Camper Trailer Mattresses

I second Robert's experience with Makin Mattresses. We used to own a Jayco Penguin with a very uncomfortable foam mattress so threw that out and got MM to make an innerspring for us. A few years ago we upgraded from the Penguin to a Jayco Freedom poptop, which has rounded corners on the double bed at the foot end and came with - you guessed it - a very uncomfortable foam mattress. Back to MM who made a lovely innerspring with rounded corners at the foot end. We now enjoy comfortable sleeps in the caravan.

6mths round Australia in a tent enjoying our Exped 10 lxw. They suited our set-up. Haven't replaced them. Still using 3yrs later

FWIW, Snowys have an Easter sale on right now. The 10cm Expeds are well discounted at $240 (less a few cents) and the 15cm Expeds are $400 (ditto), which I think is also discounted, but not by as much as the 10cms. Which to get? Decisions, decisions.

Briste, you have a Karavan, don't you?

We have gone to the Expeds for a few reasons-
- weight reduction
- individual comfort
- in the Karavan, if you choose the 100mm models you can leave the bed made up when you close up.

Having said that last point, we bought the 150mm models for the extra comfort. Mrs P has bad hips and finds it difficult to get comfortable. These mattresses are more comfortable than those at home! The mattress on the passenger side can stay inflated because the bedwall hinge line is higher on that side and the wall doesn't fold flat, so no stress on the hinge.

On the drivers side we deflate the mattress. It is then compresses low enough not to be a problem when the drivers side bedwall folds flat. It is no big deal to pump it up at night with the nifty pump they give you.

Because of the drivers side issue we still strip the bed before closing. Ie anti-condensation ventilator mesh underneath, mattress protector on top then two sheets. Blankets or doona carried on the seats.

Cheers

Frank, we've had this exact discussion on KKOG recently. I've just ordered the 15cms to take advantage of the sale. I am hoping to be able to leave the bed made up (not pillows tho'), and use a vacuum of some sort to deflate the DS mattress sufficiently, as another owner on KKOG reported doing. Campers fully deflate them and roll them up so it should be possible to deflate it just enough without too much hassle. I guess it's an open question whether that's more hassle than unmaking and remaking the bed, but at least it should be doable. We will see. Leaves the seats free for other items.

Hi Briste,

I just pull the deflate plug, lie on the bed for a few minutes to deflate it and leave it. No need for a vacuum pump.

The deflator port has a one-way valve so it won't reinflate. When you lower the top and see the DS wall starting to push on the bed just slow things up a bit to give time for any further compression to happen without stressing the wall's hinge.

I've been doing this for a couple of years now with no problems to date.

Cheers

"I just pull the deflate plug, lie on the bed for a few minutes to deflate it and leave it. No need for a vacuum pump."

No point in repeating here all that discussion from KKOG, but suffice it to say the advice from the other 15cm Exped owner was that while you certainly _can_ do it without a vaccum / pump, using one will speed the process up. In our travelling couple, relative physical abilities mean that I do most of the pack-up work, and I do travel on my own a bit as well, so anything that speeds up the process is a good thing.

I confess I didn't keep up with the whole discussion on KKOG, so forgive me for any repetition here.

Cheers and sweet dreams :-)

When did you buy the Kimberley Kampers deluxe innerspring? It used to be a fairly firm mattress, but now it's the plush camper mattress from Beds Direct.https://bedsdirect.com.au/products/caravan-mattresses/

I assume the switch was made by the new Kimberley owners, so in early 2019, but that's just a guess.

I find the newer model quite comfortable, but am thinking of switching to a pair of Expeds, partly for additional comfort, partly to isolate partner movement, and partly to make packing up the Karavan easier, as I can leave the bed made up by deflating one of the mattresses a little. The Beds Direct plush inner spring mattress is quite good for a 13cm thick mattress, and were it not for those additional factors I'd be happy to stick with it.

Mine was 2018 - original company deluxe mattress, cut to the shape of the kamper. Would have been maybe 100mm thick at best?