Poor quality fabric used to couches.

BookPaul74 · 03-04-2021, 09:59 PM

I purchased the 2014 Cougar 337fls in August of last year. There was nothing wrong with the couches except the seam coming unsewn on the one cushion that’s removable for the fold out bed.

But by the end of the first month of living in it, there started to be cracks in the vinyl fabric. At first I thought maybe the dog had done it. But it’s happening in areas that the dog doesn’t even gets to. And so far it’s not all the cushions. The last photo is a seam on the foldout bed that has opened up, will have to disassemble the couch to get it repaired.

I remember reading a post about this just after I purchased the fifth wheel but don’t remember what year or model.

Anybody else?

gearhead · 03-05-2021, 02:17 AM

Probably that is the bonded leather coming apart.
If I understand correctly, it is pieces of leather glued together.
Ours did the same thing in a previous Montana. I bought slip covers.

wiredgeorge · 03-05-2021, 04:44 AM

During the mid 201x, the pleather on furniture did this on many makes and models. Supposed to have been corrected now. I went over to a dealer off US281 north of San Antonio and looked a Crossroads bumper pull that was a 2014 and was almost perfect except every bit of that pleather stuff which was also on the window treatments had peeled/flaked in a similar manner. If I had purchased that trailer I would have just thrown it all away and replaced the furniture with new.

**flybouy** · 03-05-2021, 05:31 AM

Very typical. I've had inexpensive office chairs do the same thing after 5 or 6 years.

BookPaul74 · 03-05-2021, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Probably that is the bonded leather coming apart.
If I understand correctly, it is pieces of leather glued together.
Ours did the same thing in a previous Montana. I bought slip covers.

The one that’s the worse I’m thinking of using inexpensive southwest style blankets to cover. The cushion is removable. Have to stop at one of the gas stations in New Mexico that sells blankets from Mexico. 😁

BookPaul74 · 03-05-2021, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

During the mid 201x, the pleather on furniture did this on many makes and models. Supposed to have been corrected now. I went over to a dealer off US281 north of San Antonio and looked a Crossroads bumper pull that was a 2014 and was almost perfect except every bit of that pleather stuff which was also on the window treatments had peeled/flaked in a similar manner. If I had purchased that trailer I would have just thrown it all away and replaced the furniture with new.

That’s what a friend suggested but it’s a front living room and the couches are built into the slides. Would not be easy or inexpensive.

gearhead · 03-05-2021, 06:23 AM

May not be as bad as you think. Some of the RV furniture has backs that come off. Of course you still have to get new furniture in.

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 09:14 AM

Yep, pleather. I think the stuff will just crack and peel sitting by itself. Went through that on our 14 Cougar High Country. If we had kept that trailer I was just going to replace all the furniture with something else but ended up with a new trailer.

They make several kinds of covers for the different sized furniture. We tried arm covers, covers for the backs of the chairs etc. They wanted to slip, slide and fall off. We do keep southwestern or outdoor styled blankets on the couch because puppy likes to sleep there at times.

We ended up having furniture covers that was pretty form fitting, nice brown color to match the interior, sort of quilted as I recall. They had elastic in critical areas to make them more form fitting and elastic straps that stretched to attach to velcro that kept them on. Those worked well and went with the trailer. Off the top of my head I don't remember where I got them; I do remember that I spent a lot of time looking on the internet before I came across them.

And yes, I believe the formula for the fabric material has changed. I was told it had been by multiple sources before purchasing this trailer (Thomas Payne furniture), the texture is not the same AND we have stayed in this unit for 9 mos. total since purchase. At that point the other trailer had already began "shedding" nicely.

Cbrez · 03-05-2021, 09:34 AM

We’re in the process of replacing all our living room furniture that’s peeled like crazy. Waiting for two swivel rockers to be delivered. Searching for a72” sleeper sofa. Problem is all the furniture stores we’ve visited don’t carry any furniture with removable backs.

We can find couches online that look to be good, but I am hesitant to buy a couch sight unseen. Contemplating a 3.5hr drive to visit a Glastop RV furniture store.

ewbldavis · 03-05-2021, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cbrez

We’re in the process of replacing all our living room furniture that’s peeled like crazy. Waiting for two swivel rockers to be delivered. Searching for a72” sleeper sofa. Problem is all the furniture stores we’ve visited don’t carry any furniture with removable backs.

We can find couches online that look to be good, but I am hesitant to buy a couch sight unseen. Contemplating a 3.5hr drive to visit a Glastop RV furniture store.

Wish we were closer and I was ready - we'd like to yank the couch and put theater seating in. It's about as "new" as can be right now - only one summer.

wiredgeorge · 03-05-2021, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookPaul74

That’s what a friend suggested but it’s a front living room and the couches are built into the slides. Would not be easy or inexpensive.

My couch is in my slide. It wasn't connected to anything. Bought a LazyBoy twin reclining loveseat as the backs come out of LazyBoy loveseats so it was easy to get in the camper door. Just stick the back into a pocket at the rear and life is good. My dinette was screwed in in a couple places in the slide and I unscrewed it and tossed it as well and now have an Ikea table w/2 chairs.

BookPaul74 · 03-05-2021, 05:16 PM

Thanks for the comments. I have a sewing machine and figured I could disassemble the cushions and use them as a pattern. There’s also a auto upholstery shop in a town close by if I want to go that way. I do like the idea of the recliners

wiredgeorge · 03-05-2021, 09:51 PM

I bought a couple of "wall hugger" recliners for the house and the backs come out and they would easily fit through my camper door.

This recliner is similar. I like it better than our LazyBoy love seat dual recliner which is a chore to pull your tail out of since it is really too deep. We keep the new house located recliners covered as we have a bunch of dog critters that make those recliners their own.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Recline...item52470ef023

earlytimes33 · 05-07-2022, 08:20 AM

We have the same issue with the pleather, pieces of it are all over the trailer now. We want to replace with real leather, does keystone make this?

wiredgeorge · 05-07-2022, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlytimes33

We have the same issue with the pleather, pieces of it are all over the trailer now. We want to replace with real leather, does keystone make this?

Do yourself a favor and avoid buying from Keystone or any other RV furniture maker/seller. Look at furniture in a furniture store and make sure the back or backs remove so you can get it into your camper. LazyBoy backs remove. The recliners we now are using (bought online) have removeable backs and I am guessing most any chairs or couches bought online will have removable backs to facilitate shipping.

earlytimes33 · 05-07-2022, 08:34 AM

Thank you very much, We weren't sure if non RV couches might not fit and the tip about the removable back is perfect to get through the door! We will check lazy boy!

wiredgeorge · 05-07-2022, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlytimes33

Thank you very much, We weren't sure if non RV couches might not fit and the tip about the removable back is perfect to get through the door! We will check lazy boy!

LazyBoys cost quite a bit. The recliners we now use, we bought on eBay. Not sure if this one is the exact one but it looks like it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29446008114...EAAOSwhwBalFZf

Bdcougar · 05-07-2022, 01:42 PM

Just recovered mine from same issue.

gearhead · 05-07-2022, 02:00 PM

Anyone bought RecPro RV furniture? We're shopping.

wiredgeorge · 05-07-2022, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Anyone bought RecPro RV furniture? We're shopping.

RecPro is about four times as expensive as similar furniture intended for brick and mortar homes. Just get some good stuff where the backs come off to be able to get it through your camper door. LazyBoy is actually less expensive than RecPro.

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