Cheap, comfortable mattress source (right under your nose)

[dustboy]

I have been searching for a cheap foam mattress to use in my camper shell for a long time now. Custom was too expensive, air mattresses, well, s*ck, thermarests are too thin.
I was about to buy a $200 mattress from a local futon shop, but my wife had the brilliant idea to check with Ikea. "Duh," said I, slapping my forehead. I found this, which fits perfectly on the sleeping platform in my Tacoma, is quite comfortable, and is cheap at only $90.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20102074

Ikea has a zillion different types and sizes of mattresses, definitely worth a look if you are tired of that self-deflating air mattress.

 

[Harald Hansen]

Ikea also has an assortment of hinges, sliders, knobs and such. It's possible (at least here) to buy parts individually, so you don't have to buy a whole kitchen cabinet to get two sliders. Cheap hardware for interior projects!

 

[Dowry]

I'm also finding similar products at Walmart.com, like this one, which is memory foam:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4569413&findingMethod=rr#ProductDetail
although it's listed as a matress topper. According to the commments on some of the walmart matresses, the covers are zippered so you can remove the foam and trim it to fit your application. I can't tel labout that IKEA one.

Would a memory foam mattress be preferable to straight urethane foam?

D

 

[bucketosudz]

Memory Foam mattresses can be a wonderful thing.... BUT they can be very rigid when cold and very squishy or flat when really warm. We bought a memory foam bed $$$$$$ for our home and the are wonderful but do have some quirks to them. FWIW

 

[scottishpinz]

Ikea Mattress

We have a cheap spring Ikea mattress in the Pinzgauer, its one that comes rolled up vacuum packed! Great to watch it expand when opened for the first time.

 

[dustboy]

I decided that the memory foam mattress toppers are too soft. My hips and elbows would sink right through to the hard platform. Also the thick ones cost more than the futon.

We just spent two weeks camping on the Lycksele Lovas and can confirm that it's very comfortable, and on the firm side which we like.

 

[Dowry]

That's great input, dustboy, just what I needed to know. Thanks!

D

 

[pete.wilson]

Hey

Don't rule out garage sales, friends or even co-workers which is were I bought a 2 year old twin size mattress and Box springs $20 (i use just the mattress) for the bed of my F150 which has a Unicover construction type topper, it works great and is very comfortable. 39" X 75" x 8"

Pete Wilson

 

[mhiscox]

I decided that the memory foam mattress toppers are too soft.

One approach, used in my Sprinter, is to use spray adhesive to laminate a memory foam topper to a firm or extra-firm bottom. Something like 1" of memory foam over 3" of extra firm mattress foam will produce a result most will find comfy.

Similarly, in the Mog, I just bought the separate 1" topper and laid it over the 4" bench cushions and it was very nice as well.

 

[Fish]

I used a Costco yoga pad. It's around 2 ft wide by 6 ft long and around 2 in thick. It's not the softest thing in the world, but it'll do. I actually have two, so I can stack them if it's just me, or put them side by side if the wife is along.

$35

http://tinyurl.com/costcoyogamat

John

 

[Connie]

I know the memory foam works for lots of folks, but we spent a night in a RTT with a memory foam topper on top of the mattress that comes in the tent, and we were both tremendously sore in the morning. I would try to shift a little bit and the darn thing kept sucking me back into the original position.

On the plus side, I was very happy to get to test one out before I went out and bought one for home!

One day, I dream of checking out this mythical land that people call Ikea.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: When I camp, I like to sleep in comfort-I can't sleep on a pad/cushion/foam-I've used this "Truckbedz" for over two years and it's very comfortable, you can make it firm/firmer/medium/soft, it never leaks

I've used it in Xterra/Jeep/tent/rtt, folds up and stows away-can't beat it

:costumed-smiley-007:wings::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[Sportsman Matt]

Been away from the forums for a bit (too much fun doing the fishing and camping thing)

I got dragged to Ikea by my girlfriend this past weekend, and we were talking about the sofas when I saw the matress on a Futon. $89.00 plus tax, folds right in the middle, and zippered covers also. My current matress in the camper is a 75/25 split due to the pull out full size bed on the overhead cab. Problem was one of us ended up sleeping on the crack and wasn't comfortable. Now this way we both cxan sleep without one of us sliding in between the matress seams.

Got some other goodies also, like the little tea warmer lanterns, nice for outside lighting without really screwing up your night vision.

 

[kevinofcamelot]

Try and get a 3" thick piece of latex used in beds. It feels alot better then memory foam.

 

[max adams]

I bought an ikea bed frame that didn't require a box spring. I thought I would cut up the old box spring for the lattice for the new bed. Once I removed the cover I discovered a Queen sized 6" thick foam mattress.