The 8 Best RV Short Queen Mattresses For The Money

We spend about a third of each day sleeping, whether we are at home or not, so it goes without saying that you should always buy the most comfortable bed you can afford.

This is extra important when you’re traveling the world in your RV, as you will need a good night’s sleep after those physically draining outdoor excursions.

And your home on wheels might already come with a mattress, but you might be looking to replace a worn one or seeking something more comfortable. You’ve come to the right place!

There is something for every camper in this in-depth review of the 8 absolute best short queen RV mattress products, whether you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper.

Many campers are quite confused by the slightly different sizes assigned to RV mattresses. Short queen is one of the most common sizes for RV mattresses, and it differs slightly from regular queen mattresses meant for the homes.

Read on to find out the difference with regards to size and other specifications, the most important criteria to look for when shopping for the best RV short queen mattress, tips to make your RV bed more comfortable, and much more. 

Best RV Mattress Short Queen: Quick Recommendations

• Best Extra Thick: DynastyMattress CoolBreeze Plush
• Best Affordable: Best Price 6 Inch Green Tea Infused
• Best Firm: Serenia Sleep 8 inch
• Best For Hot Sleepers: ZINUS 8 Inch Ultima 
• Best For Hot Back & Stomach Sleepers: DynastyMattress CoolBreeze
• Best For Combination Sleeping Position: Live and Sleep Resort Classic
• Best Hybrid Mattress: Elfreda Innersprings

RV Short Queen Mattress vs Regular Queen Mattress: What Is The Difference?

A common question by RVers is whether an RV short queen mattress differs from a regular queen mattress found in the home, and even when they do differ, whether they can still squeeze in a regular queen mattress into an RV bed originally made for an RV short queen mattress. 

Firstly, a short queen and a regular queen differ in two ways, that is size and feel.

A regular queen mattress meant for the home measures 60″ x 80″. While an RV queen mattress measures the same, a short queen mattress for camper measures, as you might have expected, shorter in length, at 60” x 75” or sometimes 60″ x 74″. 

In addition, note that most mattresses made for RV camping are made with less material than a residential mattress of the exact same size, so it will feel different when you lie on it. The reduction in both size and material is to account for the fact that both space and load are valuable in an RV. 

Should You Use A Regular Mattress In An RV?

Now, to answer the question of whether you can save some money by bringing an existing mattress in your house into your RV to replace a similarly sized mattress. This will depend on the particular size of mattress you’re dealing with.

In the few cases of California King and Queen, the RV version measures exactly the same as the regular household version, so you can reuse a regular home mattress in your home on wheels.

However, in most cases, the RV version will be narrower in width than the household version of the same name, including the King size. There are also sizes unique to RVs only, like the short queen. (You will find the exact measurements for other common RV mattress sizes in comparison with their household counterparts in the FAQs section at the end of this article should you need to know.) 

Even when you manage to put a regular mattress into your RV on a mismatched bed, the difference in size means the mattress won’t stay secure and will slide on the bed frame, or bunch up in places, both of which means loss of comfort.

Furthermore, a regular mattress is heavier than an RV mattress of the same size, so you would be sacrificing quite a lot of load that could be dedicated for supplies and camping gear. 

8 Best RV Short Queen Mattresses: In-Depth Reviews

You might find a few other products that are more expensive than the options below that you think are better, but here’s the 8 best RV mattresses short queen size that I think will offer the best value for money for campers with different budgets and needs, including different sleeping positions and tendencies.

You should always get the best you can afford, but most campers typically are limited in terms of budget, since we have so many crucial camping things to spend on. 

There’s something for everyone: thin and affordable, extra thick and luxurious, firm, medium firm, medium soft, mattress for back and stomach sleepers as well as for combination sleeping positions, mattress for hot sweaty sleepers, foam/memory foam and hybrid innerspring mattresses.

1. Best Extra Thick: DynastyMattress CoolBreeze Plush Medium Soft Gel Memory Foam Mattress

At a glance:

• Thickness: 14.5 inch
• Firmness: Medium soft
• Construction: 8.5” firm foam base + 2” high-density memory foam + 2” Sleep Foam technology memory foam + 2” high-density gel infused CoolBreeze memory foam
• Warranty: 30 year limited warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• Side sleepers
• Lightweight sleepers
• Those who do not get back and neck pain
• Those who do not sleep hot or campers who travel in cooler weather (in this case this mattress is also perfect for back and stomach sleepers)

Why we love it:

I’ll start this list with a rare find: a 14.5-inch mattress. While most RV mattresses on the market max out at 12 inch thick, 14-inch and above options are extremely scarce. This extra thick mattress is also rare in the way it’s constructed.

