Sad News 4 RedHawks +

[Johnynorthland]

So I know this is an ongoing post between Manny Manny RV forums & manufacturers. I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. We’ve had it for approximately five years and four months and have about 45,000 miles on it. It’s been pretty good as far as RVs are concerned, I think I can say this, after owning two other RVs. However, having said that, this furniture issue is absolutely unacceptable, all of my furniture deteriorated right after it’s five year furniture warranty expired! We were referred to the manufacturer of the furniture, from Jayco. The manufacturer told us that Jayco knows exactly what they’re doing by putting cheap PVC interior in their vehicles, knowing full well the warranty and product will only last five years. $6500 to recover everything with new vinyl. What a disgrace!

Neither Jayco, nor the manufacturer would help us out! What a joke, and the jokes on me!

Let’s just stop and think about this has anyones personal car interior fell apart like this, or house furniture? I think not!

Here is just a few photos of my jack knife sofa as an example!

The upholsterer, redoing it, said he sees it all the time because they use PVC, which is something that should never be used on any type of furniture!

 

[Grumpy]

As you said and if you do a web search you will find that it is/was a problem across many RV manufacturers. A few years back FLEXSTEEL, a top end furniture company, had so many issues that they got of the RV furniture business.

 

[Glamper64]

Not to be a downer but 5 years out of cheap RV furniture isn't that bad really, especially if you're a full timer. Not sure why you would reupholster for 65 hundred, you could've refurnished the whole RV with brand new real furniture for that money? Sorry but yes, I think the joke was on you I'm afraid.

 

[Camper_bob]

IMO, if the furniture manufacturers would refuse to build the items to Jayco's shoddy specifications, this problem could be solved easily.

Flexsteel is a known, high quality, national brand. If I were them I would never have built what Jayco asked. I would have simply stated to them "That's below our minimum standards as a manufacturer. But we can build it another way, a way that lives up to our standards and yours for a little more money."

The problem is there will always be a manufacturer (short-sighted as it may be) willing to tarnish their name and build customer-spec garbage for a short-term sales/profit windfall. They'll just slap a short warranty on it and send it.

Remember all the "Denver Mattress" products that were so highly touted? I'm betting they regret that one too...

 

[craigav]

As you said and if you do a web search you will find that it is/was a problem across many RV manufacturers. A few years back FLEXSTEEL, a top end furniture company, had so many issues that they got of the RV furniture business.

I suspect I am one of the few people who actually spoke with Flexsteel as they don't have a customer phone number and only (at least at the time) would speak with resellers. In 2018 I ordered custom Captains Chairs from them (through an RV aftermarket dealer) for my Class C and they messed up the order on one of them and wanted more details as to the issue. I spoke with them on a conference call with the dealer and the flexsteel manager that told me he was an executive manager from Indiana sent to Mississippi to move the RV furniture division to MS which was an existing furniture manufacture, just not RV furniture.

In any case and to be succinct, I was informed that every piece of RV furniture made which was being sent to different RV manufactures was made to the RV manufactures specifications regarding the material used. I was informed as similar with my order that any furniture they made could just as easily be covered with any material the customer desires and sure enough there were many hundreds (including patterns) of different materials to choose from and I chose "Ultra Leather" which was the highest rated material available and is still in great shape just like new and very comfortable.

I was also told that RV mfg's always chose the least expensive material possible and that was causing FlexSteel to get a bad name in the furniture business overall and because of that they planned to stop making RV furniture once their contracts expired. I remember reading somewhere in 2020 they announced they were out of the RV business but I was also told that my order in 2018 was likely their last (or would be soon) order that they would make for aftermarket RV furniture as they moved on to more profitable furniture sales.

I will add that I replaced the sofa with a comfortable cloth dual recliner, new captain chairs, and removed the dinette bench seats and went with some nice folding dining room chairs and so far happy with my choices. ~CA

 

[Jayhawk 29]

This is not just a problem with the motorhomes. I dealt with the same crap, went thru the same proces. I am willing to bet that after numerous emails and even phone calls to Lippert, which Jayco said contact them , when I hung up from speaking very nicely about even finding a new couch that fit my special length, they laughed in a group meeting about yet another sucker with yet another pleather issue. They surely did not care, even after my peeling began just over one year after new.

 

[Grumpy]

I was also told that RV mfg's always chose the least expensive material possible and that was causing FlexSteel to get a bad name in the furniture business overall and because of that they planned to stop making RV furniture once their contracts expired.

That was my point, it was across all brands and why they exited.

There was also some articles that there was a major issue with multiple batches of bad material coming out of China.

