5 Best Jackknife Sofa Reviews and Buying Guide

A jackknife sofa is something that you should consider upgrading in your new RV or possibly adding one if you haven’t got one. I have researched the market and found the best jackknife sofas out there.

My personal favorite is the Kathy Ireland Jackknife Sofa because it looks great, is easy to clean and really comfortable.

Jackknife Sofa Reviews – Top Picks

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Best Jackknife Sofa Reviews

Kathy Ireland Jackknife Sofa – Best Overall

This jackknife sofa is our best overall, a quick look at it and you can see why. It’s stylish and will look good in any RV, you would never know that it is a jackknife sofa.

The sturdy steel frame is durable and comes with a 5 year warranty. It’s lightweight and compact which is exactly what you want for RV furniture.

The legs can be removed if you want to mount the couch on a platform instead. The bed slides forward so you can place the couch back up against the wall making the most of the space in your RV.

The leather-like material makes for easy cleaning and maintenance, and looks great. It has plush padding which is really comfortable both as a couch and a bed.

THOMAS PAYNE Jackknife Sofa – Best for Storage

Every RV owner knows how important space is in an RV, that’s why it’s important to get multifunctioning furniture. This jackknife sofa can be a couch, bed and has storage, that’s a win win win.

The Thomas Payne jackknife sofa fastens to the coach wall which allows for additional storage underneath.

Not only that, it looks pretty good too, and is really comfortable with it’s steel spring seating supports ensuring you get a restful night’s sleep.

The metal frame makes it lightweight and durable, so it will be sure to last you for years to come.

Be aware that you will have to buy the universal leg kit separately, unless you are mounting directly onto a platform.

RecPro Jack Knife RV Sleeper Sofa – Best Looking

If the look of your jackknife sofa is the most important thing then you can’t go wrong with this one from RecPro. It looks like a regular stylish couch.

This jackknife sofa is made from a dark grey linen cloth that will look fantastic in any RV. Be warned that it will be harder to remove stains from this one, but that’s usually the case when you put style first.

It’s also really lightweight at only 160lbs. It’s lighter than most RV furniture, which is great. It’s also high quality with a metal frame and thick padding.

This contemporary couch will convert into a bed seamlessly, it can be placed against the wall. Make sure that there is 3” clearance between the back of the couch and the wall so it can convert into a bed without snagging.

Lippert Components Sofa – Best for Low Maintenance

The Lippert jackknife sofa is made with a PolyHyde upholstery, this high quality material is not only good looking but really easy to clean and look after. If you have pets or young children and something that is easy to clean is your priority then this is a fantastic option.

It’s also comfortable as it’s filled with a high density foam that offers great support, meaning that you can get a great night’s sleep.

The Lippert is also durable and can convert in one simple motion, making it as low maintenance as you can get.

Kathy Ireland Jiffy Jackknife Sofa – Best Price

If budget is your highest priority then you can’t go wrong with the Kathy Ireland Jiffy sofa. It’s the cheapest jackknife sofa in this review and comes in a range of sizes and colors so you can find the perfect fit and style for your RV.

It’s made with a sturdy metal frame which is lightweight and durable. The style and mechanism of this sofa make it compact and easy to use, as it will convert in one motion.

The padding is thick making it really comfortable as a couch and bed. This jackknife sofa won’t break the bank or your back after using it.

How do I Pick The Best Jackknife Sofa – Buying Guide

If you like the sound of a jackknife sofa but don’t know where to start, I’ve put together a list of the most important things to consider before you part with your hard earned cash.

Quality of Materials

Because jackknife sofas have multiple functions and will almost constantly be in use, as a couch during the day and bed at night, you want to make sure that it is durable.

The quality of the jackknife sofa is important, a flimsy frame won’t last long. Look for a frame that is made from steel or a heavy duty metal, this is the most durable and will last for years. 

A solid frame is probably the most important thing to look out for, as all RV furniture and fixings need to be hardy to stand up to the constant movement of being on the road. You’ll also be converting the jackknife sofa from a couch to bed daily so it will need to be able to stand up to this.

Comfort

As well as a sturdy frame, you want the jackknife sofa to be comfortable as a couch and a bed, otherwise, what’s the point. 

Ideally you will want to test it out before you buy, sit on it as a couch and lay on it when it’s set up as a bed to check that it’s comfortable. If, like most of us nowadays, you are buying online, make sure to read the reviews to see what other buyers have to say about the comfort.

I find that everyone is different when it comes to comfort, some people prefer foam mattresses and others spring. Look at what type of mattress the jackknife sofa has before you buy, to make sure that it’s comfortable to you.

Size

As with everything in an RV, size matters! Make sure that you have done your measurements and know what size will fit in the space that you have available.

Can can even choose a jackknife sofa with additional storage to make the most of every single inch in your RV.

Weight

The weight is another important factor, you’ll want the jackknife sofa to be as lightweight as possible, whilst being durable and comfy. 

If it’s too heavy it can overload your RV and make it unstable or at the very least increase your fuel costs.

Maintenance

Jackknife sofas don’t need much in terms of maintenance, however you’ll need to consider that camping isn’t the cleanest activity. Try and find a sofa that will be easy to clean, leather is ideal for this as it can just be wiped clean

Ease of Use

Make sure that you read the directions before you buy so you can understand how to convert the jackknife sofa. The last thing you want is for it to be stuck as a sofa or a bed because you can’t convert it back.

Budget

As always, make sure that you have a budget in mind and stick to it. Although it would be amazing to have unlimited funds to kit out your RV, it’s rarely the case. Keep to your price range.

Jackknife Sofa Reviews – Recap

Kathy Ireland Jackknife Sofa – Best Overall

THOMAS PAYNE Jackknife Sofa – Best for Storage

RecPro Jack Knife RV Sleeper Sofa – Best Looking

Lippert Components Sofa – Best for Low Maintenance

Kathy Ireland Jiffy Jackknife Sofa – Best Price

Final Thoughts

Jackknife sofas are a really useful piece of furniture to have in your RV, with a simple motion the couch can be converted into a bed.

The best overall jackknife sofa is the Kathy Ireland Jackknife Sofa it looks great, is easy to clean and really comfortable.

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