We have owned our 2004 Jayco Class C for almost two years and I found out something today that I did not know about it. I knew that the sofa folded out into a bed but had never done this. Today I did fold it out and was very surprised to learn it was not a FULL sized bed. I guess it is called a jack knife sofa and you are basically just sleeping on the sofa (with a little extra width). I am almost 6 feet tall and would have to curl up to sleep on it. Is this a common type of sofa bed for Class C's? Live and learn I guess. Hopefully I won't need to sleep on it but you never know.

Does size really matter?:B In my mind, since the sofa beds are so very uncomfortable, regardless of the model or configuration, nothing really matters. If you could stretch out you would find the folds, the support bars, the separations all in the wrong place. It is a great bed for the little kids or grandkids, or for that guest you don't really want to travel with. A sleeping bag on the floor is a better bet.JMHO

Reading your post, I'd say you have overcome any ignorance of a jack knife sofa you may have had :) Everything you said seemed correct...they are typically short and not so comfortable. As kalynzoo pointed out, good kid beds.

Actually when I lie down on it, it is more comfortable than many full size "sofa beds" that I have seen. Mainly because you are lying on thick sofa cushions instead of a thin flimsy "mattress" about 2 inches thick. However, it is not nearly long enough for a grown man to sleep comfortably. I agree that a sleeping bag or air mattress would probably be better if we ever needed the extra room.

hotbyte wrote:Reading your post, I'd say you have overcome any ignorance of a jack knife sofa you may have had :) Everything you said seemed correct...they are typically short and not so comfortable. As kalynzoo pointed out, good kid beds.Yes, when I found out about the sofa I did a little research and tried to educate myself. My main question is whether this is common in Class C's.

Yes, 'jack-knife' sofas are very common. Some of the newer models have an air bed under the seating area. Less weight and expense. Also be aware, that many RV queen beds are shorter than a real queen bed-about 6 inches shorter. Important to know if you are tall, and when buying sheets.

Pardon my ignorance | Good Sam Community

snowdance
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Bordercollie wrote:
The mobile repair guys removed the door and casing to get the old fridge out, installed new fridge and re-installed door and casing. Maybe same procedure to get sofa out.

All the Jack knife's I have seen are made so you can take them apart and carry them out in smaller pieces. Have replaced several and rebuilt some. Many have things like water tanks, water heaters, pumps, electric systems ect under them. Which is why they are nice as they can be put back together around the stuff under them.. You can can also redo the frame to be a bit larger and use a futon mattress so you have one piece with no split in the middle. Takes a bit of cutting, welding ect on the frame but works fine..
snowdance
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
The Jack knife is common in many RV's and very common in C class. Only way for a taller person to sleep is head at one corner and feet across to far corner. On the jack knife's I have seen the couch bottom has more springs than the back so put your feet on the back part and head where you set. I sleep on ours all the time but did rebuild it so has more springs and is firmer.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
The mobile repair guys removed the door and casing to get the old fridge out, installed new fridge and re-installed door and casing. Maybe same procedure to get sofa out.
dennislanier
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
Thanks for all the replies to my post. Been RVing for a few years but obviously still have a lot to learn.

Has anyone on here "converted" to the recliner sofas I mentioned earlier? I guess my main concern would be whether they would fit thru the entrance door of my MH, and I assume it would have to be bolted down to the floor. Any ideas/suggestions appreciated.
wbwood
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
We thought ours was a jacknife sofa. We never opened it up before buying as we weren't going to use it as a bed anyway. On a recent trip, we were bored and started talking about it and decided to see how it worked. To our amazement it was an aero bed instead. Just like what we had in our TT.
noe-place
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
I'm only about 5'11" and I can sleep on our jackknife nicely. DW has taken over it recently because she likes to read and play with her laptop while everyone else sleeps. She's about 5'0" plus our pug always sleeps with her as well. I get the upper bunk I dubbed "The Crow's Nest."
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
Number one rule on jackknife sofas is do not make the DW mad and you wont have to sleep on it.
GrumpyandGrandm
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
dennislanier wrote:
hotbyte wrote:
Reading your post, I'd say you have overcome any ignorance of a jack knife sofa you may have had :) Everything you said seemed correct...they are typically short and not so comfortable. As kalynzoo pointed out, good kid beds.

Yes, when I found out about the sofa I did a little research and tried to educate myself. My main question is whether this is common in Class C's.

That is what we had in our 2001 32' Desinger.

As was mentioned a regular "hide-a-bed" would be very hard to fit into a standard "C". We now have a triple slide SENECA which has a "hide-a-bed" so it moves out almost 24 inches with the passenger side slide and that is about all the room we have to walk around it. If it wasn't for the second slide in the living area it would not fit.
Larry_Sanders
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
I'm 6-1 and my Jacknife Sofa is very comfortable. Its the soft leather and has a very comfortable plush cushion.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
That is a very typical Jayco "jacknife" sofa.