Better driver's seat needed

Topic: Better driver's seat needed (Read 3125 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #25 – November 09, 2015, 10:23:12 am

Hmmm. I will call Flanigan. Thought FOT specified or supplied Fabric to Knoedler

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #26 – November 09, 2015, 10:42:57 am

Good! I have met him but you have had him do work for you. I am not sire how this works, who does what.

Thanks.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #27 – November 09, 2015, 11:01:31 am

If and when this seat replacement goes down,I for one would be interested in an old seat or two.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #28 – November 09, 2015, 01:55:46 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – November 09, 2015, 09:39:36 am

Look at Neal's original post. It looks like they used a Villa base for non powered swivel and Villa Ultraleather fabrics upholstered at FT to match existing upholstery. More homework required. Plus I need to find matching upholstery/comfy seat for the pass side.

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – November 08, 2015, 10:26:17 pm

I think the seats are upholstered by Mfg., not FOT. Even the ones they use on the new coaches - FOT specifies the material and Knoedler builds and covers the seats. I

like getting them from Flanigan and FT - maybe a set price on the seat and install - options would be extra (lots of configuration options

Roger/Tim,
Good advice. Dave Flanagan would certainly know and help.

I don't know if this is the way that it works now, but, this is the way that it used to be:

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Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #29 – November 09, 2015, 02:59:20 pm

After Neal's post, I withdraw my offer of "buying in bulk". Sounds like each install is custom, depending on the coach.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #30 – November 09, 2015, 03:06:44 pm

Well, let me see if Flanigan can give us a discount if we round up 10 orders via the FOT process, and confirm process. NAC install may be required.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #31 – November 09, 2015, 04:45:29 pm

Have a call into Flanigan

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #32 – November 13, 2015, 09:13:40 pm

Update.

Spoke with David Flanigan at FOT. No real easy way to save money it seems. David Quoted about $6,000 for the seat, plus 3-5 hours of labor to install at he shop rate (if you want one to match your coaches upholstery,) 4-6 weeks lead time. The seat is as previously reported purchased from Knoedler and the custom cover (or perhaps recover?) to match existing coach interior is done at Villa. The install takes a bit of time wince this is an "air ride" type seat and they need to plumb an air line to the drivers area.

David said everyone that has put in the seat LOVES it, with the exception of two folks 120 lbs. or less. who didn't like it, David surmised it didn't work correctly for people that weight or lighter.

At least i would;don't have the weight issue........

You tube of Knoedler Power Chief here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0VzxHcO8w

One on-line source:

Truck Seat Knoedler Power Chief

Looks like they are made in Canada and it take two weeks from order to ship at this web site. (I didn't do a lot of web searches, their may be other better priced web sites in the web universe, there may well be other and better priced on-line retailers;

Seat starts at $2,599 plus $249 flat rate shipping at this site. Options can add $500 or more to the purchase price (arms and swivel capability, plus heat/cool etc. are all "options"). These seats come in Knoedlers "stock" fabrics/leathers from this web site at these prices.

Easy to see how a seat gets to $6,000 if Villa has to order a fully optioned seat from Knoedler and it is shipped to Villa. They then strip off the seat covers, buy new material and reupholster a brand new chair and pay to ship it to FOT. FOT then has to add their profit (usually 40% of their purchase price, but probably 30% or less in this example) and then sell it to the end user. No sure why FT doesn't buy seat from manufacturer and cover it in house, or maybe Villa does buy seats from Knoedler without ay covering on them. If that were the case, I would expect them to be on Villa's web page, as a Knoedler seat, but this is Villa's RV driver web page, and no mention of Knoedler or picture of what would appear to be a power chief.

Villa International Products

Anyway, that is what I found. I just had everything done in ultra leather at FOT including original driver and co=pilot seats, so my fabrics are current and available. I may call Knoedler on Monday to see if they would do custom upholstery direct from them, but given that they go to Villa from Knoedler I doubt it. Seems different that FOT doesn't just buy direct from Knoedler and then recover themselves, but maybe Knoedler has too large of an annual minimum purchase volume for it to make sense for FOT to be a dealer.

Thats all folks!

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #33 – November 13, 2015, 09:13:45 pm

and one last link - the web page for the power chief at Knoedler's site.

Knoedler Manufacturers — Luxury On-Highway : Power-Chief

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #34 – November 13, 2015, 09:19:01 pm

DIY on a Knoedler here Knoedler Air Ride

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #35 – November 13, 2015, 09:51:38 pm

So if Villa gets the seats from Knoedler, covers them and uses a base for a FT then ...

Could one buy a seat (or a matching pair) from Knoedler with standard fabrics or what they mention as custom fabrics with the options you want and mount it to the existing base and do the electrical and plumbing stuff yourself?

Just trying to figure out what is possible.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #36 – November 13, 2015, 10:02:15 pm

Think I will call Knoedler Roger and ask a few questions

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #37 – November 13, 2015, 10:41:33 pm

If you go on line and follow the links to on-line sellers (Seat Specialists) you get this...

