New Loveseat Installed in our Starcraft 24RLS Launch

[w8eh]

We purchased our Starcraft Launch 24RLS last February and got some good use out of it in the last year. The number one pain in the behind was the jackknife sofa.

The sofa was lightweight and didn't hold up to the normal use of two average people. It was uncomfortable and got more uncomfortable as we used it. The springs and material didn't hold up. The foam started breaking down.

We started looking at options, but finding something that would fit the space was difficult. The front of the loveseat had to keep back and clear of the slide out when retracted. The seat backs when reclined had to clear the wall in the back. Also when reclined, the front of the loveseat goes forward and it had to clear the bit of the slide out bench seat that protruded in front.

We finally found the best replacement, a small reclining loveseat. We purchased the loveseat at Value City Furniture after we measured twice and made sure that it was comfortable. I'm tall and my wife is short, so that can be trouble finding comfortable furniture.

Removing the old jackknife sofa was easy. The base framework was screwed into the side wall and cabinet wall (see picture). The metal sofa part was held down with only 4 screws into the framework.

I was worried about the weight difference, so I weighed what I took out and the new loveseat going in. We gained about 45 pounds with the new loveseat. No worry now.

The loveseat was easy to install. Our access door is only 24" wide, so that was a concern. The backs of the loveseat are removable, so that helped. We also were able to take apart the two bottom sides of the loveseat from the bottom frame and bring the bottoms in one at a time. The arms of the loveseat were about 27" high, but since we took them apart, we were able to maneuver the bottoms through the door with minimum effort.

Once all the parts were inside, we reassembled the loveseat and played around with it from side to side and front to back. Once we settled on the placement, I screwed the bottom frame to the floor in 4 places.

We lost some storage area by the change, but it is not missed.

Now we have almost all the comforts of home...


How it looked before (NEW):





How it looked after jackknife sofa removed:





The finished installation:

[w8eh]

Power cord: One of my mods last summer was to remove the power cord box and install the external power plug. I installed the Furrion 30 amp kit that included the outside inlet and a plug to put on the end of the salvaged black cord. It is much easier to handle than trying to pull out the twisted cord or stuff it back in. And it is pest proof.

Loveseat: The model loveseat that we purchased from Value City was the Maverick, SKU 1727192, $489. For the Launch 24RLS you can't fit anything larger and clear everything. The dimensions, 62W, 41D and 39H are just right.

Since the installation, we decided to modify the window treatment. The box part that comes down vertical has been removed. I left the top. I am in the process of restringing the shades so the strings attach to the wall just below the window. Then the tops of the recliner don't hit anything except the bare wall when fully reclined. It just barely hits the wall in full recline. I was worried that those window boxes would damage the top of the loveseat, since it brushed them when moving to and from recline position.

The other questions, the bottoms do come straight out when fully reclined like a normal recliner. Each side reclines and adjusts independently. You could easily sleep comfortably in these seats. The grandkids said that they could sleep there when we take them camping.

[fla-gypsy]

Nice job

[allenm]

I think I found it at Value City. Maverick Recling Loveseat SKU: 1727192
Dimensions: Width: 62'' Height: 39'' Depth: 41''

Couple more questions - do the seats recline independently and do the foot rests go high enough to be level? The ad pics just show them up about 45 degrees.

[allenm]

Thanks for posting! I've been thinking of doing something similar to our 24rls. Couple questions - it looks like you eliminated the 30A power cord storage box and went with an outside receptacle? Also wondering what brand/model/price loveseat you bought at Value City?

[coolmom42]

Looks very comfy!