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Topic: Mattress question

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benjamin163

16/4/2024 at 2:13pm
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Hello, I'm just starting out on my camper van journey. I've taken people's advice on here and we're renting a couple of different vans to see what works for us and what doesn't.
For those who have a pop top, do you keep a mattress up there all the time? Is it foldable? can a pop top go down if the mattress stays there? Are there mattresses that are more comfortable? Is it worth investing in the comfort or the versatility?
And for those who don't have a pop top, in your view are there any benefits at all to not having a pop top?
Any help gratefully received. Thank you.

franbee

16/4/2024 at 4:22pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan

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We have had 2 pop tops, but there's no bed 'upstairs' in either. So we sleep on the seat cushions, protected by either a sleeping bag or duvet as a base.

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fiona f

via mobile 16/4/2024 at 9:19pm
Location: Didsbury Manchester
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Hi,
We had a pop top & could not leave a mattress or topper up there when the roof was closed. Also not the easiest to get down from in the middle of the night!

Fiona

benjamin163

16/4/2024 at 10:04pm
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Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 16/4/2024
We have had 2 pop tops, but there's no bed 'upstairs' in either. So we sleep on the seat cushions, protected by either a sleeping bag or duvet as a base.

Thank you for your reply. Does the pop top still feel useful even though you don't sleep in it? When you say you 'sleep on the seat cushions' do you mean you sleep on the flattened seats with a sleeping bag on top? Do you find this comfy or is it a compromise of comfort for space? Have you ever considered a topper? If not, any reason why?

benjamin163

16/4/2024 at 10:05pm
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Quote: Originally posted by fiona f on 16/4/2024
Hi,
We had a pop top & could not leave a mattress or topper up there when the roof was closed. Also not the easiest to get down from in the middle of the night!

Fiona

That's helpful, thank you. The getting down thing I wondered if it was a bit of an issue, especially my age!

Fiona W

via mobile 20/4/2024 at 12:34pm
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Long ago, my parents had a pop top VW, and later a pop-top Dormobile. Different bed layouts to nowadays (single beds like hammocks so no mattress, rolled out from both sides to rest on supports). My point is only that they put the roof up for headroom even if no one was going to sleep upstairs. Depends on the base vehicle (and your own height) as to whether you can stand up without stooping & some have a fixed high top. A pop top can keep the headroom low enough to go under car park gantries.
I support your plan to hire - you’ll find the answers to your mattress & pop top questions by experience.

-------------
2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.

franbee

20/4/2024 at 12:58pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan

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Couldn't manage without the pop top as we couldn't stand upright. So yes, the back seat unfolds into a bed and we rearrange the cushions to sleep on. Don't have a mattress style topper as there's no room to store it, and we find the duvet bases we use are good enough.

benjamin163

20/4/2024 at 4:36pm
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Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 20/4/2024
Couldn't manage without the pop top as we couldn't stand upright. So yes, the back seat unfolds into a bed and we rearrange the cushions to sleep on. Don't have a mattress style topper as there's no room to store it, and we find the duvet bases we use are good enough.

Great stuff thank you.

benjamin163

20/4/2024 at 4:37pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 20/4/2024
Long ago, my parents had a pop top VW, and later a pop-top Dormobile. Different bed layouts to nowadays (single beds like hammocks so no mattress, rolled out from both sides to rest on supports). My point is only that they put the roof up for headroom even if no one was going to sleep upstairs. Depends on the base vehicle (and your own height) as to whether you can stand up without stooping & some have a fixed high top. A pop top can keep the headroom low enough to go under car park gantries.
I support your plan to hire - you’ll find the answers to your mattress & pop top questions by experience.

Thanks so much for this useful reply.

fiona f

via mobile 20/4/2024 at 11:26pm
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Hi,
The mattress topper we used on the rock & roll bed made it comfortable & would fold up with the bed.
Would always have the pop top as well for the height as previously said.
Ultimately the lack of a toilet was too much of a compromise for us & we changed it for a 5.41m PVC

Fiona

spiritburner

via mobile 22/4/2024 at 8:27am
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Not got a pop top in our small camper by choice & as we're used to very small tents we don't find it a problem. We are normally sitting.
The bigger campervan we're planning on getting in 2 years has standing room plus a pop top. That has a decent fitted mattress in the poptop.

Lancashire Scouter

29/5/2024 at 12:21pm
Location: Lancashire UK
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We use lightweight (backpacking weight) sleeping pads. With the valve open they just stay flat in the pop top even when folded down. We use a Flextail Tiny Pump to inflate in 20 seconds with no breath moisture. Recommend Sea to Summit Etherlight Insulated. 10cm of perfect comfort and I’m a heavy side-sleeper.

benjamin163

29/5/2024 at 2:10pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Lancashire Scouter on 29/5/2024
We use lightweight (backpacking weight) sleeping pads. With the valve open they just stay flat in the pop top even when folded down. We use a Flextail Tiny Pump to inflate in 20 seconds with no breath moisture. Recommend Sea to Summit Etherlight Insulated. 10cm of perfect comfort and I’m a heavy side-sleeper.

Nice one, thank you. I am excited to take a look!
Do you mean you open the valves to deflate and when deflated you can close the roof?
Also, what's 'no breath moisture'?

camp chaos

via mobile 01/6/2024 at 9:58am
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We have a pop top, we don't sleep in it but it's really handy for space/height for standing and also for fresh air, esp on warm days. I wouldn't be without it now. We are cautious, though, about height barriers.

We sleep on duvalays on the folded out seat bed, they aren't cheap but are really comfy and pack away nicely each morning.

We also hired prior to buying and it's a really good idea.

Enjoy : )

morepints

03/6/2024 at 6:54am
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Solo camper, with poptop VW. I don’t sleep up there, so bed panel is always raised to give standing height. I’m storing a spare single duvet up there just now - I think there’s room in this one for more than the one inch foam sheet it came with. I’ve promised the grandchildren a camping trip at some point. When it comes to clearance, I understand different manufacturers have different tolerances.
I have a mattress topper from Dunelm “downstairs” over my rock and roll bed, which forms a convenient bedroll behind the seat. It’s comfortable enough; but after four weeks away, I’m now looking for a good wool topper - I’m finding memory foam retains moisture, and I can’t always give it a good airing.
The camper itself I love, a conversion from Needingworth Campers. Hope you have as much enjoyment from your purchase.

benjamin163

03/6/2024 at 5:39pm
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Quote: Originally posted by camp chaos on 01/6/2024
We have a pop top, we don't sleep in it but it's really handy for space/height for standing and also for fresh air, esp on warm days. I wouldn't be without it now. We are cautious, though, about height barriers.

We sleep on duvalays on the folded out seat bed, they aren't cheap but are really comfy and pack away nicely each morning.

We also hired prior to buying and it's a really good idea.

Enjoy : )

This is great info, thank you for taking the time.

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