Best RV Mattresses of 2024 - US News
By: Clara Vela
US News recently spotlighted the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe and the Dreamfoam Essential in a glowing feature, crowning them the "Best RV Mattresses of 2024". Check out an excerpt from their review below, and click HERE to dive into the full article. Keep reading for expert advice on selecting the perfect mattress and all the reasons why the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe and the Dreamfoam Essential are some of the best options on the market for RV owners to replace their stock mattress.
Here is what they had to say:
"We chose the DreamFoam Essential as our best overall pick for an RV for its affordability and numerous size options."
"The Brooklyn Aurora Luxe is a 13.5-inch, six-layer hybrid mattress with thin base foam for durability, a zoned 8-inch encased coil core for motion isolation and edge support, a 1-inch gel swirl memory foam layer for cooling, a 2-inch response comfort foam, 1.5 inches of antimicrobial foam with an infusion of phase-change material (PCM), and a cooling cover.
Our testers found this medium-firm mattress to be equally supportive in the back, stomach, and side sleeping positions, and with three firmness levels to choose from, the Aurora Luxe is ideal for side sleepers, who can opt for the plushier feel of the soft mattress to help with hip cradling and spinal alignment. On the road, adventurers don’t have time to toss and turn in the heat of the night and won’t have to with the layer of foam infused with PCM, which textile expert Deborah Young describes as “textile magic” for its ability to cool you when you’re warm and warm you when you’re cool. It’s worth noting that a 201-pound tester of ours did find that the cooling properties faded over time but agreed the Aurora Luxe is cool to the touch."
"The DreamFoam Essential mattress is made of multiple layers of foam, with 6-, 8-, and 10-inch-thick models consisting of a thicker layer of high-density foam topped with a thinner layer of cooling gel swirl memory foam and 12- and 14-inch models made of the same main two layers with the addition of a middle layer of transitional foam.
What makes the DreamFoam Essential so exceptional is its sheer degree of customization - with 22 different sizes, it can fit in just about any RV sleep space. And with a variety of different thicknesses, it can accommodate sleepers looking for a deeper plush experience and those in search of a lighter, thinner mattress that’s easier to stow away during the day.
The DreamFoam Essential boasts strong edge support – excellent for getting on and off of your bed in tight RV sleep spaces – as well as temperature control and contouring pressure relief, with mattresses ranging in firmness from medium-soft to firm and going up in softness as the thickness increases. While this allows for ultimate customization, height limits in some RVs could require sleepers who would prefer one of the thicker, softer models to instead opt for a thinner, firmer model."
Read more on the full article HERE.
Time to Get a New Mattress?
RV mattress sizes solved! RV owners: Find your perfect camper mattress in minutes!
It’s time to get a new RV mattress. But if you own a camper or any other recreational vehicle, you probably have pop-up spaces, bunk beds, or RV beds that require a custom mattress. This means that although your bunk mattress may look like a short queen—it’s probably an RV short queen.
How to measure your RV bed
Find out which RV custom size fits your RV bed or camper with a simple measuring tape. You can measure your old bunk mattress or the actual RV bed space. Simply find the height, width, and length—and add an inch or two if you plan to add a mattress topper. Remember: RV mattresses have more size options than regular mattresses. If your mattress measures a few inches more or less than a regular mattress—no worries. More than likely there’s an RV mattress out there for you. (See our chart below.)
For our complete RV mattress replacement guide: check out How To Choose The Best RV Mattress.
RV Mattress Sizes Chart
Let’s break down the most popular RV mattress sizes.
*All of these RV mattress sizes are available in RV-approved weight and heights at RVMattress.com.
** Specially designed to fit motorhomes, campers, semi-trucks, and other recreational vehicles.
RV Mattress Types
Hybrid & Innerspring Mattress
Traditional innerspring beds are made with an interconnected “grid” of coils covered by a layer of wool or padding. Hybrid mattresses, made with individually pocketed springs, tend to minimize motion transfer better than other types of innerspring mattresses while delivering deep compression support—and they’re the most common type of innerspring mattress on the market today.
