By Gail Marsh
One of the “newbies” around the campfire the other night was really out-of-sorts. In fact, he, Matt, admitted to his grumpiness. The cause (according to his wife) was their RV bed. Specifically, their RV bed mattress. “It’s a joke,” Mara said. She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been telling Matt since our first camping trip three weeks ago that we had to get something better. I figure after this weekend, his sore back will convince him better than I can.”
The fix
Almost everyone around the fire agreed. The mattresses RV manufacturers install are junk. What we didn’t necessarily agree upon was the best way to “fix” this predicament. Here are some comments and suggestions heard around the campfire.
Replace the original RV mattress
George insists, “Just toss out that sorry excuse for a mattress—the one that came with your RV. Get yourself a new household-type mattress. One you can actually sleep on!” Sleep is important. Whether on vacation or living in your RV full time and holding a regular job, you need sleep. It’s important for your physical health and emotional health, too!
Things to consider
Buying a replacement mattress can be a big expense. Before you pull the trigger on that idea, be sure to consider:
- Type. Is it best to get an upgraded RV mattress? Some people think so, especially if your bed platform is an unusual size. (Many RV beds feature a non-standard-size platform.) Then there are folks like George who insist that a mattress manufactured for sticks-n-bricks homes is best. Compare costs and warranties for both types to help you form a decision.
- Use. How much use will your RV mattress get? If you’re living in your RV full time, it’s worth it to purchase a better mattress. If, however, you only plan a few weekend camping trips in the summer months, you may get by with a less-expensive mattress.
- Materials. There are so many different choices in mattresses today: foam, memory foam, innerspring with plush top, etc. You also have air beds and adjustable beds to consider. Your choice is a personal one, of course. Most folks tend to purchase a mattress that is similar to the one they have in their sticks-and-bricks home.
- Weight. Consider the weight of the mattress you want to buy. (This isn’t something you think about when buying bedding for your sticks-and-bricks home.) Be mindful of your rig’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). A heavy king-size mattress just may tip the scales in the wrong direction.
- Thickness. If you are replacing the mattress for an overhead truck cab bed, you must consider the thickness. Too tall of a mattress may mean you lose headroom and vertical height. Also, think about whether a thicker mattress will impede your slide from retracting as it should. Finally, be sure that you and your sleep buddy can get in and out of the bed safely. (A high-profile mattress may make it difficult to safely get in/out of bed.)
- Length and width. If you’re replacing your RV mattress with a typical home model, you’ll need to know the size of your RV bed platform. If the replacement mattress is just an inch or two larger or smaller than the platform’s dimensions, it should still work. A size difference of much more than that may require modifications.
- Access. Check that the new mattress will fit through your RV’s entry door. Foam mattresses can bend. Innerspring mattresses are trickier. Once you get the mattress through the door, will it fit down the hallway and make the turn into the bedroom (or whatever floor plan you have)? Think about it before you buy.
Get a “topper”
Tina disagreed with George. She said, “I can’t afford a new mattress. I got a foam topper at Walmart and I’m good.” I agree with Tina. Toppers can be a good alternative to purchasing a whole new mattress. We’ve had good luck with the topper we recently purchased. We used an electric knife to trim it to fit on top of our standard RV mattress. Our topper is four inches thick and is really comfortable. It works well for us. There are plenty of foam topper options on Amazon, too.
Custom order an RV mattress
You can go online and search “RV replacement mattress.” Or search on Amazon for “RV mattress.” There are reputable companies based in the USA that get good reviews. At the campfire, Candice mentioned that she ordered a mattress for her home and used the same online company for her RV mattress (Tochta). MattressInsider® was also mentioned at the campfire. While I have no firsthand knowledge of either one, they may be worth checking out.
Editor’s note: We recommend GhostBed mattresses. Read Tony Barthel’s review of his here. You can get 60% off with code RVTRAVEL.
So, add your opinion to those shared around the campfire. Have you replaced the mattress that came with your RV? If so, what did you do? Tell us in the comments below.
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I sleep as well or better on the mattress in my RV than on the one at my home. Of course, that could be due to the relaxation that I get when camping.
We added a 2inch foam egg crate and are very happy with it. We can also still fold up the Murphy bed with it on.
We wasted a grand buying online from a very highly rated RV mattress company. That thing was horrible and abusive to our backs. We went to the same company that made our home mattress, The Original Mattress Factory. We got to try them out in the store, bearing in mind that an RV has no box spring so the mattress will feel a bit firmer in an RV. An RV is a “platform bed”.
For an extra $50 they make a mattress in any size, with slight tolerances due to the size of the springs. For $100 they removed the old mattress & installed the new mattress. They hinge queen & king in the middle to help get them around corners. Many mattress chains make custom RV sizes but you may have to ask.
One thing to consider when buying an rv is the size of the mattress it is designed for. We made a huge mistake when we purchased an rv we loved and realized after we brought it home, the mattress was an rv queen size- 60×75. My husband is 6’5″. A dilemma I solved by buying a piece of foam rubber 60x12x5, and sliding it down between the head of the bed and existing mattress, before bedtime. I covered it with two king size pillow cases. When I made the bed in the morning I’d slide it back up on top of the mattress and hide it under the pillows.
We’ve since traded the rv for one with a regular size mattress and we’re much happier with it.
I realize that almost everyone complains about the manufacturers mattress, however we find the one that came in our 2020 Montana is great! We may add a topper in the future, but not a replacement mattress.
We were able to get a Sleep Number from the factory that fit. We use one at home too. I sleep in the bed and my wife sleeps on the bed.
Do you really like the sleep number? $$$
We also use a Sleep Number. Required for my back. Like Stu, we have one home too. Funny, like Stu-I (wife) sleep on the top, while hubby sleeps in the bed. I have to move/turn due to arthritis so can’t sleep in the covers due to entrapment by 2 lab mix dogs and one 16lb cat. A blanket suffices.
same here…love it every night. Dry camp so I have a small Jackery to set the level and then power off
Just like the battery and propane tanks, I wish the mattress was a dealer installed item. Not only are OEM RV mattresses junk, I’ve sent a few into landfills practically brand new. What a waste of both material and landfill!
Hi, Jim. Maybe rather than throwing the mattress away it can be donated to a shelter of some sort? Take care. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
We use the same memory foam we use for our house bed
Our trailer (inTech Sol Horizon) has a residential queen and came with a really good mattress that was comfortable for me (6’4″ 300lbs). We had to replace it due to theft, and after much research we bought the same one… Zinus hybrid. You can find them on Amazon.
Thank you, Gail! I guess we have done very well in that both RV #1 and #2 have had excellent mattresses. We had and have no inclination to replace either. Have a great day and safe travels!