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Peeling leather seats

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Janey

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  • PurchDate: 8/19/14
  • Model: 2350 Ford
  • ModelYear: 2014
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  • Location: Muskegon, MI
Peeling leather seats
« on: March 14, 2020, 10:28:47 am »
We’re thinking about selling our ‘14 2350, but all of our leather has peeled on all seats - it’s a disastrous mess.  Is it worth replacing all seats - or would that be wasted money.  Yucky seats vs new.  How will it affect selling price.

Janey (enjoying warm, wonderful weather in the Florida panhandle)
Suzanna Jane (aka Janey) and Sid Shazly

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Joseph

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  • Location: California
Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2020, 11:45:22 am »
We have the same but so far only on the front seats. I’ve searched and have been unable to find any decent looking seat covers. Maybe the cost to reupholster varies from region to region but it’s pricey out here. As far as resale I’m sure it’s going to affect you dramatically. I know if I’d seen the seats in my rv all flaking away when I went to purchase I would have walked away.

This happened to a few M/H manufactures. Some took care of them most did not from what I’ve found. PC not fixing every one from that time frame where they knew it was garbage is enough I’d never consider another PC. But then I wouldn’t anyway, I tend to like to try different brands as I change out vehicles. Life’s too short to only try one flavor of anything.

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dogyard

Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2020, 01:44:54 pm »
Here's a link to photos of new seats I purchased for my 2014 PC 2350 as replacements- in my estimation it's well worth the cost (around $1,400 from www.superior-seats.com ) since the peeling seats SCREAM low-quality to prospective buyers.
https://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3567.0;attach=5191;image

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Rick Leddon

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2020, 01:46:48 pm »
With your rv being a later model, I would fix anything I could before selling. A great rv with one bad condition is not the way to go. You may want to check with the PC Elkhart people to redo the seats. I spoke to them and they seem like a good option.

Rick

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donc13

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2020, 03:15:56 pm »
I agree with Dogyard and Rick's posts.   A spot or two isn't that big a deal, but with your description of, "a disastrous mess" that will probably turn off a buyer faster than anything else.

You may want to check an auto upholstery shop to see about getting reupolstered or having custom seat covers installed.

Fix before you sell.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2020, 03:21:21 pm by donc13 »
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Don and Patti

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Joseph

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2020, 03:46:01 pm »
reupholstery is the only real option being it’s not just your two front seats.     

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technitoys

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2020, 05:53:22 am »
If you have any DIY skills at all it's really not that difficult to buy pre-made replacements skins from Phoenix and install them yourself.  We did this over a few days on our 2012 2551 and couldn't be more pleased with the results.

We had driven to a local upholstery shop to get an estimate about a leather/vinyl job, and we were quoted something like $4000 for all vinyl (which he preferred) with another $2000 or so for an upgrade to leather on the usual surfaces that contact skin. Some time earlier I had spoken with Carol at Phoenix about what they offered for seat covers, and when I told the upholsterer about the significantly lower price for ready made covers, he seemed skeptical.  He said he would be willing to install the ready-made covers for something under $2K, however.

This all seemed pretty high to us, so we contacted Carol again for specifics and got samples of the two recommended (beige) colors.  We were quoted $1500 plus shipping for both seats and the recliners.  Four weeks later we had a very nice set of leather/vinyl covers made by the same shop that made the original seats, and in the end they all fit perfectly, with only one significant but welcome difference*.  The stitching patterns of all of the seats were somewhat different from the originals and to my eye have a somewhat more modern style, but it seems that they still use the same patterns for cutting all the parts, because the sizes and mounting flaps are identical.

The seats and the recliners were pulled out of the RV and taken into the basement.  All that we had to do was document the removal of the original covers and write notes on the inside of the fabric flaps as the originals were removed by cutting off the original hog rings.  Just to be safe we only stripped and covered one seat at a time, keeping the other intact for reference.

Installing the new covers is accomplished by pulling the hemmed edges or corner flaps of the covers while crimping hog rings around the steel seat frames.  I think only the backs of the recliner foot rests required a few staples.  There were a few times where we had to refer to disassembly photos to get the attachment ears of the covers pulled and anchored in the correct sequence, but we finished the job in two easy days, and it looks beautiful.

Along with the seats we also ordered a few yards of matching vinyl in case we decided to cover all of the interior vinyl trims in the same color, but they are still holding up and we actually prefer the contrast of the darker beige trims to the lighter more modern seat color.

*The one design change that was made was with the backs of the recliners.  On the recliner backs they changed the positioning order of the two padding pillows that insert into zippered compartments sewn into the covers from inside.  The original covers had a fatter pillow on top with the thinner pillow in the lumbar area, and the new covers have the compartments reversed, with the fatter pillow filling the lumbar region.  It looks better and is more comfortable to sit on.

This turned out to be a very happy resolution to something that had be bothering us for some time.  When we bought the RV (used) two years earlier there was no trace of a seat problem, and they just disintegrated after we bought it.  Covering the seats yourself is probably not for everybody,  but I can attest to the material quality, fit, and price of the replacement covers.


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Tarnold

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2020, 09:08:32 am »
Recovering can be expensive.  Just had my 2 front seats done, and the recliner is now at the shop being redone.  Will be $1500 plus material.  After I had committed to the redue, called Paul’s in Elkhart who does the seats for PC.  I won’t say the price he quoted me as could change. BUT THE PRICE FOR BRAND NEW SEATS WERE CHEAPER THAN MY REDUE.  Maybe just give this a thought and call Paul’s. 

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Sarz272000

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2020, 01:24:47 pm »
You might consider just replacing seats. Easier to do. Price them out at:

https://www.flexsteel.com/product/bucket-seats/heaton-535-dbsr

David Rotelle replaced his.  Search forum for his name to get info.  Same ones used in Born Free. 

Why are you selling?

Ron S.

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2020, 09:14:44 am »
technitoys,

I loved reading your write-up.  It's what came to mind if I had to deal with such a seat problem.  As you have figured out, the key is buying the replacements through Phoenix and specify all human-contact surfaces to be made of real leather.

I am in the middle of a Saturn Sky restoration project which includes replacing the leather on the seats.  I found THIS EBAY SUPPLIER who is making new seat skins to my specification using 100% leather on EVERY surface, both seats for a total of $399 plus $38 shipping, per the picture below.  I would ping them for a cost for covers on a PC seat.  They would need every original cover to make the pattern so there would be serious down-time.

I have never recovered a PC seat, but this will be my 4th vehicle seat restoration project.  I've done this with my wife's Jeep Liberty (changing from a cloth to a leather interior) a 1999 Corvette, a 2007 Solstice, and soon for this 2007 Sky.  It sounds like too much work, but it really isn't, at least not to me.  The hog rings with the hog ring pliers is easy to use.  I bought the cheapest pliers and they work great.  No need to get a fancier tool.  For FYI, not all my seat projects use hog rings.  Some just use zippers, velcro, and wide hoops, all integrated in the original and new seat covers, so there are no tools required for a basic swap.  It is relatively easy to do, very affordable, and the results transform a tired looking interior into a brand new one.

Thanks for sharing that.  Hopefully your inspiration will "Inspire".


« Last Edit: March 16, 2020, 09:38:28 am by Ron Dittmer »
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Janey

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  • Location: Muskegon, MI
Re: Peeling leather seats
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2020, 01:42:50 pm »
We need beds that don’t require climbing into.  As I mature, it becomes more of a hardship climbing into that corner bed.

Janey. (Warm and happy)
Suzanna Jane (aka Janey) and Sid Shazly