While most mattresses made for the home or camping on the market are made from 3 layers at most, this premium RV short queen mattress from Dynasty consists of four layers. 

The durable firm foam base alone is already 8.5” thick, that is thicker than many RV mattresses out there, which help keep the mattress’ structural integrity intact for longer. Next is a 2-inch layer of high-density memory foam, which delivers a faster recovery rate, meaning the mattress will spring back to its original shape quicker after you’ve been sleeping on it for a long night.

On top is another 2 inches of Dynasty’s Sleep Foam technology memory foam, which gives the mattress a luxuriously soft and plush feel. Lastly, the top layer is 2 inches thick and made from high-density gel infused CoolBreeze memory foam, delivering superb temperature control for heavy or hot sleepers. This special layer is also designed to contour better to the edges of your body, so side sleepers will never wake up with numb arms and hips. 

Since this mattress is medium soft, heavy sleepers as well as back and stomach sleepers will sink deeper into it, so it’s not ideal for these sleepers and those who tend to sweat at night. That said, this won’t be a problem for those who tend to stay cool during sleep and campers who often travel in cooler weather.

In fact, in cool weather, you would absolutely love this mattress more, as you will sink into it and it will hug around your body, keeping you toasty and give you that sleeping on clouds feel.

While you might frown at its price tag, this price is well worth it, given everything this mattress delivers. Many reviewers have testified to its ability to maintain its comfort, and the unprecedented 30 year limited warranty does speak volumes about its solid construction.

2. Best Thin & Affordable Mattress: Best Price 6 Inch Green Tea Infused RV Short Queen Memory Foam Mattress

At a glance:

• Thickness: 6 inch
• Firmness: Medium firm 
• Construction: 1” memory foam + 2″ super soft pressure relief foam + 3” high density foam base
• Certification: CertiPUR-US certified
• Warranty: 10 year warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• RVs with little headroom in the sleeping quarter
• Side, back and stomach sleepers
• Sleepers who suffer from back and neck pain
• Budget campers and first-time RV owners

Why we love it:

In contrast with the above extra thick mattress, this one is extra thin. While most campers would prefer RV mattresses that are at least 8 inch thick, you really should look for something extra thin if the sleeping quarter in question has limited headroom. In this case, this 6 inch memory foam mattress by Best Price will be the best RV short queen mattress for your space. 

This mattress is not only loved by budget campers and first-time RV owners for being one of the most economical yet comfortable options on the market, but also for the fact that it is made to suit sleepers with varying needs.

It is constructed with a 3-inch high density foam base for body support and structural integrity under a 2-inch super soft pressure relief foam for relieving back, neck and joint pains, and on top is a 1-inch layer of memory foam to better contour to the shape and curves of your body. 

This construction gives this mattress a medium firm feel and delivers superb pressure relief and body contouring, making it suitable for most sleepers, including back and stomach sleepers as well as side sleepers.

I would imagine that maybe only very heavy back or stomach sleepers who travel in hot and humid weather would not find this mattress a bit hot, given the medium firmness, as these sleepers would sink deeper into the mattress. If this is the case, you must check out the next two products. 

3. Best Firm: Serenia Sleep 8 inch RV Short Queen Memory Foam Mattress 

At a glance:

• Thickness: 8 inch
• Firmness: Firm
• Construction: 2” high density memory foam + 6” foam support base
• Certification: CertiPUR-US certified

Who it’s best for: 

• Sleepers who suffer from back and neck pain
• Heavy sleepers
• Back and stomach sleepers
• Those who tend to roll in their sleep and take a bathroom visit during the night without wanting to wake up their partner

Why we love it:

For heavy sleepers as well as back and stomach sleepers who tend to sink deeper into the mattress, a firmer mattress would be better in that it will keep you cooler at night and will give you enough body support.

Being rated as firm, this 8 inch mattress from Serenia Sleep is also one of the best RV short queen memory foam mattress at this price range for those who are prone to getting back and neck pain after a long night. I find it harder to find a good firm mattress these days than finding a good soft mattress, so make sure to check this one out.

