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What are the best RV Murphy bed replacement mattresses? Murphy bed mattresses come in a variety of materials and thicknesses. They can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Truly, any mattress can fit your Murphy bed as long as you are careful to measure the dimensions. You’ll need to know the weight the Murphy bed can lift and hold, as well as the width of the mattress that can fit in the stored position. Let’s start with the basics.
What is a Murphy Bed?
A Murphy bed is typically mounted on the floor or wall and uses springs and a metal frame to raise and lower the mattress. These mattresses can even stay in place, fully made up, when the bed is closed. Sometimes called a wall bed, this one also uses a spring mechanism and includes cabinets on either side of the bed. The bed appears as a wall when in the upright position.
A Murphy bed is a really great way to make the best use of the space you have in your RV.
How Does a Murphy Bed Work in an RV?
The bed is named for William Lawrence Murphy, who applied for his first patents around 1900. A Murphy Bed is a great space-saving solution in an RV where floor space is limited. These beds raise and lower using a spring or piston lift mechanism and tension to keep the bed from springing up or falling down. A locking mechanism will keep it in the upright position for safety. Depending on your RV layout, your Murphy bed could work horizontally or vertically.
Do I Need a Special Mattress for an RV Murphy Bed?
You do not need a special mattress for your RV Murphy bed. The beds come in the standard twin, full, queen and king size. You will need to make sure and know what the maximum thickness the mattress needs to be to fit and close properly. The weight of the mattress is also a consideration. A very heavy, innerspring king sized mattress might not work well or can affect the longevity and stability of the mechanisms.
How Comfortable are Murphy Beds in an RV?
A bed is only as comfortable as the mattress you put on it. I would say the mattress that comes with the RV is not one you will want to use on a regular basis. Just like at home, you have a variety of quality and price options. You will not need to purchase a box spring as your mattress will lay directly on the wooden frame. This might make a difference on the quality of mattress you purchase as well. You don’t want to “feel” the hard wood underneath.
What Size Mattress Fits on an RV Murphy Bed?
Depending on the size of the frame, a Murphy bed can hold any standard size mattress including a twin, full, queen, queen short or king. You will need to make sure that the thickness of the mattress is taken into consideration. Most Murphy beds will not hold a mattress thicker than 14 inches. Make sure and take depth into consideration when purchasing your mattress.
Do RVs Have King Size Murphy Beds?
There are several RV brands that have king size murphy beds including Jayco, Keystone and Gulf Stream in its larger travel trailers.
5 Best Mattresses for an RV Murphy Bed?
A memory foam or latex mattress is great for a Murphy bed. They will maintain their original shape while in the vertical or horizontal position. Inner springs or hybrids can end up slumping. Memory foam also provides maximum pressure relief and can alleviate discomfort for a better night’s sleep. Gel memory foam mattress material provides conforming pressure relief, but the gel also draws heat away from the body, so you can sleep cooler.
Here are a few to consider.
1. Vaya Mattress
The Vaya mattress is a great memory foam mattress for a great price. This one contains two high-quality foam layers for durability and support.
Vaya has a 10-years warranty and the option to try the mattress for 60 days. If you don’t like it, you can return it for a full refund.
2. Purple Mattress
The Purple mattress uniquely adjusts to the sleeping position and body type of each individual sleeper. The comfort layer is made of elastic and helps relieve pressure points in the shoulders and hips. The grid system also helps to create more air channels for air to pass through. The transition layer is poly-foam and encourages spinal alignment.
Purple has a 10-year warranty and a 30-night minimum trial period before you can request a refund.
3. Amerisleep AS2
The Amerisleep AS2 is a medium-firm mattress made to facilitate healthy spinal alignment. At just a 12-inch depth, the mattress is a great fit for a Murphy bed. The foam layers are designed to hold their shape and won’t slump downward when the mattress is in the vertical position. The eco-friendly mattress is plant-based with breathable foam and Hive Technology for support and pressure relief in the middle layers.
