Joining Club (fail) FLEXSTEEL

[Neal]

Today I noticed my driver's seat has the rash. 3 years old, time to email Newmar. For those that know my config this is going to be interesting as I pulled the jack knife and it's in my attic storage (3rd floor). I sure hope I don't have to somehow haul that back to Newmar! And if they give me a new one I'm not sure how I'm getting it back other than stacking it on the sofa bed, hmm, that may work. Okay, time to email Newmar and think bad thoughts about the epic failure that is Flexsteel.

 

[sheridany]

It’s the same as mine did.

 

[Neal]

It’s the same as mine did.

What have they told you and what's the plan?

 

[Richpatty]

Ours is still good, but we only have 18,000 miles on It.

This has been going on for a long time...as our old 2007 Thor Hurricane had the same problem within a few years as well...

 

[Neemer]

What a shame, but at least Newmar will make it right.

 

[sheridany]

@Neal They replaced it all. It started on copilot and then on pilot and they ended up replacing it all. This was all before flexsteel exited the business but I was at nirvc in May for this. On the foldout they bought in an upholsterer who recovered it with the materials they sent with the furniture.

 

[Buly]

I noticed the material on my front seats is starting to flake? But mine is 2015. Looks like I’m SOL?

 

[Neal]

I noticed the material on my front seats is starting to flake? But mine is 2015. Looks like I’m SOL?

That's when I heard it started happening. When I was at FPU a 2015 DSDP was getting furniture replaced. I suggest taking pictures and emailing Newmar.

 

[MapNerd]

@Buly i don’t think you are. Plenty of stories out there of Newmar replacing the furniture on coaches out of warranty over this. Call em. Worst they can say is no and if they do, call em again!

 

[Buly]

@Buly i don’t think you are. Plenty of stories out there of Newmar replacing the furniture on coaches out of warranty over this. Call em. Worst they can say is no and if they do, call em again!

Thank you. I will try.

 

[Neal]

Erica emailed me back this morning:

Good Morning Neal,

We will need to replace the furniture. It will be replaced with the same material. It likely was a bad batch when made.

I’m not sure if you have heard but Flexsteel – RV is no longer in business. We are working with local furniture companies to see if they can do the same work. We don’t have any information right now. We are currently telling customers to call or email in 2 months and we will update then.

I’ve got everything documented in [removed] so you can use this as a reference.

Thank you,

 

[bpaikman]

I am noticing a lot of so-called leather that actually seems to be sprayed on if that were possible. When it starts flaking off it is the worst thing imaginable! it happened on a set of dining room furniture in my kitchen and I‘ve been vacuuming up little flecks of “leather” for months. I’d much rather it had split and rubbed away like normal wear.
I’m dismayed to see the same behavior on your newer coaches. It seems like everybody will find a cheaper way to do things. I think the first thing I would do is put covers on all leather seats to hopefully delay the wear. When we sold our 13-year-old Winnebago, the leather was still holding up fine ....it looked like worn leather... but it wasn’t even splitting, much less flaking!. the coach had 70,000 miles on it.

 

[Neal]

I'm not rushing to get this fixed. 1) I have no reason right now to trek to Newmar. 2) I want whomever they use to do this to get the process figured out. I'm not sure if they are replacing or reupholstering. Going to sit on the sidelines until Newmar figures out what they are going to do and it proves to be a viable option. Also, the more I wait is less time between new and selling for vNext.

 

[BGMAC]

Mine was pretty bad, but bought the RV that way knowing we were going to fix it ourselves. Not perfect, but this was our first time and cost about $15 per seat on material.

 

[AbdRahim]

Mine is 3 months old and the corner of the couch arm has started. Sent pic to Newmar. They apologized and said they would reupholster. They said to contact them in several months and they will have a resolution.

 

[J&JD]

I'm not rushing to get this fixed. 1) I have no reason right now to trek to Newmar. 2) I want whomever they use to do this to get the process figured out. I'm not sure if they are replacing or reupholstering. Going to sit on the sidelines until Newmar figures out what they are going to do and it proves to be a viable option. Also, the more I wait is less time between new and selling for vNext.

Neal, Newmar has already replaced our sofa and recliner, and put new upolstery in the front seats. I do not hold out hope for it in the long run, but we do our best to protect it from sun. It makes no sense for them to just not put better stuff in to begin with. what a waste of money. We are people who take really good care of our cars, and our coach, and do not trade often. If we have more trouble with the upholstery, i doubt Newmar will help again. We will probably have it done with good stuff on our own. I even contacted Flexsteel to see if there was something we should be treating it with. They did not recommend anything? Judy D

 

[murphysranch]

boy oh boy...Flexsteel was one of the finest furniture manufacturers in their day. Sounds like they left the RV biz none too soon.

 

[Jim]

boy oh boy...Flexsteel was one of the finest furniture manufacturers in their day. Sounds like they left the RV biz none too soon.

Perhaps at one time, but we bought flexsteel for our home and it just hasn't held up. I would have been better off with cheap stuff and just cycled it out ever few years.

 

[Neal]

When I contacted Newmar in July Erica told me to check back in two months. I checked back today as I could swing by in Nov/Dec. Erica said they do have a plan for remedy to have the furniture recovered but it requires a 12wk lead time. Due to my travel plans and other plans I'll be booking in next September for the fix. So FYI, if you have the furniture virus. you need to coordinate your visit at least 12wks out.

 

[Richpatty]

Thanks for the update. I can’t help but think this is my destiny as well, but so far the the seats are fine. Neal, i think our rigs were built just weeks apart as we took delivery in April 2017 and I believe yours was May....

Like I said before, maybe I just don’t have as many miles (and time with my butt in the seat) as you do.