This mattress consists of a 6 inch base layer of firm, dense foam for extra body support and structural integrity and a 2 inch top layer made from high density memory foam for pressure relief and body contouring without making the whole mattress too soft. 

Another area where I and other reviewers noticed that this mattress really delivered its marketing claim is its superior motion isolation capacity. If you tend to tumble about in your sleep or often need a bathroom visit in the middle of the night, your partner won’t feel a thing on this mattress.

Many reviewers who have tried different motion isolated mattresses before still noticed a major difference with this Serenia Sleep mattress. 

4. Best For Hot Sleepers: ZINUS 8 Inch Ultima Memory Foam RV Short Queen Mattress 

At a glance:

• Thickness: 8 inch
• Firmness: Medium firm
• Construction: 2” green tea and charcoal infused memory foam + 2” airflow-boosting comfort foam + 4” high-density foam support base 
• Support: up to 500lbs
• Certification: CertiPUR-US certified
• Warranty: 10 year warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• Hot sleepers who have night sweats
• Hot and humid climates
• Best for side sleepers, but also suitable for back and stomach sleepers

Why we love it:

Here’s another medium firm mattress that most side sleepers and those who suffer from joint pain would find comfortable and supportive. What’s special about this RV short queen size mattress is that despite not having a gel infused top layer, this product from Zinus is one of the best camper short queen mattress out there at below $250 in terms of temperature control. 

This is thanks to its construction: sandwiched between a 4 inch high density foam support base and a 2 inch memory foam top layer is 2 inches of airflow-boosting comfort foam that would draw heat away from your body and keep the hot, sweaty sleepers cool.

Furthermore, its top memory foam layer is infused with green-tea and charcoal, which have antimicrobial and anti-odor properties, helping keep this mattress nice and fresh. For this reason, this is a super economical solution for campers who often travel in hot and humid climates.

5. Best For Hot Sleepers #2: Classic Brands 8 Inch Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress

At a glance:

• Thickness: 8 inch
• Firmness: Medium firm 
• Construction: 2” gel infused memory foam + 6” high density foam support base
• Certification: CertiPUR-US certified
• Warranty: 10 year warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• Hot sleepers
• Side sleepers
• Those prone to back and neck pain
• Campers who travel in hot and humid climates

Why we love it:

Here’s another fantastic option for the hot and sweaty sleepers. This Classic Brands mattress is also 8 inches thick, but it differs from the above option in the way of its 2 inch top layer made from gel infused memory foam. \

This gel infused layer is very effective at drawing heat away from your body and keeping you cool for a good night’s sleep, even in very hot and humid weather. 

The 6 inch high density foam support base when coupled with the 2 inch memory foam top layer lends this mattress a medium firm feel, making it an ideal sleeping solution for the side sleepers and those who need proper spinal alignment for pressure relief. 

6. Best For Hot Back & Stomach Sleepers: DynastyMattress CoolBreeze 10 Inch RV Short Queen Gel Memory Foam Mattress

At a glance:

• Thickness: 10 inch
• Firmness: Medium firm
• Construction: 2.5” gel infused high density memory foam + 7.5”  memory foam support base
• Certification: CertiPUR-US certified
• Warranty: 30 year warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• Back and stomach sleepers (also comfortable for side sleepers)
• Heavy sleepers
• Hot sleepers

Why we love it:

While many back and stomach sleepers also find the Classic Brands 8 inch mattress above comfortable and supportive enough, I think this option from DynastyMattress would be the best RV short queen mattress for this group.

Firstly, it is thicker at 10 inches, with a thicker 7.5 inch memory foam support base. So while it’s also rated at medium firm, back and stomach sleepers, especially heavy sleepers might find this mattress more supportive and feels more solid. 

This RV short queen memory foam mattress is also a superb solution for the hot sleepers or those who camp in warm weather, thanks to the 2.5 inch gel infused high density memory foam on top that lends this mattress excellent temperature control capacity.

7. Best For Hot Sleepers with Combination Sleeping Position: Live and Sleep Resort Classic Memory Foam Mattress  

At a glance:

• Thickness: 10-inch
• Firmness: Medium firm
• Construction: 2” memory foam + 2″  convoluted Air Flow foam + 6” high density support base
• Warranty: 10 year warranty, 30 day trial

Who it’s best for: 

• Side sleepers
• Those with combination sleeping positions
• Hot sleepers
• Heavy sleepers

Why we love it:

While this RV short queen mattress is also 10 inches thick and rated medium firm like the one above, I find this option from Sleep Resort a bit softer and plusher and thus more comfortable for the side sleepers. If you tend to sleep on one side most of the night, you won’t wake up with numb arms and hips with this mattress.

