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rgolding's avatar
rgolding
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013

Queen Short Matress Solution

Okay, if this has been obvious to everyone else, I wish I would have caught on earlier.

Purchased a new to us Artic Fox 30U, upgrading from our Dutchmen 25C-GS. In both trailers my one big disappointment has been the short length of the mattress on the queen size bed. Bride is 5 ft 1 in, so she really hardly has a dog in this fight and I'm only 5 ft 9 in, so a lot of taller guys struggle with this more than I.

I've read about building a frame at the head of the bed and covering with cloth, carpet or something. Problem is, this creates a shortage of space at foot of bed. While describing this to the bride and trying to convince her it would be a good idea. We came upon the idea of pulling the mattress away from the front wall at bedtime and stuffing extra pillows in the void. We always sleep and lounge with extra pillows. GUYS THIS WORKED. Have slept like a baby all week. During the day, pillows are pulled out of the void and the mattress is slid back in to the original place allowing more walking room. Try it. Didn't have to build anything and totally returnable to original design.

If I read it here and then forgot it and re-thought it as my own idea. I apologize, but its still a great idea.
  • Sounds like a good solution! We too had those short queens, but . . . current RV came with a king! Ah . . .
  • What I did wasI to cut a piece of super soft foam the same width, and thickness as the mattress then cut it the depth we wanted so we could scoot the mattress down. The foam stores away in the upper cabinet above the head of the bed when not in use. I was able to cut the foam myself being an upholster. Some one else should not have to pay more than $35.00 to have the foam cut,super soft is only $1.00 a board foot.
  • the walking space at the foot of the bed is so limited that I just gave it up completely and installed a residential sized queen. it pushes against the back of the entertainment center, so no extra support is needed.
  • We bought a full queen from Sleepy's, a Bamboo one whatever it is. It is very comfortable, much better than the peice of******from Arctic Fox. Every time my wife got in bed, I'd roll over towards her and she thought I loved her. I drove from N VA to OK, Belen NM, Creede CO, and back to ABQ, OK and NVA. Slept like a baby, woke up crying every 2 hrs and nneding my diaper changed.
  • rgolding, we have done the same thing for several years. It's making the best of a bad situation and does work.
  • Passin Thru wrote:
    . . . Every time my wife got in bed, I'd roll over towards her and she thought I loved her. . . Slept like a baby, woke up crying every 2 hrs and nneding my diaper changed.


    Bwah ha ha ha!!!
  • I cut two pieces of ply matching the foot print of the existing deck that the bed lays on and the storage lid as well. I than installed a long 4' hinge in the same location as the original hing below. This is the fun part I then slid the ply forward 8" and cut a new line above the location of the original location of storage lid and install another 4' hinge. This now allows me to slide the ply out 8" with the mattress ont the ply and you can lift the ply lid to access the foot storage with full access in either position. I have a foam pillow tube that we used for the kids when they first started sleeping in the beds that fits perfectly. We just got back from a 13 day road trip it is the best improvement to date along with the 3"memory foam top. I can pull pics with more detail if you want.
  • Gotta love the short queen bed mattress that the manufacturers force on us. I like the large tube pillow idea as we have one or two of those around the house already.

    Here's a link to how I solved the problem in my trailer. Link
  • outdoorlovers wrote:
    rgolding, we have done the same thing for several years. It's making the best of a bad situation and does work.

    Been doing the same thing since 2009 when we bought the Cougar. We did add a memory foam topper.