installing the mattress

[TheBizMan]

When do you install the mattress? If it is one of the last things to do then how do you get a queen size thru the door?

[bobhenry]

We installed a standard pillow top queen mattress and the only way it's coming out is in chunks . As to going in I put it in just before I closed in the nose of the tear.

[Kevin A]

You could make the lower part of your galley removeable to allow access to the mattress. Cutting a mattress into pieces can get rather messy.

[madjack]

...we use a foam mattress so all ya havvta do is fold it up and shove it in...we also made the lower galley bulkhead removable so that could be used as well...if you have a regular mattress, you will havvta decide when to install before everything is buttoned up...........
madjack

[DBizer]

A removable lower galley panel would be nice. The matress is one thing I did not consider much. I did put it in through the door.(Kind of like shoving a St. Bernard through a cat door). It will probably have to come out in pieces. It's not the easiest thing to fold up, so it makes access to the under floor storage pretty tough. Not one of my smarter moves!

David

[asianflava]

I'm with MJ, the foam mattress works like a champ. Granted, it's still not that easy to get in and out, but it is easier than a coil spring mattress.

[madjack]

I'm with MJ, the foam mattress works like a champ. Granted, it's still not that easy to get in and out, but it is easier than a coil spring mattress.

...and it makes it much easier to make up the bed...in addition we had the mattress cut to 56"s to give a bit of "wiggle" room in the 58"wide sleeping area...with my big butt onit, it fills out the 58"s nicely.....
madjack

[TheBizMan]

Thanks for the replys. The removable bulkhead is a good idea.

[Dean_A]

I just got my new TD mattress a couple weeks ago. It was a little on the pricey side, but it's fantastic! It looks and feels just like an inner spring, but it's foam. It fits through the door with a minimum of hassle. Here's a link in case anyone is interested:

http://www.otisbed.com/stratosphere_general.php

I got a Full and it was about $280, but worth every penny!

[CAJUN LADY]

Knox Foam will cut it the size you want and you can choose the grade. Also, Wal-Mart has a 8 or 9" foam mattress you could use for around $250. When I got mine from Knox, I made sure it was in the teardrop before I cut the shrink wrap from around it...it comes alive after that! But, it's the easiest to get in and out of your TD.

[Micro469]

My mattress is three separate slabs of foam, covered with vynil on the bottom for protection, and cloth on top. Easy to get in and out, and when travelling, I just stack them so I don't have to put dirty or wet crap on the bed....

[Sam I am]

I used a double bed mattress (54"x75"x7" thick) with a removeable panel at floor level in the galley bulkhead. I have no cabinets under the counter in the galley, so the mattress slides in and out easily!

[swissarmygirl]

I've got a futon mattress that just fits through the door when its rolled up!