FWC mattress update

I went with the memory foam topper (4", I think it was an inch and half memory, two and half foam) and it was too firm. Tossed a cheap little egg crate foam topper on top of that and it did the trick. Slept great this trip.

IMAG0143_zps01d51479.jpg
 
I have a 2011 Eagle and I love it....except the bed... hard as a plank. My wife and I both started using a thermorest as soon as we got back from the first trip.
My plan now is to buy this: "Serta Ultimate 4-inch Visco Memory Foam Mattress Topper" in the king bed size and cut to fit the covers for the large cushion and then have enough for at the four smaller ones from the cut off. I don't see why this wouldn't be an big improvement.... but if there is someone out there with "I tried that and it failed" info please let me know before I spend in May.
PS anyone want some really hard foam? (just kidding)
 
i have always heard, but have no first hand experience, from people who make custom sleeping bags and back packs (which included sleeping pads) that you do not want memory foam. memory foam holds a high moisture content and when the temps get cold will freeze and do exactly the opposite of what you are looking for (become almost solid). but that is in reference to actually sleeping on the ground, maybe a camper will stay warm enough
 
Thanks for the input...I would think in the camper no moisture other than body would be an issue and that would be the same in a house, as opposed to having it in a tent on the ground. I already have an aluminum bubble wrap beneath the foam to deal with the cold...works well.(only under the overhang area as the camper part stays base warm).
A good chart to compare and contrast different foams is here:
http://www.foamite.com/foam_grades.php
 
We've got memory foam pillows and experienced this phenomenon on our winter trip. The pillows turned hard as a rock in the cold camper. They eventually softened as they warmed up from camper and body heat but it was disconcerting at first. We since ditched those pillows and returned to conventional ones for camping. If you sleep in a cold camper like we occasionally do, I would not recommend memory foam.
 
i forgot to add, that when the meemory foam stiffens up from cold, it also BECOMES cold, its like sleeping on an ice cube after all.
 
Last month I spent 7 days camping at the hot springs in Saline Valley. Now we have 20 days on it(Q41 foam). As it gets 'broken in' it is becoming more comfortable.
 
I went with the memory foam topper (4", I think it was an inch and half memory, two and half foam) and it was too firm. Tossed a cheap little egg crate foam topper on top of that and it did the trick. Slept great this trip.

IMAG0143_zps01d51479.jpg


Did the same with the "egg crate",but placed mine inside the mattress cover.Works well,makes the 4" foam mattress nice to sleep on.
Frank
 
I'm thinking now of this (and thanks for all the thoughtful suggestions...especially how to stay of the MF in the cold)
http://www.foamite.com/koosh_natural.php
 
Jim,

Maybe a more detailed step-by-step description of the important parts would do. Step #1 is one I forgot to write previously.

1) Remove two piece, 4" thick (ATC), cushions from the pull out slider section of the bed and place on driver's side cabinet (originally a shell, now with my own interior), or standing on the floor, or someplace out of the way, i.e. not on the bed. This could be different on an FWC with a 2" foam mattress, as the two cushions may fit on top of the main cushion bed section, where the ATC has no space for two 4" cushions on top of each other (the ATC has a lower profile cabover than the FWC).

2) Slide, the empty bed slider in, so you can get to the lift panel support bar/handle and pull the top front down.

3) Slide the empty bed slider back out, and place the two piece cushions back in as if you are going to sleep, except that the top front is down, and the top back is still up.

4) Pull and lower the rear lift panel and the top rear.

In other words the bed is stowed in the same position that a person would sleep on it.
Does that work for you?

There is a loss of height inside the camper where the bed pull out is located if the top is down and you want to be inside. I don't worry about that as I don't use my ATC that way.
The ATC mattress at 4", with the lower profile cabover doesn't allow for a sleeping bag or pillows to remain on the bed, just not enough room. No sheets and no blankets for me, just sleeping bags, easier for me to deal with in setting up and breaking down the bed. I stow the sleeping bags and pillows inside the camper when traveling.

I should mention that this not my idea. it was told to me by the ATC guys... Marty said this is Jeff's neat way of carrying the slide out mattress cushions.

If that's not enough, let me know. I'll be home is a day or so, and would be glad to take some photos for you.

Allen


HI Allen,

How do you raise the front of the pop up? How do you get access to the lift panel with the bed fully slid out? I guess you can push in the slide in portion again? Maybe just need to try this myself.

Thanks,

Jim
 
I raise the back first, then I remove the 2 small removable cushions and slide the bed pull out... "IN", then I can stand right next to my front window and I push up on the front while grabbing the lift panel handle and push that lightly to complete the top raising. Secure the lift panel handle. Done.

So, the bed is NOT fully pulled OUT when I raise the front.

Try it, you'll get it.
 
"Q41" foam pad update

We have slept 30 nights on it. It is very comfortable now. At 4" thick we can keep one folded sleeping bag on top
(length wise - pull out bed "drawer" 15 ")
 
Yet another idea.

We added a Amazon "all season down alternative mattress topper, 2" thick", on top of the stock 2008 Hawk mattress.
Previously, it was hard as a plank, now we have the 2" topper to fill in the gaps and soften the surface. It's heaven compared to what we had before.
 
Yeah, what's up with that cheap foam in our Eagles? We've been using our Thermarests since the first night. I didn't realize so many owners were having the same problems. That's the only negative we've had. Everything else is great.
 
I had custom paco pads made by jacks plastic http://www.jpwinc.com/ for my 2003 Eagle. Took delivery about a month ago and they first went on a Grand Canyon raft trip. I slept on top of my cooler box every night while on the river very comfortably. I know they will be plenty comfortable in the camper and solves many issues like moisture build up soaking the pads. Design time to production took about two months. They fit in the bed box perfectly! When traveling one will have to be removed from the box because they are 4" thick. I'll post some pictures soon on my build thread that I am way behind on here http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/7599-2003-eagle-on-03-tundra-lots-of-mods/
 
Next Adventures,

Neat product and website. Before I replaced the mattress first in my old Flip-Pac then again in my new Eagle shell
I used a 4 " thick self-inflating mattress from Cabellas. Very comfortable sleeping . I think the full mattress size was about $100.

That is a good inexpensive option too.
 
RC Pilot Jim said:
Next Adventures,

Neat product and website. Before I replaced the mattress first in my old Flip-Pac then again in my new Eagle shell
I used a 4 " thick self-inflating mattress from Cabellas. Very comfortable sleeping . I think the full mattress size was about $100.

That is a good inexpensive option too.
Click to expand...
Yes the paco pads are expensive but for me they serve dual duty as my sleeping pad when I am on the river. When the weather is nice and calls for sleeping outside the camper or star gazing you can lay them out on just about any surface and they will take the abuse.
 
OK, this paco pad thing is interesting. My wife already has one so I might just get one for myself.

The question is whether or not we'll be cold: do you all think the stock FWC mattress helps much with insulation? We often camp in the winter when it's like 0 outside (I use a minimally inflated thermarest on the stock mattress), and I'm wondering if we'd be unhappy with nothing but a paco pad sitting on the wood.

Seems like that would free up a lot of space too: we could keep sleeping bags up there and wouldn't have to carry around the 4 extra cushions that go in when you extend the bed.

Thank you
 
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