Looking for replacement rear bench/bed cushions.

[the2danners@gmail.com]

Hi all. Brand new to the forum and to RV'ing. My wife and I just got a 2000 Pleasure Way Lexor RD a little over a week ago. We are looking to replace the rear seat/bed cushions. Not in terrible shape, but not super comfortable and seems to have an old, musty smell to them. Does anyone have any suggestions on where we could find something like this? Or do we need to make 'em ourselves?

 

Wondering about possibly replacing the Captains Chairs, too.

 

Thanks!

Dennis & Jessica Danner

Rochester, IL

[Yarome]

You probably won't have much luck buying something "off the shelf", but you have a few options. If they are zippered it's not too tough to replace the cushion inserts and have the covers deep cleaned before re-filling. If the fabric needs to be replaced then I would be looking for a custom upholstery shop in your area (not automotive). It'll cost, but would probably get you the best results.. or something in-between.. deep cleaning yourselves but having new inserts professionally cut and installed.

 

It might seem like a simple task to just stuff new foam inserts into their covers, but it actually takes a bit of finesse/skill to properly measure the size, rise and taper of a cushion... then compress and fit the insert properly. If not.. you can end up with "saggy", "bunching" or "creeping" fabric issues as well as over-stressed fabric seams.

 

Personally.. at that age.. I would do a full reupholster. If saving a buck is important and "professional" results aren't required... I would go with the self deep cleaning and make my own inserts (basically high density foam with cotton batting layered top and bottom).

 

As a hint: Visit a locally owned higher end furniture store for referrals. They'll have someone "on tap" that does local work for them.

[the2danners@gmail.com]

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

[LFDR3116]

If you want to tackle it, what I would do is buy a good quality memory foam mattress topper in appropriate thickness. You would have to buy a size closest to your measurement, which would be closest size bigger than you need. You can then cut them down to what you need. This is assuming you can clean the covers and reuse them. Good memory foam is not cheap, but should give you a very comfortable bed.

[Flying Finn]

I noticed you are from Illinois. Not sure where Rochester is but you could head to Elkhart, IN and White Pigeon, MI to pick up what you need at the RV surplus shops i.e Johnson's Surplus, Bontrager's Surplus, Factory RV Surplus and others. Anything RV related can be found in the Elkhart/White Pigeon area. If you go, the Elkhart Fairgrounds is nice and open year round.

Brad

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

For the Captain chairs, are they bolted down or moveable?

Flex Steel is one manufacture of them. Here is a resource for seating, captains chairs are available in just about whatever style you want.

https://www.suburbanseats.com/c/bostrom-truck-seats?page=4

[sandsys]

A small shop that does conversions might we willing to buy a new seat for you. I'm thinking Sportsmobile in Indiana or Advanced RV in Ohio.

 

Linda Sand

 

http://sportsmobile.com

https://advanced-rv.com

[SIBERNUT]

If you decide to stuff foam into a new or old cover, here's a tip: Buy a thin painter's tarp from Homer, wrap the foam in it before stuffing. Makes it slide in & go out to the corners. Once it's in, pull the plastic out

[the2danners@gmail.com]

Thanks all for the great suggestions! We'll probably try and re-cover them ourselves first. If that doesn't work or turns into more than we bargained for, we'll look down the list again.

didn't know there were RV Surplus shops. Thanks Fly'n Finn! We are about 4 hrs from Elkhart, IN. Definitely have to head over there some time. We're by Springfield, IL.

[Pat & Pete]

Maybe a bit late , but this might help : http://www.rverscorner.com/rvsalvage.html

[the2danners@gmail.com]

Thanks Pat & Pete!! that's a great resource! We'll be going to FL in a couple of weeks, and will be at the RV show in Tampa. I noticed there are several in FL including Tampa. Appreciate the link!

[RV_]

A tip: I came up with this because I built/restored over 50 hot VWs, Ghias and Ghia convertibles, Beetles and Beetle convertibles, 8 Westphalia campers, one Squareback, one Fastback, one Notchback, one "Thing," and one '73 Porsche 911 Targa, in addition to as many Motorcycles and other hot cars and coillectibles like a '59 El Camino, and a 56 Chevy. I was into being a restorer and builder for most of my adult life.

 

The first thing I always had to do after ordering real hog ring stock or custom seat covers for a vintage VW project was to replace the seat cushions. Interesting fact: If you ever owned a Beetle or other older VW the seat cushions were made of a fiber that dried out and littered the carpets underneath. On researching it I found it was actually Spanish Moss that they molded into shape for cushions. I would fabricate new seat cushions of layers of 3/4 inch carpet foam padding, gluing each layer to get the rough shape before carving, not the new cheap stuff but the good all one color, heavy support and texture. I would not use memory foam today except at most for a first inch. Like bed mattresses 50% or more is heavier support foam. I would use spray glue made for foam and "build" the rough shape in layers depending on whether I wanted a deeper bucket and seat back or stock and then use an electric knife to "carve" the final shape.

 

Once I was satisfied with my new cushions I would get some of the dry cleaner's plastic covers my uniforms/dry-cleaning came back in from the cleaners. It makes for a perfect non messy "lubricant" when laid over the new cushions and barely scotch taped down at all four corners. It turned the pulling the covers down over the foam on top of the metal frame and spring base much easier as I had to kneel on the top middle of the cover and pull the sides down over the cushion and frame then flip them over and hog ring them in place. After the first several I had the ideal shape for my butt that I liked.

 

I used it for the square cushions on the VW camper rear fold down bench seat and rearmost cushion that made the bed when folded down. It works great for stuffing any kind of foam into any kind if upholstery and it also need not be removed as it makes no noise or anything.

 

First off I am not an upholsterer, and don't own a heavy duty sewing machine. Aftermarket and custom made cushions of all types, whether slid in from the side or top are much easier using that plastic. Not any plastic but the very thin used by dry-cleaning shops.

 

Try it.

[SIBERNUT]

http://en.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/c/rvsalvagemotorhomes-partingout.pl

 

www.colawrvsalvage.com

 

Both between IL & FL

[Jeff & Suzanne]

Hi Danners. . .just got back from the Tampa area after picking up our Phoenix Cruiser. I checked with Paul's Seating in Elkhart, IN about recovering our driver and passenger chairs with Ultra Leather, and he quoted me $275.00 each if he does the job and (I think) $250 for both covers if I install them. He does a lot of work for Phoenix Cruiser so they like him. http://paulsseating.com/