Hello from Oregon

[vanman25]

I'm a newbie to Sportsmobile hoping to learn from others. Bought a 2000 Ford E350 Sportsmobile from a friend last year. Everything in excellent condition, van has only 77K miles on it. Wife and I took it on its maiden voyage from Portland to Denver las May and had a great time boondocking and staying in established CG's.

Am looking for ideas on how to make the upper penthouse sleeping platform more comfortable. Have been using a Thermarest inflatable - too narrow and hassle inflating it every night. Would prefer a foam pad that could be permanently in place even with the pop-top down. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[geoffff]

I have always used a foam mattress topper up there. When not in use, I fold it in half and store it on the forward of the two halves of the upstairs bed. There is more room above this part than there is above the rear half of the bed.

 

[marret]

Welcome and congrats. Nice rig.

I use a foam topper with mattress pad on my gaucho and really need the same for the penthouse, but haven't used it much so have not.

Some have replaced the foam with some more suitable for their use.

I have used a double Exped mattress and agree about inflating. When I used the Exped I stored it in my Thule box inflated and actually do the same for the gaucho topper.

Not a perfect solution, but storage is always a consideration.

 

[VanMiller]

Welcome to the forums.

 

[lchukar]

I do not recommend using memory foam in the upper bunk like we did. When cold it becomes hard as a rock. Have you tried leaving the Thermarest in place with the air valve open when you close the lid? All the air will squeeze out when you put the lid down, and it mostly refills in short order once the lid goes up. A few puffs more and it is good to go.

 

[geoffff]

I do not recommend using memory foam in the upper bunk like we did. When cold it becomes hard as a rock.

That is true. I have memory foam up there, and it is hard on cold nights when I first get into bed. But it quickly softens with body heat.

 

[moorefc]

Suggest you look at taking the 25 year old foam out of the mattress platform and look at a couple different density foams. You might get some help from Sportsmobile as to what they use new and you can re-use the covering. We did that in an older Sportsmobile...Otherwise topper different than what you have tried....
Also different tops have different clearances, so it helps if you measure yours....

 

[Berta-SMB]

I have a 3” foam topper in the penthouse. I cut in two prices. it stays up there all the time. The foam helps but not great.

 

[geoffff]

Suggest you look at taking the 25 year old foam out of the mattress platform and look at a couple different density foams. You might get some help from Sportsmobile as to what they use new and you can re-use the covering. We did that in an older Sportsmobile...Otherwise topper different than what you have tried....
Also different tops have different clearances, so it helps if you measure yours....

The trick is the upper mattress is only about 2" thick, so I'd be afraid a softer foam would lead to bottoming out. Anyone actually have success changing out their foam?

 

[moorefc]

Sportsmobile fresno more recently uses 2 different densities if I remember correctly. Earlier used one medium density. Either that or after discussing with them I went to density solution....We used a very high density bottom (1/2"?) then maybe a 4# top portion. Go to a foam shop and get higher quality samples....The original is probably 3# or so was my guess for the back in the day models....It is relatively simple to remove the cover and swap out foam..Again check with Sportsmobile. Bottom line, we had success eliminating a memory foam topper in our first Sportsmobile...