After two and a half years we finally found an original barrel recliner.
Our first Foretravel, a 1993 U225 recently sold by Dave and Dolly Cobb, had a Flex Steel barrel style recliner that looked very small but fit my big body incredibly well. I have missed it since Dave and Dolly bought the coach. Peggy and I have been looking for another barrel recliner ever since. In March I found one for sale on Craig's List in Frost Proof, FL. We happened to be in Florida so we drove to Frostproof. The chair was in very rough shape but looked salvageable so we bought it. We found an upholsterer in Jacksonville, FL and a fabric we liked and now we have my favorite recliner ever. See attached Photo.
Why we like it so much is that it looks very small in the coach, much smaller that any other we have seen, which makes the interior of our non-slide coach look much larger. Also, it is the most comfortable recliner I have found for my body. Cost with fabric and re-upholstery, about $800 mostly for the fabric, but worth every penny.
You can't argue with comfort!
Looks like you had it recovered in a color that matches Tripp's hair quite well :)
Michelle
Let's hope so because if not it will be Trip's color in a few days. We have the hairiest dog in the whole world and he shares it with us daily.
Kent,
Found just what you needed to go with that great recliner:
Sticky Critter Washable Roller | National Allergy (http://www.natlallergy.com/prod/1451/sticky-critter-roller-for-dust-removal.html?sid=GOOGLEPLA&EID=GOOGLEPLA&tid=g_pla&kid=g_pla_80-5000&ci_src=17588969&ci_kw={keyword}&ci_sku=80-5000&gclid=CMbV56Ok9rYCFcbb4AodBC8A1A)
Peter, thanks. Just ordered two dozen of them. That should last at least two weeks.
Our Beighley dog only weighs 65# compared to Trip's 110+-. She has short hair. I think she may shed about 65/110 of what Trip sheds, and that is still a bunch. I just ordered the Sticky Critter Roller.
We have a recliner from our FT sitting the garage. The dog's bed is placed where the recliner would normally recline. If anyone wants it, send PM. It is FOB Bellville, TX.
Kent,
Our coach had one like that from the factory. When we looked at it online at lazydays it showed it in the pictures. When we got there it was not in the unit. Someone must have wanted it. The one that we have now hurts my back so much that I dont even want to sit in it. We hope to get one like yours someday also. Enjoy the comfort bro.
Mark
Mark, if you find one our upholsterer and fabric store is in Jacksonville. We were very happy with both. Let me know if you need the numbers.
Kent, go to a farm/ranch supply store and buy one of those five or seven band currycombs that are used on livestock. They work great and Trip will love it.
Kent: We have that recliner in our '93 U225!!! My wife thinks it's "too big" and keeps trying to convince me to get something else. I keep resisting because, like you, I find it to be the most comfortable recliner I've ever used. We did not think it was standard equipment with the coach but perhaps it was in 1993. It does take up more room with those padded armrests. But I never go to the coach without spending a little time in that chair!
Craig
We had previously purchased the smallest Lazy Boy, open arm recliner we could find. It was very similar to the one in the previous post in What did you do to your coach" a few days ago. The Lazy Boy was not nearly as comfortable and due to the higher back rest, looked much bigger than does the original. Take the measurements, I don't think you will find a smaller swivel recliner anywhere and for me, 6'3" and 240 lbs, a more comfortable one.
Kent, our recliner in our '89 has the same type headrest that kinda lifts up out of the back of the backrest. Same as yours?
Ours is/was mounted on a round disk of plywood and screwed to the floor. Unfortunately it sat so low that one almost slammed the chin on the liftup table so I made a riser box out of 2"x4" and the new height came out perfect. Is your recliner low? Hard to tell from the pictures. But if it is, a riser might make it a lot easier to get up, considering your height and your back.
Thanks for the thoughts. I added a 4" riser to the base so it does sit higher to accommodate my height.
I kind of want to say great minds think alike but I won't! :P :P ^.^d
Kent do you think Encore would have that recliner?
John, we tried Encore and everyone in NAC several times per year for two years trying to snatch one of those old recliners. No Luck. We also tried the RV salvage in Carthage, MO and anyplace we found on our travels that has used RV stuff. We finally found this chair on Craigs List in Florida. They are hard to find but they are perfect chairs for the Grand Villas.
