Bus Furniture

[robertglines1]

Paul's recent post brought up a topic we haven't discussed in awhile. I thought I would start with a few of my experiences. A few years ago after a 3 month trip I returned home and parked the bus in barn. A few days later came down to house and told wife our couch was gone. She said what? I cut it up with a sawzall and thru it out the door!  most un comfortable thing I ever sat on!  Search was on. We ended up building or own. My wife has the skills necessary(lucky for me) and we adjusted padding etc by trial and error till it was just rite. Then did final upholstery.Or present couch is 123 inches long makes out to a queen bed and has storage draws 37 inches deep and 12 inches tall under it.  Drivers and copilot seats are by Lane and are fully adjustable especially lumbar ;Which is really important if you legs or back bother you when driving. I prefer cloth or ultra suede over leather or vinyl. Just me it seems cooler to me and don't stick to.  A few thoughts.  A little rambling.  please add more observations.  I didn't mention name of sofa I cut up on purpose. I'm sure it was just a cheap version of a good brand.   Bob

[Chaz]

I built one of my couches as well. But, not that I am proud of it.  Pretty rudimentary but OK for now. I'd like to find another "jack knife" but a bit longer than the one I presently have. I built storage space under it.

I'm also wanting to build my bed base. I have a foam mattress so my plans are to build a box that can slide from side to side for ease of making it and on one side have drawers and the other side just open space for long term storage. The top of the box will be hinged for access to it and since the mattress is foam, lifting it shouldn't be too tough. If it is, there are cylinders to help with that.

Just my two centavos.
  Chaz

[Ericbsc]

I paid a lot of money for Flexsteel from Brad and Hall. I have not been impressed with the quality. Out of the box the sewing looked cheap. Seams not straight, and the foam not straight. The skirts are to short and not straight. The frames are cheap and not what I would consider high quality. The only thing I have been impressed with is the ultraleather. So much for the nice store bought stuff!!LOL

[luvrbus]

Bite the bullet and buy Villa then you have the best all handmade as you order if you don't like it they replace it.
Flexsteel does have some good stuff in the marine furniture line they cannot get away with the crap they do for the RV's their RV line is pretty much junk

good luck  

[boxcarOkie]

Bite the bullet and buy Villa then you have the best all handmade as you order if you don't like it they replace it.
Flexsteel does have some good stuff in the marine furniture line they cannot get away with the crap they do for the RV's their RV line is pretty much junk

good luck  

I took all of my Flexsteel to an upholstery shop (4 captains chairs and 1 couch) and had it all updated and redone two years ago.  Added padding, leather, the whole nine yards.  Holding up well and it was about half the cost of new.  There is always a way around a lot of this stuff.

BCO

[Chopper Scott]

I really like my Flexsteel driver and co pilot seats. I have a Lazyboy recliner that must be made for an rv. It has a heavy round base on it. I think it's junk however. I'm thinking my couch is custom made as the material matches the valances and it doesn't have an arm on the end where it butts up to the drivers seat. It folds out into a bed and is ok. I think with many things anymore that the old name brands that we considered as good quality stuff are no longer such. It seems that the bottom dollar is today's new motto and quality suffers. Just one more reason to hold on to the old stuff. They don't make it like that anymore...... Probably why we put up with Ole Man Glines!!

[demodriver]

So how many of you guys are just using regular furniture? 

Thats what my wife and I had planned for the most of it.

[robertglines1]

I think the big thing there Eric is fit and making sure you get it anchored good incase of a hard stop or accident.  Don't need it on top of you   Bob.  I have and still do  mix it.

[demodriver]

Ya we had discussed the ancoring a bit. I love to fabricate so it dont bother me any to make up some anchors.

The lazy boy that I have in the house and the one in the office would be pertty easy to anchor and not have to do anything to the chair.

[Dreamscape]

We have tried house furniture, two recliners and two swivel rocker/recliners. Just don't fit right for the floor plan, with a larger footprint. I guess that's why they make them fit an RV huh.  Live and learn, it's only money!

[belfert]

The problem with furniture today is too many people want to redecorate every few years and buy new furniture.  Why would they buy long lasting stuff if they are going to replace it in a few years?  They just hit Ikea when the urge to change hits.  the other thing is lack of money these days.  People think hey I can afford $500 today for a sofa that will last five years when I'll have another $500 to replace it again.  They can't afford $1000 to get something that will really last.

I've had the same house furniture since the 90s when I got my own place to live.  The stuff is still looking pretty good and no plans to replace it.  Plenty of older folks have had the same furniture for 30, 40, 50 years or more.

I spent a little extra money to get an Ultraleather sofa for the bus hoping it will last longer.

[bevans6]

I find the challenge is to get furniture - chairs in particular - that is small enough to not dominate the space yet is still comfortable.  I find that everything is larger than I want, over-stuffed look or too wide, or hits the wall when you recline, etc.  It's a tough one.

Brian

[luvrbus]

RV furniture was never intended to be use every day the stuff is made cheap even the foam is a pour quality ,reading the warranty on new RV's it states warranty void if used over 6 months a year.  
I for one have always complained about the price my wife gave for our furniture 2500 for a dining set was a lot of moneys 40 years ago the thing is still standing and looks new she just recovers the seats about every 10 years when she wants change

good luck

[robertglines1]

The high density 5 inch foam we just purchased for our home built couch cushions (143 inches long) bottom and back was retail $ 600 on sale at Jo-Ann's 300$ Not to mention the fabric and other materials. Lucky I build structure (took a learning curve there) and we do upholstery (Judy mostly) as a team. Her taste trumps mine!! so a built to fit queen bed 123 inch couch with storage underneath without labor with buying at sale prices=$1200 being conservative.  Bob   Didn't cover the new Baby-lock serger she needed to replace the old one

[luvrbus]

We buy or foam at place in LV she thinks they have better foam than Jo Ann's I don't know I just set on the stuff when she finishes 

good luck