Forum Discussion

tandtb's avatar
tandtb
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019

Rv sofa and chairs

Hello all, I am a new to the RV way of life, and recently purchased a vintage ITASCA 33' motor home. I have already noticed that the sofa( which pulls out into bed ) and chairs are NOT bolted down in the unit. Where can I obtain slides or attachments that I can attach to the floor so that the sofa and chairs do not slide all over the vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated
  • Is this a used RV? They come from the factory with the furniture bolted to the floor so I imagine the previous owner replaced them without doing this. I would go back to the seller and make them do it the right way. Is it even RV furniture? RV furniture comes with a method to attach them ( a rail or pad with holes for bolts to go through the sub structure).
  • Are you sure they will move when traveling. The sofa bed is probably quite heavy and shouldn't move around. Our chairs don't move because they are sitting on carpet.
  • "vintage ITASCA 33' motor home", obviously used. It is quite possible that a previous owner has replaced the worn out sofa and chairs with residential style furniture. In a MH they should be secured for transport, sofa bolted to floor, some of the chairs that I've seen are free standing when parked and have brackets to secure them to the floor. They may not move under normal driving conditions, but during a panic maneuver, do you want a chair or anything launching from the living area to the cockpit area, I don't.

    Ken
  • Vintage means purchased "as is". If you want something changed or corrected, you will probably have to do it yourself. I don't believe you would have grounds to ask the previous owner to do anything not expressly agreed upon before the purchase.
  • I think you will need to turn the sofa up side down to determine where you can
    bolt on " L " brackets, 4 would be best . I would shop at Lowes or Home Depot
    for L brackets and some rather large lag bolts , maybe 3/8 or 1/2 inch
    At the same time you could install seat belts if they are not already there .

    We had 2 sofas in our coach so we removed one of them and installed 2 euro
    recliners . We use the seat belts to secure those recliners when we travel .
    You may be able to secure your sofa with seat belts .

    Our dining chairs are not secured they just sit there never moving .
    I have found things don't move around except when I made a really hard stop
    then a few things move a little .
  • Our furniture in the travel trailer isn't strapped down and for the most part it stays put. However, no one rides in the trailer.

    If the couch has seat belts, I would want it fastened securely. Our bounder had a metal bracket with a plastic screw on handle to hold the chair in place and a lever that locked to keep it from rocking during travel. The movable chair AFAIK is never an "approved" seat while in motion. I would personally want the chair firmly fixed in place while underway. Most of the time it won't move, in a panic stop it could start sliding.
  • Our recliner chairs are not used for seating while traveling
    The belts are there from when the sofa was there .
    The remaining sofa has its own seat belts so passengers
    can ride there .
    I have made a panic stop and our dining chairs stayed put without
    much movement at all .
    Things like a case of Cokes are more inclined to move it seems
    or at least in our case

    I have seen things tossed around in my bro in laws 5th wheel which
    leads me to believe that the ride is much smoother in a large pusher .
  • welcome to rving.

    it will be your opportunity to explore how to do what you want. just add straps if you want.

    google is a great source of ideas.
  • I just pulled the sofa sleeper out of my MH. It was bolted to the floor with 4 L brackets and regular (long) wood screws.

    Head to Lowes (etc) and pick them up to bolt your stuff down.