Its “just right” firmness level and excellent body contouring comes from its construction, with a 2 inch memory foam top layer, a 2 inch convoluted Air Flow foam middle layer, and a 6 inch high density foam support base. 

That is not to say that stomach and back sleepers wouldn’t find this mattress comfortable. The 10 inch thickness and its firmness level make it one of the best RV short queen mattress for combination sleeping position, although I think the option right above is more suitable for heavier stomach and back sleepers.

In addition, I would highly recommend this mattress for hot sleepers and warm-weather campers, as the convoluted Air Flow foam middle layer really delivers on the temperature control front.

8. Best Hybrid Mattress: Elfreda Innersprings Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress

At a glance:

• Thickness: 12 inch
• Firmness: Medium firm 
• Construction: 1.5 inch Pillow Top layer + 2 inch memory foam plus high density foam + 8.5 inch individually wrapped coil innerspring 
• Warranty: 15 years limited warranty

Who it’s best for: 

• Those who want body support and pressure relief but like the springiness of an innerspring
• Back, stomach and side sleepers
• Those who tend to roll in their sleep and take a bathroom visit during the night without wanting to wake up their partner

Why we love it:

Although memory foam mattresses are gaining popularity, there is still a loyal fan base for the innerspring mattresses of the good old days. The majority of shoppers have shifted from innerspring mattresses to foam and memory foam mattresses for pressure relief and spinal alignment, which the innerspring construction cannot deliver.

However, if you love that unique springiness, now you can enjoy the best of both worlds with this hybrid mattress by Elfreda. If we’re only talking about hybrid innerspring and memory foam mattresses, this must be the best RV short queen mattress out there. 

The 8.5 inch base is made from individually wrapped coil innerspring. The middle layer is a 2 inch memory foam plus high density foam for a firmer feel and body support as well as body contouring, and on top is a 1.5 inch Pillow Top layer for a super plush and luxurious feel. 

To be honest, being someone who’s extremely prone to aching all over after sleeping on a soft and springy mattress, I was not convinced of the “hybrid” construction. But I never woke up with back, neck or joint pain with this mattress. Now, keep in mind that I’m on the light and skinny side.

Since the foam and top layer totals only 3.5 inches thick, which I don’t think is sufficient, I would imagine that the heavy sleepers who are prone to body pain might find this mattress not quite firm and supportive enough. 

For lightweight and average sleepers though, I can testify to this mattress’ motion isolation capacity. My girlfriend rolls a lot in her sleep and visits the bathroom almost every night (as she concedes), but I never felt a thing. 

How to Choose The Best Short Queen RV Mattress?

Below are crucial considerations to keep in mind when you’re shopping for the best short queen RV mattress, in the order of importance in my opinion.

Different campers would have different priority, but the order below is for the trouble sleepers who are prone to back and neck or joint pain.

Firmness

The first consideration when you shop for the best short queen mattress is firmness level. Many people decide on the material first, for instance some might settle on a memory foam mattress due to its celebrated comfort. If you don’t have a particular problem like backache and soreness, this is fine.

Otherwise, I think firmness level should come first, which will decide the material that you should opt for. Mattresses, including both those designed for residential use and recreational vehicles, have a firmness scale of 10 as follows:

• 1-2: extra soft
• 3-4: soft
• 5-6: medium
• 7-8: firm
• 9-10: extra firm

How firm should your mattress be depends on your sleeping habits:

