'92 Excella - Why 2 pieces of foam in each cushion?

[NanLynn]

I'm just beginning to reupholster the dinette and couch in our 92 Excella. I'm curious about why all of the seat cushions have two zippered compartments with a separate piece of foam in each instead of one solid piece of foam? I'm guessing there's a reason, but I can't figure it out. I'm planning on copying the original cushions, and it's going to be a lot more work, so I'd really like to know why they did this originally. Thanks for your help,
Nancy

[Airslide]

Extra comfort?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by NanLynn

I'm just beginning to reupholster the dinette and couch in our 92 Excella. I'm curious about why all of the seat cushions have two zippered compartments with a separate piece of foam in each instead of one solid piece of foam? I'm guessing there's a reason, but I can't figure it out. I'm planning on copying the original cushions, and it's going to be a lot more work, so I'd really like to know why they did this originally. Thanks for your help,
Nancy

The cushions would not stay in place on the seats if they were one piece.

They lay flat for a mattress and bend at 90 degrees for the seat cushions and seat backs. Hence, 2 pieces.

Been that way for over 50 years.

Andy

[fotochop]

Wait, are the "2 pieces" like two SEPARATE pieces, like the seat and seat-back of a sofa? Or do you mean two pieces the SAME SIZE (each half-thickness) inside the cushion cover?

I'm about to order foam and would prefer that the cushions stay in place. If having them one-piece is going to make them wiggle around..I wouldn't like that.

[Tom Nugler]

Welcome to the Forum.
My ’67 had a similar arrangement, however it had the two pieces glued together. I had heard that prior to the manufacture of multi density foam this was a way to provide a good supportive cushion with a softer top surface for sleeping. My brother in law, a retired antique furniture reupholster/refinisher, said this also helped in keeping the covers from slipping by locking the bottom corners into a firmer base. Never the less, after 35 year the foam was a crumbling mess.
Good luck with your project. We’re just up the road from you.
Send us a PM if you ever have a question or need a hand.

Tom.

[loudruff]

I redid the upholstery in our 78 Argosy Minuet. The two gauchos were the same. Each upholstered gaucho was composed of a back foam and a seat foam. They were each zipped inside the cover which was joined by a common seam to connect them. This is an important seam as it keeps the two cushions from sliding apart when you lay them flat for a full sized bed. You won't slip between the two parts and hit the bottom!
It is a pain to sew, but I think it is a good design. Take your time and use the old for your pattern pieces if you can.
Lou

[fotochop]

OK, so we're talking about a simple hinged cushion, one side functions as sofa/gaucho backrest and the other as seat cushion... I just wanted to verify that.. but it does make me wonder if anyone is tempted to add velcro to their two separate dinette seat cushions when converting the dinette into bed for nighty-night...

my wife is pretty much insisting I do this so she doesn't slip into the gap at night... I keep telling her 'honey you're thin..but you're not THAT thin' ;-)

[DaveFL]

Originally Posted by NanLynn

I'm just beginning to reupholster the dinette and couch in our 92 Excella. I'm curious about why all of the seat cushions have two zippered compartments with a separate piece of foam in each instead of one solid piece of foam? I'm guessing there's a reason, but I can't figure it out. I'm planning on copying the original cushions, and it's going to be a lot more work, so I'd really like to know why they did this originally. Thanks for your help,
Nancy

My 2000 AS also has two pieces of foam in each cushion with the zippers on a material separate compartment. It does make the cushion overall appearance show the change of shape better than a single flat cushion, like a contoured car bucket seat rather than a flat bench seat. I don't sleep on the dinette so I can't say if it improves laying on or not. I did finally figured out the vinyl straps on the cushions stopped it from sliding forward on sitting.

[NanLynn]

It was more complicated than any cushion I've ever seen, but I was able to replicate the covers. Does anyone want the old dinette seat cushion covers for patterns?