Like most caravan owners, we have gone around and around in circles attempting to make what is a very uncomfortable mattress tolerable. After the usual mods such as mattress toppers, new mattress etc we have come to the conclusion that we need to replace the bamboo slats on the bed base that make life very uncomfortable. Has anyone done this before and if yes, some advice and photos would be great. I think a solid piece of plywood to make the base flat is the best option I have heard of. Goodbye to those Landcruiser leaf springs under my bed!
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Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
Take some measurements and see if IKEA options suit or can be trimmed. We recently changed our household bed to "Lonset" slats (they have cheaper options too) and it's a marked improvement. This particular slat set has different type materials for different sections of the bed to account for body weight differences from head to toe. A flat one piece board is a poor option in my book.
Yes, after 2 short trips we decided that the slats had to go, they were way too soft/saggy. Big Green Shed had 65mmx19mm pinus clears which are just screwed through the holes where the little plugs came out of. We are still using a 125mm foam mattress very comfortably.
I find it interesting that people have difficulty with Van beds. Given the extraordinary cost of today's vans I would have thought that the builders would have got this right.
Our Jayco built in 1999 has a very comfortable bed. The first night of a trip is usually a bit uncomfortable as the body adjusts (perhaps because it is much narrower than our home bed . or the noise of SWMBO watching TV from bed as I try to sleep) but after that it is perfect.
It came with slats & we chose an inner spring option. During the first trip we put one of the earliest egg crate toppers on it. Of course we fitted a wool filled mattress protector.
That was more than 20 years ago and its still going well.
The mattress is turned each trip, the topper vacuumed and the protector washed. I have screwed down a couple of slats that came loose, possibly by over filling the under bed storage.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 12th of May 2022 09:50:55 AM
Slat bases usually have a couple of double slats in the middle that can be moved to stiffen up or lessen the feel of the slats, firmer or softer.
I'd be careful about fully enclosing the base, too hard to sleep on or maybe heavy to lift up for access under bed.
Cheers Bob
We have just gone though this modification.
We had a queen bed, the mattress was very how you do, we were hunting for a new one after all it is 10 years old and I believe a low cost one at that. After some discussion, I pulled the queen out and replaced it with a double size bed, the new frame is made of aluminium which is a weight saving, now ordered a longer made to measure mattress from a family run business. A lot of money but we were convinced it was a good path to take.
The new frame does not have adjustable slats.
The reseason for going to a double bed, was to make getting around the end of bed so much easier.
We are not in need of a wide bed.
We are hoping that we will never need to lengthen bed anymore with this new mattress as it is longer then the standard caravan queen.
Our previous 2008 caravan had a beautiful full length double bed, shame the caravan did not have a ensuite. It was a great bed.
The queen size topper now has gone onto our home bed which we had been talking about changing, guess what with the topper on the bed has a new lease of life. Which confirms us the caravan mattress needed replacing.
Try some firm
Cardboard over slates ? Ties them
Together, making firmer . Is the frame spreading when weight is applied ? Maybe a few strings or light board across frames ?
I think my Snowy River SR-19 caravan has the sort of slats you mention along with a short "Queen" sized spring mattress and all I can advise is that after 3.5 years of sleeping upon it I consider it the most comfortable bed I have owned.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