• For back and stomach sleepers: You will spread out on top of your mattress, thereby distributing your body weight more evenly than the side sleepers. In most cases, a firmer mattress will be the best RV mattress short queen size for you, since it would offer even support to your body parts. In addition, while your contact area with the mattress is large, you would not sink too deep into a firm mattress, thus you will stay cooler during your sleep.
• For side sleepers: Unlike the back and stomach sleepers, a side sleeper will put a lot of pressure on one side of the body, thus laying on a mattress that is too firm will not be comfortable; many will wake up with numb arms and hips. The mattress thus needs to be soft enough to contour to your body shape and hug around you instead of resisting your weight. In this case, the best RV short queen mattress for the side sleepers should be less firm, that is having a firmness level of 8 and below, depending on whether you are prone to back, neck and joint pains. 
• For sleepers prone to aching: Now here is where I have a lot of experience. In general, if you fall into this category, you should find something with a firmness level of 8 and above. Personally for me, I’ve tried a dozen mattresses with such a firmness level, and I find that I sleep the best with something rated at 9 or 10, although a level-10 firm mattress might not “feel” ultra comfortable at first. 
• For hot sleepers and heavy sleepers: The more you sink into the mattress, the hotter it will feel, so a firmer mattress would be ideal. 
• For warm or cool weather: As above, to avoid sleeping hot, choose a firm mattress. However, if you camp in cold climates, a medium firm or soft mattress would hug around you like a blanket, thus you will feel warm and cozy. 

Material 

Jump to the next section if you’re not yet familiar with the many RV mattress materials and their properties. I’d say for most average sleepers these days, a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress generally offers the best support and feel closest to the “sleeping on clouds” claim.

That said, for myself and others who are more prone to body pain as well as the heavier sleepers, you would need extra support and thus even if you like the feeling of sinking into a memory foam mattress, the best RV short queen mattress for you should have a base of firmer high-density foam and a layer of memory foam on top. If you need an even firmer mattress, go for a latex mattress. 

While marketing claims might make you think that a memory foam mattress would be the best short queen RV mattress, selecting based on material is not enough. In fact, the level of body support and spinal alignment partly comes from the materia, and the rest comes from the firmness and thickness as explained below. 

Thickness (and thus Weight)

Many campers overlook this criteria, but thickness is important in the RV camping setting due to the limit on load. The thicker a mattress is, the heavier load you will be hauling around. If you don’t worry too much about weight, then there’s the factor of comfort level, body support and lifespan. 

When it comes to a mattress’ thickness, it is universally agreed that thicker mattresses are more comfortable, whether we’re talking about a regular household mattress or a camping mattress.

A thicker mattress would better ensure superb comfort and sufficient support, and will also hold up better over the years before sustaining permanent dents, especially in the case of heavy sleepers.

The most luxurious sleepers even stack up two thick mattresses to get that “sleeping on cloud” feel. In addition, remember that RV mattresses are typically made with less material to cut down on weight, so whenever headroom and budget allows, the best camper short queen mattress for most campers would be the thickest mattress available. 

As I’ve mentioned headroom, I must note that this should also be taken into consideration. If your RV sleeping arrangement is a bed platform with limited headroom, an extra thick mattress might make your sleeping environment feel a lot more cramped and inhibited, which doesn’t translate to “relaxing”. If you need to go for a thinner mattress, get a firmer one so that it still offer sufficient body support. 

Temperature Control

If you often travel in cold climates or during the cooler months, a softer mattress would hug around your body more compared to a firmer mattress, thus keeping you warmer. In contrast, a soft mattress would make you sleep hot if you tend to travel in warm weather.

In this case, a firmer mattress would be the best RV mattress for keeping your body cooler at night. If you want the firmest mattress, go for a Latex foam mattress.

Otherwise, if you want medium firmness and optimal temperature control, the best option would be a gel infused memory foam mattress, with gel beads that effectively draw heat away from your body. 

Motion Isolation

This criteria might not matter if you’re a lone traveler (but it’s always better to be prepared, should you gain a camping partner in the future!). Otherwise, always make sure to check the reviews to see whether a particular mattress really delivers motion isolation so that your partner won’t be woken up at night every time you need to visit the bathroom. 

In general, a firmer mattress like a latex foam mattress, as well as one that takes some time to recover when pressed down instead of springing right back like a memory foam mattress, will be the best RV mattress in terms of motion isolation. In contrast, a mattress that is too bouncy or springy will have little motion isolation property. 

Durability

The best RV mattresses on the market often come with a 10 year warranty, with a few products even offering a 15 year to 20 year warranty. This does speak something about durability, but always look for reviews by buyers who have owned a mattress for at least 3 to 5 years to see whether their mattresses still feel like the first day they sleep on it. In addition, I also look at materials and the construction of the mattress. 

I said “construction” instead of simply “thickness” or “firmness” since you will find that the recently produced mattresses are typically made of two to three layers: the base layer is often firm and dense foam, while the top layer is commonly softer memory foam, for its celebrated body contouring property, and sometimes there’s a third layer made from gel infused memory foam for extra temperature control. 

