Truck Bed Mattress - Advice/Experience Wanted

[Jman]

Looking for a mattress for the bed of my truck for summer/fall camping. I have an ARE topper on it and tried foam last year. Too thin, bed got hard, etc. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have a recommendation for a mattress that works good for you. I'm thinking that I'll have to go with air? (for the sake of collapsing it). Maybe not, I don't know. I have a Nissan Titan with a 5'-6" bed so I'm looking at the DAC Truck Tents ( https://www.amazon.com/DAC-Full-Size-Truck-Tent/dp/B007WT1GYQ ) to allow utilizing the tailgate down, for additional length. I've looked at the Airbedz mattress and really liked them until I read the reviews. 50% of them were not so good. I would like to maximize the width inside (to possibly sleep two) but then there is that inner fender issue, which is what made Airbedz look so attractive with their custom fit. Hmm...........

Any suggestions? Advice on what to get or more importantly, what NOT to get?

 

[Feedman]

I saw a couple on the side of the road when I went to Sprinfield today but I can't remember exactly where it was.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Looking for a mattress for the bed of my truck for summer/fall camping. I have an ARE topper on it and tried foam last year. Too thin, bed got hard, etc. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have a recommendation for a mattress that works good for you. I'm thinking that I'll have to go with air? (for the sake of collapsing it). Maybe not, I don't know. I have a Nissan Titan with a 5'-6" bed so I'm looking at the DAC Truck Tents ( https://www.amazon.com/DAC-Full-Size-Truck-Tent/dp/B007WT1GYQ ) to allow utilizing the tailgate down, for additional length. I've looked at the Airbedz mattress and really liked them until I read the reviews. 50% of them were not so good. I would like to maximize the width inside (to possibly sleep two) but then there is that inner fender issue, which is what made Airbedz look so attractive with their custom fit. Hmm...........

Any suggestions? Advice on what to get or more importantly, what NOT to get?

My cousin had one made by a guy ,that made cushions ,for miners to use with man trips.If you could find someone that does upholstery that would do it reasonably.His was made to fit a full size long wheelbase chevy,it was contoured around the fenders, and he left off enough room for coolers next to the tailgate.It was about eight inches or so thick,it had thick vinyl on the outside, it lasted for years ,never did tear up.Seems he paid something like a hundred bucks ,but been a lot of years ago.Anyway just a thought

 

[Ataulbe1]

We used air mattresses for years at deer camp. Back the truck in the barn with or without camper top. Queen size air mattress and inflate so it fills in around the wheel wells. Think you can even buy them now in that shape. Haven't priced them, but I'd say they're pretty proud of em.

 

[jblack1]

Build a platform that covers the inner wheel humps in the bed,
after all you're using it for sleeping not gymnastics

 

[timer]

My daughter bought a mattress for me at Costco that I really like. I bought a couple of stable mats (I believe they are about 3' x 4' and they just about perfectly fit the bed of the F-150) at Tractor Supply to put on the bed of the truck, then I lay the mattress on top of them and - for me - it's perfect. I have a furniture pad to lay on top of the mattress and a light blanket/sleeping bag for cover.

 

[Jman]

I appreciate all the ideas/advice. I think I'm at the point of having to go with air. I need the truck bed space for all my gear to and fro the camping. A normal mattress would be the most comfortable but with a 5-1/2 foot bed, that's not realistic. Had a guy mention "memory foam" as an option. He said that it could be rolled up to allow space for hauling gear. I may try a cheap air mattress or two (side by side). I've got 49" between the fenders to work with.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[Campfire]

I appreciate all the ideas/advice. I think I'm at the point of having to go with air. I need the truck bed space for all my gear to and fro the camping. A normal mattress would be the most comfortable but with a 5-1/2 foot bed, that's not realistic. Had a guy mention "memory foam" as an option. He said that it could be rolled up to allow space for hauling gear. I may try a cheap air mattress or two (side by side). I've got 49" between the fenders to work with.

Thanks for the ideas!

I wouldn’t go cheap on the air mattress. They have some real good ones now. They self inflate you could plug in your truck and turn on. Also a better one would be less likely to puncture and be much more comfortable.

