The RV Murphy Bed Mattress: Your Buying Guide

Jonathan Prichard

Jonathan Prichard

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Did you know that many folks in the RV community love the space-saving design of the Murphy bed, just as much as you do? All that space you end up saving can be used in so many ways during the day.

But here’s the thing — like standard RV mattresses, most RV Murphy bed folding mattresses are made of cheap materials.

If you’re tired of spending your nights tossing and turning, and want to wake up refreshed instead of grumpy with a sore back, don’t fret. We’re here to help you get the most out of your RV Murphy bed mattress.

Illustration of a person closing their Murphy Bed

Why Is My RV Murphy Bed Mattress Uncomfortable?

Let’s face it, RVs aren’t exactly cheap. Some may even cost as much as a home or more! But interestingly, no matter how expensive your RV is, chances are your RV mattress wasn’t designed for support or long-lasting comfort. 

Wait — what?!

You read that right. It turns out that RV manufacturers are more focused on quality construction than on “insignificant” details such as a mattress.

Here’s what we mean.

Fiber-Filled and Made With Poor Materials

To boil it down, your RV Murphy bed mattress was likely made with poor materials that offer no support or comfort.

Think fiber-filled. Think low grade materials that offer no support, making it easier for you to fall into your mattress rather than remain on top of it.

Can your RV Murphy bed mattress sag? One hundred percent. You see, any mattress made with cheap materials will begin to sag, likely sooner rather than later.

And this doesn’t only make sleeping uncomfortable — it also leads to all sorts of problems including neck and back pain, which you’d rather not have while on the road, at home, or anywhere else for that matter.

If you’ve been thinking about a replacement mattress, here’s another thing to take into consideration!

No Durability or Longevity

Imagine if you bought a sofa for your home and had to replace it within months — not only because it’s uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time (say goodbye to binge-watching Netflix!), but also because the material was falling apart at the seams.

Well, this is what happens with most RV Murphy bed mattresses out there.

And when you’re on the road, whether as a part-timer or full-timer, you want a mattress that can stand the test of time.

In short, you want a mattress that’s functional, supportive, and long-lasting.

Not too much to ask, right? We agree

With that said, let’s take a look at why your own RV Murphy bed mattress is uncomfortable, and what you can do to change that.

How Can I Make My Camper Murphy Bed More Comfortable?

How you sleep doesn’t only shape how well you wake up and what kind of day you’ll have. It also influences your health.

But before you try to make your mattress more comfortable, think about what issues you currently have with it. What are your goals with these changes?

Our guess is that you have one of these issues that are most common with RV Murphy bed mattresses:

  • Too firm
  • Lack of support

Whatever your current mattress issue, we have just the solutions for you.

Too Firm

Firm mattresses are great, as they provide support and prevent you from sinking in. But there’s a difference between a mattress that’s firm and one that’s too firm.

A firm mattress has a lot to offer, but if your current RV Murphy bed mattress is as stiff as a tree branch, then you needed a solution yesterday!

For some people, this extra firmness can lead to shoulder and hip pain, which is something you don’t want to be dealing with on the road or off.

Thankfully, you have two great options — you can either get a mattress topper or you can get a new mattress altogether (which we’ll get into soon).

The option you choose depends entirely on your sleep needs, as well as your budget.

Can You Use a Mattress Topper on an RV Murphy Bed?

Want a softer mattress without having to buy a whole new one? No problem! You can upgrade your current extra firm RV Murphy bed folding mattress with a mattress topper.

The job of a mattress topper is just that — to be kept on top of your existing mattress.

A quality mattress topper will give you an extra layer of cushioning so you don’t feel like you’re sleeping on a mattress that’s as stiff as a log.

With that said, there are two things to keep in mind before you invest in a mattress topper:

  1. A mattress topper will add additional height to your mattress, which means you may not be able to close your Murphy bed
  2. A mattress topper is a good temporary option for your stiff mattress, so it’s best considered if you don’t currently have the budget for a new mattress

So, what should you do? We say, when in doubt, get a new mattress!