A mattress lifespan refers to how long a mattress can maintain its original level of body comfort and body support evenly across its surface area, since once a permanent and significant dents or unevenness form, it would no longer feel comfortable. You might still make do for some time, but up to a point you will want to replace it.

In general, a firmer and thicker mattress, like a Latex mattress or one with a thick dense foam base and a thin layer of memory foam on top, will hold up better. Meanwhile, a softer and thinner mattress and an innerspring mattress would be the first ones to lose their structural integrity and even distribution of material.

How you treat your mattress also affects its lifespan. To prevent premature dents, you simply should avoid sleeping in one certain spot for too long. Rotating your mattress at least once every three months will make it more comfortable a bit longer, although you should absolutely not flip your mattress due to the latest mattresses typically being multi-layered, unless yours is uniformly made from one material only.

* The most picky shoppers might also pay attention to trial period, that is how long you can try out a mattress before returning them free of charge. Given the hassle of returning a bulky and heavy mattress though, I’d only see it as a proof of confidence by the manufacturer, like warranty. 

Brand

Looking around on Amazon these days, I have seen a lot of unfamiliar names in the arena of RV mattresses. Many of which might not have thousands of reviews but most reviewers say amazing things about the product. So in such cases, you might want to give a lesser known brand a go if a particular product hits your sweet spot, say it fits your tight budget, or there are very few other options that fit your odd-sized RV bed. It’s riskier, but you might win big.

Otherwise, for your peace of mind, it’s always a good idea to start your search by looking at the best selling products by leading brands.

The most trusted names with good warranty and excellent customer service in this market include Dynasty, Zinus, Brooklyn Bedding, Live & Sleep, Lucid, Tochta, Serenia, Bear, and DreamCloud. Products by bigger brands are more popular, so there will be more reviews for you to base your decision on. 

Price

The price for RV mattresses of the same size can vary widely depending on the material and thickness. An 8-inch mattress might ask for over $100 extra to a few hundreds extra if you want to opt for a 10-inch or 12-inch version. Then there’s material.

The most old fashion type of mattress, the innerspring mattresses, might ask for under $200 for the king size, while a king memory foam mattress will often cost at least $380.

So to make the best investment, you must determine your priorities in terms of comfort, support, pressure relief, temperature control and motion isolation. While you don’t need to pay more money for an overkill product, you will regret buying a cheap, low quality mattress with too short a warranty from the very first night sleeping on it. It is something you will spend about a third of each day on, so try to get the best that you can afford. 

What Are The Different Types of RV Mattresses?

RV Innerspring Mattress

This traditional type of  mattresses are made from a metal wire system combined with metal coils or springs to create the main support frame, and padded with cushioning materials on top.

This was common back in the days, but has lost its market share to the later foam mattress and the latest memory foam mattress, as innerspring mattresses offer no joint pressure relief and spinal alignment. In fact, it is shown to have an adverse effect on our spinal health. 

In addition, the metal frame is prone to rusting, and the metal springs produce that annoying squeaking sound every time you lay down on the mattress or come off of it.

Although it might be acceptable for budget campers, since it’s the cheapest type, you should not come near it if you’re prone to feeling sore from sleeping on a soft and springy mattress.

RV Foam Mattress

Now if you’re a budget camper, you should get a regular foam mattress instead of a pure innerspring mattress. A foam mattress is just a little bit pricier, but still extremely affordable compared to the latest memory foam mattresses and will be better for you in the long term. 

Foam contours to your body to help relieve joint pressure, and particularly high density foam can provide good spinal alignment and reduce neck and back pain. 

RV Memory Foam Mattress

It’s important to note beforehand that when you hear “memory foam mattress”, in most cases the mattress will consist of a memory foam top layer and a thicker support base made from high density regular foam. This is because a 10 inch mattress made from 100% memory foam would be unnecessarily expensive, and too soft, which would reduce its body support capacity.

This construction is to take advantage of memory foam’s advanced and unique properties, namely better temperature control, motion isolation and body contouring than regular foam. 

This type of foam is called “memory” as it reacts to your body heat and will contour to the curves and edges of your body instead of resisting it, thus reducing joint pains and numbness from sleeping in one position for too long. Memory foam also recovers slowly from being pressed down, thus offering unmatched motion isolation.

