I need to put a firmer foam in this dinette seat cushion from my 1997 TT. The seat/cushions are set-up like those in many RV's where the bottom cushion slides under the back cushion to the seat wall.When I went to take the foam out of the cover I was surprised to find it was a two piece affair. I took the cushion home with me after my last trip to the TT (currently set-up on our rural undeveloped land) so I could measure and order some new foam. Thus I am not near the trailer such that I could reference the other seat cushion set-up to answer this question.Is this typical to have two piece foam in these seat cushions? I can't remember if the narrow section of this bottom cushion goes under the back cushion, or at the leading edge of the bottom seat. I think it goes at the leading edge of the bottom seat. Maybe that is by design and the narrow section of foam at the leading edge may be slightly less firm than the large section of foam. (hard to tell just by the squeeze test) Possibly making it more comfortable on the legs near the leading edge of the bottom seat? Or that could be some grand story I made up in my head and the reason for the two-piece foam is just for looks? :)This is the cushion.The large piece of foam with some sort of fluffy white covering on the side that you sit on.The narrow piece of foam still in the cover. This piece of foam is secured in it's own sub-section of the cover with a zipper closing. It's fit in there really tight (probably assembled that way) and I'm hoping I can get it out without tearing that zipper.Anybody re-cover or re-foam a cushion like this?Thanks

Take it to any upholsterer or an auto body shop. That's what we did. They put in a firmer foam wrapped in a softer blanked. Worked out great.

You have to be careful not to make the overall height of the bottom cushion taller because it has to fit under the back cushion that has limits of the top rail.I found when they get tired is to simply put a layer of a cushion material 'under' the existing cushion. Less expensive, does the job and you can add as much as what will fit. And replacement is just as easy.

Wait till you see what a piece of new foam costs:E

I believe in most older style dinettes the back cushion is indeed separate from the bottom and for a reason since usually the table is able to drop down and all the cushions used to form a bed.If your fabric is worn out you may find the foam may have indeed also flattened out/broken down. It's your call but if you recover them you'll still have the old foam which may or may not have enough support to last much longer. Making new covers isn't hard but must be done exactly the right size in reference to the cushion or it will not fit correctly. Therefore unless you know what you are doing I'd leave it to a pro. The covers are actually almost too small for the foam so it will not slide around. And some companies do blanket the foam in a batting that will help prevent the cover from sliding around on the foam.

The reason it is two pieces is for the bolster to show more separation.When I make them (marine application), the small bolster is separated only by a piece of material between the two cushions, this material is stapled to the substrate to pull the seam that separates them into the crack between the two sections. So the zippered small bolster box is just to add to the aesthetic.If all you are doing is going to a more firm density, you can be +/- on your new foam with regard to absolute precision as the fabric will form the foam.Use an electric carving knife to cut the new foam.Spray silicone will help along your cut line if you have some.Wrap it in a piece of 1 mil plastic (you can use a garbage bag) and stuff it back into casing. Pull the plastic out after cushion is in position (optional) hth

Re-covered or put new foam in your seat cushions?

tracyb-oh
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Don't do anything until you have used the cushions a few times. Upholstery foam needs to "settle down" sometimes when new. I will sometimes get a client who is concerned her new sofa is too firm or too high when they first get it and about a month later after use it is just fine. (I'm an interior designer and deal with furniture and reupholstery all the time) It's just the nature of the material. Enjoy...
Wrace
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Ok it's a done deal. After much testing at the foam shop I decided to go with extra-firm, 10 year density foam for the whole bottom cushion. It feels 100% better on my rear-end though it's brought up some new issues.

1) The table will need to be raised by about an inch or so and the outside corners cut-back to ease entry/exit and use of the table while seated.

2) The back cushion sits on top of the bottom cushion and is captured at the top of the back cushion by an upholstered board. With the new bottom cushion installed the back cushion is almost non-existent in terms of support and that top board impacts my back solidly. Guess I'll try stuffing some extra foam in that top cushion to see it that helps.
westend
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
Wrace wrote:
RoadXYZ wrote:
All of a sudden I cannot view pictures in posts ... why ?

Same here, don't know what the issue is. I have pictures in my original post at the beginning of this thread and my latest post about the cost.

I use the forum img insert tool and they show up when I do the initial post, but when I refresh the browser the images disappear.
Try editing your post, deleting and reinserting the image. The Forum software is quirky at times. I can copy and paste your images in a browser, the URL's are valid.
Wrace
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
RoadXYZ wrote:
All of a sudden I cannot view pictures in posts ... why ?

Same here, don't know what the issue is. I have pictures in my original post at the beginning of this thread and my latest post about the cost.

I use the forum img insert tool and they show up when I do the initial post, but when I refresh the browser the images disappear.
Wrace
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
RoadXYZ wrote:
When we had the dinette cushions re-upholstered we chose the firmest foam we could get, the upholster-er said we didn't need that firm and that it was expensive. However, it has been 5 years since the work was done, and the cushions are still firm. And we live full-time in the RV, and travel.

That's good to hear. It has not been so bad when we were just weekend camping as we did not spend much time in the dinette. However, the last couple of years I've been staying in the trailer for multiple days at a time while working at semi-remote property. And between the back-breaking jacknife sofa and the soft dinette seat in this TT I end up more stove-up from them than I do from a day of manual labor.
Wrace
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
tracyb-oh wrote:
Foam is a petroleum based product as the price of oil goes up so does the price of foam. Also the foam you may find at JoAnn fabrics or Hancock fabrics may not be dense enough for your dinette seat. You may need to talk to a reupholsterer to get the firmness you may want.

That's true, the foam at JoAnns was not nearly firm enough, thus my trip to the upholstery shop.
westend
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
Can you see these:

Dinette cushions-

Zipper side-

Corner seam detail-

Bunk mattress-
RoadXYZ
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2013
When we had the dinette cushions re-upholstered we chose the firmest foam we could get, the upholster-er said we didn't need that firm and that it was expensive. However, it has been 5 years since the work was done, and the cushions are still firm. And we live full-time in the RV, and travel.

And yes batting was included.

BTW he also did the border pieces atop and beside the seats. The dinette is in the slide and we were also able to 'almost' match the trim on the slide with a muted tone. Good luck.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2013
Same here, I do see some pics in some threads, but then can't see them in other threads. Wondering also.
westend
Explorer
Apr 06, 2013
I just replaced my cushions and had two bunk mattresses made. I was able to source the materials locally through an upholstery supplier. Medium-high density foam in 4" was about half the price of any online foam seller ($32.88/72" x 24"). They also had a durable looking fabric that I got for $5.95/yd..MY BIL, the upholsterer, knocked out the 7 new cushions in about 6 hrs. This guy is a Master at his craft and I am very pleased. The best part is that it will be a barter for my work. Win-win.