Reupholstered RV Furniture

[Stephen/Kerri]

We have owned our Reflection 337 for 5 years, and while we love this unit, we've never been fans of the plasticky, very dark material that Lippert has used to cover the couch and theater seats, not to mention the peeling factor. After 5 years, my wife & I decided to do our own upholstery project on these pieces. We purchased a Sailrite sewing machine, an upholstery staple air gun, as well as the fabric and other needed supplies from Sailrite. We completed the couch this past weekend and will start on the theater seats this summer. It was an intense project, and we learned a ton in the process. Would we do it again? Yes! Now the question I have for Grand Design & Lippert is: We are given various options when buying an RV, i.e. dual pane windows, # of AC units, disc brakes, king/queen bed, paint job and so the list goes. Why can't an RV manufacturer give an option to upgrade the furniture? I'm thinking a lot of people would be more than willing to spend extra money for a warmer, more comfortable and longer lasting material on something they spend quite a bit of time in. I'm thinking it would be a win-win for sure. I will post the updated theater seats as soon as they are completed.

 

[SGT ROC]

We have owned our Reflection 337 for 5 years, and while we love this unit, we've never been fans of the plasticky, very dark material that Lippert has used to cover the couch and theater seats, not to mention the peeling factor. After 5 years, my wife & I decided to do our own upholstery project on these pieces. We purchased a Sailrite sewing machine, an upholstery staple air gun, as well as the fabric and other needed supplies from Sailrite. We completed the couch this past weekend and will start on the theater seats this summer. It was an intense project, and we learned a ton in the process. Would we do it again? Yes! Now the question I have for Grand Design & Lippert is: We are given various options when buying an RV, i.e. dual pane windows, # of AC units, disc brakes, king/queen bed, paint job and so the list goes. Why can't an RV manufacturer give an option to upgrade the furniture? I'm thinking a lot of people would be more than willing to spend extra money for a warmer, more comfortable and longer lasting material on something they spend quite a bit of time in. I'm thinking it would be a win-win for sure. I will post the updated theater seats as soon as they are completed.

Nice Job, looks great!

 

[WhittleBurner]

That looks great especially for a first time reupholstery job. If I'm not being to nosey ,curious on how much was spent on the needed supplies and material to do this. Of course it won't cost as much for the 2nd piece because you outlaid for the machine etc already

 

[trailrydr]

We have owned our Reflection 337 for 5 years, and while we love this unit, we've never been fans of the plasticky, very dark material that Lippert has used to cover the couch and theater seats, not to mention the peeling factor. After 5 years, my wife & I decided to do our own upholstery project on these pieces. We purchased a Sailrite sewing machine, an upholstery staple air gun, as well as the fabric and other needed supplies from Sailrite. We completed the couch this past weekend and will start on the theater seats this summer. It was an intense project, and we learned a ton in the process. Would we do it again? Yes! Now the question I have for Grand Design & Lippert is: We are given various options when buying an RV, i.e. dual pane windows, # of AC units, disc brakes, king/queen bed, paint job and so the list goes. Why can't an RV manufacturer give an option to upgrade the furniture? I'm thinking a lot of people would be more than willing to spend extra money for a warmer, more comfortable and longer lasting material on something they spend quite a bit of time in. I'm thinking it would be a win-win for sure. I will post the updated theater seats as soon as they are completed.

Looks great!! So did you use the old material as a pattern to cut and sew the new covers on with?

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

That looks great especially for a first time reupholstery job. If I'm not being to nosey ,curious on how much was spent on the needed supplies and material to do this. Of course it won't cost as much for the 2nd piece because you outlaid for the machine etc already

Good morning! I think we got the Sailrite sewing machine for around $1k, maybe less? We plan on upholstering a lot of our household furniture so it will pay for itself within a year. The material ran around $700, enough to cover the couch & theater seats. All our supplies were purchased from Sailrite, including the fabric. Hope that helps....appreciate your kind comments!

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Looks great!! So did you use the old material as a pattern to cut and sew the new covers on with?

Absolutely we did. Took awhile to deconstruct everything. I see you're from Missouri. We're in Springfield. Appreciate your kind comments!

 

[Hnewtman49]

Looks Great!!!

 

[WhittleBurner]

Good morning! I think we got the Sailrite sewing machine for around $1k, maybe less? We plan on upholstering a lot of our household furniture so it will pay for itself within a year. The material ran around $700, enough to cover the couch & theater seats. All our supplies were purchased from Sailrite, including the fabric. Hope that helps....appreciate your kind comments!

Not a bad outlay, we got half off from lippert for the rear sofa and it still ran $800 and you get a great workhorse machine to boot ! you win all the way around

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Thank you!

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Agreed! Would be nice if RV manufacturers would give customers a choice to update their furniture. I'm sure they have the reasons tho.

 

[AdvRider-MGRV]

Looks fantastic, great work! When can I make an appointment to bring my Momentum by for a reupholster?

 

[north channel novels]

Really nice looking job. We too, have never liked the slippery brown vinyl crap used by the manufacturers. After one of our cats aerated the vinyl cushions in our trailer, my wife recovered the dinette cushions and made a fitted slip for the couch with proper upholstery material. But as you suggest, it would have been nice if they would have offered proper upholstered furnishings when we ordered the unit. We would never have chosen vinyl if there had been an alternative on offer.

 

[Ramand337]

Have had our 337RLS for 5 years also. Hated the cheap plastic in every way. Finally broke down this year and had the couch and theater seats reupholstered Spent $3400 on the job, but more was done than just replacing the fabric. When we took the couch apart, plates were bent and had to be straightened. Padding was weak at best, so it was replaced with the density we required. the theater seats were something else. The entire frame was crap. Plywood stapled without a single drop of glue. The frame was rebuilt using staples, screws brackets and GLUE. Had to remanufacture a couple of the parts. Padding here was also shot, so, like sleep number, we had the density changed to meet my and the wife's requirements. Was it worth it?? YOU BET.

Great job on your furniture. Look the frame of your theater seating over closely. They are very cheaply built. We are full timers and spend A LOT of time in the seats.

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Well I don't think we're open yet for business

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Thanks so much for your kind words

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Thank you so much.

 

[lorend]

Well I don't think we're open yet for business

Great looking job. Good for you to have the nerve to do it yourself. Maybe you just found a part time business. Or maybe because there are so many of us in the same situation of wanting something with a warmer feel it could be a full time business.

 

[Stephen/Kerri]

Thank you. Who knows we may end up hanging up a shingle

 

[Jacobskdc]

I don’t seem to be able to see the images. Is there a trick!?? or possible to repost or send to me? I’m considering similar!!

 

[Second Chance]

Well I don't think we're open yet for business

Thanks so much for your kind words

Thank you so much.

[MENTION=28620]Stephen/Kerri[/MENTION] -


Here are a couple of forum posting tips:

1) If you use "Reply With Quote" (to the right of "Reply") as I have here, folks will know to whom you are responding and that person will get a notification.

2) You can also tag folks using the "@" symbol and their user name (as I have done yours) - they'll also get a notification that way.

Rob