How to Replace RV Furniture

If you have an RV, you would like to spend a lot of time in it, so you might as well customize it to make it as comfortable as possible. Changing the furniture is one of the ways you can customize your RV to suit your decorative tastes. Some furniture changes can give you more functionality. Replace your built in dinette with a household kitchen table and chairs for more comfortable seating, or replace the dinette with a desk to create a workspace. Install a modern leather couch. Space is your biggest limiting factor when remodeling. Plan the remodeling before you begin to be sure to pick out the right piece of furniture to suit the space in your RV.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Measuring tape Wrench Screwdriver Hammer L-brackets
Measuring tape
Wrench
Screwdriver
Hammer
L-brackets

Step 1

Look at the manufacturer's book on your RV to determine if there are any heating ducts, plumbing appliances or electrical equipment underneath the furniture. You also will need to look underneath the furniture yourself, because the manual does not always detail the location of ducts, plumbing and electrical wiring underneath furniture. You might need to take extra precautions when replacing furniture. You can either buy compatible furniture that will allow you to re-attach the ducts or hide the plumbing and electrical, or you can relocate the ducts, plumbing or electrical wiring.

Step 2

Measure the height, width and depth of the area where you intend to place the new piece of furniture. Furniture that looks small at a store display might take up more space than you thought inside of an RV.

Step 3

Decide if you want to replace the furniture with RV furniture or with regular household furniture. If the original RV furniture contains ducts, plumbing or electrical wiring underneath it and you want to buy compatible RV furniture, contact the RV manufacturer for a list of furniture that will work in your RV. Otherwise, you can relocate heating ducts, plumbing and electrical wiring.

Step 4

Purchase replacement furniture for your RV. Consider the weight of the furniture. This is especially important when you are purchasing regular household furniture.

Step 5

Remove the original furniture from the RV. The pieces might be bolted to the floor, screwed into the floor and walls, or a combination of both. Usually couches and chairs are bolted to the floor and dinettes are screwed to the floor and walls. Use a wrench to remove bolts and plan to use a hammer and a screwdriver to remove dinettes.

Step 6

Install your new pieces of furniture. Bolt RV furniture to the ground, using the furniture's, pre-drilled holes as a guide. If you are installing household furniture, use L-brackets to attach the furniture to the floor.

Tips & Warnings

RV furniture is manufactured to be small, lightweight and multi-functional. Most pieces of RV furniture contain storage compartments or convert into sleeping areas. Household furniture is significantly cheaper in price than RV furniture and more readily available. Unlike RV furniture, which must be purchased in RV stores or from RV manufacturers, household furniture is available in department stores and furniture stores. Another advantage to household furniture is that it is available in more varieties of styles and it tends to be more comfortable. Disadvantages to household furniture include being hard to find in small sizes, being heavier than RV furniture and not containing storage compartments.

Only relocate heating ducts, plumbing or electrical wiring if you can make the changes safely. Use a reputable dealer or repair shop if you need assistance.

Resources

RV Furniture

Article Written By Rose Kivi

Rose Kivi has been a writer for more than 10 years. She has a background in the nursing field, wildlife rehabilitation and habitat conservation. Kivi has authored educational textbooks, patient health care pamphlets, animal husbandry guides, outdoor survival manuals and was a contributing writer for two books in the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Series.

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