 

[Suburbhunter]

https://www.amazon.com/AirBedz-PPI-303-Mattress-Built/dp/B01LHE53WM?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

[Jman]

I wouldn’t go cheap on the air mattress. They have some real good ones now. They self inflate you could plug in your truck and turn on. Also a better one would be less likely to puncture and be much more comfortable.

I agree, Campfire. I'm just a little concerned that I'll dump a lot of money and not be satisfied, thus my reasoning on experimenting with the cheaper ones. If it works well, then buy quality. I appreciate the comment.

 

[Jman]

https://www.amazon.com/AirBedz-PPI-303-Mattress-Built/dp/B01LHE53WM?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Thanks for the link, S-hunter. This is the exact model that I was ready to buy until I started reading reviews on Amazon. There are a number of disgruntled customers who bought this. For a number of reasons. When you watch the ad on youtube, it looks awesome. Little bit of a gamble at $260. Still pondering.............

 

[Drahts]

I built this box for my Chevy I had, when I bought the F350 I added another 24" storage box up next to the cab. In the Tundra it's back to a 6.5' bed so that add on I removed. These drawers are 6'3". Can get guns, and all kinds of gear in the 2 sides. When I hunt upland out west, I put a blow up camping pad (@1") on one side and a 4" memory foam on top of it. Sleeping bag on top of it. Kennels go down the other side for the dogs. Windoors so I can open the kenels to let each dog out to clean out or hunt. If it's super cold it's a bit rough, but typically it's not too bad. If it's gonna get super cold I grab a room somewhere.

Another Idea I have seen, don't know if you have 4 doors or not but check this out.

https://www.wayfair.com/Winterial--...BmrHsJsASXro7WdAjkdsBUYAwNYD_ikhoCXoAQAvD_BwE

Sorry it's wayfair that's the first thing that came up in my search. lol

 

[timer]

One additional thing. I bought a couple of storage boxes at Rural King for around $10 each. These are great for storing your gear and the tops on the boxes have - so far - been waterproof. You can put your gear in the boxes and sit the boxes in the back of the truck, then leave the boxes outside when you are sleeping.

 

[Carl]

View attachment 78437

I built this box for my Chevy I had, when I bought the F350 I added another 24" storage box up next to the cab. In the Tundra it's back to a 6.5' bed so that add on I removed. These drawers are 6'3". Can get guns, and all kinds of gear in the 2 sides. When I hunt upland out west, I put a blow up camping pad (@1") on one side and a 4" memory foam on top of it. Sleeping bag on top of it. Kennels go down the other side for the dogs. Windoors so I can open the kenels to let each dog out to clean out or hunt. If it's super cold it's a bit rough, but typically it's not too bad. If it's gonna get super cold I grab a room somewhere.
That is nice..

Another Idea I have seen, don't know if you have 4 doors or not but check this out.

https://www.wayfair.com/Winterial--...BmrHsJsASXro7WdAjkdsBUYAwNYD_ikhoCXoAQAvD_BwE

Sorry it's wayfair that's the first thing that came up in my search. lol

 

[Jman]

View attachment 78437

I built this box for my Chevy I had, when I bought the F350 I added another 24" storage box up next to the cab. In the Tundra it's back to a 6.5' bed so that add on I removed. These drawers are 6'3". Can get guns, and all kinds of gear in the 2 sides. When I hunt upland out west, I put a blow up camping pad (@1") on one side and a 4" memory foam on top of it. Sleeping bag on top of it. Kennels go down the other side for the dogs. Windoors so I can open the kenels to let each dog out to clean out or hunt. If it's super cold it's a bit rough, but typically it's not too bad. If it's gonna get super cold I grab a room somewhere.

Another Idea I have seen, don't know if you have 4 doors or not but check this out.

https://www.wayfair.com/Winterial--...BmrHsJsASXro7WdAjkdsBUYAwNYD_ikhoCXoAQAvD_BwE

Sorry it's wayfair that's the first thing that came up in my search. lol

That looks awesome, Drahts!

Is there an issue with "Wayfair"? I'm not familiar with that site at all. Btw, I checked it out and it led me to another site/company, where I found the exact dimensions I needed for an air mattress. Short of the Airbedz model, it is the first one I've found that has a 50" x 80" dimension. The 50" should fit pretty well between the inner fenders (49"). Thank you for the link!