I was seriously thinking that the hybrid was going to have to go since I realized I couldn't stand the tent end split mattress we have in our Jayco 26L. Well, I spent the $129 for the queen 4" thick memory foam, and WOW!
I went to the local Ace Hardware and bought some 1" wide strapping (24 feet) and a couple of plastic quick buckles you can find back in the rope section. I cut the strapping in half to equal two 12 foot straps and threaded the nylon buckles on the strap ends. Then, I layed the straps down on the bunk platform and placed the large mattress section over the strapes and then added the wedge mattress section in it's place. I then locked the strap buckles and pulled them snug to keep the two mattres sections from separating while we are sleeping. Then, I put the 4" memory foam on top and a deep pocket fitted sheet.
I think if it was $500, it was worth it. The trailer upgrade would have cost us closer to $8,000. This foam, and adding the straps to keep the Jayco mattresses together, is like a whole new bed. It MADE the difference for me.
Then, when we packed up to go home, I rolled the foam up and used the straps to hold the foam in a fat roll. The 4" foam is tough to roll, and you most likely won't get it tighter than 24" in diameter by 60" long, but it fits above one of the rear bunks for traveling nicely. IT's an extra set-up pain, but the comfort is better than we have at home, and the foam made the bed that much warmer.
What I couldn't stand was the height difference between the large and small mattresses. There was a noticeable drop towards the edge of the bed (into the camper). I fixed that with the addition of 2 1x6 boards (see this mod page for photos) that I had lying around, but a single 2x6 would work too.
We had a memory foam topper from Costco that we bought for our pop-up, and that we had cut to fit the not quite queen size of the pup bed. It fits the 26L perfectly, and we use it there now. The Costco topper is 3" thick, plus a 1" thick mattress pad sleeve that wraps around the mattress. It is VERY comfortable, and the fitted edges pull the mattresses together. We have never had problems with the two sections separating with this setup.
Here is another tip... that torture device J-steel couch bed - if you are ever in a situation where you are forced to sleep on it (if, for some reason you can't or don't want to pop-out), take the large section of the mattress and place it on top of the couch bed. The difference is night and day.
chilipyro wrote: Here is another tip... that torture device J-steel couch bed - if you are ever in a situation where you are forced to sleep on it (if, for some reason you can't or don't want to pop-out), take the large section of the mattress and place it on top of the couch bed. The difference is night and day.
I don't know why your couch is so uncomfortable, but I have slept exclusively on ours the past two outings because of the queen bed issues I had, and I slept like a rock. Granted, it's not like the new queen mod, but I thought it was just fine. I just didn't like the flimsy support of the base cushion (the one that holds your butt when in the couch mode) when in the bed mode. If we are ever in turtle mode, you can bet I'll take your tip to heart. Thanks.
I never had the height difference in the two-part queen bed mattresses, but those stupid Velcro stickers the expect to hold the wedge section in place are useless. The only issue I had with my straps I made are that I pulled them out too fast, and the friction against the vinyl mattress backing "burned" and melted the vinyl from the friction. Oh, well.
Great to hear and glad you gave it a shot! Out trick to keep the split mattresses and memory foam toppers as one is to sack them up in a zippered mattress cover and then just make the bed as usual. We use the kind of cover that has the continuous zipper on 3 sides so as to not be a struggle with the foam. DW spent an extra $10 each for this style over the end zippered type and these work great! We stow our rolled and dropped into canvas duffle bags sitting on our dinette.
We recommended memory foam topper to an elderly friend, for her home bed. She is finally getting a good nights rest, and has improved her overall health. I agree with "don't lv home without it."
Not having a Jayco, is the mattress actually 2 separate peices? Mine's a 2 peice but they are hinged together pretty tight, even before I bought the 3" memory foam I didn't notice the split. It was how ever too hard/thin to sleep on. The only bear about the memory foam is they don't exactly fold up nice and neat for storage. Half my floor space is taken up by just the one rolled up. Well, maybe not half but it's darn big. Of course who cares about storage as long as you can sleep.
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
04 GMC 1500 4X4, 5.3L
06 Starcraft 18SB
Yup, the Jayco is two completely separate pieces. I haven't had a problem with em coming apart and no issues with a height difference. It's just a much better nights sleep.
With regards to storage, with the 3 straps that hold the mattresses up when traveling, I just fold the memory foam in half and put it above the small mattress behind the straps, it stays there just fine.
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