Memory foam mattress topper

I travel solo, sleep wheel-to-wheel and keep the bed down and made all the time. I have a 1 1/2 inch topper and just purchased a 3" topper from Costco ($20.00 off) to replace it. My concern is that it covers the heat vents. Does anyone else have a 3" topper and does it interfere with the heat distribution?  I use the back shelf for clothes storage so I can't cut vents in there. 
Cindy with my 2015 MaxS (Puppy) and my 2015 Subaru Outback (Boo)

Comments

  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    @cbarnhill, can you cut a couple of inches off of the topper to help keep it and your bedding away from the heating slots?
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • ericnlizericnliz Member Posts: 4,437
    @cbarnhill, We use a brace to raise ours. Our mattress topper also covered the rear vent as you are describing. Got the idea from who else.... @Dalehelman! Works great.
    2016 T@B MAX S-aka: WolfT@B
    TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
    Spokane, Wa.
    Eric aka: Lone Wolf  


  • cbarnhillcbarnhill Member Posts: 330
    @ericnliz if you are recommending raising the shelf above the fins by an inch and holding it open with a brace, you are suggesting exactly what frank (Tabaz) recommended. You guys are so smart ;-). Franks going to do it for me when the weather cools down in Arizona-if it ever will..
    Cindy with my 2015 MaxS (Puppy) and my 2015 Subaru Outback (Boo)
  • ericnlizericnliz Member Posts: 4,437
    @cbarnhill, Yep, you got it!!! I used a piece of old broken ladder ball frame to make mine. I believe @Dalehelman used a scrap piece of PVC he had. I just cut a notch in mine to fit on the center frame board below the shelf to keep it in place. Works well...cost..$0!
    2016 T@B MAX S-aka: WolfT@B
    TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
    Spokane, Wa.
    Eric aka: Lone Wolf  


  • HomebodyatheartHomebodyatheart Member Posts: 2,491
    @cbarnhill way back somewhere on the forum pages there was a great mod done to help with this. @Verna may have also been involved, but don't quote me on that. On either side of the back shelf area is the small V shaped side wall. Someone took both out and replaced it with a grate of some sort. This allowed the warm air out while keeping objects on the shelf from falling into the abyss. Someone else took theirs out, did some scroll saw work to open it up, then replaced it. Hope this helps!
    2017 T@B 320 Max S silver and cherry red, L@dybug ("Bug" aka my esc@pe pod), TV 2015 Toyota Highlander aka Big Red
  • marilyncpmarilyncp Member Posts: 117
    Chiming in here.... Chris Krieg drilled 3 or 4, 2 1/4" holes into the back shelf and plugged them with a small vent.  His post can be found on the T@B Camping Trailers page... https://www.facebook.com/groups/24931511064/search/?query=vent

    But question, is it necessary to vent the back shelf on the newer models (2017 T@B S)?  Mine has a small space at the very back of the shelf that seems to vent fine, but I know @cbarnhill that you have an older model.  

    M@rilyn
    Previous 2017 T@B S owner... c'est l@ vie
    But still passionate about the brand!

  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    There is no need to vent the newer models, @Marilyncp. The slot at the rear of the shelf replaces the front facing vent of the 2014, 2015 and some of the 2016 models. 

    @cbarnhill has said she stores her clothes on top of the shelf, so any vents on the top would be useless. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • marilyncpmarilyncp Member Posts: 117
    Thank you Miss @verna!  I didn't think so but thought I would ask.
     
    PS. Love what you guys are doing to the forum. Thank you all for your hard work and great advice!
    M@rilyn
    Previous 2017 T@B S owner... c'est l@ vie
    But still passionate about the brand!

  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    You're very welcome, Marilyn. Slowly but surely we are straightening things up so it's easier to find, merging like threads into one (such as T@B Sightings), and just trying to be a more friendly place to spend some time. Thanks for the kind words. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • 2Cougs2Cougs Member Posts: 904
    @Tbone - I believe the vents are under the bed and not blocked by the table when the bed is made.  We just make sure once we arrive at our destination to not store anything under the bed that would block the vents.

    2016 T@B CS-S silver with white trim and WSU themed
    Pulled by a silver 2017 Chevy Silverado
    Leaves on T@bventures from Spokane, WA


  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    edited September 2017
    @2Cougs, @cbarnhill has an S model and you have the CS-S. She uses the sofa as a twin bed and has the mattress pad and bedding on top of the sofa, which does block the vents. She and another T@B owner have it figured it out. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • 2Cougs2Cougs Member Posts: 904
    @Verna - Thanks!  Forgot that was the original question and was commenting to Tbone who has a CS-S like we do.  Perfect example of why we love you and all you do to keep us on track!
    2016 T@B CS-S silver with white trim and WSU themed
    Pulled by a silver 2017 Chevy Silverado
    Leaves on T@bventures from Spokane, WA


  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    @2Cougs, you're fine. Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to see clearly. And you guys have a lot of smoke in front of your eyes right now  :s
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • dundonsdundons Member Posts: 36
    We had to stop using the memory foam topper in late season camping due to the way the material becomes very firm when it gets cold. We don't use the heater all night and the foam around the periphery gets hard as a rock.
     2016 T@B CS/ 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  • PattyGusPattyGus Member Posts: 1
    Is a three inch topper really necessary? Isn’t the bed comfortable enough? I’m planning to sleep the same way, wheel to week on the sofa made up as bed full time. 2018 320s Sofitel.
    2018 T@B 320S, 2019 RAV4 Adventure and 2007 FJ Cruiser

