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Topic: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery (Read 504 times) previous topic - next topic
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2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
So we just got our 2001 Lazy Daze a few weeks ago. This is our first RV, we did TONS and TONS of research before we bought her (I haven't chosen a name yet, my husband doesn't know it but I am naming her  ;)) I even took a day trip with cash in hand once (8 hrs of driving) just to look at an RV (before we found the LD) and came home empty handed... just wasn't meant to be. So we broadened our horizons (it took a year of conditioning my husband to be on board with getting an RV) and expanded our budget a tad bit, that is when we found the LD, it was love at first sight!! & to be honest it was the first RV that we had looked at in weeks and weeks of searching that had a book value that was close to the asking price! So we took the plunge purchased our LD a few weeks ago... ( I know this is turning into a longer story then intended, but I am so excited about our new adventure for our little family!)

With this being our first RV together, we have been making a lot of (well thought out) purchases for our LD. One of the things that I talked about wanting to do with my husband is make some sort of "slip" cover (I want to use that term loosely because a slip cover is not quite what I am looking for) to go over the original upholstery, keeping our LD as original as possible is super important to me. The original fabric is great, it is well used, but no rips or tears. Just some slight wear, minor staining and a mission button from one of the decorative pillows. We shampooed it by hand with a little spot shampooer, I removed the other buttons from the pillows and washed those covers. The covers came out great, but the larger cushions that we shampooed feel "crunchy" (best way to describe them)... they didn't turn out as good as I was hoping, I would just repeat that shampooing process... But that was A LOT of work.

So I am wondering if anyone has any experiences that they can share regarding some re-upholstering or slip covers being made for their LD Twin King Bed/Couch cushions!

Can't wait to hear about any advice or recommendations you have!
Jessica Moyers
1st time Lazy Daze Owner
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #1 –
In my experience, one has three "couch/chair/seat/dinette" cover choices (four, if re-upholstering is an option):

1. Have custom covers, fitted or not, fabricated by an upholstery shop or a skilled, knowledgeable "sewist".
2. Fabricate your own custom covers if you are the "sewist".
3. Buy or make couch/seat cover throws of sturdy, washable fabric.

I opted for door #3 13 years ago when my TK was new, and have never regretted the choice. Throw covers are a lot cheaper than custom-made, there is a very broad choice of fabric types and colors, and a throw can be washed and/or replaced if it becomes damaged or stained. Even if you decide to go to custom fit covers (made-to-measure) later, throws on the couch and cab seats will keep the upholstery clean in the meantime.

As ever, YMMV.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #2 –
My solution is pretty simple.

Get a couple sets of those "jersy" or "t-shirt" sheet sets in a color that inspires you. We went with a deep red.

Take the fitted sheet and fit it over and around the entire bottom edge of the bench where it meets the floor.

Stretch it up to cover the rest of the bench cushion and tuck the remainder underneath.

Take the flat sheet and lay it out.

Roll up the back cushion in the flat sheet and place it back where it belongs.

The next step was to visit the local roadside blanket vendor (or truck stop / Al Godones) for a set of four matching Mexican blankets -- the "woolly" ones with the woven-in white / black / color stripes. These should cost no more than $10 apiece.

Note: We started with more expensive fancier serapes, but the thinner material doesn't wear well on seats. We swapped them out for the cheaper ones as they take the wear a lot better. In fact, these would probably last longer than the radioactive half-life of Chernobyl.

Get out the sewing machine and stitch two Mexican blankets together on the long (non-fringed) edge, to make a pair of larger blankets.

Wrap 'n tuck the blankets around the bench and back cushions.

This gives you not only "two layers of protection!" but hides the original upholstery completely as the Mexican blankets aren't quite wide enough to tuck down the sides.

It also gives you an almost ready-made bed: put the table up, pull out the bench, flip down the back cushion, fit the rest of the fitted sheet around it, throw the flat sheet over top, add the Mexican blanket over that, then enjoy sweet dreams.
fu
2015TK
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #3 –
Excellent advice from thefuofus. I used a version of their "t-shirt sheet set" technique for the dinette seats in my 2003 midbath. I cut the sheets into pieces that were big enough to cover the top and sides of each cushion, plus a few extra inches. Then I stretched each piece over a cushion and onto the cushion's bottom, and safety-pinned it to the bottom. These cotton jersey covers are easy to remove for washing, and when the material wears out (as it will in a few years), they're cheap and easy to replace. You could probably cover all your seats for under fifty bucks this way.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #4 –
Thanks for all the great feedback!

