One of the most important pieces of furniture in any RV is the RV couch. The RV sofa is the place where the family gathers at the end of each day of adventure and the RV couch bed is often where people lay their head to rest up for another day of fun.
If you’re looking to replace your RV sofa, you might be wondering where to start. In this article, we will share everything you need to know to find the perfect RV couch for your rig.
This post contains affiliate links. RVshare may receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on a product link.
RV Sofa Bed Options
Most RV couches are sofa beds, meaning they fold out into some sort of bed to create extra sleeping space in the tiny home. There are several different types of RV sofa beds and finding the right one for you can be tricky.
Jackknife Sofa
The jackknife sofa bed was once the most popular of the RV couch bed options. This style of sofa bed looks much like an upholstered bench when in the upright position, but can be laid flat with the seat and the seat back lying side by side to create a sleeping surface.
These beds are the least space-consuming in both positions, and they weigh less than traditional couches, but can also be fairly uncomfortable in both positions because of the bars that make up the frame.
Tri-Fold Sofa
The Tri-fold sofa is similar to a jackknife sofa, but instead of lying flat, the seat unfolds to create a sleeping space while the back remains in place.
These are as easy to fold out and put away as a recliner and they are quite comfortable in couch mode. Unfortunately, they aren’t as comfortable in bed mode, so aren’t ideal if you plan to use the bed feature nightly.
Traditional Hide-a-Bed
Another camper couch option is the traditional hide-a-bed. These feature a thin RV-style mattress that folds into an otherwise ordinary RV couch.
This is a bit more space-consuming than the jackknife option, especially when in the bed position. It is also a much heavier couch than the jackknife option. However, the couch part tends to be much more comfortable, and depending on the mattress used, the bed can be as well.
Inflatable Hide-a-Bed
More recently, we’ve seen air mattress hide-a-bed sofa options hit the market. These have quickly become the preferred option, and can be found in many new rigs.
This RV sleeper sofa with air mattress works very much like a traditional RV hide-a-bed, but includes an air mattress rather than a traditional mattress, making it much more lightweight.
The issue with this type of RV couch bed is the fact that the air mattress can develop holes, making it unusable.
Custom RV Sofa Bed
Since they’re custom, you can obviously have them built to any size or dimension you wish. You could even get an RV sectional sofa or custom-length RV sofa bed to accommodate individual needs.
I know custom sounds expensive, and it certainly can be if you have someone build the custom furniture for you. That said, you can also choose to go the DIY route to save some money.
Building your own custom pull out couch sounds scary but with all the tutorials + videos you can find these days it is not that much harder than building Ikea furniture.
Don’t feel up to building something from scratch? Don’t ever underestimate the power of a quick DIY, reupholstering your old couch or snagging a new-to-you couch from sites like Facebook Marketplace are budget friendly and effective ways to make big changes while adding your own spark.
RV Couch Options
Want an RV couch that doesn’t turn into a bed? Those are also out there. Below are a few different RV couch options you might want to consider.
Theater Seating Couch
Also referred to as double recliners, theater seating couches are basically two comfy upholstered recliners connected to create one amazing couch. They often come with built-in cup holders and usually include a foot rest for each seat, for extra comfort.
If you don’t need a sofa bed, budget isn’t an issue, and you want to make sure your RV living space is as comfortable as possible this is the way to go.
Traditional Couch
Another option? A traditional couch that you might buy for your sticks-and-bricks home. Inexpensive traditional couches can be found at stores like IKEA and installed in your RV using L brackets and a few screws or bolts.
While we don’t recommend this idea if you plan to use a seatbelt while sitting on the couch, those who only use their Rv couches while sitting still can save a pretty penny by going this route.
Custom Couch
Just as you can make a custom RV sofa bed, you can also build a custom RV couch. This might involve hiring someone to build the couch for you or it could mean taking on the projects yourself. Either way, you will be able to make something that perfectly suits your space and needs. Just be prepared for a little extra cost and/or time to go into the building and installation process.
Your RV Sleeper Sofa and Couch Checklist
Now that you have an idea of what kind of RV couch bed you might want, you’ll probably want to know what else you should be looking for in your new sofa bed. Here a few other important things to consider:
- Durability
- Size
- Weight
- Comfort
- Appearance
- Ease of clean up
- Storage options (if any)
- Price
- Warranty
Where to Buy an RV Sofa Sleeper or Couch
You can certainly get an RV bed from a reputable dealer, or possibly from the same place you bought your RV. Camping World has a number of RV sofa beds and other beds available. You can also find them online. Ebay sells RV sofa beds, and Amazon has RV sleeper sofas and other RV beds available as well.
Note: If you order online, be sure to check the return policy of the store you choose, and don’t forget to factor in shipping – for an item that size it can add up!
Of course, you can also shop furniture stores, garage sales, or even thrift stores if you are willing to use a traditional couch in place of an RV-specific piece.