Not only will a new mattress save you money in the long run, but it will also prevent you from wasting money on a mattress topper only to find that it may not solve your problem or isn’t space-friendly.

A Support Issue

You already know that support could be an issue with your mattress. So what can you do about that?

Short answer: You need a new mattress.

Long answer: You need a new mattress.

We know you were probably expecting a different answer, but there’s really no getting around this. Nothing else will work if your current mattress is lacking support except to get a replacement.

But, there is good news! There are plenty of cost effective and good quality RV mattress options available.

The Best Replacement Mattresses for Your RV Murphy Bed

At this point, you’re probably asking yourself “What’s the best replacement mattress for RV Murphy beds?”

Well, we’re here to answer that question for you so you can find the best mattress for your needs.

Rating: Best overall
Type: Gel Foam
Thickness: 8″
Customizable: Yes

Why We Love This Luxury RV Mattress

To start with, this 8” luxury RV mattress is made of premium components that are designed to be supportive and comfortable — things your current RV Murphy bed mattress likely doesn’t offer. 

Whether you’re a side or back sleeper, you’ll love that this RV mattress combines cooling gel memory foam with a contouring and supportive base.

Plus, its soft organic cotton cover helps you adjust the firmness level simply by flipping it to its other side. Its superior design helps maintain a natural spine alignment, so your muscles stay relaxed throughout the night. 

What Makes This Luxury RV Mattress Great

  • Made with a supportive and contouring base so you stay comfortable while asleep
  • Cooling gel helps ensure you sleep cool, no matter how warm of a sleeper you are
  • Customizable
  • Dual firmness
  • Has luxury hotel comfort without the hefty price tag
  • Promotes a healthy sleep environment thanks to its non toxic foam
  • Luxuriously soft organic cotton cover

Potential Negatives Worth Considering

  • Not everyone will want a memory foam mattress
  • You may not always want to get out of bed!

Rating: Best low-profile/thin option
Type: Folding
Thickness: 6”
Customizable: Yes

Why We Love the Elation RV Mattress

Where do we begin? The Elation Gel Foam RV mattress is like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold night by the fireplace. Comfortable and dreamy, this mattress offers superior features that’ll make your home on wheels comfier than many residential mattress could.

With our Elation RV mattress, you’ll finally say goodbye to tossing and turning throughout the night, as well as aches and pains.

The supportive base and the soft as silk organic cotton cover ensure that you’re not only supported, but that you’re cushioned by foam that contours around your individual shape.

This contouring will relieve pressure points, so you don’t have to wake up every morning feeling like you’ve been in the ring with Tyson Fury.

Let’s also not forget that this mattress regulates body temperature thanks to its cooling gel memory. In short, you’ll sleep cool even on hot days.

And, if sleeping healthy is important to you, then you will love that this mattress is made with non-toxic foam.

What Makes This Elation RV Mattress Great

  • Relieves pressures points
  • Sleeps cool
  • Dual firmness (flip your mattress for different firmness levels)
  • Customizable
  • Made with airflow foam aids, which help reduce heat and improve breathability
  • A great 15-year warranty

Potential Negatives Worth Considering

  • Those who don’t like gel memory foam may not enjoy this mattress
  • Some folks may not enjoy that the Elation is 6” tall

Rating: Best option if you have enough space when folded up, and best coil option
Type: Pocketed Coil
Thickness: 9″
Customizable: Yes

Why We Love the Scarsdale Luxury Hybrid Mattress

Whoever said that owning an RV means sleeping rough hasn’t slept on our Scarsdale Luxury Mattress.

As the Ferrari of RV mattresses, our high end luxury mattress is made of a combination of individually advanced pocketed coils for optimal comfort and superior support.

The layers are specifically designed to provide enhanced support while conforming to the unique shape of your body. Compared to other models, our hybrid has nearly three times more individually pocketed coils.

