My parents bought a new rear living TT with the big picture window in the back with the two rocker chairs in the back corners. As you can assume, there's only one dedicated bed which is the queen up front.I'm going through a divorce now and sometimes I'll spend 2 or 3 days with them when they camp close to home since I can still commute to work. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what the best option is for sleeping.They have the hide a bed air mattress couch and also the u shaped dinette. Both are kind of a pain to setup and take down, especially since they purchased a pleather coffee table that matches the pleather of the stock TT furniture. The dinette requires pulling out extendable seats on either end of the u dinette so you can use the hidden cushions to finish off the mattress. No matter which bed I choose I simply throw a sleeping bag over it.Which bed would you choose? Sometimes I wish they simply got a jack knife couch so it would be a lot easier to just make it into a bed and then back to a couch again. It seems it would be a lot easier.Your thoughts?

Comfortable sleeping arrangements is at the top of the need list for us. We've had/have all three bed options you mentioned.Dinette beds typically have thin cushions that even a sleeping bag topper can't make more comfy. And they seem to be sized for really short people. No room to stretch out, unless you can stay curled up all night.Same for the jacknife bed. Although it may have slightly thicker cushions, it's also short and the cushions are uneven. Never had a good night's sleep on a jacknife bed.You are correct. An airbed is a pain to assemble, but worth the trouble, especially if your parents invest in some great bedding. It can be just as cozy as your bed at home. Find a spot for the coffee table, and sleep well.

I don't see how one can sleep comfortably on a dinette table unless one was fairly short.I also second the airbed. It does take some time to inflate/deflate, but it gives the best rest of all of them.

mlts22 wrote:I don't see how one can sleep comfortably on a dinette table unless one was fairly short.I also second the airbed. It does take some time to inflate/deflate, but it gives the best rest of all of them.Plus it's free lodging. The little bit of effort is worth that. X3 on the airbed.

I agree with the air bed mattress. It might be a pain to set up but the nice thing is that you can inflate it to fit your comfort level for a great nights sleep.

The dinette table is actually pretty comfortable. The cushions provide a nice support. I'm only about 5'6" and have no problem stretching out and would have no problem even if I was about 3" taller.As for the air bed, there are times when my parents will turn in early and I might stay out by the fire or be hanging out at my brother's camper or something. When I get back to my parents camper then I won't do the airbed because my parents are sleeping already and the pump is loud. A few weeks ago I split the night between the airbed and the dinette. Last week I strictly used the dinette. Perhaps I'll just do the airbed next time.

Jack Knife Sofa Vs. Airbed Mattress Vs. Dinette Bed?

19 Replies

Kittykath
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2013
Most airbeds are meant to be stored in it's own zipper pouch attached to the frame, then folded right in with the couch. But do only what theirs is designed for.

Yes, literally within 2 minutes you have a full bed, but the pain comes when you put all the goodies on top of it (mattress pad, sheets, and the like) that really make it super comfortable. As much of a pain as completely stripping and reassembling your bed at home.

Again, worth it!
longislandcampe
Explorer
Jun 26, 2013
Hmm, I've been removing the air bed in the morning and then folding it to put back in the drawer under the sofa. Should I just deflate the mattress and fold it up while its still attached to the couch? That would make my life easier. Lol
mosseater
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2013
OK, I admit I don't know about all the air beds out there, but all we do is fold ours out and turn the switch. In about literally 2 minutes you have a bed. Same for putting it away. What am I missing?
TXcampingfamily
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013
We had a jack knife in our old 5er. Easy set up, but not very comfortable. Our new to us RV has the air mattress sofabed. Unfortunately we have discovered a leak in the air mattress near a seam. We think the mattress was pinched when it was folded up. DH tried to patch it, but since it is on an edge seam it wouldn't take. My father travels with us from time to time. He has used the dinette and found it OK, but it really is a pain to always set up and tear down. What we finally ended up doing was to throw out the double air mattress on the sofabed. He uses a single air mattress on the old sofabed frame. Every morning we lift it off the sofabed and put it on the front dash (still aired up and the bed linens on it). It's not pretty, but it keeps it aired up, made and out of the way. Much easier every night to set up. When we are driving to another location we put it on our master bed. It's not the best looking set up, but very easy for us.
longislandcampe
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013
The dinette table is actually pretty comfortable. The cushions provide a nice support. I'm only about 5'6" and have no problem stretching out and would have no problem even if I was about 3" taller.

As for the air bed, there are times when my parents will turn in early and I might stay out by the fire or be hanging out at my brother's camper or something. When I get back to my parents camper then I won't do the airbed because my parents are sleeping already and the pump is loud.

A few weeks ago I split the night between the airbed and the dinette. Last week I strictly used the dinette. Perhaps I'll just do the airbed next time.
Wiscampsin
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013
I agree with the air bed mattress. It might be a pain to set up but the nice thing is that you can inflate it to fit your comfort level for a great nights sleep.
magnusfide
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
I don't see how one can sleep comfortably on a dinette table unless one was fairly short.

I also second the airbed. It does take some time to inflate/deflate, but it gives the best rest of all of them.

Plus it's free lodging. The little bit of effort is worth that. X3 on the airbed.
mlts22
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2013
I don't see how one can sleep comfortably on a dinette table unless one was fairly short.

I also second the airbed. It does take some time to inflate/deflate, but it gives the best rest of all of them.
Kittykath
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2013
Comfortable sleeping arrangements is at the top of the need list for us. We've had/have all three bed options you mentioned.

Dinette beds typically have thin cushions that even a sleeping bag topper can't make more comfy. And they seem to be sized for really short people. No room to stretch out, unless you can stay curled up all night.

Same for the jacknife bed. Although it may have slightly thicker cushions, it's also short and the cushions are uneven. Never had a good night's sleep on a jacknife bed.

You are correct. An airbed is a pain to assemble, but worth the trouble, especially if your parents invest in some great bedding. It can be just as cozy as your bed at home.

Find a spot for the coffee table, and sleep well.

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Jack Knife Sofa Vs. Airbed Mattress Vs. Dinette Bed?

19 Replies

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