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Topic: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?  (Read 2713 times) previous topic - next topic

Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Oh hey, it's me again  :help:

We need to do something with the captains chairs in our GV. They work great and are actually very comfortable but it feels like a bit of a fool's errand to reupholster something so old and ratty tatty. If we DID reupholster, I'd do it here locally... any savings down in Puerto Penasco would be offset by travel costs.

For those of you that have reupholstered, would you do it again? What would you do differently?
For those of you that have replaced with new, what learning lessons can you share? I see replacements here starting in the $700 range and that feels low... RV Captain Chairs and RV Furniture - Shop4Seats.com

In my head I'd like to get it done for under $1k/chair but really have no idea if that's reasonable.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #1 –
I bought new from Bradd and Hall.http://www.braddandhall.com/productcart/pc/home.asp  If I were close to Mexico, I would definitely re-foam and recover there.

Details on my order (did just before the pandemic and it took an extra 4 months due to it):
Flexsteel (no longer available, I got some the last units out of their factory).
Ultraleather with power lumbar, no power base (reused existing, had to drill some holes to adapt to old base)
$3155 total ($1415/ea x2, plus $325 shipping) - I paid sales tax to Idaho on my income tax return that year.

Bradd and Hall has their own line of chairs now - seems similar to the Flexsteels.
I was scared away from other less costly internet options as I had read bad reviews.  Cost was more but then I knew I would get good chairs.
Bradd and Hall is a reputable company and they did have good customer service.  Jack Hall was who I dealt with.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #2 –
Hey Elliott.

Re. reasonableness for $1k/chair - as a reference only, I was quoted 1300/chair recently.

I'll eventually get it done and it will likely be more when I get around to it. But, whatever. C'est la vie.

As always, YMMV.

MM
1998 40' U320 WTME #5231 MC18890
"You spend at the intersection of experience and loved ones."

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #3 –
Things to think about when changing captain's chair bases:

OEM chair base is bolted through floor through between floor steel frame to keep chair from pulling out in a collision.

Most new bases require some new floor holes, and the floor is not structural enough as it is wood & foam.

One compromise is to bolt a plate to top of floor that uses OEM floor holes, and new holes to hold new base.

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #4 –
Elliott,

One issue with replacing driver's chair is how does it replicate the driver's sitting position in relationship to steering wheel, brake & accelerator pedals, and will it rotate without hitting wall and furniture behind it as the chair may also be used when parked. Also mounting to rotating pedestal, and slide mechanism. Sometimes rebuilding existing chair eliminates uncertainties.

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Elliott –
Oh hey, it's me again  :help:

We need to do something with the captains chairs in our GV. They work great and are actually very comfortable but it feels like a bit of a fool's errand to reupholster something so old and ratty tatty. If we DID reupholster, I'd do it here locally... any savings down in Puerto Penasco would be offset by travel costs.

For those of you that have reupholstered, would you do it again? What would you do differently?
For those of you that have replaced with new, what learning lessons can you share? I see replacements here starting in the $700 range and that feels low... RV Captain Chairs and RV Furniture - Shop4Seats.com

In my head I'd like to get it done for under $1k/chair but really have no idea if that's reasonable.

We are looking at doing the same thing. We have Flexsteel, which is out of the RV business, but you can still get covers made that are made from the original patterns. This company does those replacements...Bauer RV Upholstery

I was close to going this route, then realized I would still have 23 year old foam to sit on, which seems silly.  And that company cannot get the foam pieces. I suppose I could cut them myself, but....

I sat in some brand new Villa captains chairs just last week. They are pricey at $2k apiece if you want the integrated seat belts. It is difficult to find anybody to re-upholster anything around here and we definitely want to get our couch done. I thought about buying a sewing machine and doing it myself but I don't need another "hobby".

So, going to be sitting in the old ones for a while unless I can find a cheaper option.

Kevin
Kevin and Donna
2000 Foretravel U295 Build #5613
2002 Jeep Wrangler
Motorcader #18561

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #6 –
Why not just order inexpensive covers for both chairs and when you come to Q, you can go on to PP? You saw our chairs. Better than new for $550 total for both. Might be a little more today but they look the same as when they were done in '14.  Munoz did them in three days and included the R&R at Playa Bonita.

