Newcomer hello

[LargeMarge]

I just got it and need to get some essential supplies, such as bedding. It's a little overwhelming at this point.

.
One word -- car-camping gear.
It doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to function.
If I was me starting out, I might go 'cheap' at yard-sales and Saint Vincent de Paul.
As you use it, as you travel and grow, your needs automatically evolve.
.
An aside:
We built our ExpeditionVehicle to boondock exclusively.
Accordingly, we eliminated anything requiring constant maintenance.
We also forsook fine glassware.
We quit them tuba lessons, and embrace the joys of sharing a harmonica.

 

[LargeMarge]

...inflatable mattresses...

.
a)
Unless your van interior temperature is perfectly stable, air inside the mattress shrinks as it cools...
... leading to sags.
.
In cool weather, I like a little heat.
That would expand the air inside the mattress...
...turning it egg-shape.
.
.
A cheap alternative (while potentially helping involuntary vehicle-dwellers):
Saint Vincent de Paul acquires used mattress donations, strips the textile exterior right down to the springs, then re-builds them with new material.
Would I?
Probably not.
Nor would I hang a hammock.
.
.
b)
My tirade against foam:
Unless you are proactive about humidity inside your rig -- Open! The! Windows! -- foam loves moisturizing.
A moist bed eagerly invites fungus.
.
Horror stories abound about lifting the mattress...
... and discovering pools of water, the mattress reeking and returning to its base elements with the assistance of black mold.
.
For our ExpeditionVehicle, I fabricated our bed platform using expanded metal, similar to stout window-screen.
This allows plenty of ventilation under the mattress.
.
And 'yes', our mattress is identical to any mattress in a stand-still house.
.
.
[edited to add (because I 'sometimes' get carried away)]
c)
We started our interior with our essentials:
1) our bunk, then
2) added our galley and head.
Everything else is just fluff for fun.

 

[Sara in a Prius]

I got 4-inch foam from Joann’s, which I cut to the length I needed. I covered that with a waterproof “outdoor cushion” cover. It’s been surprisingly comfortable.

 

[J Can]

.
One word -- car-camping gear.
It doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to function.
If I was me starting out, I might go 'cheap' at yard-sales and Saint Vincent de Paul.
As you use it, as you travel and grow, your needs automatically evolve.
.
An aside:
We built our ExpeditionVehicle to boondock exclusively.
Accordingly, we eliminated anything requiring constant maintenance.
We also forsook fine glassware.
We quit them tuba lessons, and embrace the joys of sharing a harmonica.

.
a)
Unless your van interior temperature is perfectly stable, air inside the mattress shrinks as it cools...
... leading to sags.
.
In cool weather, I like a little heat.
That would expand the air inside the mattress...
...turning it egg-shape.
.
.
A cheap alternative (while potentially helping involuntary vehicle-dwellers):
Saint Vincent de Paul acquires used mattress donations, strips the textile exterior right down to the springs, then re-builds them with new material.
Would I?
Probably not.
Nor would I hang a hammock.
.
.
b)
My tirade against foam:
Unless you are proactive about humidity inside your rig -- Open! The! Windows! -- foam loves moisturizing.
A moist bed eagerly invites fungus.
.
Horror stories abound about lifting the mattress...
... and discovering pools of water, the mattress reeking and returning to its base elements with the assistance of black mold.
.
For our ExpeditionVehicle, I fabricated our bed platform using expanded metal, similar to stout window-screen.
This allows plenty of ventilation under the mattress.
.
And 'yes', our mattress is identical to any mattress in a stand-still house.
.
.
[edited to add (because I 'sometimes' get carried away)]
c)
We started our interior with our essentials:
1) our bunk, then
2) added our galley and head.
Everything else is just fluff for fun.

Thanks very much, Large Marge. A helpful forum member mentioned Walmart for bedding and that is where I went. It's cheap enough, and I kept the concept of car camping in mind, as you suggested. Bottom line is that I think I am almost ready for the maiden voyage. To be continued and thanks again to all the helpful commenters.

 

[beachy]

A good place to get custom foam is The Foam Store in Houston, Texas. I have bought from them several times, the prices are very reasonable. It turns out there are different grades of urethane foam, I have a pad of 1 inch thick of the stiffest and it won’t compress to the floor when I lay on it. I don’t know what shipping costs are, they say they ship nationwide. Everyone seems to like them. thefoamstore dot com . 713-686 6622

 

[keebler]

welcome .

 

[NomadLife.wiki]

Welcome J Can!

 

[shadowmoss]

I saw a YouTube video today where a guy had a 2" tri-fold gymnastics/yoga mat. I'm thinking that on top of my blue Walmart foam pad would work. It has a water proof (resistant?) cover. 72"x24"x 2". I'm in a sedan (no hatchback) so I need to be mindful of the height of my combined bedding as the pass through to the trunk is not that tall.

 

[Morgana]

I saw a YouTube video today where a guy had a 2" tri-fold gymnastics/yoga mat.

I slept on something like that for two years during school. It called itself a cheap-@ss futon, but was pretty similar. Maybe 2.5 or max 3" but maybe 2". Cheap ones compress down after awhile, but it was still sleepable-on.

 

[MAGGIEA56]

I slept on something like that for two years during school. It called itself a cheap-@ss futon, but was pretty similar. Maybe 2.5 or max 3" but maybe 2". Cheap ones compress down after awhile, but it was still sleepable-on.

As long as it is mostly firm and nothing is poking me in my side's or back, I am all in.

 

[MAGGIEA56]

A good place to get custom foam is The Foam Store in Houston, Texas. I have bought from them several times, the prices are very reasonable. It turns out there are different grades of urethane foam, I have a pad of 1 inch thick of the stiffest and it won’t compress to the floor when I lay on it. I don’t know what shipping costs are, they say they ship nationwide. Everyone seems to like them. thefoamstore dot com . 713-686 6622

I will need to stop by before I head to Quartzite in November I have to say good bye to my son, so I will stop in and check it out for myself. I am always looking for something better. To bad that companies can't let you sleep on it, then decide if it's a good idea to buy it. Thank you for the tip.