NEWBIE! New Advice on bedding

[travelingypsy]

My husband and I just puchased our first pop up camper and set it up this weekend in the backyard with the nephews. We plan on taking it out Sat. for an overnight trip to Hueston Woods, OH state park. Any advice before we hit the road? Also, for the future I was wondering what you think is best for bedding? Is there such thing as shallow sheets that would work on these beds? Any advice or links would be great!!

This is going to be one heck of a summer!

Happy Trails

[griffsmom]

Our Coleman-by-Fleetwood Sun Valley came with the Coleman sheets for the bunk ends. We put the fitted or elasticized sheet on the mattresses to keep them clean and protected, then take them off occasionally to wash them, and put them right back on again. We sleep between two sleeping bags fully opened--one underneath us and one on the top as a comforter. We leave the sleeping bags on the beds when we fold up and have never had a problem.
 
We love sleeping in our camper and find the mattresses to be very comfortable.  We actually like the firmness of our mattresses and wake up with happier backs than at home.  
 
Edited to Add: You can buy sheets for your PU's matresses if you want to spend the money. Popupexplorer.com sells them. Here's a link to the result I got when I searched for sheets: http://www.puxtradingpost.com/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=b58627637e4f3be585de2686cdd0c071&keywords=sheet&osCsid=b58627637e4f3be585de2686cdd0c071

[wavery]

My husband and I just puchased our first pop up camper and set it up this weekend in the backyard with the nephews. We plan on taking it out Sat. for an overnight trip to Hueston Woods, OH state park. Any advice before we hit the road? Also, for the future I was wondering what you think is best for bedding? Is there such thing as shallow sheets that would work on these beds? Any advice or links would be great!!

This is going to be one heck of a summer!

Happy Trails

On your 1st trip, I would advise getting a site with electrical hook-ups and bringing an electric heater (or 2).

This could be a pretty cold camp-out. It's important to make sure that you have a way to keep warm. There is nothing more miserable then freezing on your camp-out. It's supposed to be fun and fun normally means comfortable.

What kind of PU did you buy? What equipment does it have?

We find the mattresses in the PU to be slightly more comfortable than concrete. We use a king size inflatable mattress and bedding in our PU.

[dthurk]

We've found the stock mattresses to be quite comfortable, but this will be a "some do, some don't" situation.  We use 2 different configurations for bedding, dependent on temperatures we'll experience on a given trip.  We use standard bedding, fitted bottom sheet with flat top sheet and a blanket in warm weather situations.  If it gets too warm, we kick off the blanket.  In colder weather, we use sleeping bags.  DW and I zip 2 large ones together for an almost queen size bed.

[Cincymouse]

Hi,

I would invest in a small ceramic heater for the popup if you don't have a heater in your pop up.  We just use regular King or Twin Size sheets depending on the beds.

FYI, Hueston Woods has smaller pads then most state parks in Ohio.  If it's not to crowded try to get one of the drive thru pads in the back part of the campground.   Also,  Cowin State park in Wilmington and Stonelick state park are both really nice parks that are close to you too.  General Butler State Park in Carollton, Ky is also a great park nearby.

Feel free to email me if you have other questions...

Cheryl in Cincinnati
Starcraft 2107

P.S.  We're probably going to go camping this weekend too.

[tlhdoc]

Have a great time on the trip.  I suggest that you take a pen and paper along so that you can write down what you wish you would have brought along with you.  Wheel chocks and some thing to level the camper side to side.  A container to drain your gray water (sink or shower water) into.  A hose so that you can fill your water tank at the park.  If you will have a water hookup then you should get a water pressure regulator to protect the water lines in your camper and your hose.  If you will be camping without a water connection you may want to bring a water tote so you can refill your water tank, if needed.  A long lighter is also a good thing to have.  Some trash bags, soap, dish soap, dish clothes, rope for a close line, and a lot more.