Most buyers these days would vote for memory foam mattress as being the most supportive and comfortable, maybe except a minority who prefer extra firm mattresses.

RV Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress

Another version of memory foam mattresses made specifically for hot sleepers and those who travel in warm climates is gel infused memory foam mattresses, which is memory foam infused with gel microbeads. These gel microbeads draw heat away from the body, thus creating a cooling effect.

RV Hybrid Mattress 

This type of RV mattress is a combination of a metal frame with inner springs for that unique bounciness, padded with a layer of memory foam on top for added body contouring and pressure relief, so it offers the best of both.

The thicker the memory foam layer is, the more expensive the mattress will be, but you might still find this a sensible upgrade from the pain-inducing innerspring mattresses. 

RV Latex Mattress

For heavy sleepers, especially who tends to sleep hot, a softer regular foam mattress or an average memory foam mattress would likely feel too soft, thus not giving enough support and would let you sink too deep into the mattress, making you feel hot. A great substitute is a Latex mattress. Latex is made from the sap of rubber trees, a naturally antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and mildew-resistant material. 

Latex foam mattresses can use 100% natural rubber tree sap, which offers better pressure relief and body contouring than 100% synthetic materials from petroleum, which is cheaper and more durable, or most commonly a blend to deliver a good balance between comfort, support, durability and price. 

RV Air Mattress

Air mattresses are blown up with air using an air pump when it’s time for sleep and deflated when morning comes.

These are the least comfortable, so they typically serve as extra sleeping arrangements for guests and as affordable solutions for short weekend trips in really tight RVs, like a minivan or rigs with bed platforms that fold up flush against the wall when not in use.

The only way to make air mattresses more comfortable is to add thick RV mattress toppers made of memory foam on top. 

How Can I Make My RV Bed More Comfortable?

Mattress too soft

Certain sleepers who are prone to back, neck and joint pains need firm mattresses, ideally with a firmness level of 9 or 10.

If their mattresses are too soft or not as firm, they might wake up being sore all over, although many people would find a mattress with a firmness level of 8 and below perfectly comfortable.

In this case, there’s nothing you can do to make your current mattress firmer; you will have to invest in a new one. 

Mattress too firm

If you prefer your mattress to be softer, you’re lucky because this requires a much cheaper fix than the above situation. You only need a 3-inch thick memory foam mattress topper, which would instantly give you a more comfortable feel for most sleepers.

The memory foam material with its distinctive characteristics will add a supportive cushioning layer that contours to your body shape and thus deliver sufficient pressure relief for a good night’s sleep. There are standard size toppers as well as options that can be easily cut and shaped to any mattress size.

To secure the mattress topper so that it does not slide on your mattress, use a tight fitted, deep pocket sheet that can securely cover both the mattress and the topper, reinforced with mattress suspenders.

Mattress too hot

Heavier sleepers tend to sink deeper into the mattress, thus might not sleep well due to hotness in the warmer months, especially when their mattress is on the softer side. Or you might tend to sweat during nighttime, regardless of your weight.

In both cases, the quick fix is to buy the most breathable bed sheet, pillows and duvet that feels cool to the touch, namely those made from 100% cotton or linen, or a blend of cotton or linen with viscose. But if your mattress is on the soft side and you’re heavier than average, then that alone wouldn’t help much.

You should invest in a firmer mattress with a firmness level of 9 or 10, and the thicker the better, as a thicker mattress would give you more support so that you won’t sink too deep into it, and it will hold up better over time under your weight before sustaining permanent dents.

Better yet, look for a firm mattress that consists of a top layer made of cooling gel-infused memory foam, which draws heat away from the body, and a thick dense foam base layer for support. 

Mattress has a permanent dent where you often lie

Most of us tend to lie on a certain spot on the bed, and no matter how durable the mattress is, over time it will give in to your weight and a dent on the surface will form. When this happens, you will find yourself rolling right into this dent, and it will be much less comfortable changing positions.

Once this happens, usually you will need to buy a new mattress, but many budget campers find that rotating the mattress sometimes might work to give you a few months of slightly more comfortable sleep in your RV.

It’s always better to try preventing this inevitable deformation by periodically rotating the mattress so that you’re not always laying on the same spot night after night. In general, you should rotate it at least once every three months.

Camper Short Queen Mattress: FAQs