By Dustin Simpson
Why is my RV furniture cracking, peeling, and looking awful?! Most RV furniture isn’t necessarily known for its durable, long-lasting construction. In fact, it carries quite the reputation for flaking, peeling, and tearing—even after minimal use.
Why is RV furniture so easily damaged?
I was recently approached by one of the top RV furniture manufacturers. They asked me to carry their products in our store. I asked them, “Have you seen your furniture after it’s been in an RV?” My shop sees around 25-35 units a week. It doesn’t matter the year, make or model, most of them have damaged or blemished furniture after time and use.
The RV furniture manufacturer explained that “RV manufacturers purchase the cheapest quality of RV furniture that we can produce. They do this to save money.”
When I told them that I wasn’t interested in carrying cheap furniture in my store, the furniture manufacturer said, “No, we want you to carry our aftermarket furniture. This furniture is more like a ‘La-Z-Boy’ and it’s better constructed. We use better materials that last a lot longer than the standard stuff that we sell to the RV manufacturers. When customers come in with damaged furniture, you would certainly have the opportunity to sell them better-quality furniture.”
The key is maintenance!
No, thank you! I am not in the furniture business. I am in the repairs and maintenance business. Here is my advice on protecting and maintaining what you have:
Everything from the oil in your skin, the products we wear (lotions and potions), sun exposure, moisture in the RV, and storage temperatures can cause the materials on your RV furniture to break down. I recommend doing a regular cleaning: wiping off furniture with 303 Leather 3-In-1 Complete Care to regularly remove sand, dirt, and other grime that finds its way onto your furniture. One of the best ways to maximize the longevity of your furniture is to keep it clean because when oils, dirt, and other residues have time to sit and soak into your furniture, the quicker those materials break down.
This product works great for cleaning your RV! If you’re tired of seeing tired, worn-out furniture, use 303 Leather 3-In-1 Complete Care. You can also use 303 Leather Cleaner Step 1, which cleans and preps the RV furniture surfaces, and then 303 Leather Conditioner Step 2 (currently unavailable on Amazon, but check Walmart or other stores for it), which conditions and protects.
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More from Dustin
Dustin owns and operates California RV Specialists, an independent RV repair shop located in Lodi, CA. He thrives on sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of RV repair and maintenance with his team, customers, and virtual friends.
Be sure to check out his YouTube channel where he shares what’s going on in the shop and the product offerings in the store. Dustin is also very active on Facebook. Join his group, RV Repairs and Tips – What’s in the shop!
Dustin proudly operates the business alongside his wife, Ashley; but the true pair that run the show are their Boston Terriers, Arvie and Hitch.
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I bought an after market RV recliner and it isn’t comfortable. Should have bought a recliner we use in our home.
I bought a triple Rv sofa recliner from a large Rv supply company.It came boxed it 3 sections so it easily fit thru my Rv door.I paid extra for the electric model.In the first year one section started cracking and I quickly realized they used bonded material.They deny that to be true.They shipped me a new section under warranty.The following year another section failed and though not under warranty they agreed to replace that section.Within 6 months the third section failed and they agreed to replace that and said they were done.I followed their instructions how to maintain the material.We have no pets no children and it’s in a climate control garage at my home.So yes Rv furniture is junk.
I thought our sofa flaking was a fluke. It’s good to know it is very common. I have used leather repair stuff on bad parts and now have throws and arm covers to make it look beautiful. The couch is so comfy. I love “Boston’s” and I love the names of yours! Thank you for the info.
Kathy…very, very common for fake leather RV furniture to flake. Sometimes it doesn’t take long at all, other times it takes a while. Not only that, but the foams are usually not quality furniture foams, so they sink and collapse more quickly than foams used in quality home furnishings. So, it’s certainly not just yours.
I got a little education on this directly from Flexsteel when furniture in a previous RV failed in under two years (and we’re not full time) and Flexsteel agreed to rebuild it right even though out of warranty. While at their Dubuque plant, they showed me the differences between RV spec’d materials and what they put into their home and office lines.
I have used 303 since day 1, and have always had a cover on my couch, It still has flaked and ripped ??????, just cheap..
I’m sitting in a lazy boy right now.
My leather chair isn’t leather at all. $1200 piece of junk. Oh it looked like leather, saleslady said it was leather. Cattle Don t have woven material beneath the skin
We have leather seats in the front of our class A. I use Tanner’s Leather cream spring and fall – whether used or not. They look new yet – it’s a 1994! The seat area has the usual leather creases, however no cracks or breaks. The other furniture is cloth covered and orginal also. I keep the shades pulled in storage and filtered shades when in use or open completely but only on the shaded sided. Sun, (UV), dries out materials including tires, fiberglass and furniture alike.
I put lap quilts and Mexican blankets on my recliners, bench seats and couches to protect the “leather” from skin, oils and sunlight. More comfy and stylish too.
Our Thomas Payne (Lippert) Polyhyde furniture saw sunlight for one year (and one piece was stored in a dark cool place during that time). We had fabric covers over the furniture from then on. By year 5, the vinyl looked terrible. Residential furniture of the right size was not available. Lippert only had the furniture in vinyl – and not all of it was in their dealer catalog.
You CAN buy the furniture in fabric. It is a custom order and Lippert CS is a royal pain. I had to gradually track down upper management. The whole process took months and we finally had fabric versions delivered last spring. While too soon to know for sure, my gut says the fabric will be far more durable
My Explore-USA dealer, told me that my 2017 Grand Design Reflection, had a defect on Grand Design’s leather like furniture’s, ” one month after the recall notice had EXPIRED” in 2019. And would not honor the recall replacement. The leather like furniture is peeling severely. I keep my windows covered with reflective foam sheeting when not in use. And have room darkening shades. Replacement of Hide-a-bed and Theater Recliners is $2500+.
Cheap furniture, you have to go up-scale in your RV purchase to avoid that. So my guess is unless you’re spending an quarter mil or more, look forward to it. Mine lasted 6 years before it got so bad it simply had to be replaced. I have yet to hear any one brag about their initial set of furniture. Luckily, I was able to get a upholsterer to recover ours with quality material.
We use towels and furniture covers on all of our furniture. For a 20 year old rig still no rips or flaking. Only on the arm rest’s on the driver’s side.
Thank you, Dustin. Our RV is new, but we certainly want to avoid replacing the furniture in the future. We are fans of 303 for our tire sidewalls and RV seals. We’ll get their leather/furniture cleaner/preservative. Thanks again!