Mattress Idea

[Markb5900]

Hey everyone,
Had an idea and wondered if anyone has done this.
Instead of buying a better mattress for our travel trailer, has anyone put an air mattress under the existing one?
If so, how did it work out?
Thanks

[camjam]

As inexpensive as they are, why not try one and report back here how it went.

[Camper_bob]

If you decide to go this route, make sure you put something between the air mattress and the platform. Both of my units have had unfinished, low-grade plywood down there. This would EASILY puncture any air mattress. So I would recommend getting down there with a scraper and maybe some sand paper, and then cover it with something durable enough to stop any remaining splinter from working through into the air mattress.

But IMO, there are 2 potentially better options depending on how you like to sleep:

1) Put the thickest memory foam topper you can find on top of the OEM mattress. We did that in our TT, and it was fine for probably 2 years.

2) Get a new memory foam mattress. We installed a 10" Zinus short queen, and a topper, and it sleeps REALLY well for us.

You're probably going to end up replacing the entire works at some point anyway. The more nights you spend in the rig, the sooner that will happen. So your decision is how much you want to spend, and how much headache do you want to endure, to make your stop-gap solution work for you until you eventually do install a "real" mattress.

That's my position anyway. But I'm SUPER picky about sleeping arrangements.

[TaftCoach]

Assuming that you are looking for added comfort, a mattress topper is probably the better route unless the need the advantages of air, cost and lightweight.

[Markb5900]

Thanks everyone

[Russc25]

My experience is limited to the couple of RV mattresses I laid on when we were looking for our camper. Putting something under it wouldn't be much help, sort of like putting an air mattress under cardboard, it just makes the cardboard squishier, it doesn't fix that you're laying on cardboard.

Skip it and just use the air mattress. Use the RV mattress to protect the air mattress from the unfinished plywood underneath.

There's a saying about polishing a turd. Just toss the RV mattress and be done with it.

[magshooter1]

I'll second the Zinus replacement mattress.

[RogerR]

I third the Zinus. Our short queen 10 inch is on it's 5th season and since then we bought 2 single bed Zinus and one king for the house. I purchased some inexpensive vinyl coated fabric like for seat cushions and covered our bed platform. Stapled it on about 6 inches under the bottom so our fingers don't get splinters while changing sheets or the bottom of the mattress is exposed to rough plywood. Not hard at all or expensive.

[Jagiven]

Never heard of someone using an air mattress under the horrible RV mattress. Everyone talks about adding a memory foam mattress topper or a new mattress.

If you have a short RV mattress, memory foam can be easily cut. Companies like the Original Mattress Co. Will make one for you, price is good.

[Jerry713]

I’ve tried most options including air mattress under the mattress with and without a mattress topper. I used a thin camping air mattress (Coleman I believe) under the mattress combined with a mattress topper on top and those two worked ok. You have to continuously air up the air mattress since they’re not designed to handle that much weight. Ultimately I ended up spending about 1500 on a decent mattress and both my wife and I are really happy with it.

I would save the hassle and bite the bullet on a new mattress.

[Brownie]

I like your way of thinking, but I don't think an air mattress is the solution. I agree with those who think a memory-foam mattress topper would work much better.

When I first bought my trailer, I also bought a 4" memory-foam mattress topper (at the recommendation of many Forum members). I tried it for a week on my first outing and hated it. After about 3 nights, it developed a "dip" right where I slept. Every time I'd roll to one side, the "dip" would roll me right back into the original spot. When I returned home from that outing, I turned to the good folks here for advise. Someone suggested that they had tried their topper underneath their mattress and loved it. It made sense to me . . . sort of like a box spring under the mattress. So I gave that a try and found it to be much more comfortable than the expensive mattress I had in my S & B house.

LSS, I like your idea of putting the pad underneath the mattress but think a memory-foam mattress topper would be a more comfortable and more "permanent" solution.

HAPPY CAMPING

[Toad]

We bought a foam topper egg crate style 4 inches thick and placed it on top the RV mattress. Sleep incredible. 😴

Originally Posted by Markb5900

Hey everyone,
Had an idea and wondered if anyone has done this.
Instead of buying a better mattress for our travel trailer, has anyone put an air mattress under the existing one?
If so, how did it work out?
Thanks

[AncasterDuo]

We use thin air pads (a pair) on top of the OEM mattress. We have these anyway, as we also tent-camp. We want to keep weight down and avoid a "thicker" solution, as our beds fold in.
The result is, we're always comfortable. But we only use the trailer a few nights a year. If we were using it a few weeks or more, we'd try the memory foam topper.

[Acker]

A decent mattress topper fixed our problem.

[exfiredude56]

We’ve used a queen sized air mattress in our hybrid trailers for years. It only took us one weekend to figure out that the stock folding mattress felt like sleeping on an old fold out couch. We put the blow up mattress over the foam mattress, then we use a mattress pad, fitted sheets and blankets ( electric blanket if it’s really cold ).
It’s been great for us. Just don’t forget the air mattress pump. Ask me how I know. Ha.

[bjferg]

Originally Posted by Markb5900

Hey everyone,
Had an idea and wondered if anyone has done this.
Instead of buying a better mattress for our travel trailer, has anyone put an air mattress under the existing one?
If so, how did it work out?
Thanks

We bought a custom made mattress topper from Mattress Insider. Actually bought two rv twin sizes. Had them for four years now and they are still doing a great job.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

We have slept on the original 2017 3" Denver mattress for the past six years. Works fine for us after decades of foam or self-inflating pads for sleeping bags in our tents.
If you use an air mattress, you will have ambient temperature air under you rather than the warmth that a mattress or sleeping bag provides.
If I wanted more, I'd probably just get a chunk of good foam and see how it works.

[gypsmjim]

I have a back problem and have had it for years, since an unavoidable accident. I spent over $3,000.00 for a new setup at my house. It does not solve the problem.

At camp I put a foam mattress topper on the existing (crappy as everyone says) mattress. I sleep thru the night and wake up refreshed. No back problem. When I wake and pull up the shade at the top of the bed and I see deer walking by, alls I can say is "Life is Good".

[Markomyt1]

The Zinius is a great Idea I bought this Topper for ours... amazing value.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Price-Ma...07998YXG1&th=1

-Mark-

[SteveHay MB]

Originally Posted by Markb5900

Hey everyone,
Had an idea and wondered if anyone has done this.
Instead of buying a better mattress for our travel trailer, has anyone put an air mattress under the existing one?
If so, how did it work out?
Thanks

We found the new mattress in our Jayflight uncomfortable so we purchased a 3 inch foam mattress pad and it made a big difference without the cost of a replacement mattress.