Are RV Beds Comfortable? (and how to improve the comfort)

Written by Jeff Campbell in Bedding & Furniture Last Updated December 20, 2023

Having a comfortable bed while traveling across the country is important. RV beds are often odd sizes, but are RV beds comfortable?

RV beds are comfortable, and the higher the price of the RV, the better the stock mattress will be. To improve comfort, purchase a foam mattress topper and cut it to size. 

In this article, we will cover everything that you need to know about your RVs bedding.

After all, not all RV beds are equal, and most aren’t exactly the same size as your home equivalent, despite still using the same names like queen and twin.

So, if you haven’t purchased an RV yet and aren’t sure how to make the bed the most comfortable it can be, keep reading.

How can I make my RV bed more comfortable?

The best way to improve RV mattress comfort without getting a new mattress is to add a foam mattress topper. These are inexpensive, can be cut to size easily, and range in thickness from 2″ and up.

As a seasoned RV owner, I can assure you that there is almost nothing worse at the time than waking up stiff and having to drive for a few hours.

Having a few restless and uncomfortable sleepless nights can change how you perceive your trip. That’s why I decided to share my tips on how to make your RV bed more comfortable.

The first step needs to be done before you buy the RV. So, if you already own one, you can skip the first step.

  • Speak to the RV manufacturer

Buying an RV is something personal. The people who make and sell RVs understand this better than anyone else. Because of this, you will find that some places will try their best to accommodate you wherever possible.

If you have any special requests regarding your RV bedding and the salesman can do it for you, they might charge you extra, but you should expect this.

The benefit of speaking to the salesman is, it will remove the stress involved in finding the bed that you want, and that falls within the RVs size specifications.

  • Use a mattress topper

Using a good quality mattress topper can take any regular bed and turn it into a bed that you will look forward to sleeping on. We will discuss mattress toppers further down in the article but first, let me give you one recommendation.

A memory foam topper will work perfectly, but if you can get a gel-infused memory foam topper, you should not have any regrets.

  • Find a good pillow

If you are struggling to sleep, sometimes, but not all the time, it is just the pillow. If you have an uncomfortable pillow, you increase the chances of waking up with a stiff neck. You can trust me; trying to drive an RVwith a stiff neck will make you want to turn around and go home.

Everybody is different, so it is hard to recommend a specific pillow, but a memory foam pillow does a great job in my experience.

  • Make your bed

This might sound crazy, but getting into an unmade bed can make for a restless night.

When you make your bed, it often involves you fluffing your pillow and airing the mattress out. So, when you go to bed, everything will feel a lot more fresh and comfortable than getting into a bed that is not made.

  • Buy a new bed or mattress

If you already have the bed or mattress that you want, then you can skip this section. If you have tried all the steps above, but you are still struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you might have to buy a new mattress.

Before you buy a new mattress, you must read the next section, and later on, in this article, I will give you a recommendation for an excellent mattress for your RV.

Are RV mattresses different?

The main difference between a normal household mattress and an RV mattress is the size specifications. An RV mattress is smaller than its household counterpart, despite still being called the same size name.

This is a great question to ask before you go out and get a new mattress for your RV. This is because you might have just saved yourself some time, money, and stress.

Let’s get straight into it.

Yes, in most RVs, the mattress is different from your regular household mattresses. In fact, the entire bed is different in most cases. Let’s talk about what the main difference is.

So, a queen-size bed in an RV is smaller than a queen-size bed in your home. It is the same for all the sizes.

This is obviously due to the limited space in an RV. You might find a few exceptions, mainly in bigger and more luxurious RVs.

Most RV beds are custom made which means the mattresses are sized for the custom bed.

You might find that a lot of prominent RV manufacturers have agreements with a few prominent bedding companies. So, in most cases, your RV will come with a good quality bed and mattress.

What is the best RV mattress to buy?

Dynasty Mattress is the best RV mattress to buy because it has an incredible gel memory foam mattress and it is designed specifically for RVs, which means they have taken into account that you will be sitting behind the wheel for extended periods.

If you are unhappy with your current mattress and are looking to buy a new one, you will have to look for one that comes from a company that specializes in RV sizes.

