Comfort of a RTT mattress!

[Lemsteraak]

Thank you, nice concept, I believe it will work well with the Columbus. I'm on my third one, a Carbon Fiber and while AutoHome has made great advances in the composite shell, the mattress is better but I see three advantages and only one disadvantage.

Advantages

Weight - The mattress in my new small Carbon Fiber Columbus is about 7 to 8 pounds, so it is light. The mattress in my old medium Columbus Variant was something like 20 pounds. If you have an older AutoHome tent and don't want to go to the expense of a carbon fiber tent, you could save some weight by switching.

Comfort - That is one thick mattress at four inches, there is no way you could put a conventional foam mattress that thick in a Columbus. Current mattress for a Columbus is about 2.5 inches and the Maggiolina at 3 inches. Let the mattress inflate when you open the tent and last thing you do in the morning is open the valve and let the air out, then you could close the tent.

Space - When you are using a Columbus in cold weather, you have a lot of bulk with comforters, feather beds, heated mattress pads, that take up space. It is sometimes difficult to close the tent because of the bulk and temperature, stuff doesn't want to compress as much, so you would in theory be able to carry more in your tent's shell.

Drawbacks

Ventilation - when you are using sheets and blankets, civilized camping, the foam mattress breathes well making the mattress more comfortable. They absorb a lot of moisture. I'm not so sure that an inflating mattress would breathe, or feel as comfortable in a compact tent.

Interesting possible upgrade, especially for the older tents, please give us your thoughts when you get it all put together.

 

[xpdishn]

As stated earlier, we thought we were the only ones with issues the the RTT sleeping pads. Our firest attempt was a memory mattress without the OEM pad - didn't work, too thick. We then thought of our twin air mattresses from our sleeping bag. We knew that these things have a mind of their own and move where ever so Paula sewed two pockets onto the bottom of our bottom sheet and tried that. (pics later) No go - as the ribs of the mattresses really got in the way. So I took out the air mattresses and slid them under the pad. Last night I slept in the tent here at home to test this theory and again they moved around even under the pad. I was also concerned that when the tent is put away the air mattresses would be exposed and when deploying the tent the material might be pinched at the intersection of the floor.

So here is what we did this time: Put the bottom sheet under the pad. In these pictures you can see the pockets, the fill valves, close to the tent opening and a general view of how the matresses fit in the sheet:

No test yet, but in a week we're headed to Oregon so the testing will happen then. I have full confidence that it will work. We're looking for that first real restfull nights sleep.

 

[JKJenn]

As stated earlier, we thought we were the only ones with issues the the RTT sleeping pads. Our firest attempt was a memory mattress without the OEM pad - didn't work, too thick. We then thought of our twin air mattresses from our sleeping bag. We knew that these things have a mind of their own and move where ever so Paula sewed two pockets onto the bottom of our bottom sheet and tried that. (pics later) No go - as the ribs of the mattresses really got in the way. So I took out the air mattresses and slid them under the pad. Last night I slept in the tent here at home to test this theory and again they moved around even under the pad. I was also concerned that when the tent is put away the air mattresses would be exposed and when deploying the tent the material might be pinched at the intersection of the floor.

So here is what we did this time: Put the bottom sheet under the pad. In these pictures you can see the pockets, the fill valves, close to the tent opening and a general view of how the matresses fit in the sheet:

No test yet, but in a week we're headed to Oregon so the testing will happen then. I have full confidence that it will work. We're looking for that first real restfull nights sleep.

Is the down sleeping bag for weight - to replicate your normal at home sleeping experience? I might have to try that out....maybe I can con my brother out of his Marine core sleeping bag again. It was the best. I slept in it for an entire semester at college.

I can see how the twin pads might move around more. I had no problems with the full double (Cabela's Ultimate) moving around on me. The only thing I have trouble with is my pillow! No headboard to keep it in place, what do you do?

 

[xpdishn]

Is the down sleeping bag for weight - to replicate your normal at home sleeping experience? I might have to try that out....maybe I can con my brother out of his Marine core sleeping bag again. It was the best. I slept in it for an entire semester at college.

I can see how the twin pads might move around more. I had no problems with the full double (Cabela's Ultimate) moving around on me. The only thing I have trouble with is my pillow! No headboard to keep it in place, what do you do?

We like the idea of the single double air matress idea, but want to try with what we have before possibly going that route. Don't want to spend money if we don't have to. But we have'nt ruled something like that out yet.

After many nights of sleeping with a sleeping bag, we did want to go with the "at home" feel of sheets and a more normal sleeping experience. It really does help.

The down bag is for both warmth and weight. It is a 40+ year old bag and is still functional. Even though we camp in the desert SW it still gets cold at night, cold for us. It is like sleeping with nothing above us though and that is great. We are thinking of trying other comforters, blankets, etc for the warmer nights.

As for the pillow thing, I just wrestle with it during the night, keeping it under my head.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

The only thing I have trouble with is my pillow! No headboard to keep it in place, what do you do?

To keep my pillow from moving, I use my clean clothes duffle bag as a 'head board', so to speak.

I stick the bag above my head, and it keeps the pillow in place really well.

For extra comfort, I have been using 2 of the self inflating camp mats, one on each side. They move a bit, but not bad.

To keep them from getting pinched, I used a piece of aluminum flashing to cover the gap at the hinge area.

I have my RTT on my trailer lid, and open the lid quite a bit. This opens the gap in the tent, so the flashing really helps keep the mats/blankets/etc from getting stuck in the gap.

 

[JKJenn]

To keep my pillow from moving, I use my clean clothes duffle bag as a 'head board', so to speak.

I stick the bag above my head, and it keeps the pillow in place really well.

So simple and brilliant - thanks! (why didn't I think of that?)

 

[Surfy]

I have chosen fanello for my setup:

They offer them in custom sizes, and thickness. Its a combination of rust & matress, with a good ventilation below.

They could also fit them to a specific body / weight.

At the last overlanding event in germany, bad kissingen, i could test them live. In 11cm thickness it is a dream to rest - like @ home, and also the 8cm thick one is useable. If you have the space, choose the 11cm thick!

They are mostly used in yacht building - but also many overlander rapport a good quality.

You have to use google translate, because they dont have an Website with english language: http://www.fanello.ch/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=9

 

[Titanpat57]

I scored a mattress from a new, parted out pop-up. I cut it in three even 50" x 26" pcs. to fit on top of the mattress on the ARB Simpson III...and wow..what a difference! They also fit the bed down below inside the trailer, in the event the RTT doesn't get set up.

The pcs go inside the trailer, up in the front, and although they do add extra gear, it has dramatically increased the comfort level. The mattress cost 25$

 

[sixbennetts]

I wonder how a mattress from a fold-out sofa bed would do.

 

[mbryson]

As stated earlier, we thought we were the only ones with issues the the RTT sleeping pads. Our firest attempt was a memory mattress without the OEM pad - didn't work, too thick. We then thought of our twin air mattresses from our sleeping bag. We knew that these things have a mind of their own and move where ever so Paula sewed two pockets onto the bottom of our bottom sheet and tried that. (pics later) No go - as the ribs of the mattresses really got in the way. So I took out the air mattresses and slid them under the pad. Last night I slept in the tent here at home to test this theory and again they moved around even under the pad. I was also concerned that when the tent is put away the air mattresses would be exposed and when deploying the tent the material might be pinched at the intersection of the floor.

So here is what we did this time: Put the bottom sheet under the pad. In these pictures you can see the pockets, the fill valves, close to the tent opening and a general view of how the matresses fit in the sheet:

No test yet, but in a week we're headed to Oregon so the testing will happen then. I have full confidence that it will work. We're looking for that first real restfull nights sleep.

Any report on this setup?

 

[JKJenn]

For those using a one of the queen or king sized sleeping pads, do you deflate and remove each time you pack up the tent?

I am using a Cabellas Ultimate sleeping pad on top of my ARB mattress and it is very comfortable and really no movement but I was unable to fold the tent with it in whether inflated or deflated. Any tips would be welcome.

 

[mbryson]

We did just buy a memory foam mattress topper from WalMart for our travel trailer mattress. The "queen" size appears to be an almost perfect match for the ARB Simpson III tent. $20 and it made our crappy travel trailer mattress pretty stinking comfortable. I think the RTT needs one now.

 

[ManleyORV]

Very timely thread, I was just looking for solutions myself and my ARB Pilbara. My problem is that I am a side sleeper so all the pressure is on my shoulder and hip and I don't sink down like I do on my home mattress. And then my head is way high up and I need to pile clothes under my pillow! Even with that, I sleep ok, but I have body parts falling asleep and it wakes me up during the night.

First thing is going to be a double sleeping bag so I can toss and turn more easily, either this: http://www.amazon.com/TETON-Sports-Mammoth-Sleeping-Bag/dp/B00807TNB2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1

or this: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunt...eping-bags/_/N-1100141&WTz_l=SEO;cat104770080

Not sure what to do about the mattress. I'm going to read through this thread a little more closely, but I think I will try the double self-inflating sleeping pads on top of the mattress, under the sleeping bag: http://www.cabelas.com/sleeping-pad...5855053944&mr:match={matchtype}&mr:adType=pla

My rest does seem to get better on the second and third night, as I get use to it.

-Josh

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Very timely thread, ..................., but I think I will try the double self-inflating sleeping pads on top of the mattress, under the sleeping bag..................

That's what I use, a self inflator on each side. With the new CVT, the mattress is better. On the old RTT, I used to double up the self inflators, but haven't had to yet with the CVT mattress.

Then again, I've only had 3 nights in so far.

Fixing that soon! 2 nights this weekend, and then 4-6 nights at the end of the month. :elkgrin:

 

[fourstringfletch]

Anyone have a source to buy foam or mattresses like these? Custom sizes would be fantastic - I need 40" width.
I've used a roll of memory foam a lot and mostly enjoyed it, except on cold nights when the foam gets hard and "remembers" the dent where you were just sleeping for hours to come. It also has some thermal mass and sucks heat from you. After sleeping on a leaky air mattress, I'm all about foam.

Cheers,
Fletch