 

[craigav]

That was my point, it was across all brands and why they exited.

There was also some articles that there was a major issue with multiple batches of bad material coming out of China.

I suspect it was all of the material (pleather, plastic leather) commonly used in RV's as I have read reports of flaking furniture for at least 20 years now from almost all RV manufacturer brands (as you stated), perhaps over 30 years. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that same low cost low quality material isn't still being used in new RV's. ~CA

 

[Taftcoach]

"Hi there customer we have this premium 25' model for $60,000 or we have this 32' model for $60,000, both can be towed with whatever you drove in with. Which do you want to see?"

They build to the demand. Big flashy models with low monthly payments.

 

[Johnynorthland]

Not to be a downer but 5 years out of cheap RV furniture isn't that bad really, especially if you're a full timer. Not sure why you would reupholster for 65 hundred, you could've refurnished the whole RV with brand new real furniture for that money? Sorry but yes, I think the joke was on you I'm afraid.

Im having it redone with high quality vinyl, with new foam in the dinette, and on the jackknife. Both were horrible to sit on. The new vinyl I have is impervious to any stains or any type of Cigarette burns etc.. The only way to damage it is to take a sharp object like a knife or a razor and cut it. high-quality stuff. And this was the middle of the road product they offered not even high-end.

And I respectfully disagree with you. Five years out of RV furniture is not acceptable. We were full-time in it for about six months and now again for three months, (while our condo is being renovated).

The dinette is done and he took the jackknife and front seats today. I’ll post a photo when done.

 

[Johnynorthland]

I suspect it was all of the material (pleather, plastic leather) commonly used in RV's as I have read reports of flaking furniture for at least 20 years now from almost all RV manufacturer brands (as you stated), perhaps over 30 years. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that same low cost low quality material isn't still being used in new RV's. ~CA

Worse, it’s the cheapest material you could possibly buy! it’s PVC! It just disintegrated!

 

[Johnynorthland]

I’ve looked at used RVs in the past where the furniture was starting to flake and wear out. But this is by far the worst I’ve ever seen. And yes, I could’ve bought new RV furniture but what about the front seats, they are falling apart also? My wife wants everything to match, of course! this will last a lifetime!

I do plan on selling my rig and downsize someday, whoever gets this will be very fortunate! Pre-Covid build and very well-maintained! I now have about $18,000 worth of upgrades into this baby that I’ll never see the return on, it’s just like when I had my show car, you never get it back! But you can’t take it with you, but if I put anymore into this, I just might try!

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

The Tri-fold sofa in our 2017 Autumn Ridge travel trailer started to look just like your photos. We trashed it and bought a fabric covered reclining love seat as a replacement from our local furniture store. The cushions for our dinette still looked fine, but the foam was useless, like sitting on plywood. We had the foam replaced and everything looks and feels new again.

 

[Grumpy]

And I respectfully disagree with you. Five years out of RV furniture is not acceptable. We were full-time in it for about six months and now again for three months, (while our condo is being renovated).

The issue is not only use, but environmental exposure. Most RV's are not climate controlled 365 like a house so the temp and humidity changes are very detrimental to furniture coverings. That is one reason why they deteriorate much sooner.

 

[Johnynorthland]

The issue is not only use, but environmental exposure. Most RV's are not climate controlled 365 like a house so the temp and humidity changes are very detrimental to furniture coverings. That is one reason why they deteriorate much sooner.

So I’ll take out my car seat and put it in my RV for 5 years and see what happens! I don’t think so! The common denominator here is cheap crap products to make the biggest profit no matter what the outcome is!

My neighbor keeps his blazer in his florida garage for 7 months while he’s up north. His interior gets full of mold, goes through extreme climate changes. He just took it out last Wednesday and I watched him wipe it down, looks perfect! So there is no science here other than Jayco has it scientifically figured out that after 5 years, it will fall apart and them and the furniture manufacturer are off the hook! BRILLIANT!! Kudos to them!

 

[norty1]

I must be the luckiest rv purcherser ever! Out 2011 Eagle has a large L shaped couch with the brownish pleather material. We have 2 small dogs and have used this rig a lot over the 11 years we have owned it since new. The material on the sofa, and the accents on the window treatments are showing very little wear and zero peeling.
We have taken care of it with treatment of store bought preservative and we also have matching colored pads on the seats and backs. I don't know where my batch of furniture came from but it has held up well.

 

[Schiel1]

Do yourself a favor and go to a furniture store instead of an RV furniture manufacturer. Cheaper and usually better quality