CLICK HERE to check out Dynasty on Amazon.

The mattress is approximately 10 inches tall. 2.5 inches of that is gel-infused memory foam with “sleep cool” technology.

The rest is 7.5 inches of durable foam. They are so confident in the mattress that it comes with a 30-year warranty. It also has close to 700 reviews on Amazon, most are 5-star, and it’s an Amazon’s Choice product!

Most importantly, the mattress comes in almost all sizes, from twin to California King size. You can find out more about this mattress by clicking on this link to Amazon.

Can I add a mattress topper to my RV mattress?

Yes. You can easily add a mattress topper to any of the beds in an RV. Most are made of foam that is 2″ thick or thicker. They can easily be trimmed, and can also be rolled up when not in use.

A mattress topper can make a huge positive difference for your sleep.

I wouldn’t say that I struggled with sleeping on my RV mattress, but I did want some extra comfort, especially during cross-country trips. After trying a few mattress toppers, I finally found one that is so good that I ended up buying two of them. Let’s talk about this mattress topper.

The Subtrex Gel-infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper (click to see on Amazon) is designed to allow for maximum airflow.

When you combine this with their gel memory foam, you should be able to fall asleep easily and wake up feeling fresh. The mattress topper comes with a 10-year warranty and starts at under $60.

Their sizing ranges from twin to California King, and you can choose the 2, 3, or 4-inch options. Basically, whatever your needs are regarding a mattress topper, this one has you covered.

Not only does a mattress topper add to the comfort of your mattress, but it also prolongs the life span of the bed. You can find out more about this mattress topper by clicking on this link to Amazon.

But mattress toppers aren’t just for beds.

In our RV, we also have 2 fold-out couches that are basically like a futon. Because they have the seat crease right down the middle, we got two of these toppers for the couches.

That way at night when we turn them into beds, my older daughters don’t have to sleep on that uncomfortable crack. Then when we’re driving, we roll the toppers up and out of the way and turn them back into couches.

Why are RV beds so uncomfortable?

RV beds that are uncomfortable are due to either laying flat on plywood or because the mattress is too thin and not providing enough support. A foam pad under the mattress and/or a mattress topper can improve comfort.

Think about it.

At home, many of us sleep on mattresses that are 8, 10, or even 12″ thick. And most of the time, they sit on a box spring; not plywood.

RV mattresses, on the other hand, can sometimes be only 4-6″. And many fold in half as they can’t be fully extended unless a slide-out is out.

And they are thinner and smaller than home mattresses to keep the weight down.

While that might help your gas mileage, it won’t help your sleep. So just a simple foam pad under the mattress on top of the plywood can do wonders.

Are RV sheets different than regular sheets?

While RV sheets aren’t necessary for an RV, they are different from regular sheets in that they are sized to fit the RV mattress exactly. RV mattresses, despite still being referred to the same, are slightly different sizes from home mattresses.

But don’t worry.

If you have a queen mattress in your RV and a boatload of queen-sized sheets at home, that will work just fine.

Here is a handy chart showing all the most common mattress sizes both for regular mattresses and RV mattresses:

MATTRESS NAME RV MATTRESS SIZE REGULAR MATTRESS SIZE
TWIN 28 by 75-80 inches 38 by 75 inches
38 by 80 inches
FULL 53 by 75 inches
54 by 75 inches
55 by 75 inches		 54 by 74 inches
QUEEN 60 by 80 inches 60 by 80 inches
KING 72 by 80 inches 78 by 80 inches

So as you can see, in the case of a Queen mattress, in most cases, it will be exactly the same.

And even if your RV has a king and you’ve got king sheets at home, you’ll have an extra 3″ on each side which can be tucked under the mattress daily easily if you don’t want to buy special RV sheets.

Conclusion

Ultimately, if your RV mattress isn’t comfortable, there are ways to improve the comfort level without having to buy a new one.

I feel that it is important to emphasize how crucial it is to have a comfortable bed to sleep on. A lack of adequate sleep can leave you tired, and I never recommend driving while fatigued.

Being tired also means that you might enjoy your travels a little less.

Middle Class Dad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to Amazon from my site and choose to make a purchase. This is no way increases the cost to you.

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