4. Zoma Sports Mattress
The Zoma Sports mattress is another great deal. The memory foam is infused with cooling gels which help pull heat away from the body, regulating temperature and helping you wake up feeling refreshed, not stiff and sore. The comfort layer contains a sleep technology call Triangulex which consists of hundreds of triangle-shaped segments formed into three support zones.
Zoma has a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial with a full refund if you are not fully satisfied.
5. Tochta Mattresses *RVBlogger Recommended*
Mike and Susan at RVBlogger don’t have a Murphy Bed but they LOVE their Tochta Mattress. If you can use a non folding style mattress for your Murphy bed mattress replacement they highly recommend Tochta Mattresses! Check out their video below to see all the reasons why!
Other Types of RV Murphy Bed Mattresses
Latex
Latex is similar to memory foam and is another great option. Like memory foam, it contours to the body and relieves pressure points, but latex is more responsive and has more bounce than memory foam. You’re less likely to feel trapped inside the bed when resting on a latex mattress. The material also holds its shape, so there’s little danger of the latex layers bunching up on one end of the mattress when in the vertical position.
Innerspring
Innersprings have a bouncy surface from steel coils. They also have excellent cooling properties because the open structure enables more airflow inside the mattress. Innerspring mattress are not necessarily a good choice for Murphy beds. The steel coils can’t stay in place if the bed is set in a vertical position. The coils may shift downward, causing the mattress to lose its shape.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are a combination of memory foam and inner springs. Despite more foam layers than an innerspring, a hybrid mattress is also not a great choice to pair with a Murphy bed. The steel coils can still shuffle downwards when the bed is not in use, damaging the mattress.
Where Can I Find an RV Murphy Bed Folding Mattress?
A folding mattress has one or more folds and can be used to replace a hideaway bed in your RV. Folding mattresses can be easily found on Amazon, Walmart, and online mattress stores.
Related Questions:
1. Can you put a Murphy bed in an RV?
If your RV doesn’t currently have a Murphy bed, you can build one. The great thing about this is that you can make the Murphy bed the exact size you need for the space you have. You will need to consider a few things before you break out your tools. The bed does need to be attached to the wall to be safe and you need to consider the materials you will use and the final weight of your bed.
2. How can I make my camper Murphy bed more comfortable?
If you want to have a thicker mattress or if you want to add a topper, you will have to adjust the locking mechanism. If you are unable to adjust the mechanism, you can consider just taking off the topper when you store the bed.
3. What else do I need to consider if I have a Murphy bed?
It is recommended that your RV is level before unfolding your Murphy bed.
Other Advantages to Having a Murphy bed
Of course, the obvious advantage is you will save space. Once the bed is out of the way, you can use the area for living space. Unlike a convertible bed that folds down from a dinette, you can just leave sheets on the bed when you fold it up. You won’t need to make the bed every night.
Disadvantages to Having a Murphy bed
If you like to nap during the day or have kids that will need to sleep during the day, a Murphy bed might be a little bit of a hassle.
Conclusion
A Murphy bed is a great space-saving solution for your RV. The bed can fold up and out of the way with sheets already on. There are different sized beds and a standard mattress can fit any bed. Just make sure you have the dimensions. Murphy beds are safe with proper mechanisms and the proper thickness of mattress so you don’t have to worry about it coming down on top of someone or during transportation of your RV.
Related Reading:
11 Best Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds
17 Best Travel Trailers Under 5000 lbs
3 Best Class B RV Floorplans with Slide Outs
7 Best Class B Floor Plans with Bathrooms
7 Best RV Mattresses – Reviews and Ratings
About the Author
Terri Nighswonger – Author and Full Time RVer
Terri Nighswonger and her husband Todd have been RVing and work camping for six years with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newton, and their Minnie Australian Shepherd, Remi.
In Addition to the RVBlogger team, Terri has written for RV Life and RV Camping Magazine and is always excited to talk about her passion for RVing and her knowledge and experience in work camping.
Writing is Terri’s passion, but she also loves hiking, kayaking, walking her dogs, and anything she can do outdoors.
They originate from the Midwest but plan to enjoy the West for a few years, wintering in Arizona and summering wherever the road may lead.
