekend. One of our worries, however, was our RV table.
Since the dining room table is only made out of pressboard, we could just see our almost 18-year-old son putting a crack in our dining room table when he moved around during his sleep.
My husband came up with a frame to help stabilize the table which can easily be stored in the bench area of the dining room seats!
Since our daughter and husband were also coming camping with us, it was decided that they would take the sofa-bed couch and my son would take the RV dinette table bed.
Here’s a photo of my son trying out the dining room bed – to see if he even fits!
We knew he had to build something that would give us peace of mind while our son was sleeping on the dinette bed conversion!
So, my husband went to work in his shop.
He created this easy-to-store frame that would help to stabilize the RV table when converted into a bed!
Related Reading: How To Easily Set-Up Your RV Campsite (Download Your FREE RV Campsite Set-Up Checklist!)
How To Make Your Own Frame For A Camper Trailer Bed Conversion
My husband used some plywood he had in the shop to create the frame.
He measured exactly where the frame would sit under the table and then cut notches for the metal bracket that was under the table.
He then hinged some stabilizers along the bottom.
The hinges also allowed us to easily fold it and then store the frame under the RV dining table seats.
Here’s a close-up of how he hinged the wooden stabilizers along the bottom.
Important: When you measure your frame – be sure to take into account the carpet (if you have carpet) under the table.
My husband calculated the frame to sit slightly higher than the seat frame so that when the bed sunk into the carpet, it would be level with the seats!
The frame was a success! You really can’t see that the frame is under the table when the bed is made up.
Plus, we know when we have camping guests and need to make the table-to-bed conversion, any adult can sleep on the bed without damaging the RV table.
Here’s a photo of us enjoying our very first RV Camping Trip to Sleepy Hollow Campgrounds. Our son slept like a rock on the RV Dining Table bed too!
(Please note: This RV Hack is an example of what our family did to support the RV Dining Table when used as a bed. We do not guarantee that this RV Hack will work for everyone!)
Related Reading: Here’s my RV Campground Review of what has come to be our very favorite campgrounds! Camping In The Catskills Sleepy Hollow Campgrounds
Do you have a Favorite RV Camping Hack to share? I would love to hear yours!
If you’re planning your next RV Trip – Here’s my article on The Best RV Departure Checklist For New RVers
I would Love for you to join my Email List!
Don’t Forget To Share!
