Community Forums

mst0neham123 · 04-09-2017, 06:11 PM

In the last few months, the upholstery on my sofa and dinette is beginning to crack and disintegrate. I have included pictures of the two worst spots. This is occurring at locations that receive little or no use. We only clean the furniture with a damp cloth.

The first picture is the top of the sofa back that folds up and slides into the main sofa body when the main slide is in. The second picture is the top of an arm on the dinette.

I have 2012 Fleetwood Bounder 35K with Flexsteel ultraleather furniture.

Has anyone else been experiencing this problem, and any ideas for repairing?

cruzbill · 04-09-2017, 06:13 PM

Is sunlight hitting those areas while in storage??

BACKDRAFT161 · 04-09-2017, 06:43 PM

Looks like pleather. Not real leather. If all you have done is clean with a damp cloth and never treated with 303 Protectant, then I would say. Storage with the high heat being closed up is killing your upholstery. You will need to find a good upholstery shop and have it replaced.

PbdBlue · 04-09-2017, 08:06 PM

What you have is not Ultraleather but most likely Austin vinyl simulated leather as that is what Fleetwood has been using in their class A's. Unfortunately this is a known issue with this stuff. I think your only recourse is to replace or reupholster the furniture. Ultraleather is a much better choice albeit it more expensive.

mojoracing · 04-11-2017, 05:12 AM

It is a known fleetwood issue. If it hasn't happened to your coach yet..........it will. My coach is stored with all shades down, even when in use, all shades are down. It is heated all winter and kept cool with a/c all summer and it is starting on mine. The drivers seat was the first to start and it is in a non- wear area. They crack and then peel. Fleetwood should step up on this issue. You can bet they will start to peel between 3 and 6 years from new.

PbdBlue · 04-11-2017, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojoracing

It is a known fleetwood issue. If it hasn't happened to your coach yet..........it will. My coach is stored with all shades down, even when in use, all shades are down. It is heated all winter and kept cool with a/c all summer and it is starting on mine. The drivers seat was the first to start and it is in a non- wear area. They crack and then peel. Fleetwood should step up on this issue. You can bet they will start to peel between 3 and 6 years from new.

Agreed but will they??? 3 to 6 years is long out of warranty. This is not just a Fleetwood issue. My buddies toyhauler has it as well. Seems like Flexsteel should provide some relief since they mfr'd using this crap.

TinCanTee · 04-11-2017, 08:09 AM

I have looked at about 6 used Class A's lately; 2013-2015 model years. They have ALL had this upholstery problem. Some were Thor, some were Coachmen, one was Forest River. I didn't look to see the mfg of the upholstery, but I suspect that there are going to be a lot of rigs on the market with bad upholstery.

mojoracing · 04-12-2017, 09:55 PM

Im sorry, I meant to say a flexsteel problem and I agree, it is a flexsteel problem. From what I have heard, flexsteel refuses to do anything. Ultimately however, fleetwood is the one choosing to use the component.

Medic57 · 04-12-2017, 10:10 PM

Have the same issue with my 2014 Bounder 35K over a year ago. I contacted Flexsteel and they refused to help.

wayno347 · 04-13-2017, 07:51 AM

Villa is superior RV furniture found on higher end RVs and surpasses Flexsteel in quality...

denverh · 04-13-2017, 08:33 AM

Yup, have the same problem on my 2013 Storm and as mentioned keep shades down and curtains drawn when not in use. My furniture is Flexsteel also and agree that mfg of furniture should replace/repair. They are the ones that sold the furniture to Fleetwood. Fleetwood also has culpability if they "spected" that covering to Flexsteel. Since it seems to be an issue accross many rv manufactures that bought furniture from Flexsteel with this covering maybe we can band together and go after Flexsteel for relief.

I would encourage anyone else who has had this problem to respond here so I can gather some statistics to present in a letter I'm going to write to the President of Flexsteel and REV group and see where it goes from there. As the saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

RobbieH · 04-13-2017, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayno347

Villa is superior RV furniture found on higher end RVs and surpasses Flexsteel in quality...

Maybe on new coaches, but in the years similar to mine, Flexsteel is really good stuff. Mine is still like brand new. Not only is mine a 2005, but it also has 108,000 miles.

PbdBlue · 04-13-2017, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieH

Maybe on new coaches, but in the years similar to mine, Flexsteel is really good stuff. Mine is still like brand new. Not only is mine a 2005, but it also has 108,000 miles.

Even today Flexsteel offers many different fabrics\simulated leathers. The stuff in question is called Austin. Not all Flexsteel furniture is upholstered with it but it is popular with OEM's because of it's low price point. It looks good initially and doesn't fail until after the warranty has expired. Ultraleather is significantly more expensive.

RobbieH · 04-13-2017, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PbdBlue

Even today Flexsteel offers many different fabrics\simulated leathers. The stuff in question is called Austin. Not all Flexsteel furniture is upholstered with it but it is popular with OEM's because of it's low price point. It looks good initially and doesn't fail until after the warranty has expired. Ultraleather is significantly more expensive.

That explains it. I just looked at my brochure and window sticker and mine has Ultraleather. It's SUPER nice.

I just didn't want someone lurking around looking for their first RV to think that all Flexsteel products should be avoided.