Bunk Bed Matresses

Seangie · April 05, 2012, 08:22:40 AM

Soon (not soon enough) we will be building bunk-beds into the bus. These will be custom built and the sizes we were are going with is somewhere between 24-30" x 60-72" depending on how the bathroom finishes up.

My question is for anyone who has built a custom bed - What do you use for a mattress and where did you get it from?

We are planning on full-timing so it is important that the bunks are very comfortable for the kiddies. Thinking about memory (viscoelastic) type foam on top of a polyeurathane foam as the most comfortable.

There has to be somewhere that has bulk viscoelastic/memory foam that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars?

Any other ideas for comfortable mattresses?

thanks all.

-Sean

Cary and Don · April 05, 2012, 08:30:38 AM

The foam can be bought at any upholstery supply outlet. They sell it in big sheets for seat cushions. I would then buy memory foam toppers two or three inches thick. These can be cut to fit the size of your bunk. Our memory foam bed is constructed this way. Only the top three inches is memory foam.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GM 4107
Neoplan AN340

Sean · April 05, 2012, 10:22:40 AM

Every major city has a shop that specializes in foam. They'll have what you need and cut it to whatever size you want with a hot wire. Most shops carry a half dozen to a dozen different types and densities in stock, only a few of which are suitable for a mattress.

FWIW, the shop in Las Vegas quoted me $180 for a 4" piece in short queen size (60x75). 4" isn't enough, but as Don suggested, we already have a memory-foam topper and were going to use them together. Unfortunately, the foam would have weighed so much more than our inner-spring mattress that I would not be able to lift the bed, so we had to install an electric bed lift first, and we were already out of Vegas by the time I got that done. We'll buy our foam somewhere else in our travels. (Bed lift installation project is detailed in this post: http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-world-problems.html#BedLift).

HTH,

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

eddiepotts · April 05, 2012, 12:29:14 PM

In my entertainer they are twin size mattresses cut down and re-sewn. You want the length if not the width. You may look at a king and have a few inches cut out of the middle and fold down the top of one side and fold up the bottom of the other. The king may be cheaper than two twins. There are custom mattress shops all over that can fix you up cheap enough. It will probably be a one time purchase.

belfert · April 05, 2012, 12:34:36 PM

I have custom made innerspring mattresses in my bus. The mattresses I have are narrower than a normal twin. There is a local mattress place that has their own factory. How long do you intend to live in your bus? Eventually the kids will outgrow a 60" long bed. I made my bunks 80" long, but I am dealing with adults. If I did it again I would probably do half 75" and half 80" bunks as not everyone is tall.

brando4905 · April 05, 2012, 01:33:34 PM

I did what Cary and Don recommended. I have a custom shaped bed and went to our local fabric shop and got 6" foam and cut it to fit with an electric turkey carver. Then got a cheap memory foam topper from box store and cut it to fit as well.

Ed Hackenbruch · April 05, 2012, 01:37:12 PM

You can go to Walmart and buy a King or Queen size memory foam topper and cut it down to size. It is two different layers of foam, each 2 inches thick. I used 2 pieces on top of each other,( ended up 8 inches thick), and don't even need box springs or a mattress under it. Depending on whether you like it firm or soft decides which side is on top. Cost was about $120 if i remember right.

buswarrior · April 05, 2012, 03:07:35 PM

x2 on belfert's advice.

Those kids will be full sized before you turn around.

Build 'em adult sized, you won't be sorry.

The unused space at the foot of the bed can be used for storage boxes, until the feet of the occupant needs it.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Kirby-XL40-FL · April 05, 2012, 05:06:31 PM

We had our slightly custom size made at a marine mattress company --- solid foam. Then we added a memory foam topper as mentioned above.... it cut to match the size pretty well with a serrated blade kitchen knife. Then covered with a mattress pad with elasticized sides.

FloridaCliff · April 05, 2012, 05:09:46 PM

Bought mine from KNOX foam, they cut to my spec and shipped vacuum packed.

4" medium foam with a 2" memory topper glued together.

They also sold a zip on cover that is water proof, you spill or get anything on foam, it ain't going away......

Cliff

Scott & Heather · April 05, 2012, 05:41:25 PM

Just built a bunk (full size) over driver's area and had 3 sets of couples sleep in it over the last month...some were here for 10 days...they all LOVED it....memory foam mattress

gus · April 05, 2012, 07:22:29 PM

Forget any kind of springs. Use two different densities of foam so you can flip it if one does not suit you. Enclose both in a zip up mattress cover. If you still don't like it get some different types of foam mattress toppers until you get to what you like. Been there.

Use 3/4" plywood for the bunk base.

Forget any kind of commercial mattress base, a waste of money.

NEO/Russ · April 05, 2012, 08:23:45 PM

You might do a search for truck sleeper mattresses. My KW has bunks and I will be getting new ones for it once I get it on the road. There are dozens of sizes and manufacturers that make standard and custom sized mattresses for these rigs. Nice thing is that there are many different types, and most have a descent edge and are fully covered like a real bed mattress. Not for everyone, just another option of where to look..Russ

Seangie · April 06, 2012, 09:03:30 AM

Thanks All,

I think we are going to go with the 2 foam solution, memory on top and poly on the bottom.

QuoteBought mine from KNOX foam, they cut to my spec and shipped vacuum packed.

4" medium foam with a 2" memory topper glued together.

They also sold a zip on cover that is water proof, you spill or get anything on foam, it ain't going away......

Cliff - Looks like knox is out of business? I was looking at new England Foam online but I think I might try and find a local foam place...I am sure I can get a better deal if I walk in and talk to someone.
Waterproof mattress is a must have with the kiddies for obvious reasons

BW & Belfert - Agreed on the longer sized bunks but not sure space will allow. We currently have 12' of space along the wall. Maybe we do 2 at 75" and 2 with whats leftover.

QuoteHow long do you intend to live in your bus?

We are currently planning on dedicating a year to bus life but if all goes well and we enjoy it...it could be 2 or 3 or...who knows?
I just told Wifey this morning that our retirement is already planned out

For the memory foam it looks like an option would be to purchase a Queen size topper and cut it to save some bucks but it still looks like close to 1000.00 for bedding for 4 beds by the time you get covers, sheets, pillowcases....ect... good thing Wifey likes to sew.

-Sean

Ed Hackenbruch · April 06, 2012, 02:56:11 PM

You might even end up with some scrap pieces that you can make pillows out of.....i did.