Don't feel bad what you experienced is very common. You never want to sleep on a 100% memory foam topper only. As you experienced, you will slowly sink down until you almost hit bottom. A memory foam topper is just that, a topper, made to be put over any sleeping surface except memory foam. What you want is a memory foam MATTRESS. If you look online at memory foam mattresses you will see two types of construction, inner spring or dense foam, both have memory foam bonded on top. Lets look at a six inch memory foam MATTRESS, it will typically have a foam base, the base foam is usually four inches of dense foam (non memory foam) bonded to a two inch layer of memory foam. As you can see a memory foam Mattress is NOT 100% memory foam. A single extra long twin mattress is best for your height. Can you cut it to form to you SUV?...that I can't be sure...But that's how it's done. BTW you are correct in that the two most important aspects of van life are food and sleep. That's why it's important to get it right...
If that doesn’t work, what I have is a firm foam mattress from Thailand. I think you can get them in LA. For my bed I have memory foam, that mat used by many Asian cultures to sleep in the floor. Then topped with memory foam. The sleep mat is designed to be folded/rolled sort of. They come with a washable cover. I think you could take the covers off it to cut it. It’s more like rubber than foam. It’s too firm on its own. But with the firm Thai mattress in between it’s super comfy. Been sleeping on it for years. And I’m a side sleeper with a spine deformity.
We use those black totes to pack and transport our gear, food, tools etc in to our cabin in the Yukon. They get strapped to our quad trailer, or skidoo skimmer, in all kinds of temperatures and are pretty rugged. They do break, but are much more durable than the clear storage totes.
I am still watching your video and have paused it to comment. Finally I am thrilled to see someone who is putting their bed on the passenger side! Let me get back to your video now. ❤️😊 Brenda & Blue 🐕🦺❤️
I use an air mattress that has four inches of memory foam inside. I don’t think side sleepers would bottom out on that. It self inflates and then you can inflate the last bit with a supplied bag. It also works for winter camping unlike airbag only mattresses that don’t insulate you.
That looks more like latex rubber to me than memory foam. Latex rubber always has those holes in it. They are springy too. so if you roll over a lot, it aids in that movement. You won't sink in, but it still supports. my home mattresses are latex and so are my pillows. they last 20 years.
Ok, I know you are shying aware from air mattresses, but have you tried an exbed? That was a game changer for me. Better than a bed. I’ve slept on that for almost 6 months straight in the past and it is my go to not just for camping, living, etc. but when staying at friends, relatives and even sharing motel rooms on trips with my adult kids, etc. couple with a tiny pump. Easy. Now for the most comfortable pillow…I have several and have not hit the jackpot.
Thanks a lot I appreciate that. I’ll be doing a video tour of my refreshed setup pretty soon once I get the new boxes in and clean and organize everything so stay tuned! Cheers
Okay. I finished watching your video and despite some storage differences that I’ll be doing, I definitely want to watch more. So, I have subscribed! See you later. ❤️😊 Brenda & Blue 🐕🦺❤️
Hey. Brenda thank you for Watching and subscribing! I really appreciate that! As I said I’ll have some coming out soon again for more car/suv living ideas
Have you tried sleeping with your head at the back? I’m a side sleeper too, and I need to bend my legs, so I need more bed width below my waist than above. It looks like your bed is wider in the front (near your side door) than behind the wheel well.
All..I've had an issue with having mattress being level not comfortable sleep if I'm in an angle. In a rav 4 2009 no build just flatten seats all a process a comfortable sleep makes all the difference ..best outcomes to ya
I'm a side sleeper and hip heavy. I have a shikibuton for camping and I absolutely love it. I topped it with an egg crate and haven't bottomed out yet lol
Yes it’s on my list and will really help. I think they’re pretty safe overall although like most things people can get in them if they really want too. Cheers
I like firm mattress too. I sleep a lot on a cotton Futon bed on the floor where I live. It is firm but comfortable. Wonder what that would feel like on top of a memory foam mattress in a car.
Thank you for another great video. I have a similar layout in my Jeep Patriot but the seats did not lay flat so I had a plywood frame in 1/2 the back and a 24" x 70" heavy duty wire shelter will some support at the front and in the middle. I had auto carpet over the shelf and a 3& 1/2" REI self inflating Camp bed that had denser foam inside. I could add a lawn lounge 1" pad on top if I had needed it but I am verticality challenged and on the lighter side so I did not bring the lounge pad after the first trip. I am a side sleeper too, most of the time. I was thinking you could not do a Jeep Patriot unless you took the passenger seat out, because 70" is all you get from lift gate to the back of the passenger seat all the way forward and upright. Thank you for showing us your set up. I can't wait to see how you finish the container side. It definitely will be nicer than my old milk crates with plywood scrap tops.
Thank you. I was looking forward to this series. Im not in my 2002 Sub yet but plan to start car camping spring '24. My 81 year old mother has been solo camping before solo camping was cool. I've always wanted to solo camp, nut life got in the way. We both have minor health issues so it's time to combine forces and spend this time together. I'm 62 now and looking forward to it. See you on down the road.
Thanks so much and yes when I was buying this car I made a point of folding all the seats down and seeing how level or not it was. Got weird looks from the salesman lol. I’m going to do a video soon showing where everything goes once I get the new boxes in there and clean and organize everything. Your set up sounds great!
Hey there thanks for the message. I plan on putting out a lot of videos coming up so stay tuned for living in your car. I will be doing a total tour of my vehicle once I get the new boxes in and clean and organize everything. Yes life is short so keep planning and just go for it. It’s always scary but always works out and you will have the time of your life. Truly is freeing. Cheers
Uhm because I know the someone who owns the house which actually used to be the home I owned as well. Why would that be the thing you’re concerned with from this video? Very strange question. Why does it matter where I cut the foam? lol
Sure it should be in the description box below but here it is. Once you get to my Amazon store click on the tab that says camping, SUV GEAR accessories. Thank you www.amazon.com/shop/marmaladeoutdoors
There’s always a few that love to show their ignorance. Congratulation on being one of them. If you don’t like the content don’t watch and go away genius. Do you really think your negativity is going to sway me in any way? If anything you gave me a great laugh… I thank you for that.
