Fabric vs. Vinyl Cushions

[littlemisspippy]

Hi all - just wondered what everyone's thoughts/opinions/experiences were with regards to cushion covers. Mine are presently fabric but I'm thinking of recovering them with an automobile vinyl - easier to clean/maintain. Would love to hear from anyone...thanks!

[Darwin Maring]

Sticks to your hind side during hot weather.

[David Tilston]

Hot to sleep on in the summer.

[Bobbie Mayer]

My originals were fabric one side, vinyl the other side. Not a bad idea- you can put the vinyl side out when people are likely to be wet or dirty, flip them for comfort in the bed.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Vinyl... Oops got a charge out that one.

[Jon in AZ]

Have you considered Sunbrella or a similar outdoor-type woven fabric? Best of both worlds, though at a cost.

[Raz]

The cushions that came with our Trillium are cloth with vinyl bottoms. They sit on unfinished plywood hatch covers. I assume vinyl was used to protect the open cell foam cushions. On a warm rainy summer day a trailer without AC will become quite humid and the wood will absorb moisture. The vinyl protects the foam from that moisture. Worst case if the cushions are left in place too long, mold will form. Cleaning mold off of vinyl is much easier than cloth. Just a guess, Raz

[littlemisspippy]

Bobbie - love that idea…and Jon - yes looked at sunbrella as well as an automotive-type fabric - just like the look of the vinyl - it's cleaner - but did have a concern about comfort for sleeping but figured we would probably use some kind of memory foam topper anyways…as to sticking to the hiney…LOL #firstworldproblems - isn't that why they created capris/manpris??!!

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by littlemisspippy

Bobbie - love that idea…and Jon - yes looked at sunbrella as well as an automotive-type fabric - just like the look of the vinyl - it's cleaner - but did have a concern about comfort for sleeping but figured we would probably use some kind of memory foam topper anyways…as to sticking to the hiney…LOL #firstworldproblems - isn't that why they created capris/manpris??!!

I noticed you didn't mention the charge you'll get out of vinyl. If you've ever slid across automobile vinyl seat covers you'll know what I mean.

As far as hot is concerned, for week-end you manage almost anything. Long term campers will look at it differently.

[PrettylilTrilly]

If it's ease of clean up your worried about there are many waterproofing products for fabrics that will help them stay clean longer.


Lilly The Trilly - 1975 Trillium 1300

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by PrettylilTrilly

If it's ease of clean up your worried about there are many waterproofing products for fabrics that will help them stay clean longer.


Lilly The Trilly - 1975 Trillium 1300

Yes Sunbrella - or other types of outdoor use fabrics are pretty easy to keep clean and will withstand a good washing if they become dirty.

Personal preference is fabric cushion covers - gives the trailer a much warmer feel. If you take care of then and don't allow them to be left dirty and wet or in a leaking trailer you should not have any issues with them. If you want you can leave a thin plastic cover on the foam under the fabric - Scamp did that on mine and when I took the covers and plastic wrap off 20 years later to replace the covers the foam looked like new.

[littlemisspippy]

Byron - LOL - sorry wasn't too sure what you meant since I've always had fabric car seats :P - the vinyl that I'm thinking of is sort of a fake leather so it's soft and not as hard as say, marine vinyl. I'm going back and forth on it - and yes Byron, for the most part we will be weekend warriors so I'm probably over-thinking it, as usual!! Carol, I'm hoping the cushions will warm it up and the throw quilts but I would agree with you. Decisions decisions!! Thanks for everyone's comments - appreciated!! What a great site!

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by littlemisspippy

Carol, I'm hoping the cushions will warm it up and the throw quilts but I would agree with you.

If you do any fall or early winter camping you may find that sitting on vinyl seats in the trailer is a bit like climbing into a car with no seat heaters in cold weather

[Rob and Linda]

We recovered our Casita cushions in marine vinyl... we love them. They are not hot to our skin, nor to we stick to them... but I'm sure that would be a problem if we were "nekkid!"

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Rob and Linda

We recovered our Casita cushions in marine vinyl... we love them. They are not hot to our skin, nor to we stick to them... but I'm sure that would be a problem if we were "nekkid!"

Looks amazing, and I really like what you did with the partition wall between the side & rear dinettes!

[Darwin Maring]

For cryint out loud, get "Nekkid" and find out.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by littlemisspippy

Byron - LOL - sorry wasn't too sure what you meant since I've always had fabric car seats :P - the vinyl that I'm thinking of is sort of a fake leather so it's soft and not as hard as say, marine vinyl. I'm going back and forth on it - and yes Byron, for the most part we will be weekend warriors so I'm probably over-thinking it, as usual!! Carol, I'm hoping the cushions will warm it up and the throw quilts but I would agree with you. Decisions decisions!! Thanks for everyone's comments - appreciated!! What a great site!

Vinyl is plastic, plastic and synthetic fabric with rubbed together will generate an electrical charge. When have done that then touch a metal surface a nice little arc happens which gives you little shock and burn. (the burn very small and doesn't cause any problems after the discharge but it's still there)..

[Jon in AZ]

Taken together, the two previous posts are… shall we say… shocking!

[Christian in FL]

I would go with the fabric, vinyl combo and spray the fabric with Scotchguard as needed. But now I'm wondering, can you put that vinyl in the wash? You might have to put a zipper between the two fabrics, or cover the cushions in vinyl and stretch a tube of fabric over it for sitting.

[Glenn Baglo]

We spent several thousand having our loveseats and armchair reupholstered by a quality shop ( hey, we liked the style ).
The owner advised NOT to use Scotchguard. I gather it is similar to silicon in that it may shed some dirt, but when it does get dirty it is very difficult to clean.