How do you rate foam mattresses for this build?

Thanks RMD.

I just went over to Clark Rubber to buy a bit ef edge strip and started talking to the sales guy who, although a nice bloke, didn't seem to know much about mattresses. He seemed more interested in selling me one of their stock lines, none of which I liked. I got talking to a young bloke who was having a mattress custom made for his Troopy right then and there in the store.

He was getting what looked like a queen size with 2 inches of memory foam laminated over 3 inches of high density foam. It looked the business and was to cost him about $500, which I thought was okay, and much cheaper that the FoamBooth. The mattress itself felt axcellent.

But, taking your advice, I gave the young bloke my details and he offered to text me and let me know how the mattress was performing. I have a few months at least before I need to buy, so his advice will be a big help, just like yours was.

Many thanks.
Keith

Keith - I can't help but agree with the majority of what RMD has stated. Most plain Clark foam is pretty useless for sleeping on.

Years ago, we used to rebuild our 'dozer and loader seats regularly, and had a hard time trying to get the right density foam, the right amount of compression and shock absorption.

Then we started using an old "gun" upholsterer, who knew every trick in the book, and every product that was available.
He came up with a "crumbed" foam which provided a good base of about 2/3rds of the height of the seat cushion - overlaid with a moderately firm foam rubber, that made up the top third of the cushion.

That arrangement provided more comfortable seating, than even any of the original manufacturers seating - and we used those materials and that formula for years, with excellent comfort results.

The crumbed foam I have not seen for a long time, and I can't find it online - but it's probably still available somewhere.
I'm sure it was made from recycled foam chunks glued together, because it was made from different-coloured chunks, and it was reasonably firm when you tried to compress it.

I'd be finding an old upholsterer and getting some ideas from him, and see what is available by way of products today.
One things for sure, a good mattress is not made just from one type of foam all the way through, the best mattress is a mix of varying levels of foam firmness, with the softer layer on top.

Cheers, Ron.

Thanks Mike. The nearest Makin store is about two and a half hours away. But I will definitely make the trip if I can't get it sorted locally.

In my earlier post, I forgot to add that I am allergic to latex.

Thanks heaps.
Keith

Thanks Jarse. Where does memory foam fit into the picture?
Keith

Jarse
Thanks for the informative info about the foam rating. It gives us an ability to compare and decide much better than before.

Regards
RMD

Hi all,
Back then, memory foam wasn’t made in Australia (and possibly hadn’t been discovered, not sure). There was a HR (high resilience) foam, which also had a level of fire retardant (PBDE) in its formula. It was used in top-of-the-range foam-only mattresses. Being almost double the cost of regular polyurethane, I doubt it’s even still produced in Oz. We only did about 2 production runs a year of the stuff. It was very difficult to make.

I can’t offer expert advice on memory foam, except that if I were going to use it, I would only use it in the thinner top layer of the mattress (in place of the F40), because you need a layer of firmness underneath. Memory foam is as dear as poison, so only using a thinner layer might be more economical, too. The only disadvantage is that unless you laminate a layer to each side, you will only have a ‘one sided’ mattress.

Phil,
I have been looking at the Froli material and it is certainly impressive, but a little expensive.
Froli
Looks like a good option though. Many thanks.
Keith

Keith, I understand. It was the price to pay for my wife being a happy camper. She has had major back operations, so it says a lot for the Froli system for her to say she finds it very comfortable.

I showed the Froli system to my wife and explained that it will cut down headroom a bit. She said, "Bugger that, I'd rather have a decent bed."
So Plil, it looks like you get the yay for the day as far as Mrs KeithB2 is concerned.
Many thanks,
Keith

Tony I share your scepticism. But the height limitation, the fold in the middle and weight might determine the mattress. If I have to chuck it away after 5 years then I am going to have to live with that I guess.

Thanks Peter. They do look the business don't they?

https://www.madetomeasuremattresses.com.au/mattresses.html

Their website says that they have a stiffer edge suitable for sitting on, which is great for a single unit mattress. But this edge will be right under our hips where the two a mattresses butt together.

I am beginning to think that this folding bed wasn't such a great idea.

Many thanks though.
Keith

14 years ago we had a custom made innerspring mattress manufactured for the OKA.
Light weight, single sided. Still in constant use.
If someone gave us a "quality" foam mattress, I would be measuring that rubbish bin.... :)
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I am currently having a chat with this mob, who were recommended on my Myswag build thread (called World's Slowest Build).
[url=https://ecomarinebedding.com.au/[/url]
Won't be cheap though. But I guess good never is.