Fabric disintegration!

[LadyFireCaptain]

We have a 2016 Hurricane we bought new but has been used very little, about 17 weeks. It only has about 12,000 miles on it.

Last trip a couple of months ago we noticed the fabric on the theater seating and driver’s seat flaking and cracking. We just got home from this trip and the fabric is much worse and completely coming apart (one week trip). It is the same fabric that is used to upholster the slide out drawers under the booth seating and the back of the booth seating. Everywhere it is exposed, it is coming apart. We have never had children in the rig, only my husband, my service dog, and me. It is always kept neat and everything put away so no wear and tear from things rubbing on it.

The fabric feels like a soft, pebbled “leather” and appeared fairly tough. The surface is a foamy, soft material that flakes off to what looks like a gauze type fabric and once it starts, it really goes. We are starting to get “pinholes” everywhere.

Has anybody else had or heard of this problem.

[blw2]

sadly a very common problem...RV industry wide.

My vinyl is a different one (less texture) but doing the same thing. has gotten really bad now, so i'm starting to address it by dumping even more money into stuff that I really shouldn't need to.

What's even worse in my case.... we had found a used rig with cloth seats but otherwise identical....and we went out of our way to get vinyl...DW was thinking it would clean and wear better with the kids who were young at the time. Wouldn't you know the fabric parts are holding up perfectly!

[LadyFireCaptain]

Did you ever contact Thor about the problem?

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by LadyFireCaptain

Did you ever contact Thor about the
problem?

It's a 2016... I would that Thor would be willing to get involved with it.

But it couldn't hurt to try!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Tons of info if you search this subject. It's a failed product mix of leather pulp and plastic "invented" just a few short years ago. Furniture companies quit using it. The deterioration happens faster in RV's with temp fluctuations. Just replace it or have it all reupholstered. No one will stand behind it.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

...It's a failed product mix of leather pulp and plastic "invented" just a few short years ago...

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1569251039

[LadyFireCaptain]

Thanks all. I did contact Thor and no, they won’t stand behind it so it’s going to be on us. They did say that it is not used anymore. Seems that the company that provided it should have some responsibility. Might have to put my law school education back to work! I’m retired, give me a break!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by LadyFireCaptain

Thanks all. I did contact Thor and no, they won’t stand behind it so it’s going to be on us. They did say that it is not used anymore. Seems that the company that provided it should have some responsibility. Might have to put my law school education back to work! I’m retired, give me a break!

You can't make chicken salad out of chicken poop. Just replace it and keep being happy!!

[mcr1010]

Below is a link to some captain chair seat covers that may help. Not sure if anyone on the forum has tried them, but would like to know as my seats are deteriorating also and really look ragged and may consider getting a pair.


https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Covers/C...s/CA80112.html

[Lt Keefer]

When did they quit using this stuff?

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

When did they quit using this stuff?

When the furniture manufacturer went bankrupt in May of 2017.

[Bob Denman]

That's shame...


... A shame that it didn't happen much much earlier!

[BYoshida]

I bought furniture for my house made out of this stuff. It lasted 3 years. Needless to say, I've since replaced it.

[blw2]

I suspect it wasn't just one furniture company. It was a type or line of fabrics that was bad....it's what Thor specified their furniture supplier use. Seems to be several different vinyls too.... mine looks different than the one pictured here.

at the time I called Thor, they washed their hands of it....except that I could buy a replacement cover through a dealer. I found and called the name of the maker of the sofa (name on a tag). At that time they were still making the pattern but i'd have to order from Thor...and they would or could not make it our of better stuff....except for the non-vinyl fabrics that Thor was specifying at the time I suppose....which was residential furniture grade and much better quality than the vinyl.

Anyway, as for a solution....
I recently received my order from a supplier on ebay for surplus Ford factory vinyl seat covers. They get them from a van conversion company...such as Thor I suppose.
Also I found that my e-450 chassis shipped from ford with cloth.
So Ford supplied cloth
Thor took that cloth off and replaced with a lower grade vinyl.
probably gave or sold that cloth to a surplus shop.
now, I'm buying from that surplus shop and putting in Ford vinyl. I hope it's better stuff.
I really wanted leather.. I found here..
https://www.theseatshop.com/2009-201...r-vinyl/13749/
but it's a higher cost...
and I still have to pay for replacement sofa and dinette cushions...either replacement or an upholstery shop... TBD

[cruzin101]

Originally Posted by mcr1010

Below is a link to some captain chair seat covers that may help. Not sure if anyone on the forum has tried them, but would like to know as my seats are deteriorating also and really look ragged and may consider getting a pair.


https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Covers/C...s/CA80112.html

The seats on our hurricane 2011 did the same we are replacing the sleeper and both driver and passenger chairs. Got them all from shop4seats.com. Just ordered new covers for the dinette seats

[RVGeek]

I ordered my 23U with "upgraded faux leather" dinette and it lasted about 100 days of use. I found the same fabric on line for about $10/yard, retail. Really cheap stuff. Biting the bullet, I had an upholstery shop redo the dinette for less than $1000 using genuine fake leather (the good vinyl stuff).

I should have stayed with the "standard" cloth fabric on the dinette, originally. LESSON LEARNED!

Originally Posted by LadyFireCaptain

We have a 2016 Hurricane we bought new but has been used very little, about 17 weeks. It only has about 12,000 miles on it.

Last trip a couple of months ago we noticed the fabric on the theater seating and driver’s seat flaking and cracking. We just got home from this trip and the fabric is much worse and completely coming apart (one week trip). It is the same fabric that is used to upholster the slide out drawers under the booth seating and the back of the booth seating. Everywhere it is exposed, it is coming apart. We have never had children in the rig, only my husband, my service dog, and me. It is always kept neat and everything put away so no wear and tear from things rubbing on it.

The fabric feels like a soft, pebbled “leather” and appeared fairly tough. The surface is a foamy, soft material that flakes off to what looks like a gauze type fabric and once it starts, it really goes. We are starting to get “pinholes” everywhere.

Has anybody else had or heard of this problem.

[Bob Denman]

I was just reading a column in "Motorhome" magazine last evening.
It seems that the only manufacturer to step up to the plate on this issue...

... was Tiffin!

They have offered to make things right for RVers: even after the warranty has expired.
Kudos to them!

[Metalman]

We have the same problem in our 2015 Windsport. We have about 29,000 miles and you can imagine how shabby the seats look.

Here's my solution.

[Bob Denman]

Don't knock those old metal tractor seats: they fit better than they have a right to!
Those old farmers could put a day in one of them, and they never seemed to be the worse for wear!

[cruzin101]

Originally Posted by cruzin101

The seats on our hurricane 2011 did the same we are replacing the sleeper and both driver and passenger chairs. Got them all from shop4seats.com. Just ordered new covers for the dinette seats

Btw- we’re replacing the seats with cloth options.