All-Foam Mattress
Many RV owners opt for the all-foam mattresses, especially when many of these designs offer high tech foams like gel-memory foam and latex mattresses. A gel-memory foam mattress provides —— while a latex mattress offers ——. Some of these foam mattresses are made using one or two types of foam, while others can feature up to five different layers. Contrary to popular belief, the number of layers does matter — that’s because foam mattresses with three or more layers can create more dynamic support, a gentler transition from top comfort layers to core support layers and provide enhanced breathability with transitional layers. replacement mattress
Memory Foam Mattress
Best-in-class for motion isolation, memory foam beds are great for couples who want uninterrupted sleep, even if a partner is tossing and turning. Since memory foam is a slow-response foam, memory foam mattresses are a good choice for light sleepers who have a hard time getting comfortable. Memory foam is extremely adaptable to the curves of the body, making them particularly good for side sleepers and people with chronic pain near pressure points.
Custom Mattresses: Special Corners in RV Beds
The RV beds or bunk mattresses in campers and recreational vehicles can come in a variety of sizes and shapes in order to fit those hard-to-fit areas. Enter the custom mattress that has specially cut or shaped corners to fit perfectly into odd-shaped bunk beds.
These differ from home mattresses and regular mattresses in these three ways:
- Rounded: This design has a smaller corner radius than a standard mattress
- Angled: This design has a chopped-off corner (or multiple cut corners)
- Notched: This design has a L-shaped cut at the mattress’s corner
You may also own a Hinged Mattress. This type of mattress has a section that folds up for easy stowing. You’ll often find these types of mattresses in RVs with slide-out beds, murphy beds, or sofa sleepers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an RV mattress and a regular mattress?
An RV mattress is designed to fit your motorhome in all three of these critically important ways: (1) Height (2) Length (3) Weight. A regular mattress is usually several inches too high for most RV size beds, could weigh down a motorhome, and is at least a few inches too big for a RV bunk. Luckily, some mattress retailers specially cater to a travel trailer’s required dimensions, size, and weight, providing accessibility to great sleep with a simple online order.
Can you put a regular mattress in an RV?
You may be tempted to select a regular mattress for your camper or RV—but before you do, consider your vehicle’s prescribed weight limit from the manufacturer, also known as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
A regular mattress is a heavy item to add to your RV—especially when a RV mattress will usually weigh about 50 pounds less. Plus, you never know what other items you may need to add to your RV during your travels (like a generator which can weigh anywhere from 50 lbs to 250 lbs).
Our verdict: for peace of mind and smooth sailing (er, driving), select one of the many highly rated RV mattresses on the market today.
RV Queen Mattress vs. Regular Queen Mattress
Queen size mattresses are a luxury for the adult sleeper. Many luxury motorhomes will accommodate a regular queen size (60”x80”) but these sizes are also where weight becomes an issue—hence the need to turn to an RV mattress.
RVMattress.com offers a mattress model (the RV Signature Hybrid) in a standard queen size, along with a short queen (60”x74”) and an olympic queen (66”x80”)—all while weighing less than 100 pounds. Plus, it’s only 10.25 inches in height without compromising comfort—while some standard queens can be anywhere from 18 inches to 36 inches in height.
Those looking for a cooling mattress topper can select the RV Signature Hybrid’s optional sewn-on mattress topper, GlacioTex™. It’s cool to the touch to prevent you from sleeping too hot or too cold.
RV King Mattress vs. Regular King Mattress
Many king beds in a camper offer a standard RV king size (76”x80”) but, again, here is where weight and height become an issue with most standard king mattresses. Opt for a RV king mattress, which will usually weigh no more than 105 pounds, unlike a regular king mattress that can weigh up to 180 pounds.
However, a standard king mattress may also not fit all RVs and campers.
RVMattress.com offers an additional RV short king mattress (72”x75”) and a RV California king mattress (72”x84”), along with three hard-to-find RV king sizes: 70”x74”, 70”x80”, and 72”x84”. (If you are looking for an Eastern King, this is the same dimensions as a regular king size mattress, 80”x76”, i.e., almost a perfect square.)
When traveling, being well-rested is crucial to fully enjoying all the sights and activities. Be sure to read our article on the Best RV Mattress options of the year for a guide on upgrading your sleep on the road!