van bed

[steveh2112]

any recommendations for a van bed (for couple, not heavy)
i think queen size will fit comfortably in any cargo van if the bed platform is raised above the wheel wells right?
i've looked at some air mattresses like this http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Classic...door-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1431048290&sr=1-4 which is only 8.75" high so not jamming me up against the roof.
maybe together with this
http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Master-...d=1431048919&sr=1-19&keywords=mattress+topper
or a real mattress like this
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Price-Ma...0XF8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1431049497&sr=8-7
its a long time since i slept on an air mattress and i don't have a good memory of them so maybe the real mattress is better.
what do you all recommend?

 

[Grizzly Stardust]

I picked this futon mattress up from Big Lots a few weeks back for my Ford Escape.

http://www.biglots.com/p/deluxe-black-futon-mattress

It's a full size mattress which might be smaller than you want but it's pretty comfortable. I definitely recommend against going with the air mattress, I've never been a fan.

 

[Reducto]

I've had bad experiences with air mattresses too, partly because I have a habit of leaving sharp things laying around.

I'm extremely happy with my Ikea 6" memory foam mattress. I don't know how the one you linked would compare. Mine has 4" of latex and 2" of memory foam. It folds in half when not in use.

One nice thing about foam is you can trim it to fit whatever space it winds up in.

 

[Canine]

Just bought a queen sized memory foam on Amazon acouple of weeks ago for $152 .Love It!!!!

 

[steveh2112]

thanks. yep i think the air beds are maybe ok for occasional use but i'll be 6 months on this thing so a think a foam mattress will be better. actually my daughter just emailed me and said she has a spare so maybe problem solved.

 

[Bruce H.]

I just installed one of these mattresses in my 2001 Ford Econoline E350. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Spa-Sensations-8-Memory-Foam-Mattress-Multiple-Sizes/12542630 Mine is the Queen size and I got it on sale for $170 with free shipping. I believe it comes in at around 25lbs or so. I haven't slept on it yet but it seems very comfortable to lay on and I'm excited to give it an all night try out soon.
I built this van for two and that is the reason for the descent queen size mattress. If we both get good sleep we will be more likely to use the van more and spend more time on the road which is what I am hoping for. The wife isn't as excited about it as I am but I'm hoping if she sleeps good I can get her more excited about sleeping in a van. LOL

Here is a link to my build playlist if anyone is interested in seeing how I built the bed frame and fit this size mattress into the van.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_Jx4aajp4TakifGK24DQ2PS1w9WVemsx

steveh2112 good luck with your search and build. Hopefully this will help you a little.

 

[Free Range Chicken]

Made a rolling bed that wraps in a prism less than 2 feet by two feet by 4.5. It's 5 inches of memory foam , and like you, I also felt like I needed bigger size bed (at least full size). Since you want queen size this may be good for you. It saves you space, my full size rolled out uses 4'6" x 6'3"

 

[Canine]

All good ideas. Since I'm solo, I'm not commenting on the way the way to fit a queen bed in, however, I also 2x the "ditch the air mattress". That's what I started on and it's bad on several counts... Adding the air when completely down takes time, losing air in the middle of the night, moves up and down excessively, cold when it's cold, cannot adjust it dimensionally like, you can with cutting the foam.

Pros are, well, cheaper (till you replace it multiple times) and portable.

Amazon has a lot to offer on choices of air beds, expensive camp mats and more traditional memory foam. You can shop and compare for days... I have learned to avoid wallyworld for this type of bedding, the quality just isn't there. Fine for lots of other things though. I tried a waffle foamy thing and a memory foam, lasted one night, returned it all to them the next day in another city a hundred plus miles away without half the packaging, no problem. That was nice.