Knoedler Grand Chief $2608 (looks like it includes flat shipping of $199)
23" wide
Upgraded head rest
Dual Arms (~$90) (not sure if I want arms at all)
Heat and cool
Synthetic leather
Perforated center panels
Air swivel (not sure how this works)
Air compressor (maybe you only need one)
Adapter plate (not sure which one)
Left or right controls (driver or pass seat)

Some installation required. Lot less than $6K each plus install. More homework required.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #38 – November 13, 2015, 11:02:28 pm

Agreed, mine was cursory

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #39 – November 19, 2015, 10:06:45 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – November 13, 2015, 10:41:33 pm

If you go on line and follow the links to on-line sellers (Seat Specialists) you get this...

Knoedler Grand Chief $2608 (looks like it includes flat shipping of $199).........More homework required.

Roger,

In the interest of more complete disclosure, the Knoedler "Grand Chief" that you refer to does not include the "Power Chief" eight-way power (motor) positioning functions, so it won't be as easy to position the seat (seat front/back, up/down functions, seat forward/aft adjustment, seat back rake adjustment).

I studied and traveled to see the Knoedler seat fabrics and also felt, if the Foretravel/Villa seat Ultra Leather and swivel pedestal(s) weren't used, that the Knoedler stock seat(s) would not look and feel like the rest of the living room furniture, much less be as convenient and easy to use with the living room seating group. The Knoedler stock seats (as well as other brand, stock, air-suspended seats), kind of felt and looked like ugly ducklings misplaced into an otherwise thoughtfully designed and coordinated living room.

I'm sure that's where a lot of the additional Foretravel cost factors in (in addition to the installation labor).
You probably already realize all of this, but I just didn't want you or others to overlook these factors by accident.

Neal

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #40 – November 20, 2015, 09:24:51 am

Thanks, Neal. I checked with other Knoedler buyers and it looks like the Power Chief is the way to go. It looks like is has a non power swivel option and Ultra Leathers are available. Still probably 40% less than FT price. Even more homework required. Our coach is in the barn for the next 3-4 months so the urgency has subsided a bit.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #41 – November 20, 2015, 10:18:51 am

Have not been to Quartz site but am planning in 2016,if these seat manufacturers have booths there they will probably
have some sort of show pricing.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #42 – November 20, 2015, 12:46:33 pm

My fresh Flexsteel electric adjust works fine for me. I am envious of the coach bucks a few of you are ready to spend on "The Ultimate Chair".

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #43 – November 20, 2015, 12:54:14 pm

I really dislike the pilot and copilots seats in my coach but it's just impossible for me to swallow 6K for an upgrade. I have looked several times for a used seat and have never found one. Has anyone found a used one?

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #44 – November 20, 2015, 01:08:13 pm

Quote from: Falconguy – November 20, 2015, 12:54:14 pm

I have looked several times for a used seat and have never found one. Has anyone found a used one?

Think about it: we're all of different sizes and shapes and sit differently. Our Airstream had very low miles when we bought her and the seats (Flexsteel) were comfy for twenty years. Butt, (pun intended) I'd bet the folks who bought the AS have trouble with the seats. A used seat would be a bad decision, IMHO.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #45 – November 20, 2015, 01:09:10 pm

Mike, We haven't spent anything yet and the DW has the final word on this one. Tires are first on the list. It is two years or more worth of fuel.

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #46 – November 20, 2015, 01:17:25 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – November 20, 2015, 01:09:10 pm

Mike, We haven't spent anything yet and the DW has the final word on this one. Tires are first on the list. It is two years or more worth of fuel.

Understand where you're coming from, Roger. I don't think anyone has gotten away with just replacing the driver's seat!

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #47 – November 20, 2015, 02:56:56 pm

Quote

Tim Fiedler said: Easy to see how a seat gets to $6,000 if Villa has to order a fully optioned seat from Knoedler and it is shipped to Villa. They then strip off the seat covers, buy new material and reupholster a brand new chair and pay to ship it to FOT. FOT then has to add their profit (usually 40% of their purchase price, but probably 30% or less in this example) and then sell it to the end user.

Talked to a rep at Seat Specialists | New Air Suspension Truck Seats and Heavy Equipment Seats about using a different ultra-leather color. Said it can be done but has to be a special order with a $200 up charge and a 4 to 6 week delivery date. Still a good deal over FOT.

I'm having trouble getting up off my wallet to buy one. Not so sure how it will fit in the Uni-Home. It's pretty tight with the old Flex-Steel. The sales man still calls me about once a month looking for a sale. I asked if any discounts were ever available and he wouldn't say how much but left the door open for some bargaining.

see ya
ken

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #48 – November 20, 2015, 03:38:27 pm

Ken, is your Flexsteel original? What's a fresh leather electric + DW leather seat go for these days?

Re: Better driver's seat needed

Reply #49 – November 20, 2015, 05:00:03 pm

I'll join the group buy for a Knoedler!

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