  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,460
    We find it very comfortable with just a plush mattress pad, but we like extra firm mattresses.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • ontheroadontheroad Member Posts: 485
    @dundons ...I have a T@G...but I actually use my memory foam under the factory mattress..it softens the hardness of our floor...and if it gets too hard you'd still be fine...some of our temps have been in the high 30's the we've slept in and I sleep like a baby in our T@G!
    Former 2017 T@G Max XL
    2021 T@B Boondock CS-S
    2018 Nissan Pathfinder
    Ontario, Canada
  • 2Cougs2Cougs Member Posts: 904
    I just finished adding a 3" memory foam topper.  I did not do this to make the bed more comfortable.  I did this to make switching from bed to table is easier.  We do not use sleeping bags, but prefer sheets and blankets.  Now I will make the bed with the fitted sheets going around the mattress topper and not the bench pads. Then when we want to use the table, we can just roll the topper (bedding included) toward the back.  It looks like a big round pillow.  Then the bench pads get adjusted, thetable goes up and we are set.  When it is time for bed, the table goes down, bench pads put down, the mattress pad and bedding rolls back out, and we are ready for bed.

    We do not put the table up often... but I am hopeful that this will make it easier than unmaking and remaking the bed every time.  We will try it out on our first early Spring outing where the weather will be questionable.  Will report back how it works.  Thanks to @Dalehelman and others at the F@ll J@m who modeled this for us. ;)
    2016 T@B CS-S silver with white trim and WSU themed
    Pulled by a silver 2017 Chevy Silverado
    Leaves on T@bventures from Spokane, WA


  • HomebodyatheartHomebodyatheart Member Posts: 2,491
    @PattyGus I use a sleeping bag over a Thermarest self inflating pad. They do come in different thicknesses. I love that it’s compact when put away as I have no interest in wrestling a foam sleeping topper. I usually sleep wheel to wheel, and when DH is along we sleep two twins. As with other discussions there are fans of each method. Good luck with your decision. 
    2017 T@B 320 Max S silver and cherry red, L@dybug ("Bug" aka my esc@pe pod), TV 2015 Toyota Highlander aka Big Red
  • SomemedicSomemedic Member Posts: 1
    The floor mat pads they sell at menards are high density foam an withstand a lot. I used them on my pop up to help the heated mattress
  • rfuss928rfuss928 Member Posts: 908
    2Cougs said:
     We do not use sleeping bags, but prefer sheets and blankets.  Now I will make the bed with the fitted sheets going around the mattress topper and not the bench pads. Then when we want to use the table, we can just roll the topper (bedding included) toward the back.  It looks like a big round pillow.  Then the bench pads get adjusted, the table goes up and we are set.  When it is time for bed, the table goes down, bench pads put down, the mattress pad and bedding rolls back out, and we are ready for bed.

    We do not put the table up often...
    This describes the method/system we have been using for most of our T@B years.  The pillows get laid lengthwise in the center of the roll.  The roll also makes a good back rest below the cabinet while sitting lengthwise on the benches either side of the table.  The swap is quick and easy.although many trips it has stayed in the bed configuration the entire time.  We use a CG picnic table under our awning whenever possible.


  • JPRolandJPRoland Member Posts: 115
    I realize this is a bit pricey, but I am not a good sleeper so this is an area of utmost importance to me. I found a place on the internet called, Foam Source. I think they are out of Boulder. The site allows you to pick from a wide-variety of foam types and thicknesses (tons of choices) and they will custom-cut them to your measurements. I chose a 2" medium density piece of foam for my both mine and my wife's bed in the T@B. My wife is 5'1" and 125 pounds (don't tell her I told you that) and I am 6'0 and 200 pounds. I pull my side out to what I guess you would call a full-size bed and her side remains like a narrow twin. We like having a little pathway between the beds to get to the restroom. Plus, after 44 years, we don't really like each other that much (okay, just kidding). I just received the two pieces this week and I am so glad I measured precisely because they cut them exactly! They are a perfect fit and it feels fantastic. My wife said, "This is a game changer." Which was surprising because I can't get her to watch a game. I keep them each rolled up in black plastic bags and just stow them in our SUV. 
  • 4ncar4ncar Member Posts: 1,072
    JPRoland said:
    I realize this is a bit pricey, but I am not a good sleeper so this is an area of utmost importance to me. I found a place on the internet called, Foam Source. I think they are out of Boulder. The site allows you to pick from a wide-variety of foam types and thicknesses (tons of choices) and they will custom-cut them to your measurements. I chose a 2" medium density piece of foam for my both mine and my wife's bed in the T@B. My wife is 5'1" and 125 pounds (don't tell her I told you that) and I am 6'0 and 200 pounds. I pull my side out to what I guess you would call a full-size bed and her side remains like a narrow twin. We like having a little pathway between the beds to get to the restroom. Plus, after 44 years, we don't really like each other that much (okay, just kidding). I just received the two pieces this week and I am so glad I measured precisely because they cut them exactly! They are a perfect fit and it feels fantastic. My wife said, "This is a game changer." Which was surprising because I can't get her to watch a game. I keep them each rolled up in black plastic bags and just stow them in our SUV. 
    Web link or phone number?
    TV- '16 Chevy Colorado LT Crew Cab-DuraMax
    2018 320S Outback
  • BaylissBayliss Member Posts: 1,299
    @4ncar, I looked it up to see what they have, so here's the link and number:

    https://foamsource.com/     1-800-255-0181
    2019 T@B 320 S Boondock Lite2007 Toyota Tundra 4x4
    (Alde: 3020; Refrig: Isotherm Cruise 65 Eleg; Battery: BB 100Ah LiFePo4; Solar: Renogy 100Ah Suitcase; Victron BMV-712; Pwr Cntr: PD-4135KW2B; EMS: PI-HW30C)
    Greg & Marlene (Tucson, AZ)


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