Great Investment

runner421 · 06-15-2016, 03:42 PM

Okay - so after almost 5 years of camping trips (2012/13/14/15/16) we decided to replace the factory mattress. It was little more than a foam pad, but we had added a memory foam topper and it was reasonably comfortable.

Just bought a Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 10 Inch Mattress. It is excellent!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One of those things you go: "Why, Why didn't we do this sooner?"

So anyways, this is just a product recommendation if you're looking for or considering a replacement mattress for your camper.

R/

michellep · 06-15-2016, 03:58 PM

Do you have an idea of how much your original mattress weighed?
Rough guess...

I see a full-size queen weighs 64 lbs.

Michigantraveler · 06-15-2016, 05:20 PM

You paid your dues. We replaced the standard RV mattress with this one. It's really nice like our 10" at home BUT it weighs 65 pounds. It was a struggle to get the mattress pad and sheets on and it is difficult to lift it to get to the fresh water tank and winterizing stuff under the bed. I hate to make the bed in the RV. And we got the RV size so it would be easier to make.

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/cla...m-mattress.cfm

Eagle · 06-16-2016, 12:06 PM

We slept (tired to sleep) ONE NIGHT on the factory excuse for a mattress that came with our XT 276 and that was it.
The next day, we went to a furniture store and purchased a Serta standard queen mattress, tossed the factory one out (short queen) and put in the Serta standard queen size. Yes, it overhangs the 'base' at the foot end by about 6" but no problem. I'm 6'2" and now my feet don't overhang the mattress.

Michigantraveler · 06-16-2016, 12:14 PM

Yup! But our little 189 has only part of one side open. The rest is walls. A walk around bed would be soooo nice!

Eagle · 06-16-2016, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigantraveler

Yup! But our little 189 has only part of one side open. The rest is walls. A walk around bed would be soooo nice!

I'd like a walk around bed too ~ easier to make/enter/exit the bed then. In the 276 the foot end is open and about 1/2 of one side. The rest of the mattress is 'walled in' so to speak.

John_C · 06-17-2016, 08:43 PM

Hmmm, you softies... what's the matter, can't make a bed while crawling on it???

I am joking of course... the foot and about 1/3 down one side of ours is open... the head, one side, and 2/3 of the the other side have no access except from on the bed... The Boss has me doing the head of the bed and it is so fun... Kind of like putting your socks on after you have put your shoes on

As Mitch says, having access around the bed would be very nice...

Michigantraveler · 06-18-2016, 01:45 PM

When I really try to make the bed I feel (and probably look) like a beached whale floundering around. And I'm exhausted when finished! Lol!

Kansas newbie · 06-18-2016, 04:27 PM

Amen to that visual!��. I've gotten to the point that as long as the fitted sheet stays fitted I'll just throw the top sheet, quilts & blanket on & call it good!

Michigantraveler · 06-18-2016, 04:53 PM

Haha! Everything ends up in a pile...a messy pile. Might as well see two sheets together on three sides. Then throw a blanket on top. Lol!

Kansas newbie · 06-19-2016, 05:01 AM

Well by the time I toss & turn, the sheet & quilts are in a bunch anyway so it really doesn't matter ��⛺️. Heading home today��. Happy Father's Day to all FF fathers!

runner421 · 06-19-2016, 06:43 AM

The original mattress more closely resembled a pad. But we had put a 3-inch thick foam topper on it and were determined to make it work. And it did, for those 4 years. I'm guessing the stock mattress weighs in at about 12-15 pounds, the mattress topper probably weighed more.
On the 210UDS the bed is a short queen (74x60). I considered just putting a queen size mattress in but I think it would interfere with the slide coming in. Space is tight-but fortunately I'm only 5'10".
Did discover a set of sheets that the top sheet has an elastic "fitted" end/corners. Last night was first use-not bad, I think both the wife and I kind of kicked the fitted ends off the corner, but the elastic seemed to stay tucked under the center.

Michigantraveler · 06-19-2016, 09:25 AM

I saw those sheets after I bought two sets of the rv sheets. Clever idea. I must say that sleeping on a good mattress makes the whole experience better. I just wish it weighed less.we are going to have to rig a prop in order to service anything under the mattress.

Eagle · 06-19-2016, 02:36 PM

There is an easy way to keep the bottom sheet in place including a fitted sheet.

I use "Sheet Suspenders" and they work great although a bit of a hassle to put on but they really work swell.

https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&pag...t%20suspenders

I use 4 of them spaced about evenly across the width of the mattress ... and use a standard size queen mattress in my XT 276.

Michigantraveler · 06-19-2016, 05:12 PM

Our fitted sheets stay on well. My only hassle is making the bed in the first place. Fitted sheets today have very deep pockets to accommodate really thick mattresses. Sometimes it is hard to find the top and sides. A mattress that isn't very thick would probably have a problem with some sheets.

John_C · 06-19-2016, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigantraveler

Our fitted sheets stay on well. My only hassle is making the bed in the first place. Fitted sheets today have very deep pockets to accommodate really thick mattresses. Sometimes it is hard to find the top and sides. A mattress that isn't very thick would probably have a problem with some sheets.

Same here Mich, Starting at the head of the bed, I am strong enough to bend up the mattress enough to pull the far forward corner of the sheet on first, then the other head corner on... then, work the foot the same and it stays on pretty well... The Boss is not strong enough to grab the mattress and bend up one corner.

I know I make it sound easier than it is, but I get it done...

PaintyLiz · 06-24-2016, 01:40 PM

Yes! That is the one thing I would like to change in my camper. I would love a walk around bed. However since the rest of the camper is just what I want, I guess I'll leave with the "three sides wall" bed.

If you put a pocket about 6 inches up from the bottom of the top sheet and slide a piece of PVC pipe into it but it will keep the top sheet straight and tucked down at the bottom of the mattress. I even added two small hooks on the board under the mattress that the pipe hooks under to make sure it doesn't come loose. It works fantastic because I like a tucked in sheet. I have some photos here https://wackypup.blogspot.com/2016/0...l#.V21T1L9OlPE

Also, when I removed the dinette it made one more area of the mattress accessible. Which was much more of an improvement than I thought it would be. There is only 24" of wall along the front edge now.

We changed our mattress for memory foam the first year we owned it, although the original innerspring mattress was comfortable, it was inflexible and really really hard to get a sheet on.

Oh, and I added a door under the bed so I don't have to lift the mattress to change the tank drain out check the pump. https://wackypup.blogspot.com/2016/0...our-views.html

Eagle · 06-24-2016, 02:28 PM

Nice idea and alteration with the door.

I also added a door to access under the bed storage. There is an exterior door but when items get pushed all the way in, unless you crawl into the under the bed storage area thru the outside door, impossible to reach things. The inside door makes it easy.

Your pvc pipe idea is good .. but in your bed, the foot would be the head of ours in the XT276 as the foot end is the open end.

Nice mod for your application.

Kansas newbie · 06-24-2016, 06:09 PM

How in the world do you come up with the ideas for your mods!? The sheet mod is fantastic and I will have to try it as I tend to pull the sheet up and then I can't get it tucked back in again!

PaintyLiz · 06-24-2016, 09:28 PM

Aw thanks. I am a tinkerer and always think things can be improved lol. I am old(er), too so I have lots of experience to call on... Ha! I am grateful to my dad who taught me the art of tinkering and my mom who taught me to sew :0) I will post a picture of the hooks when the light is better.