As far as bedding I use standard sheets (king and full) that have elastic on the fitted sheets.  I have never had the sheets come off when camping, even though they are a little too big.  On top of the sheets I use a cotton thermal blanket and if it is cold we add a light weight fleece blanket.  If it is really cold a sleeping bag open like a comforter goes on top.  Don't feel like you have to have an electric campsite.  Many, many people camp without the camper being plugged into an electric outlet.  We never had an electric campsite until we had had a PU for 7 camping seasons.

[cobbs1]

We got our 02 Coleman Niagra at the beginning of the month and have been stocking up.  I purchased king size sheet sets on Amazon for cheap (our camper comes with 2 kings). I also got waterproof mattress pads since our little boy is still in diapers. Besides the diaper issue, I figure the waterproof mattress pads will offer a bit of protection. Both were cheap if you keep an eye out on Amazon.  Plus, it added up enough to get the free shipping. I figure the fitted sheets will be a bit big, but didn't want to pay for anything special.  

I have found several wonderful check lists for items to stock up on in the camper. Tim's website (he's on this board) is a terrific resource:  //www.title-3.com

As someone above said, the mattress thing is a some do or some don't thing. I found ours to be very comfortable.

The ceramic heater is great advice. The dealership where we purchased ours gave us that advice. We just took the small heater out of our bathroom and plugged it in the plug where the AC would plug in.  Our camper came with a strip heater, but the fan is constant volume and loud and didn't blow much heat. We turned on the ceramic heater, set the temp to 60 degrees and it came on maybe twice on a 50ish degree night.  I'll bet furnaces are different.

Enjoy!  We've already been once and are headed out again this weekend and can't wait.
A

[PITPOP27]

Id just like to add, that we use standard sheets ( I had spares from my own bedding) I have two kings in our pup and actually have deep pockets sheets on them :yikes: .  I bought sheet holders - which look like small elastic suspenders, you can use for your ironing board or your own sheets at home.  But I didn't need them - you may.  Under $5 so worth it if needed.

[travelingypsy]

THaNkS for all the great tips. Hopefully we can try all the places you suggestedout of them we've only been to Hueston Woods and always had a great time! We're going to the Kentucky Derby in May and our friends will be camping with us. Hopefully we'll have it figured out by then!
Thanks again!
Jannelle

[Camping Coxes]

Measure your mattresses as a king mattress in a pop-up isn't the same measurement as a king in the real world.  The sheets will have a measurement on the package, or you can find those measurements online of what a standard size is for various sheets.  I watched my local department stores and got matching fitted sheets on clearance.  We use that on the bottom and a fluffy sleeping bag on top and are fine.  We are in So. Cal. though, so you may need something warmer.  I like the sheets on the mattress because it protects the mattresses from our body oils, protects my skin from the scratchy mattress, and are easy to strip and clean.  When we take down the trailer, we put the sheets in the dirty clothes and I launder them along with my trailer dish towels and store them in a bag that we grab for the next camping trip.  Everything's together that way and I'm not searching for what I may need.

Happy Camping!

[Campaholics]

We purchased sheets on line from a company that makes sheet sets for Coleman PUPs.  The also sell dorm bed sheets.  I am drawing a complete blank on the name of the company.  I heard about it on this board. The best part is the top sheed and bottom sheet are a unit.

For the cold nights we have a matress pad heater.  Looks like an electric blanket, but you are on top.   Turn it on five minutes before you go to bed and it's toasty.  We go ours at JC Penny on line.
 
Bob

[cjpoppin]

We use our old water bed sheets and they are working great.....carol

[flyfisherman]

Found that form fitting sheets with the elastic all the way around, even though a tad too large, will conform to the bunks. Then use sleeping bags for cold weather and just using the unzipped bags as a comforter for real cool nights. Also, have a light blanket that sometimes just alone  works.  For the summer nights, if not too high an elevation, just a sheet will do, but have that light blanket for back-up.

Works for the girls I go with.


Fly