We just bought material for the sofa but got a quote of $1000 plus labor only from a home shop for just the seating area and back. I'm doing the other parts, drawer face, etc myself. We will wait for the seating area until we run for the border again.

I figure about $0.50/mile for diesel when traveling.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #7 –
When I purchased my coach both chairs were Villa but they were mismatched. The copilot chair was extra wide in a different design than the pilot chair. The previous owner had two cats and all the vinyl up front was totally perforated with cat claws. They seem comfortable enough sitting in them other than the wide chair which was too big. I thought about just getting sheepskin covers or getting them reupholstered but realized that they were 27 year old chairs. I called Villa and order to brand new chairs. I had to get lap belts because my coach came with lap belt originally and they will not put shoulder harnesses on chairs that weren't originally designed with it. I want to say the total was about $4,800 with shipping that was with heated chairs with massage on both even though I had only ordered it on the passenger chair and the swivel option. I ordered the adjustable armrest but they alas came with fixed ones. I sent him a piece of the ultra leather that I recovered the dash and jack knife sofa in, and he matched it pretty close. Also I used ultra leather, which jacked up the price. I love the chairs and I'm very happy with them and would not have wanted to recover the old ones. They are part of my living area when I'm parked and they are very comfortable on long drives. Well at least the drivers seat is.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #8 –
We had ours done in PP.  Price was very reasonable and delighted with the results.  We had the foam replaced in addition to the upholstery.  I would definitely recommend doing that rather than just replacing the fabric.   
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #9 –
Thanks all - I'm leaning towards reupholstering them for the reasons Barry points out about getting fit right. Maybe even just loading them up on a trailer and taking the Jeep down to PP to have them done. Joe or Pierce do you have [David?] Munoz's contact info?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #11 –
If you decide to repair, go threw the old frames and repair everything. Check for worn out bushings and fatigue cracks. There are many different grades of foam and they all have different lifespans. Really look closely at all the hardware and switches, wiring and power assist components. Much better for you to change everything that requires attention, basically overhauling the mechanicals before you get it covered up. Another consideration would also be Belts and retractors. Shame to have a new seat with old belts. Webbing can be replaced on old hardware by a seatbelt shop. They build to higher standards that your upholsterers will understand. Ball rounded needles, certified thread and straps and minimum stitches per end for strength requirements
Scott

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #12 –
Elliott,

Here is David's Facebook page: Redirecting...

Map of Puerto Peñasco with all the tapicerias shown. I see eight. It may be good to contact them ahead of time asking the time involved, price, choice of materials, etc. You can click on the map and get the contact information and use Google Translate to make sure you are both on the same page.

I've never been a big fan of Ultra Leather's faux leather so I went with a slightly thicker vinyl and David had exactly the right color. If you want seats done exactly the same, you may send my photos as examples. Google Maps

Another possibility would be to go to a Pick N Pull yard and get a late set of seats off a Mercedes, BMW, etc, etc and adapt them to your coach. They are dirt cheap at $59/each and easy to remove from the vehicles. Best to have the seat controls on the seat. See the locations here:https://www.picknpull.com/locations

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #13 –
Another captain's chair item to ponder:

Our OEM chair did not have shoulder belt, so we asked about getting a replacement chair with shoulder belt. While that seems like a simple request, they would not install it because of liability as it was not DOT tested for our coach / chair combination.

We stayed with rebuilding our OEM chairs assuring it rotates the same without hitting couch behind or side dash, body fits same for steering and pedals, and we handmade 'fake' shoulder belts to satisfy LEO views while in motion.

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Elliott –
Thanks all - I'm leaning towards reupholstering them for the reasons Barry points out about getting fit right. Maybe even just loading them up on a trailer and taking the Jeep down to PP to have them done. Joe or Pierce do you have [David?] Munoz's contact info?

David's Cell phone:  +52  638-115-1500
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #15 –
How many of us have sat in new chairs before you buy? We had ours reupholstered

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #16 –
My seats were replaced before I bought the coach so I don't know what the originals were like so I can't
compare. These are really comfortable.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #17 –
David did our chairs in PP and for both chairs, the head board of the slide and vertical strips was $1200 if I remember correctly!  Did take longer than a few days, more like a week plus!  I was still happy with the results!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Captains Chairs - Replace or Reupholster?

Reply #18 –
You can't rush quality workmanship