Upholstery

[jbrown000]

Under warranty Newmar replaced the upholstery in our 2016 DS in 2016 because the beading was wearing badly, they claimed it was a bad batch of material. Two years later we are having the same problem. Are any others having the same problem?

[stang37]

Starting to show up on our chairs this year. Guess I should give them a call or just email with pictures? We were thinking it was from rubbing on the chair bead when entering the motorhome. However we've made a concerted effort to see how we're entering and if we are rubbing the chair edge and we are not. The drivers seat bead is fraying also.

[Quincy]

Originally Posted by stang37

Starting to show up on our chairs this year. Guess I should give them a call or just email with pictures? We were thinking it was from rubbing on the chair bead when entering the motorhome. However we've made a concerted effort to see how we're entering and if we are rubbing the chair edge and we are not. The drivers seat bead is fraying also.

It seems as if allot of the mfg's are using Bonded Leather for their Captains Chairs. Bonded leather, is another name for imitation leather, I think. It is disappointing to see Newmar doing it though. Sorry to hear about your issue.

[jbrown000]

Originally Posted by stang37

Starting to show up on our chairs this year. Guess I should give them a call or just email with pictures? We were thinking it was from rubbing on the chair bead when entering the motorhome. However we've made a concerted effort to see how we're entering and if we are rubbing the chair edge and we are not. The drivers seat bead is fraying also.

Have you had the original "leather" replaced under warranty? We did and asked Newmar to not use the beading, but they said they couldn't. This seems to be a design flaw and not material defect.

[stang37]

Originally Posted by jbrown000

Have you had the original "leather" replaced under warranty? We did and asked Newmar to not use the beading, but they said they couldn't. This seems to be a design flaw and not material defect.

I have not had anything done to the seat material. We were on a trip and I said something to the wife about the beading looking different. This is the first time we noticed the deterioration of the beading. The top layer of the "leather" beading is pealing off. Its happening on every section but mostly on the bottom roll edge of the beading.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Quincy

Bonded leather, is another name for imitation leather, I think.

My understanding is that bonded leather is a mixture of recycled leather ground up and glued (bonded) to an underlay material. It is one of the many "synthetic leather" upholstery products that competes against Ultraleather, which is often considered the premier product.

Several years ago we used a bonded leather product to reupholster our captains chairs. It had flaking issues anywhere the fabric was subjected to tight bends, such as in piping. Eventually we simply replaced the chairs with new ones upholstered in Ultraleather.

[Rcwaz]

My 2012 had the same issue, eventualy on all bonded “leatherette” upholstered furniture. I purchased replacement fabric from Newmar (expensive) and had a chair reupholstered locally ( also expensive). The shop said the fabric was poor quality and I realized it’s probably the original fabric that came with the coach. Newmar’s response was to offer all new furniture at half price (very expensive).

I contacted Flexsteel and they had my coach information on file and could produced replacement covers made of ultra leather relatively inexpensively. Inexpensively is all relative, however it was cheaper than any alternative offered by Newmar or an upholstery shop. For $750 I received new captains chair fabric from Flexsteel and replaced the old. The first was a learning experience but the old cover came off easy and the new slipped right over the padding perfectly. The second took half the time.

The couch has not been done yet. The good lady at Flexsteel said it was likely coming unbonded also. We keep it covered because of the dog but pulled off the cover and sure enough delamination was happening. Couch cover was $1000.

[Jake21]

Originally Posted by docj

My understanding is that bonded leather is a mixture of recycled leather ground up and glued (bonded) to an underlay material. It is one of the many "synthetic leather" upholstery products that competes against Ultraleather, which is often considered the premier product.

Bonded leather actually is the base material. But your understanding is basically correct. Leather scraps are basically ground up and mixed with a bonding agent and pressed into a payer. Then a top coat (usually PVC) is applied.

Kinda like particle board with a veneer wood top. There are many makers of bonded leather, lots in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Being in the home furnishings industry, I have seen all levels of quality. Although I have no experience with the Ultraleather brand, I do hear that it is quality product.
J

[jbrown000]

The furniture that Newmar used on our 2016 was provided by Villa, which Newmar claimed to be a upgrade from Flexsteel, however they changed back to Flexsteel in 2017. When Newmar reupholstered our furniture we first asked if they would eliminate the beading/welting and were told no they had to put it back the same way. We then asked if we could a our expense change the furniture to the Flexsteel which was being installed in the new models and was again told no. I've sent a email to Newmar customer service to see if they can help with this problem.

[docj]

Originally Posted by jbrown000

The furniture that Newmar used on our 2016 was provided by Villa, which Newmar claimed to be a upgrade from Flexsteel, however they changed back to Flexsteel in 2017.

Although I have no personal stake in the issue, I tend to think that Flexsteel gets a bum rap on these forums because they make a less expensive line of captains chairs than are generally available from Villa. However, what's often overlooked is that they also make a more expensive line of chairs (the deluxe series) that compete against anything Villa produces.

A couple of years ago we junked our OEM captains chairs and replaced them with Flexsteel Deluxe chairs upholstered in Ultraleather. They weren't inexpensive but they are extremely comfortable. When swiveled and used as living area seating they are nearly as comfortable as our Ekornes Stressless recliner which, interestingly enough, the cost of which wasn't all that much different from what the Flexsteel cost.

Joel (AKA docj)

[PanJH]

Originally Posted by jbrown000

The furniture that Newmar used on our 2016 was provided by Villa, which Newmar claimed to be a upgrade from Flexsteel, however they changed back to Flexsteel in 2017. When Newmar reupholstered our furniture we first asked if they would eliminate the beading/welting and were told no they had to put it back the same way. We then asked if we could a our expense change the furniture to the Flexsteel which was being installed in the new models and was again told no. I've sent a email to Newmar customer service to see if they can help with this problem.

We ordered our DS without the piping (beading). When it was delivered, it had the piping. I said no, we won't take it. It was documented in the order and accepted as a special. Dealer got the factory on the phone and they said they'd
have Flexsteel send new covers. When they came in, they had piping, but a different style. This was still a no go for me. Dealer got Newmar back on the phone and they told him they had to have piping on the upholstery for strength. To me this was still a deal breaker. So, the dealer gets Flexsteel on the phone along with Newmar factory and the Flexsteel mgr says it's not a problem not having the piping, it's decorative, not a strength enhancer. So, new covers were ordered, and eventually put on... 5 years later, still look good.