Infused with cooling gel and the open cell technology, the mattress promotes airflow so you can sleep cool. But wait — there’s more! The luxuriously soft quilted organic cotton cover is designed to cradle your body and also regulates temperature, so you sleep even cooler.

This high end mattress is non-toxic, eliminates motion transfer (so you can get up at 3am for a snack without waking your partner!), and the combination of the foam and coils ensure you get the support you need to relieve pressure points.

What Makes the Scarsdale Luxury Hybrid Mattress Great

  • Sleepers feel fully supported
  • No sinking into your mattress
  • Relieves pressure points
  • Sleeps cool thanks to its open cell technology, pocketed coils, and gel memory foam
  • The softer than soft organic cotton cover will make you feel hugged
  • An impressive 20-year warranty
  • Safe for you and your family thanks to its non-toxic certified materials

Potential Negatives Worth Considering

  • Part-time RVers may see this as too expensive (we see it as an investment!)
  • Some folks may find it too firm
  • Totally possible you may wake up thinking you’re sleeping in a luxury hotel and expect room service!

Now that you’ve seen 3 impressive RV Murphy bed mattress options, you’re probably wondering which one you should choose.

Want our honest opinion? We really don’t think you can go wrong with any of these options.

We recommend you choose the mattress that’s best suited to your individual needs and sleep preferences.

Replacing Your RV Murphy Bed Mattress

When replacing your RV Mattress, there are some very important things to keep in mind — and the biggest is mattress size.

Here’s the bottom line:

RV mattress sizes generally don’t conform to normal everyday mattress sizes, including length and even shape.

But don’t fret! We’re here to give you the rundown, so you know exactly what you’re looking for.

What Size Is an RV Murphy Bed?

Here’s the main thing to keep in mind: the size of the mattress depends on your camper.

That said, the two common sizes are Queen and Short Queen for a standard vertical RV Murphy bed.

RV Queen Murphy bed mattress size: 60” x 80”
RV Short Queen bed mattress size: 60” x 75”

But what if you need a different size?

No problem! We specialize in custom mattresses and will help craft a premium RV Murphy bed mattress that will fit nicely in your space and that caters to your specific sleep preferences.

How to Measure an RV Murphy Bed for Replacement

For starters, you want to make sure that whatever mattress you buy will fit into your RV Murphy bed. To do this, you need to the following measurements:

  • Height
  • Length
  • Width

Here’s what that looks like in action:

  1. Measure the width and length — it’s better to measure the frame that the mattress will be used on, rather than the mattress itself

  2. Measure the height — you can measure an existing mattress if you have one, otherwise you’ll want to measure the space that the mattress will sit in when folded up against the wall (i.e., when it’s not in use) to ensure you don’t purchase a mattress that’s too thick.

  3. Measure your bed when it’s open — this involves measuring the length of the bed from the wall to the edge of the frame

  4. Take into consideration any unique cuts to the mattress, including angled or rounded corners, and so on.

  5. Double-check your measurements!

And voilà! You have all the measurements you need to replace your RV Murphy bed mattress.

Looking to create your own custom mattress? Build it here and have fun! 

Can I Use a Regular Mattress on an RV Murphy Bed?

Yes and no. You can use a regular mattress on an RV Murphy bed just as you can use ketchup as an ingredient in a cake. Would we recommend that? Not necessarily.

Remember, most RV beds don’t come in standard sizes, so unless you want to butcher your standard mattress to fit your RV bed, we believe you’re better off buying a mattress that was made for your sleep needs and the space you have.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter whether your RV is your only home or your second home. Your mattress should measure up to (pun intended) your space needs and honor your sleep preferences.

If your current RV Murphy bed mattress is leaving you short-changed, the solutions in this article should give you plenty to consider.

If you have more questions or simply want to speak to a human about your unique needs, call us at 888-488-1468.

Our very friendly team of mattress experts love helping out!

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