Driver and passenger seat discomfort

[jmr12]

We have a 08 Monarch with flexsteel seats. They are very uncomfortable. The cover material is of very poor quality. They seats are manual.
I am considering getting them re-covered and foam added and moved.
Has anyone done this?
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks

[AirLift]

I've had seats recovered before but not necessarily to enhance comfort. My suggestion would be to shop around a couple of interior shops, as prices can fluctuate more than they really should.

Most seat padding is made all out of the same material, but they can add additional layering of padding or batting to help some. Depending on how much padding they add or subtract they may be able to reuse the original upholstering.

Also, when you talk to them about quotes, ask them if there is any price reduction if you just bring them the seats rather than the whole vehicle. Sometimes interior shops will cut you a break if they don't have to deal with getting the rusty bolts out of the seat frames.

[frankdamp]

We also have FlexSteel seats and hate them with a passion. The seat cushions are about 3" too long from front to back for me and even worse for DW. She has to have two cushions behind her back before the front edge of the seat is behind her knees. She still can't put her feet on the floor!

When I drove transit a few years back, the coaches had Recaro seats for the driver. Although the cushions were typical European "sculptured granite", they at least had vertical adjustment and could be moved around easily during an 8-hour shift to change your seating arrangement.

I'd love to find a Recaro-style seat that would fit the floor attachments for the FlexSteel and which had an integral 3-point safety harness. After 20+ years of having 3-point inertia-reel belts in our cars, I find the lap-belt only set-up in the MH to be inadequate.

[Davdeb1]

We have the original seats in our 2000 HR Endeavor. II was amazed how comfortable they are. They must make different seats.

[Robi.1014]

I'd suggest attending some RV shows....and do some "seat testing". I and DW are happy with our Flexsteel seating, but they are electric. Consider finding a surplus source of replacements seats....making sure they are electric and perhaps have a different covering material.

I'll add that we have a very flat pad that we picked up at IKEA ($3) that we sit on. It's so thin that it doesn't raise our tush, but keeps an "air gap" (if you will) between tush and the leather.

[Mike Canter]

Interesting. In my 2004 Signature I have the all electric Villa seats and they are real comfortable. What is nice is that I can move/slide the seat bottom cushion electrically back and front which makes a big difference. The other thing I find that makes a big difference is the base seat cushion tilt that allows be to adjust where the seat is supporting me. If it is too high in the front then it is pushing up just behind my kees and that is a killer. If the front is too low then all the weight is supported by my rear end and that will kill you after time. By adjusting the bottom seat cushion tilt I can spread the weight out evenly from my rear and across the bottom of my thighs.

[Bill2]

I also find that my seat is too long from front to back and have a hard time finding just the right position. Fortunately my is electric flexsteel and I can find that sweet spot after some time. I also use a pillow behind me against my back to help with the length of the seat. Good luck in finding the sweet spot.

[Perry White]

I have Villa's in my Essex and they are crap. Cushions have shifted in the back. Mike at Villa's says that's what happens after a while. Uncomfortable. Bought new cusion inserts and are going to have it replaced come spring. New seat's over 4 grand.

[Mike Canter]

My seat cushions are still OK. My bottom seat cusions maybe starting to go but I just don't realize it yet because of the slow change. It does appear that it is fairly easy to unzip the bottom cushion cover and take it off. Haven't tried it yet but let me know how you did yours. I just had to replace the back recline motors in both my seats because they both failed.

Bill, that is what is great on having a bottom seat section that one can slide back and forth independently. I can make it long or short.

[Perry White]

Look from the back down to the seat. The cushion has shifted to the right. Only 30,000 miles. We have three Essex's with the same seat and they are all shifting

[Mike Canter]

So you are saying it is in the seat back and not the bottom seat cushion. Haven't noticed a problem with mine so far. Now you are going to make me go and look and cost me $$$$$$. It looks hard in getting the seat back off. Villa told me there is an upholstry shop in Macon GA that did all the repairs to Bluebird Villa seats for the factory. I will look at my seats again and let you know what I find.

[Perry White]

It has shifted and tries to have you pointing to the right .Yea, they sold me new foam for $200. I have to put a pillow behind me. Gave me Sciatica. I thought it was maybe me but to have the three others doing the same, and we have a new 2011 that went to Florida for the winter. Want to check on his when he gets back. Look from the top of the back down to the seat cusion seams and you can see it is off to the right about 2 inches.

[Mike Canter]

What is going to stop the new foam padding from shifting? Did Villa offere any suggestions. Maybe some stick on Velcro strips on the back to hold it in position.