Air mattress alternative

[Xtremespeed]

I built the fold up bed frames in my CT to be as thin as possible when folded up so I can fit the atv's in nicely. To achieve the thin profile, there was no way to incorporate a mattress. We have 2 beds. One single 75x39 and one queen 80x60. The plan was to use air mattresses, which works well, however, they are just not comfortable, especially for 2 people on the queen. The heavier person always creates a low spot that the other person falls into unless you both sleep almost hanging off opposite edges. Also, the lack of insulation properties in the winter, and the constant battle to keep air in it all night, and avoid leaks is no fun. Does anyone have any good alternatives to air mattresses? I need something that won't take up much space or be too heavy for my wife to handle. I thought about self inflating mattresses but I'm afraid they are too thin to provide any real comfort. Looking forward to your thoughts.

[b.bodemer]

Thermarests are great...don't let the thin size fool you. I have two 2 and 1/2 inch ones and they self inflate and your hips never touch the ground!

Now I use them for the upper bunks as they roll up real nice until needed.

Have had them 10 years!
Barb

[Pyrofish]

I started off with a double high queen myself. That lasted 2 trips. Now we have a bed designed to fold up on the wall. Those night therapy foam mattresses might be a little thick for you, but they do compress when you fold them into the wall tight. I have the 8" version IIRC, and compresses to to about 5-6" then expands back just fine when I let the bed off the wall. I stuck a pulley on the wall to make it easy to pull up and out of the way when not in use. They make thinner versions that probably do go even thinner when compressed against the wall. I really like mine. I didn't know if I would, but it's VERY comfortable.

[Xtremespeed]

I wish I could try them but my bed frames are 1" square tubing and 1/2" plywood folded tight to the wall. I would have to redesign the hinge setup to be able to fit a mattress on there and then it would take up too much space.

Thanks for your thoughts on the Thermarest Barb. I may have to try one out and see. I just can't imagine anything that thin being comfortable over plywood.
Chris

[pmowers]

I have used the thermarest and similar for over 30 years, I think that they would be comfortable enough on plywood, I normally had to use them on rocky ground. They come in different thicknesses, some I think are about 3 inches. One thing that I would recommend, is to make a slip cover out of polar fleece type material, it really helps when it comes to sliding off of the nylon thermarest at 3 am.

Pat

[Xtremespeed]

My wife will have it made up with sheets just like home anyways. Lol!

[AG25]

LLbean sells a self inflating mattress it is thicker and wider than the thermarest, also the top of the mattress is made out of a material that is nonslip. They are very comfortable

[emjohn4]

I ordered some foam from (www.foambymail.com) to make my own mattress.

4" of LUX-R Foam and 2" of 4LB ViscoPLUSH Memory Foam Topper. I'm going to use 3M Super 77 spray adhesive to glue the two of them together, and slip into a mattress cover. This will be 6" of mattress, which should be very nice, and far better than an air mattress.

Total was under $200.

Now, I guess if you can't spare the space...this won't work, but otherwise, this is the best setup for the money - much higher quality foam than the Walmart/Sams Club 8" Memory foam mattresses.

[Preda8or]

I know this sound silly but we were looking to get something to replace the air mattress, While in K-mart we noticed they had there outdoor lawn furniture cushions on clearance and 3 that are 20" x 72" x 4.5 makes a queen size with a sleeping bag on top works great, Also when not in use they make for a nice seat if you stack them up on top of each other. By the way kids will have a harder time tearing them up when they decide to jump on them, Which I know will happen.

[8ball_99]

I did the same thing in my first trailer.. Built the frame and the hinges for air mattresses.. This go around I brought the frames off the wall a few inches and bought a RV memory foam mattress. World of difference.. The air mattresses were a pain to pull out air up then air down roll up. Didn't sleep very well either.. Nothing sucks worse then having one develop a slow leak in the middle of a cold night and you wake up on plywood at 3 am...

[Xtremespeed]

Amen to that. I wish I could fit a mattress but I need all the inside width I can get for my toys. The lawn furniture cushions are something I thought of but a queen is 60" wide so I'd need 3. I found something online called a hide a mat. It's a quad fold queen size mat about 4" thick, but the reviews are not at all consistent and the prices aren't either.

[emjohn4]

Amen to that. I wish I could fit a mattress but I need all the inside width I can get for my toys. The lawn furniture cushions are something I thought of but a queen is 60" wide so I'd need 3. I found something online called a hide a mat. It's a quad fold queen size mat about 4" thick, but the reviews are not at all consistent and the prices aren't either.

Instead of a fold down bed - can you pin it up to the ceiling? I need the width for my toys as well.

This is what I am doing - can post pics this weekend.

[Xtremespeed]

Just the mattress you mean or the whole thing? I already have everything built and don't want to redo it if I don't have to. What will that mattress weigh? I'll have to build a queen and a twin. I look forward to the pics.

[roadinspector]

Most foam matresses don't weigh that much. I bet he's talking about a web system to just support the mattress up at the ceiling.

Earnest

[chukar]

2-folding cots with 4-inch memory foam and sleeping bags works great for the wife and I. With both 30-inch wide cots set-up we still have a 2 foot hallway in our 7X14.

Tried air on floor (too hard to get up) then air on raised frame (still hard to get up and out as covered full width and uncomfortable besides).