I love the Mexican blanket idea!  Taking me back to my heritage there! Now just to get the husband to go for it  ;)  haha

Now when it comes to sleeping where do you all prefer?

The King bed in the back or the overhead bed in the front? Most of the time we camp it will be just my husband and I, but occasionally it will be our daughter with us also (a lot of our trips fall on time when she is with her bio dad unfortunately).

Our plan has always been to sleep on the overhead when it is just us alone, then king when it is all of us with her on the overhead... But now I am thinking about it, maybe keep us in the overhead and then have her use one of the twin beds...

Guess we will see how that plays out, we are actually planning an overnight this weekend for the first time. Camping in a friends back yard while we do some little maintenance items before our real first trip! lol
Jessica Moyers
1st time Lazy Daze Owner
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #5 –
Does anyone have a ball park figure for recovering the dinette cushions, the lounge cushions, and valences?  I know the price would include labor and materials.  Must cost a bundle.  And finding someone would be no easy task.
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #6 –
Quote from: jmoyers926  - 
Now when it comes to sleeping where do you all prefer?
The King bed in the back or the overhead bed in the front?
Only you can decide which is right for the two of you.
Sleeping in the  bunk provides a fixed bed that does not need to be converted to couches, for day time use.
A lot of folks are either physically unable to climb up and down or they are claustrophobic, the bunk has a low overhead.
It is a space for two friends, that are not too big.

The alternative is sleeping in the rear which is fine but it does require storing your bedding in the day time, if you want the lounge available.
Then you have the choice of sleeping apart, each on one of the two couches or sleeping together, by pulling the couches together for the King size bed, nice but a bit of work. Once again, some do not have the strength to perform this task.

Give yourself a few trips to try out the various combinations, one will be best for you.
Since you daughter will only occasionally travel with you, do what is most comfortable for you.
She will be comfortable in either place.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #7 –
"Only you can decide which is right for the two of you."
-----
Larry's "where to sleep" advice is on point; what works for one (or two) person(s) is a dealbreaker for another. I have a TK and sleep in the overcab because the bed is permanently made up and out of the way and the rear couches are freed for sitting.  (I travel solo.) As Larry said, the cab bed doesn't have a lot of headroom, and if one has a 3" memory foam mattress on top of the original foam, occasionally whacking one's head on the vent crank handle is a given.

Sleeping in the overcab bed may be inconvenient and/or uncomfortable for some, particularly if one or both occupants are substantially-sized people and/or need bathroom access during the night; the sleeper on the inside has to crawl over the other and maneuver down the ladder. The ladder is not "foot friendly"; unless you have one of the old-style wider rung ladders with carpeted steps (I don't know what ladder style the 2001 has), you may want to wrap the rungs with closed cell foam or another material.

One can sleep on the rear couch(es) without pulling them out; removing the back cushion offers a bit more width for an individual sleeper, but you'll have to find a place to stash the cushion, and there are not a lot of space options in the TK. 

As with any model, one just has to experiment with figuring out the most workable sleeping locations.

As ever, YMMV.

2003 TK has a new home
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #8 –
Here are some photos of our Mexican Blanket hack.

#1: The serapes (and Silly Lily). These looked fabulous, but they aren't meant to be upholsterized.


#2: The Mexican blankets over the jersey sheet. These blankets wear like iron.


#3: Partial nudity showing the jersey sheet encasing the bench.


#4: Not bedtime yet, but soon.


#5: Rather than pushing the bench back in, I leave it made up as a "day bed".


#6: Bonus! The drawstring bags that come with the sheet sets make nice matching covers for those loose armrest cushions (just stuff the cushions in -- don't worry, the jersey will relax enough to fit in a few hours and they straighten right out).

fu
2015TK
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #9 –
Joan said:
One can sleep on the rear couch(es) without pulling them out; removing the back cushion offers a bit more width for an individual sleeper, but you'll have to find a place to stash the cushion, and there are not a lot of space options in the TK. 

When we use one of the couches for a bed, we remove the back cushion and stand it in the entry footwell to store it for the night.  Out of the way and doesn't interfere with moving about the coach. I don't worry about emergency egress. Takes a millisecond to lift out. -- Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
 
Re: 2001 Twin King Bed Couch Upholstery
Reply #10 –
Fu, thx for the pix.  That looks really sharp.  This has certainly given me some thoughts for redecorating/personalizing LDy Lulubelle, instead of just the current (rather ugly) blanket that's on the sofa.
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm