How to Make an RV Bed More Comfortable: RV Mattress Toppers and Other Affordable Solutions
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It’s no secret: RV mattresses are not known for their comfort. In fact, they have a reputation for being quite uncomfortable, and if you spend a day checking out RV floor models or spend your first night in an RV, chances are you’ll come to understand how they’ve earned the reputation. But while RV manufacturers do not traditionally prioritize a good night’s sleep in their RV design and execution, there are RV mattress toppers and other solutions you can use to make your home or home away from home a great setting for a good night’s sleep. In this article, we’ll explore how to make an RV bed more comfortable.
If you’ve got an uncomfortable RV mattress, the potential fixes are on a spectrum, from simple to a complete mattress replacement. To find the right solution for you will depend on your budget, how frequently you’ll be using your RV, and your own personal preferences. Let’s explore the factors that contribute to an uncomfortable RV mattress, the common problems, and solutions to them, as well as some great RV mattress topper options and some additional tips that might be right for your RV.
Why Are RV Mattresses So Uncomfortable?
Most of us are aiming for 7-9 hours of sleep per night, which might more time than you’ll be awake in your RV each day, assuming you get out of the RV to explore where you’re parked. And yet RV manufacturers are notorious for having mattress quality issues. They’re often made with cheaper, lower-quality materials, and they might be thinner and provide less support than the mattresses you’re used to in a house. Many other factors contribute; it’s not solely the manufacturer’s fault.
One reason that RV mattresses are so uncomfortable is that there are weight and space constraints in RVs. And with being “overweight” an ever-present concern for RVers and for RV manufacturers seeking to design a safe unit, there’s a major incentive to cut down on the weight of RV mattresses by going thinner and with less support than your average mattress.
Limited space in an RV often also motivates RV manufacturers to get creative with where they put the bed or with putting additional storage space underneath it – which can be wonderful, but which can also put restrictions on how heavy a mattress will work for the setup. Dual-use or convertible setups can also run into this issue – if my dinette converts to a bed, how comfortable will that bed really be?
Many RV mattress manufacturers create oddly shaped mattresses to maximize space. It’s not unusual for an RV mattress to look like someone chopped a corner off, or took a bite out of it. What’s called a “Full” or a “Queen” mattress in an RV might look suspiciously smaller than the bed you have at home. They’re shorter than a residential mattress. For the other short folks out there, like me and my husband, this is probably a non-issue, but if you’re a former basketball player (or even a person of average height), you might find your feet hanging off the bed in an RV!
While it’s normal for people to complain about uncomfortable mattresses, odd pressure points, and back pain, and issues with temperature regulation on their cheap RV mattress, there are some great solutions available to you to try.
How to Make an RV Bed More Comfortable: Common Problems and Solutions
Addressing Overall Mattress Discomfort
Many RVers complain that their mattress is just generally uncomfortable. An uncomfortable mattress will play a huge role in keeping you awake at night, and you’re likely thinking you’d give an arm and a leg for a better mattress.
And if that’s the case for you, you really have two reasonable options.
Option 1: Replace Your Mattress
If your budget allows it, and if your setup allows it (for example, if you don’t need to lift up your mattress to access your storage on a weekly basis), the best way to make an RV bed more comfortable is to completely replace your mattress. Keep in mind that the extra weight of your mattress will need to be accounted for. Review the instructions from your manufacturer and make sure your belongings are light enough that the weight over each of your wheels will be a safe one after you’ve added in the weight of a better mattress.
A standard residential mattress is typically a fairly affordable option if your space permits it, but there are also higher-end mattresses made for RVs that may be available if you have less space to play with. This article is a great resource for where to find the best RV mattresses.
It gets a bit more tricky if your RV bed has to fold or fit into a weird corner. I’ve actually heard of RVers who took a saw to their standard residential mattress to make it fit (I think it was memory foam), but a much easier option is to order a mattress made specifically for RV’s from a company that sells hinged, corner cut, and rounded angle mattresses. This article goes into detail about where to buy an “odd-shaped” mattress.
Option 2: Add a Mattress Topper
For some mattresses and RVs, adding an RV mattress topper may be all it takes for you to achieve the dream (and need!) of a comfortable night’s sleep.
A memory foam mattress topper like this one is typically 1.5” to 4” and will run you about $100 or less. Consider how much height will work in your RV, whether you’d like a cooling mattress or not, and what materials you’d like your mattress topper to be made of.
Where to Buy an RV Mattress Topper
Amazon sells lots of RV mattress topper options, but you don’t actually need to buy an RV mattress topper specifically for RV’s. If your RV bed is oddly shaped, you can buy a residential mattress topper made from memory foam in a size larger than the total height and width of your RV mattress and and cut it to fit.
Amazon is a good place to find a mattress topper for your RV mattress. Some ideas for you to check out include:
- This two-inch gel memory foam mattress. It is an affordable option that comes in lots of sizes, including the “short queen” size of many RV beds.
- This cooling, bamboo-derived mattress topper (it comes in the short queen size as well as all the standard mattress sizes).
- This ultra-fluffy 4 inch mattress topper with breathable mesh sides and deep pocket
Dealing with Pressure Points and Back Pain
If you’re dealing with back pain and particular pressure points being triggered by your mattress, you’ll definitely want to consider some of the RV mattress toppers listed above.
Solution 1: Buy a mattress designed for back pain relief.
If adding a mattress topper isn’t enough, there are specialty mattress options you may want to look at, either through your RV manufacturer or elsewhere. This 10 inch mattress with gel memory foam is designed for cooling and claims to offer strong support and relieve pressure points. It’s available in short full, queen, and king sizes, and is pretty affordable–under $300 for most sizes. And since the mattress comes in a box, rolled up, it should be able to fit through your RV door. Just make sure you check the measurements of the mattress before you unroll it! People say it fits perfectly in campers.
- ❤️【QUALITY MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS】: Gel Mattress in a Box with luxurious Tencel removable cover, softer and cooler, fiberglass-free, premier cooling green tea/gel memory foam, hug your shape to soothe you to sleep. Experience the luxury of high-quality CertiPUR-certified foams. Perfect family gift for Camper.
Solution 2: Make sure you have the correct mattress firmness.
Another factor to consider is making sure that you have the optimal mattress firmness for the way that you sleep. Side sleepers might prefer a softer mattress, while petite people, those who sleep in multiple ways (combination sleepers), back sleepers, and couples might prefer a mattress more in the middle, while firmer mattresses are popular with stomach sleepers and some back sleepers. The firmest of mattresses may be preferred by plus-size individuals or some side-sleepers.
Temperature Regulation Solutions for Hot Sleepers
Struggling to stay cool? One popular option for temperature regulation is a cooling mattress topper, like this one or this one. You can also upgrade your bedding from synthetic polyester microfiber to a natural fiber like cotton or bamboo to make it more breathable, or go with moisture-wicking sheets if you tend to sleep hot.
You can also look at bedding that regulate your temperature, whether your issue is heat or cold, such as this cooling blanket, perfect for staying cool in a camper on a hot summer night.
If you’re willing to invest a little more, you might consider one of these options:
- Chilipad Bed Cooling System – Two of my friends have this and can’t sleep without it. It is a mattress topper that circulates cold water through tiny tubes to keep your bed feeling cool underneath you while you sleep. This is an especially good option for keeping you cool while sleeping with a partner who gets cold at night and wants to sleep under heavy bedding. If the price of the Chilipad is out of your budget, there are similar alternatives such as this one or this one.
- Bedjet – Another good option for couples, the Bedjet works by blowing cold OR warm air into a double-layer sheet that sits between you and your regular bedding. However, this option is less space-friendly for RV’s, since it has a small motor that sits next to the bed and a wide tube that blows the air into the sheet.
Bed Comfort Issues Unique to RV Owners
The RV-specific issues that pop up in how to make an RV bed more comfortable are significant, and I’ve already mentioned some of them here, but it’s worth pointing them out more specifically, with potential solutions for them.
What to do if your RV bed is too short
The too-short RV bed issue is a tricky one, and to a certain extent, it’s important for you to prioritize how much of an issue that is for you and then shop for your RV accordingly, because if there’s a wall at the foot of your bed, there’s not much you can do about that.
If you have the space however, you may be able to extend the length of your RV bed by simply replacing the short RV mattress with a residential mattress or a custom RV mattress made to the specific length and width you need. If you find the end of the mattress bends uncomfortable, you could build an extension to your bed’s platform or (if you have enough weight to spare) add a piece of plywood under your mattress that extends the length.
What to do if your mattress won’t stay in place
If you’re dealing with a mattress that slides around, you may be interested in these mattress slide stoppers. A product like this mattress gripper can also help as a non-slip layer under the mattress.
Additional Comfort Enhancements to Make Your RV Bed More Comfortable
Even without a new topper or mattress, you have other options to make your RV bed more comfortable.
Upgrade Your Bedding
When was the last time you slept on quality bedding? Luxurious bedding, including your sheets, blankets, and duvet, can increase your comfort as you sleep each night. This article has some great RV bedding options for you.
Keep your sheets from slipping
If your mattress is in an odd-shaped RV bed and the sheets are constantly coming off or getting wrinkled, try securing the corners with mattress clips to hold them in place.
Try a new pillow
Finally, supportive pillows can make a world of difference. Whether you go with a more traditional pillow or a specialty pillow for side sleepers or one for lower back relief, investing in a great pillow could go a long way, especially if your mattress itself isn’t anything to write home about.
Conclusion
There’s no reason to keep sleeping in an uncomfortable RV bed. Whether you upgrade your mattress or mattress topper, work to secure your mattress, improve your bedding and pillows, or even build out an extension, you have so many options available to you to help you achieve good sleep.
We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, so it makes sense to invest in a comfortable night’s sleep.
For further resources, be sure to check out our mattress buying guide or this bedding guide. Sleep well!
