5 Questions You Need to Ask When You Replace Old RV Furniture

Comfortable and stylish RV furniture can make your home-on-wheels truly feel like home. But what do you do if you own an older RV with dated furniture? Or, what if you’re a full-time RVer whose daily use has put a good amount of wear and tear on your existing furniture? Are you stuck with what you’ve got? Should you give up and buy a new RV altogether?

No and no! The exciting news is you can easily replace your old RV furniture and refresh the look of your space without breaking the bank. 

Let’s take a look at your options.

1. What Is the Best RV Furniture?

If you’re looking to update your existing RV furniture, there are several factors you need to consider. The best RV furniture is the right size and weight for your RV, and it is multi-functional and fits well in the space.  

Size

Remember the old phrase, “measure twice, cut once”? When it comes to RV furniture, it’s “measure twice, fit once!” You should measure both the space the furniture will occupy and the item itself before making a purchase.

You should also measure the width and height of your RV door to make sure you can fit your new item through the opening. The last thing you want is to buy a piece of furniture you love only to find out it won’t even fit through the door. Do the math in advance and you shouldn’t have a problem!

Fit

In addition to the actual dimensions, you want to make sure the furniture fits well in the space. You can purchase wall hugger furniture that fits snuggly up against your RV walls or you can get free-floating furniture that can easily be moved or repositioned. It really depends on your particular use case.

You also want to consider clearance. If you’re looking at a recliner, for example, does it have room to recline without scraping against a wall or blocking a walkway through the RV? 

Weight

All RVs have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which is the maximum weight your RV can be when it is fully loaded. Replacing just a few or all of your furniture pieces with heavier pieces could easily send your rig over its weight threshold.

Therefore, it’s important to do the math here as well and look for lightweight furniture as needed. Most RV furniture retailers will provide the weight of their products, so be sure to ask or check the product listings on their websites before making a purchase. 

Functionality

Last but not least, you should consider the functionality of a piece of furniture. Full-time RVers know this well: every nook and cranny of your RV serves a purpose (or multiple purposes!). Your RV furniture should, too.

The best pieces are versatile, so you need to think of them as more than just a place to sit or lie down. Consider furniture that can double as storage or extra sleeping space for guests, and make sure the fabric or material is easy to clean and maintain.

2. Why Is RV Furniture So Expensive?

RV furniture is expensive because it’s not like anything else on the market. It has to be custom-made for the RV lifestyle. Unlike standard household items, RV furniture can usually be disassembled to fit through an RV door. It’s also lightweight, securable, and made of materials that hold up well to road travel or dirt from outdoor excursions. 

The good news is there are ways to get around paying top dollar for furniture. Like any other retailer, RV furniture stores have clearance sales and offer scratch-and-dent items at reduced prices. Another option is to take advantage of the RV renovation trend. With so many people converting RVs into custom dream homes and discarding the previous furniture, you may be able to find gently used pieces on sites like eBay or Craigslist.

No matter your budget, we personally recommend RecPro. From mattresses to sofas and everything in between, they have a wide variety of furniture to meet every need. Plus, they often have great clearance deals on scratch-and-dent items!

Use promo code ONTHEMOVE5 to save 5% off your next RV furniture purchase from RecPro. 

3. Does IKEA Sell RV furniture?

IKEA does not sell RV-specific furniture, but it’s still a good, affordable option if you’re planning on replacing yours. Why? IKEA furniture is lightweight and often comes disassembled, so you can easily bring it inside your RV.

They also sell multi-purpose furniture, including sleeper sofas with storage underneath and sleek fold-down tables. Plus, IKEA has other items, like custom cabinets, towel racks, and lights, if you’re looking to do a full interior remodel. 

4. Can You Use Regular Furniture in an RV?

Yes, you can use regular household furniture in your RV, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Again, you have to consider weight and size. Regular couches or tables can be heavy or too big to fit through an RV door. You’ll also need to secure the furniture, which may require extra ingenuity on your part.

5. How Do You Secure Furniture in an RV?

Some RV furniture retailers offer installation services, which can really take the stress out of installing your new items. If an installation is available and affordable (or free!), take advantage of it! But if you’re on a tight budget or you just enjoy DIY projects, there’s nothing wrong with installing the furniture yourself. 

Before you begin, you need to decide if you want to permanently secure the furniture or if you’re looking for something more flexible. For instance, if you purchase a new sofa and you plan to keep it in one spot for all of your travels, you might choose to bolt it down permanently. On the other hand, if you have furniture you plan to move on occasion, you probably want to use a temporary method to secure the items.  

Permanent Solution

Permanently bolting down RV furniture usually requires nothing more than angle brackets and some screws or bolts. However, you’ll need to exercise caution before poking holes in your RV.

There could be tanks or other mechanical parts below where you plan to drill, and puncturing them with a screw or bolt could cause major problems. Always know what’s under your RV before you permanently secure your items. 

Temporary Solutions

For moveable furniture, you might need temporary fasteners. These could be anything from zip ties to velcro straps to bungee cords. Just make sure the furniture really is secure before hitting the road. You should also replace reusable fasteners if they are becoming worn, like velcro that might be losing its stickiness after multiple uses. 

If the furniture is heavy enough or held in place by other structures, non-slip grip material might be all that is needed. For instance, our free-standing RecPro couch rests on rug gripper material so that it doesn’t slide. Our ottoman is held in place by the desk and the slide (when it’s in).

Replacing RV furniture is a fun project that can really change the look and feel of your RV’s interior. In fact, we swapped out some of our old furniture for newer, more versatile options, and we couldn’t be happier! As long as you take your time and do your homework, we’re certain you’ll find RV furniture you’ll be happy with too.

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