Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: jatrax on April 26, 2017, 12:21:21 am
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Looking to buy two folding camp or RV chairs. Looking online and there must be 200 at least. Totally confused as the reviews for most go from 5 stars to 1 star for the same item.
So any suggestions on favorite brands or models?
Anyone have a favorite style? There are basically I guess the "folding" ones that fold flat and the "bag" ones that fold in both directions and end up in a bag 8" x 8" x 24" or so.
Anything to watch for? Features that you like?
Must fit in the side storage bay and come in gray/silver/black to match Ziggy.
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We're still looking for the perfect chair also. We've had the smallish bag ones - work fine but not lounge type chairs and we gave up putting them back in the bags. Tried the zero gravity lounger but it is big, bulky, heavy and usually has to ride in the toad (though throwing it on the bed if it is dry works also since it is one of the first things out of the rig). Now we have one of each but aren't totally happy with either. We don't do the sit at the table thing with them so comfort is more our plan.
I suggest you first narrow down your planned use.
Do you like to sit upright outside at a table (for eating or computer use or coffee or whatever)?
Do you boondock or camp in places that do not have picnic tables?
Do you like to lay back and stare up into the trees or read a book or watch the world go by?
Do you like to have somewhere to set your drink or snack without having a separate table?
Do you tow a vehicle that can carry oversize chairs?
Are you more comfortable in the wider camp chairs that they sell now?
Do you spend a LOT of time in the chairs? (if yes, worth spending more)
Do you like to visit with other campers where you will need to be able to tote that chair along?
Do you go to camp programs where you need to be able to carry the chair along?
And so on. First question - why do you need the chair? Then go from there.
We don't lounge in camp for long periods of time. If it is nice we are usually out exploring. If it is nasty, we are usually inside chilling. We do have a screen house for buggy areas (Acadia) but bought one without a floor so we can set it up over a picnic table. We do use our chairs a reasonable amount but not enough to warrant paying a huge amount for them (not that I've found the perfect one for any price... yet). Many, many days have gone by where we set the chairs out, ignore them, then pack them up again to move to the next spot. But that's our way of doing it so far.
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We do carry the zero gravity chairs in our toad and use them when we are setup for an extended stay. We were given 2 of the Lafuma zero gravity chairs many years ago and they are very comfortable but are not small.
When always carry the GCI chairs in our PC. They fold up very small and are also comfortable for us. We find the bag chairs uncomfortable in that you seem to be sitting in a bucket. The GCI chairs are more solid and do not sink when you sit in them. We have had ours since 2008 and they still look brand new. Ours are similar to these:
https://www.amazon.com/GCI-Outdoor-Xpress-Directors-Chair/dp/B01D3UICTY/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1493207414&sr=8-20&keywords=gci+outdoor+chair
They take up very little room, easily transportable and easy to fold down. No bags to worry about.
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Every bag chair I bought failed after 1-2 seasons. They are heavy but cheap.
I finally found a good light aluminum chair, 7 lb, for $20 with coupon at Harbor freight.
This is a picture, see website for details, they show price at $30 on-line, but maybe coupon works there also.
http://www.harborfreight.com/quickview/index/index/id/11355/ (http://www.harborfreight.com/quickview/index/index/id/11355/)
I store inside behind my barrel chair in my 2552.
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X 2 on harbor freight chairs, compact, upright sitting and light.
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We also use the GCI chairs like Barry. Takes a little learning to open and close them. We had problems when with a group of getting to sit in them as others would be sitting in them. We have seen them on sale for $35, so watch for a sale.
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This is an interesting subject.
Years ago we bought a pair of nice bag chairs with arm rests which work well for sitting upright. They happen to store perfectly in the outdoor storage compartment, out of the way of everything else in the upper shelf areas of our older design 2350. We recently bought zero gravity chairs. Like Barry-Sue, we store them in the tow vehicle. We appreciate the zero gravity chairs for star gazing.
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We use the strong-back (www.strongbackchair.com). Made for bad backs. Folds up but probably goes in toad most of the time. They do wear out over time
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The Strongback chairs are very comfortable. Two of them fit in the slide out drawer with a patio mat.
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We've settled on the Kamp-Rite Director's Chairs, available at many places. They are comfortable, can be used as table seating, fairly lightweight, easy to fold/unfold, have a great flip-up side table, can be hung upside down from a ladder rack (like this one: http://www.camco.net/product/clamp-n-carry-chair-and-bike-rack-10199/), can be stored in tow vehicle, or stores temporarily behind drivers or passengers seat in our 2552 while underway.
- Mike
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Cabelas browning rimfire chair . Nice useful adjustable table.
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I have a pair of these (' not sure which) picked up in store from Target. They're a little heavy but comfortable and fold to a pretty thin cross-section:
http://www.target.com/p/sling-chair-turquoise-room-essentials-153/-/A-17184284
http://www.target.com/p/patio-folding-chair-re-17in-turquoise-room-essentials-153/-/A-49167618
Check weight limits on all chairs.
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I have a pair of these (' not sure which) picked up in store from Target. They're a little heavy but comfortable and fold to a pretty thin cross-section:
http://www.target.com/p/sling-chair-turquoise-room-essentials-153/-/A-17184284
http://www.target.com/p/patio-folding-chair-re-17in-turquoise-room-essentials-153/-/A-49167618
Check weight limits on all chairs.
I like them a lot and wished I could justify them. I would surely buy them if we stayed in one place long enough like snow birds do. Unfortunately they don't store in our PC like the bag chairs do. They'd end up in our tow vehicle along with the zero gravity chairs.
To PC owners with the latest non-spare tire compartment. Do such chairs store in there? How about gravity chairs? I wished we had the option to remove our spare tire & mount, and store such chairs in the round compartment, pending the type of trip planned.
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To PC owners with the latest non-spare tire compartment.
I have the new non-spare trunk, no idea about the chairs yet but I don't think I could get any in mine. I have enough trouble fitting the two fresh water hoses, power cord and water filter in there.
Might be an interesting thread to start: post a picture of your PC's trunk layout. Would be interesting to see how everyone has laid out the gear in there.
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To PC owners with the latest non-spare tire compartment.
I have the new non-spare trunk, no idea about the chairs yet but I don't think I could get any in mine. I have enough trouble fitting the two fresh water hoses, power cord and water filter in there.
That is unfortunate. Phoenix seems to have missed the opportunity to provide good storage specifically for folding chairs and loungers. That would have been a real nice PC-exclusive feature. That non-spare-tire compartment would have been a great place for such items which have no good place on nearly every class B+/C motor home. Hanging chairs and loungers on the back of the rig works, but it wouldn't compare to such a weather tight, secure, easy access storage compartment.
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2017 2552 no spare. Folding chairs like harbor freight and similar chairs fit in the back. Water, electrical, pads , and levelers fit in side storage by the battery tray. Browning rimfire chairs should fit in back. Hope to find out soon. Also sleeping bags on the twin beds are very easy to makeup the beds. Not very good at posting pictures or using computer. Maybe wife will help out when she gets home
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Jatrax, I carry two of the chairs from Target, I put them in the back storage area where the hoses and power cable were stored, put them in the driver side compartment next to the generator. took out the hooks, and put the two chairs there, you have to slide them around a little but they will fit.
Jim
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Thanks everyone! Lots of great replies and a good resource for anyone looking for chairs. My rear trunk is rather full so I intend to put the chairs either in the side compartment back of the battery or in the rear pull out tray. We ordered these chairs as they fold up small enough to go in the smaller compartments. https://www.amazon.com/GCI-Outdoor-PICO-Arm-Chair/dp/B009CPDG1E?th=1 A little pricier than I wanted but they seem sturdy and fit easily in either side compartment. First trip with them next week so we will see if it was a good buy.
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jatrax, We purchased our GCI chairs in 2005 when we purchased our first class B motorhome. We bought them primarily because they folded down so small and took up little space. They were great in our PC 2100 with limited storage. Twelve years later they are still with us in our second class B. I hope yours serve you just as well.