Couldn't handle it any longer....

[park]

I've now had my Fleet for 2.5 years and have probably spent well over 200 nights in it. The stock mattress finally had to go. Thing was simply too hard for me. Can't believe I lasted this long. I got a mattress from IKEA and am headed out for another week or so to give it a test run. Doesn't quite fill the entire area after removing the original but I'm planning on utilizing the area along the mattress for storage. Currently looking for some boxes that will fit the area. Figured at night I could use it to store chapstick, reading glasses, flashlight, weapon, etc. Was wondering if anyone else has used something from IKEA as well. I'll report back with my findings.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30315876/

 

[buckland]

I feel your pain...or used to.
I replaced mine after a long search/research. I replaced the 4 x 6 ft cushion as the couch cushions I use 2 at head and 2 at foot. I need the cushion replaced where my torso/back/hips were. It was an incredible difference. Feels like a regular bed now.
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/6657-fwc-mattress-update/

Here is the replacement ($200)

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

We sleep one up and one down and routinely use our Rubbermaid boxes as a sort of bedside table....two in the upper bed never worked well in our Hawk.

DavidGraves

 

[BobM]

I replaced the foam in mine, made a huge difference

Sent from my SM-G930V using Wander The West mobile app

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

The stock mattress finally had to go. Thing was simply too hard for me. Can't believe I lasted this long.

Park, keep us posted. My old bones scream for comfort as well...

 

[rando]

Does anyone know when FWC changed the foam they are using for the mattress? We have a 2016 Fleet, and the mattress is pretty good, albeit still a little firm, leading to sore hips after a couple of days. A 1" topper helped some, but it is still not perfect. For those of you who are upgrading the foam, are you upgrading from the older 'harder than tungsten' mattress, or are you upgrading from the newer 'firmer than an unripe avocado' mattress? I am trying to figure out if these upgrades are an improvement over the newer mattress.

 

[buckland]

Mine was 2011 Eagle foam (like a rock).. The attachment above gives the density of the new foam I installed .... very important numbers... that its how you tell the firmness of mattress ... You can ask FWC or.... go through the thread linked above and read it ... I believe I posted the FWC info on density and I went to a mattress manufacturer and tried out the different densities. The one I selected is still firm but it allows hip to sink in or back to contour. No issues thereafter. Check the density.

 

[Bombsight]

I'm thinking about cutting mine down the middle and installing 2" memory foam on top of factory foam .... then have an upholstery shop sew in some black vinyl to make up the height difference. This will allow me to install a short 16" high "wall" down the middle (stored under mattress when not in use), front to rear. I'm weird about anyone other than a woman sleeping so close to me.

Anyone sleep front to rear in their side dinette Hawk? I haven't done it yet.

 

[buckland]

I'm thinking about cutting mine down the middle and installing 2" memory foam on top of factory foam .... then have an upholstery shop sew in some black vinyl to make up the height difference. This will allow me to install a short 16" high "wall" down the middle (stored under mattress when not in use), front to rear. I'm weird about anyone other than a woman sleeping so close to me.

Anyone sleep front to rear in their side dinette Hawk? I haven't done it yet.

They used to call those "bundling boards" tho their use was to keep the men and ladies separated in shared beds while visiting. Quant. I as well can't sleep in a shared bed unless it is the mrs. we were raised that way as men. (Both parents were born and raised in Ireland)


Sent from my iPhone using Wander The West

 

[Squatch]

Lately I've been using 2 REI 3.5" self inflating mattresses. It's a whole lot better than the factory mattress and store better as well. Before I installed them I cut a piece of 1/2" blue rigid foam to fill the gap when the extension is pulled out. Now I no longer have the bump at my hips and the insulation value is great in cold weather.




I use a couple of 4"x4" strips cut from a block of memory foam to fill the gaps at the edge since this pic was taken.

 

[rando]

If you camp in the cold I wouldn't reccomend permanently installed memory foam - it will be as hard as a board in the cold. You will eventually warm up a soft spot with body heat, but if you move around you hit the hard bits again.

I'm thinking about cutting mine down the middle and installing 2" memory foam on top of factory foam .... then have an upholstery shop sew in some black vinyl to make up the height difference. This will allow me to install a short 16" high "wall" down the middle (stored under mattress when not in use), front to rear. I'm weird about anyone other than a woman sleeping so close to me.

Anyone sleep front to rear in their side dinette Hawk? I haven't done it yet.

 

[Stalking Light]

I like the mattress in my 2014 Eagle better than the one on my bed at home.

 

[Mark G]

I spent a lot of money trying different mattress configuration in my '99 Eagle. For a few years now I've used the Thermarest mattresses from REI same as Squatch. They've been the best solution. Not as convenient as the original design but the adjustable firmness is great. The spacer blocks on the sides to keep them together is a great idea.

 

[Advmoto18]

We simply added a 2" memory foam ventilated topper purchased at WalMart to the top of the factory mattress/pads. We use a fitted sheet over the foam and pads.

Made a HUGE difference in getting a good night's sleep! Like Charlie, I now sleep much better in my Hawk then in bed at home! Must be the fresh air!

 

[rotti]

If you camp in the cold I wouldn't reccomend permanently installed memory foam - it will be as hard as a board in the cold. You will eventually warm up a soft spot with body heat, but if you move around you hit the hard bits again.

X2
I have a Temperpedic memory foam mattress and pillows at home which are great. I made the mistake of taking the pillow on a late season hunting trip and that thing was no better than a using rock for a pillow.

 

[97grandby]

I re-did my lower cushions with new Fabric and foam. Went from 4 inches factory that was 20 years old to IDL 34 and decron wrapped so I had almost 7inches. Much better then my mattress in my house now. Total project for foam and fabric was around 350.00. I sleep on the L-shape couch as its several inches longer and much more comfortable then the cab over bed. My 6 year old sleeps in the cab over and loves the "Top Bunk". I'll post a few pictures below. Full right up is in my signature in my grandby upgrades.

 

[97grandby]

I re-did my lower cushions with new Fabric and foam. Went from 4 inches factory that was 20 years old to IDL 34 and decron wrapped so I had almost 7inches. Much better then my mattress in my house now. Total project for foam and fabric was around 350.00. I sleep on the L-shape couch as its several inches longer and much more comfortable then the cab over bed. My 6 year old sleeps in the cab over and loves the "Top Bunk". I'll post a few pictures below. Full right up is in my signature in my grandby upgrades.

here are the photos.


1990 Ford F-250
1997 fwc grandby

 

[park]

I really wish that FWC made the top bunk area a little deeper in height so a larger mattress could be put up there. I personally like the way Hallmark has their upper area set up with storage underneath the bed. Love my FWC but there are always some areas to make improvements. Lots of good ideas posted on here so if the IKEA mod doesn't work out I'll have some other ideas.

 

[Squatch]

We've used a 4" memory foam topper on top of the brick mattress. It helped some. But really just added squishy foam to the brick. The extra height ate up the limited headroom up there as well. Made it much harder to climb in and out of bed.

 

[idahoron]

We've used a 4" memory foam topper on top of the brick mattress. It helped some. But really just added squishy foam to the brick. The extra height ate up the limited headroom up there as well. Made it much harder to climb in and out of bed.

That was what I did. I like it better than it was but I miss the extra room.