My aching back...

[aw738]

Posted by wavery
Quote:
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Originally Posted by spicetrader
we use an air mattress now, but you know how that goes, you have to pump them up pretty much every night as they lose air.

Many postings on here have convinced me to get a memory foam topper.
They are on sale at target this week(Dallas area at least)

Overstock.com seems to have a good selection for a resonalble price. It's worth the $ to get the goodnights sleep so you can enjoy your trip!
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We've had the same air mattress for 3 years. We blow it up when we arrive and let the air out when we leave and just leave it on the bunk when we pop-down. We've never had to add air while camping. I think that you may need a new air mattress.

I have the Colemans also and they don't leak. They have the double valve. After you inflate them you shove the valve in and then insert the cap.

[ScouterMom]

I've  had double air mattresses for years and years.  I have two single air mattresses that are more than 18 yrs old - probably older, as we bought them long before before Jon was born in 1990.

In the past 20 yrs or so I've bought three double or queen size camping air mattresses. When we had the smaller camper, I usually used a double air mattress instead of  the foam beds, as I sleep better on one of those than the 20 yr old foam that came with the camper.  One got pinched in the hinge of the trunk of my car on a tent camping trip, and I bought a replacement - that was at least 5 yrs ago.  

There's a few tricks to keeping them 'air tight' and making them last.

NEVER lay them on the bare ground inflated or deflated (they pick up sand, dirt, pine needles, etc that can puncture them. )

Try not to expose them to extremes of temp, and if/ when you do handle them very gently.

ROLL, don't fold them up for storage.  when you do have to fold them, try to vary the fold lines and creases.

ALways store them in their protective bags. if it didn't come with one - get one for it!

When you fill them, don't 'over fill' them. I use a general rule that when you blow them up and sit on them, your butt should touch the ground,but when you lay on the mattress, it shouldn't.  Teach the kids NOT to jump on them.  You don't want to put too much pressure on the seams.


try these and I htink your mattresses will last much longer!

laura

[graler]

Welcome.......Congrats on your purchase......and yes, the memory foam mattress toppers are fannnnnntastic.  

There are different qualities of memory foam, so spend up a bit and get the nice ones.  We've got the ones sold at Costco on our King.  I think it's a 3" and we put it right on top of the camper's original mattress.  Love it.  We bought a 1" version for our 8 year old daughter's bunk, from Target.

Can you still close up the camper with a 3 inch foam topper on top of the original mattress?  My back hurts too and need a solution before we take a 2 month trip to Alaska.

[miss kathy]

Can you still close up the camper with a 3 inch foam topper on top of the original mattress?  My back hurts too and need a solution before we take a 2 month trip to Alaska.

I have a 3 inch and I can close the top- I  don't leave the blankets on top of the mattresses, and I make sure the canvas is not bunched up in the corners.

I bought mine from JC Penney's- on line

[austinado16]

Can you still close up the camper with a 3 inch foam topper on top of the original mattress?  My back hurts too and need a solution before we take a 2 month trip to Alaska.

Turns out ours is the 2" thick one, but yes, the camper closes just fine.

Enjoy Alaska......and more importantly, the  :usflag: Alcan :canada:  highway!  Say good buy to your windshield and the whole front section of your camper, and bring some spare camper wheels with tires mounted and ready to throw on!

[coach]

The original 4" foam mattress is all I use.

[Gracy]

This is amazing!  I never thought about using air mattresses in the PU!?!  We were talking about just replacing the foam..... the air mattresses sound like a cheaper solution for sure

Question about the toppers you guys are talking about.... are you using them alone or on top of the mattresses thats already there?

Thanks

[austinado16]

Question about the toppers you guys are talking about.... are you using them alone or on top of the mattresses thats already there?

Thanks

We put a 2" topper from Costco on top of our existing matress for our bunk, and a 1" version from Target on the existing mattress in our DD's bunk. We leave them on all the time, including when popped down.

[aw738]

I use the Coleman air matresses that have the double valve and I love them.