I’ll admit it. I’m old enough that my sleeping bag and tent camping days are behind me. If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I’m a bear … and not the cute, snuggly kind. That’s one of the reasons we buy an RV to begin with, am I right?
When we were shopping for RVs, I sat on enough beds to suspect that the princess in me was going to require an upgrade. Every time I sat on ours while setting our RV up, I was surprised by the sudden, jarring impact of its over-firm construction. Still, I decided to at least give the standard issue mattress a try.
For our first trip, I bought a fluffy mattress pad and hoped for the best. (I’ll confess that I went into it cringing.) And, um … NOPE! Patrick and I both struggle with arthritis. After our first night on it (I’ll generously liken that experience to tent camping on a cement
I spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for a memory foam alternative and poring over reviews for all the RV-sized options I found. The reviews were all over the place and some were downright horrifying. Some dissatisfied customers uploaded photos of mattresses covered in black mold or ones that expanded into lumpy lopsided disasters, or that had rips in the foam. Several even reported fiberglass fragments. YIKES! One can never be sure how these unhappy mattress buyers unboxed or stored their purchases, or if they waited the suggested amount of time before trying it out, but their claims alone were enough to increase my shopping anxiety. Who wants to risk
I dreaded making the decision. It’s not like you can return a mattress. You even need to hire someone to haul a disastrous purchase away. I also knew that what we had was not going to create any camping enthusiasm. Finally, I pushed aside my fears and ordered the highest-rated RV queen I could find. (It is important to know before making a purchase that RV queen mattresses are five inches shorter than a standard queen. Read my note at the end of this article for more details.)
I ended up choosing the 10-inch Short Queen Ultima Comfort RV Memory Foam Mattress. It is constructed of a 5-inch high-density foam support base with a 2-inch layer of “comfort foam” topped by 3 inches of memory foam. The manufacturer claims that it is resistant to dust mites and antimicrobial.
Zinus suggests unpacking it within 72 hours of delivery to “maximize expansion” and to allow 48 hours for it to expand fully. They also warned that vacuum sealing can sometimes trap odors and that airing it out after unpacking it was best. Once a mattress is opened, they are non-returnable. (Not that repackaging it would be possible, even if it was returnable.) However, they do offer a 10-year limited warranty. (This covers defects in workmanship and materials and you must register your mattress online as soon as you receive it. It does not cover normal wear and tear or customer damage.) Using a heating pad or electric blanket on it will also void your warranty.
We found this mattress to be just the right amount of squishy softness and support. It expanded fully within hours and we detected no odors at all. This mattress gives us all the comforts of home while camping. For less than $300, we received a comfy mattress that rivals our Tempur-Pedic. We recommend this mattress for an amazing night’s sleep on the road!
Our bed now lures us for a comfy night of camping!
IMPORTANT TIPS BEFORE BUYING A NEW MATTRESS:
- Be sure to measure the original mattress before replacing it and make sure you’re getting the right size. (RV mattresses come in a variety of sizes, some of them unique to RVs).
- Order bedding for RV-specific sizes, if that is what you have (We love this bedding for RV short queens. It comes in a wide variety of gorgeous colors).
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT RV MATTRESSES: An RV queen mattress like the one we bought is 60 inches wide and 74-75 inches long. A standard queen mattress is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. You will need to buy RV queen sheets to fit it properly. RV queens are designed to make the most of your RV’s interior space. My husband’s feet hang off the end, but he doesn’t seem to mind. I’m fine with the length since I can walk around the bed to make it!
HOW TO CARE FOR A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS
Memory foam mattresses can last a decade if they are properly cared for. Here is how to get the most life out of your mattress investment…
- Rotate the mattress: this is not flipping, as we did with old mattresses, but turning it 180 degrees head to foot. (Just do this when you’re changing the sheets and it will help with getting the corners on the fitted sheet nice and tight.) This helps your mattress wear evenly and not get compressed by your body. If rotating is difficult for you, try to do it every few months. We can easily rotate our mattress with two people.
- Keep the mattress dry: Use a fan or cool-setting hair dryer, if needed. You do not want mold or mildew to grow. When we get home from a trip, I strip the sheets and we put a dehumidifier in our trailer to handle any moisture. (This is especially important if you’ve had rain on your trip.)
- Use a washable mattress pad and keep it clean.
- Clean any liquid spills as soon as possible: Just sprinkle on a little baking soda. It will also help remove any odors. Allow it to absorb the moisture and dry, then vacuum clean.
Following these few simple steps will keep you healthy and comfortable in your home away from home!
