120 replies to this topic

[RC Pilot Jim]

In March I reported that if my back did not "like" the mattress in my new FWC Eagle I was going to change it out.
I took delivery of my new Eagle shell in May (2012) and slept in it 5 nights and my back hurts.... So

I made a visit to my local upholstery shop. The foam in the stock mattreses is "polyurethane" - standard in low quality furniture. No bounce-back, No contour to body.

I replaced the foam with 4" thick "Q41" High Density "Nymbus" foam. Contours to sleeper. High bounce-back.

Q41 (old name HR41) is what I was using in my old Flip Pac. As I reported March 30, 2012, I went to a local upholstery store, described my needs and bought a 4" thick "Q41" close cell foam mattress for $210.00 and put in the mattress cover. What a difference - I weigh 230#'s, my wife weighs 130# and it feels like we are sleeping on our pillow top mattress at home. I've camped in 25* weather and 100* weather. There is no heat loss in wintertime yet we don't sweat in summer.

2014 update. In an Eagle just replace the foam in the large ( 66" x 48") section as your legs cover the small sections.

I also had the mattress cut down side to side to take queen size sheets. I use the "gas-strut lifters" on my Eagle which dug into the stock cushions. Since cut-down everything fits well with no abrasion.

I replaced 3 of the 5 sections (the large section and two of the small sections) . There was an additional charge to cut the mattress(s). My 68 year old back was not going to take many nights of uncomfortable sleeping. I suppose memory foam would have been a cheaper fix, however then I would have closure issues with the top.

I'm going to suggest the factory offer "Q41" foam as an upgrade which should cut the price by a third or so.I know if a mattress upgrade had been available I would have upgraded..Time will tell.

Edited by RC Pilot Jim, 23 April 2019 - 05:25 PM.

[FX4]

Thanks for the heads up

[SunMan]

Hard to put a price on a good nights sleep! Thanks for the update.

[BobD]

Thanks for the update. We ordered our Eagle without the mattress because of so many negative reviews. Currently we're using Thermarest pads which are working alright. I'm curious, do the two smaller cushions fit on top of the larger one when you fold the top down? If not, where do you stow them?

[Alley-Kat]

Perhaps not applicable to FWC's, but on my ATC, I just drop the front, pull the bed out, put my nice 4" foam bed pads (the small ones) back up in the bed, drop the back, exit, close the door and latch everything.

[Gormley Green]

I think a factory mattress upgrade is a very fine idea. Knowing what I know now, and after so many nights on the stock mistress I'd definitely upgrade for that price and certainly for 1/3 less! I use super thick Thermarests on top of the stock mattress. Comfortable enough but not particularly convenient as they need to be inflated and deflat everything we pack up. Thanks for the info on your upgrade.

[MarkBC]

...Knowing what I know now, and after so many nights on the stock mistress I'd definitely upgrade for that price and certainly for 1/3 less!

GG, I think you're on an entirely different subject there!

[ski3pin]

<snip> and after so many nights on the stock mistress I'd definitely upgrade for that price and certainly for 1/3 less! <snip>

GG, that has to be a typo but I am chuckling!

[Gormley Green]

GG, I think you're on an entirely different subject there!

iPad !!!!'

[NorCalSteve]

I climbed up on my bed after I got delivery of my Hawk camper in November of 2011 and it felt like I was lying on a floor with carpet. In other words, too hard. I removed it the stock mattress and have never slept on it. I am currently using a Costco pad. It came folded up in thirds. The length opened is perfect and I liked the short width because I am single and don't need a wide bed. I use the extra space in the bed area for some storage of dirty clothes and other items that I won't need until the camper is opened. But! I am bottoming out on the Costco pad and the fold seam hits me in the ribs so it needs to go. I have an REI thermorest 3.5 inch pad that I will probably try next but it is not going to be my long term solution.

My FWC friend in town took his foam to a local mattress store and they cut his foam down and added a softer foam to one half of the stock foam. His plan did not work (still too hard) and he now has come up with a foam and Thermorest combo setup that he is happy with.

A three inch Q41 (maybe Q35?) pad sounds real promising. Picking the dimensions will be another challenge. I am thinking of having two pads made and use only use one when it is just me up there (same or similar to the stock setup). Sticking to a standard size so stock sheets fit is a good idea as well. I want to try and go with 3 inches, like RC Pilot Jim did, rather than 4 inches so there is extra room for blankets on top.

Just thinking out loud here now that RC Pilot Jim got me thinking about this.

Steve