Since there was some discussion of pet-hair-removal methods, I thought I'd add one that I discovered while sailing (with no vacuum and precious little power). Even with a vacuum and power, I still sometimes find it to be a good method. At any rate what you do is simply don a good/heavy pair of typical dishwashing/cleaning "rubber" gloves, and then rub and swirl your hands around on the hairy furniture. They do an amazingly good job of gathering up the hair and then (as you swirl) making it into a ball you can just pick up and throw away. Or, at least it worked for my particular pet's hair.
BTW, one of my big (as in seemingly-all-out-of-proportion to reality) reasons for wanting a Foretravel/Class A is so I can finally have a comfortable recliner/chair. Sitting lengthwise on settees and couches is pretty good, but.... I want a chair!
Alex
Kent, I'd like to find a recliner like yours, we're close to the same size. Here's a place that sells flexsteel recliners for RVs. http://www.glastop.com/rv-furniture-products.asp?id=64 (http://www.glastop.com/rv-furniture-products.asp?id=64)
Is the preferred model one of these?
Thanks, Chuck
Chuck, I don't think any of them are the same. They are probably fine chairs and very comfy.
This chair has a very low back until it is in the reclining mode. Then a head rest rises out of the back of the chair. This has little to do with the comfort but makes the chair look very small in its normal mode in the limited space of a motorhome. I don't know why the quit making this style other than it is pretty complicated mechanically and very heavy. Its small appearance and comfort is why I had to find one of the originals.
I think the number was an 049 flex steel recliner
I just bought a used U225..woohoo my first FT; and it has the identical recliner, can you tell me how to operate it?...the previous owner never used it and did not know how to open it. there is no lever, like a lazy boy has on the side and I cant figure it out without taking it out to see. thanks for your help ANYONE???? Pat
We remember that we could just "push back" on the head rest. Enjoy the recliner, and the new coach.
Poolenglish,
You might try to pull back and lift at the same time on the headrest. Unlike any other recliner I've seen it recesses into the back.
Just lean back and it will do the rest
If they never used it, it may be "frozen" and need a spray of WD-40 or Corrosion-X to get the extenders working.
Thanks for this forum and your help everybody! ; I figured out the chair...it was stuck together; the leather was sticking to itself everywhere! It must have been never used! I carefully got the leather unstuck (no tears) and got it to work! what an awesome chair; and to have never been used!
and the leather that was hidden looks like new!
here is a pic of my new rig, just had her 2 days!
Congratulations on the new rig! Are you missing some filler panels under the front bumper? If so, FOT may be able to assist you in getting replacements. They seem to be pretty good about finding/reproducing replacement body panels and parts for the older coaches. Good luck with your new ride!
Chuck,
Front area below the bumper is correct. Nothing missing.
What is FOT ? I need a new lense for the white light under the bumper on the starboard side in front. I am new to foretravels. thanks everyone!!
FOT = Foretravel of Texas, call and get your free first year membership to the Foretravel Motorcade, receive the club and factory mailings, receive your membership numbers to mount on the front and rear of the coach, and then enjoy 10% off on parts and labor.
MOT= Motorhomes of Texas, up the street
NAC= Nacogdoches TX, home of FOT and MOT
Think you are talking about your driving lights, possibly sourced from the internet.
Let the fun begin on the road to adventure.
FOT is Foretravel of Texas, aka FT.
MOT is Motorhomes of Texas, also in Nacogdoches (NAC)
I have the original recliner from my 89. I'm not a leather fan so I replaced it with something else. Its in perfect shape. I'd sell it cheap if anyone wants it.It's in southern CA.
Please contact me!
I am in San Juan capistrano.
Congrats on the new Coach! Looks very nice.
When looking for parts rest assured you can get anything you want for these older coaches from ForeTravel. I have never been told that something was not available for our 90' U280. Recently cracked a windshield from a flying rock, and was certain I wouldn't be able to get a replacement---- I called Foretravel and they said they had 4 in stock! You are going to love your new ride and the service you will get.