What Is a Wall Hugger Recliner (And Why Your RV Needs One)?

Space is a precious commodity in an RV, but a wall-hugger recliner can conserve some of that limited square footage. If you don’t have a reclining couch in your RV and find yourself wanting to kick up your feet, then this very well may be the solution for you!

If you’re not familiar with these wall-hugger recliners, you will want to read on to find out how to add comfort and style to your RV without taking up too much room!

What Is A Wall Hugger Recliner?

A wall hugger recliner sits almost flush to a wall. While conventional recliners tip way back when you stretch out, this type does not. Instead, when you ease into the reclining position, the seat slides forward, and the footrest extends, but the back of the recliner barely moves.

Wall hugger recliners can come as a single-seat recliner or as a loveseat. Larger couches may also be available, however, they usually only recline on the ends.

Benefits of a Wall Hugger Recliner

A wall hugger recliner isn’t explicitly designed for use in RVs, but it might as well have been. In fact, many RVs come with wall-hugging recliners straight from the factory.

A wall hugger recliner still needs a bit of space to do its work, but not much. It can fully recline even if it’s just a few inches away from the wall (or another object). On the other hand, standard recliners will bump against the wall if they don’t have enough clearance. Most of them need about a foot and a half of space, and that’s valuable real estate in an RV.

Additionally, it can be annoying when a recliner knocks against a wall, and it may even cause some damage – either to the wall or to the furniture itself.

In an RV, furniture is often placed on the slide-outs. Slide-outs can be very narrow and frequently have a slight level change between the main floor and the slide-out floor. If a recliner needed to be moved a few inches each time you wanted to use it, you likely wouldn’t have an even surface to pull it out onto.

Do All Wall Hugger Recliners Work In RVs?

While the principal feature of a wall hugger recliner is great for practically all RVs, not every recliner of this type will work in your RV.

RVs frequently have very narrow doorways that can be difficult to fit standard furniture into. Additionally, size, fit, weight, and functionality need to be considered when replacing any RV furniture.

When we decided to add one of these reclining sofas to our RV, we decided to go with RecPro’s wall hugger recliners. These recliners are intended to replace the furniture in RVs, so have some additional features that make them very easy to move into the RV.

The RecPro Powered RV Recliner Sofa

We went with the RecPro Charles 58″ Powered Wall Hugger model. At first glance, this powered recliner sofa looks like a typical loveseat, but it’s not.

As we mentioned, this recliner sofa is designed just for RVs. It’s comfortable and stylish and also has a modular design. This means that it easily comes apart in separate modules for ease of shipping and moving into your RV.

You can also connect their products. Assembling them in this mix-and-match fashion means you can customize your RV space, which is an excellent function when you’re purchasing furniture for your RV.

The RecPro wall hugger recliner comes in either leather or cloth covering. We chose the versatile and durable cloth covering that’s available in two colors: Oatmeal and Fossil. They’re neutral enough to blend in with many different color palettes and are less prone to fading.

Cloth fabric is a great choice for RVs because it reflects heat, so it feels cooler. Besides being soft and plush, it’s also easy to clean and less likely to tear or crack.

Among the other great RecPro features are the lighted cup holders with built-in USB chargers for your phones and other small electronic devices. The loveseat’s two sides are powered individually and come with a 71 1/2″ cord to connect to a power source.

Each RV recliner chair measures 29 inches wide by 38 inches high and 37 ½ inches deep. The chair portion is 62 inches deep in the fully extended position. When fully assembled, the sofa weighs 178 pounds.

Reclining in a Wall Hugger Recliner

We chose to get the powered wall hugger recliner, meaning that the reclining mechanism is actuated by a button and simply extends or retracts. This recliner requires an A/C power source. If it does not have power, it will not recline.

Non-powered models are available that are manually activated by a lever on the slide of the recliner or a “parachute pull” strap at the end(s) of the recliner. These models have the user simply push down on the footrest when they are ready to get up.

In both types of wall hugger recliners, the seat moves forward and the backrest drops down. From our experience, it is tricky getting out of the reclining position without lowering the footrest. This is because the center of gravity moves outward when it is extended. Leaning too far forward without attaching the recliner to the floor or retracting the footrest can cause the recliner to tip forward.

Benefits of RecPro RV Furniture

Buying furniture from RecPro can be a smart move because they understand the RV lifestyle. The company headquarters is in Bristol, Indiana, which is the heart of the RV manufacturing industry.

Besides furniture, RecPro makes many other parts and components for RVs. These range from air conditioners and furnaces to cooktops and ice makers. There’s a good chance you may use other products made by the same company and don’t even realize it.

Things to Consider When Purchasing RV Furniture

Because campers are always looking for ways to lighten their RV’s load, the wall hugger recliner’s weight is critical. Look for chairs and sofas made from durable materials that are also light. 

You never want to sacrifice comfort or functionality, but RV furniture must fit the area where it’s needed. It’s vital to have accurate measurements beforehand, so you’ll know what dimensions you need.

Save Space Without Giving Up Comfort

Comfort and appearance are essential for outfitting your RV, but big and bulky simply won’t work. An RV wall hugger recliner, like the RecPro model mentioned above, might be what you need to win your ongoing space battles!

Personally, we’ve been loving the new addition. It is functional, space-saving, and most of all, comfortable! Many naps have been taken on this recliner since it moved in. Don’t ruin your camping trip with an uncomfortable sofa – kick your feet up, relax, and enjoy!

Save 5% off your RecPro purchase using promo code ONTHEMOVE5 at checkout!

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