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Author: Chelsea Barron
The lure of life on the open road in your motorhome sounds very relaxing. You might be surprised to hear that one of the biggest complaints about RV’s is the uncomfortable mattresses they come with.
You see, RV manufacturers have to work really hard to keep the weight of their motorhomes and trailers to a minimum. Unfortunately, this often means cutting corners. For instance, the stock mattresses in RVs are lightweight, but are also thin and definitely leave something to be desired when it comes to comfort levels.
For those individuals who—like us—are staying in their RV long-term, this is a real issue and can even lead to health problems such as severe backaches. Fortunately, there are ways to remedy this situation and get a good night’s sleep in your home-on-wheels.
Related Read: Your Best Sleep in Your RV – Part 1
Here are some of the best options out there:
Mattress Toppers
Perhaps the most popular solution to this common problem is to invest in a mattress topper. There are all kinds of mattress toppers out there, and most add little weight to an RV. Additionally, the nicer mattress toppers out there can make a really big difference in the quality of sleep a person is getting.
Memory foam is a popular option when it comes to these toppers, as it vastly improves the comfort levels of the bed while still being relatively affordable. Moreover, memory foam isn’t too terribly heavy, so weight shouldn't be a problem.
Related Read: Your Best Sleep in Your RV – Part 2
Mattress Pads
Often used in conjunction with a mattress topper, mattress pads can also add a level of cushion to a mattress. This additional padding is perfect for the person who needs to keep their travel weight incredibly low, as well as those who happen to be on a super tight budget.
While a mattress pad won't work miracles, it’s a good temporary solution and something you can continue to use even when a more permanent solution is found.
Anti-Fatigue Mats
This is a strange one that I wouldn’t have expected. It seems many people, especially those who camp in pop-up campers, have taken to using interlocking foam anti-fatigue mats under their RV mattresses.
Because most RV mattresses are placed on a simple plywood frame without box springs, this can really help reduce the uncomfortable, hard feeling of a camper bed. As an added bonus, the mats also work as insulation, helping to keep the bed warm in winter and cool in summer.
Related Read: DIY: Installing Insulating Blinds in Your RV
This trick is especially nice for those staying in pop-ups—which explains why so many of them use it—but would be a nice bonus for any RVer.
Related Read: 4 Best Pop-Up Campers & Why You Should Buy Them
Replacement Mattress
As a final option, a person having an extra difficult time dealing with their RV mattress might consider a replacement altogether. This is the route we took, and we are now sleeping on a residential-style mattress.
That said, we didn't have any problems with weight, so we had a bit more freedom to choose whatever we liked. If you need to keep a close eye on the weight of your new bedding, you might consider looking into a high-end mattress made specifically for RVs. These tend to be much more comfortable than stock mattresses, but still much lighter than a traditional mattress.
Sleep is an important part of life. Without it, moods go sour and potentially exciting adventures turn into nightmares. Therefore, it is incredibly important that you find a way to make your RV bed as comfy as possible. I hope these tips help you do just that!
Do you have a tip you’d like to add? Please let us know in the comments below!
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Camping Gear + Accessories, Education, Hacks, RV Tips, Wellness
November 9, 2020 | 08:00 AM
I put a air bed in my RV and loved it. the next year we traveled to Alaska and the air bed was destroyed as we left it at our sleep level every AM. The hardness of the bed is made different by the elevation you are at. When we traveled over some of the high hills on the ALCAN the mattress over inflated and some of the internal seams broke and the bed had a large bubble in it. To correct this deflate the air mattress a lot every day you travel over hills so the bed will not over inflate
November 9, 2020 | 08:50 AM
I put a air bed in my RV and loved it. the next year we traveled to Alaska and the air bed was destroyed as we left it at our sleep level every AM. The hardness of the bed is made different by the elevation you are at. When we traveled over some of the high hills on the ALCAN the mattress over inflated and some of the internal seams broke and the bed had a large bubble in it. To correct this deflate the air mattress a lot every day you travel over hills so the bed will not over inflate
Contact us for Guest Guide, Advertising & Listing Inquiries
contactus@rvingusa.com or Call: 800-832-3292
18.191.218.238