RB50 Dreams!

[sunshine]

So, I'm now having dreams about my van conversion, mostly about the cost, ha ha. I'm honestly a bit scared to pour the money into it, but I know it's the only way to make my wife feel comfortable enough to go on trips with me. We're getting pretty excited!

One fear I have is that the bed (RB50 plan) won't be comfortable enough for us. Can someone please reassure us that sleeping on the bed feels like it does at home? No lumps, soft spots or back pain?

We're hoping to be on the road for a many months at a time.

THANKS SO MUCH. I got my fingers crossed. Trying to book an early May conversion.

S.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Alot of SMB owners have put a 1.5-2" memory foam pad on top of the SMB mattress for a really comfortable bed. Others find the SMB mattress fine.

We have memory foam on the penthouse bed and sleep there 99% of the time. We have never slept in a motel while traveling with the SMB. 8-10 weeks straight. It is probably more comfortable than our bed at home.

Mike

[dhally]

We have had a couple of camper vans including an RB50 clone, and I think you have a valid concern. Search this site for how to fix your mattress and there will be a few hits!

The most comfortable sofa/bed is the rollover type where the seat stays stationary and the backrest flips forward to create the "head" end of the mattress. The sofa seat can be made any length so the crack can be located below the hips when sleeping. The jackknife type (like the RB50 uses) will place the crack at a pressure point. The problem is, the rollover type is not suitable for passengers.

We are thinking of using the rollover type sofabed since we won't normally carry passengers. If we do need to, it won't be any worse than carrying passengers in a motorhome.

Also may want to make sure the bed is wide enough to sleep 2 comfortably.

[jage]

The cushion pieces are each a different stiffness in the 50, but the memory foam we got at Costco solved that quickly. The bed was plenty comfortable without it, but my wife and I preferred opposite sleeping orientations (which since I park at camp, I could always tip in my favor!)

Anyway, easy fix if you're not totally comfortable with stock, and with it, it's more comfortable than home!

[daveb]

I don't think of it as better or as good as home. What kind of bed you have at home could make a huge difference.

I think of it as how much better my vans bed is compared to a tent.

The memory foam everyone is using must be a huge improvement, but I'm fine without it. Some use backpacking type air mattresses which also will help. It also probably depends on how much you weigh. At around 300lbs, I feel the bottom bed is more comfortable but the creases and seat belts are annoying. I sleep up top (PH) most of the time. I’m sure each person has their idea what feels comfortable.

Dave

[macmcintire]

Ditto Mike's (Ford_6L_E350) and Jeremiah's (Jage) comments. I hated the Sportsmobile pad and the separation between the cushions. It killed my back. I love my memory foam from Costco. Now I sleep very well in my van. Sometimes too well since I like to rise before the sun. I find myself sleeping longer with the memory foam.

[sunshine]

Thanks everyone, that gives me a pretty good idea of what to expect. Much Appreciated.