RV mattresses, like regular bedroom mattresses, come in many shapes and sizes. They’re specified as RV king, RV queen, and so forth. Though relatively smaller, RV mattresses are still quite large and you might need to bend them in order to get them inside your RV. So, how much can you bend an RV mattress?
In a nutshell, it depends on the mattress. Keep reading to find out more about RV mattresses, including the foldable types and warranty issues from bending.
Should I Bend My Mattress When Loading It into My RV?
It is generally not recommended to bend or fold a mattress to get it in or out of your RV. You can hardly bend the ones that use metal frames and coils in the first place.
But if you really muscle it, the more you bend the mattress, the greater the chance of damaging it. Overbending, even for a short period of time, can damage a spring mattress for good.
On the other hand, foam mattresses are safe to bend and fold. These include latex mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and mattresses that are made of other types of foam or a combination of more than one types of foam. For example, almost all memory foam and latex mattresses have a high-density foam base layer.
In general, foam mattresses can withstand bending without sustaining any damage. But you might want to check with the manufacturer if you have an exotic foam mattress like Tempur-Pedic.
What Happens to a Mattress When It Is Folded?
If you have a coil or innerspring mattress, you shouldn’t bend or fold it to load it on or off your RV. Even if the coils feature foam encasements. Why is that so?
That’s because the coils are stiff and arranged in particular configurations. Everything gets out of whack if you bend it too much, and you might even damage some of the coils – the result of which is a lumpy spring mattress.
As a rule of thumb, any bend that’s more than 15 degrees can cause damage.
Border rods and foam encasements might get bent, creased, or even break under pressure, depending on how much they were bent and for how long. If you try to bend the border rods back, you might cause additional damage or even break them.
The coils can be connected by helical wires or encased in foam. If they aren’t tempered, they might not be able to return to their original form. Sometimes, the casings might get disconnected or torn, depending on the pressure.
What Mattresses Can Be Folded Without Damaging?
As we mentioned, coil mattresses shouldn’t be bent in any scenario. Even slight bends can do irreparable damage. However, there are mattresses that you can bend, double over, and even roll up when needed. These mattresses don’t have springs and border rods. We’re talking about foam mattresses, of course,
This is why they’re far more popular as RV mattresses than coil mattresses. So, how much can you bend an RV mattress?
As you might know, memory foam mattresses have experienced a sharp spike in popularity. They are so affordable now and most of them are shipped vacuum-packed and rolled up into tiny rolls.
You just know that you can bend them. Depending on the brand and model, you might be able to bend them more or less.
Just like how they’re shipped, you can fold them up and store them away for long periods of time without damaging them. You can even shrink wrap or vacuum pack them. However, as mentioned, this may not apply to high-end mattresses that use exotic viscoelastic foam, so your best bet is to check with the manufacturer.
Latex is another type of foam mattress – synthetic latex or natural rubber latex. They feel almost like memory foam except firmer.
One thing about foam mattresses is that they almost come with multiple layers of foam. The idea is to have a firmer base layer and a softer top or sleep layer.
While it is safe to bend foam mattresses that have glued layers, you should be careful with stacked layers. Since there is no adhesive between them, the layers might shift and make your mattress look disfigured when you unfold it.
Can Bending a Mattress Void My Warranty?
Coil mattresses are not meant to be bent or folded. Therefore, any damage sustained as a result of bending is usually not covered under the warranty.
Many mattress manufacturers offer multi-year warranties, usually 10 years or more, so if your coil mattress is still under warranty, it is highly advised not to bend or fold it under any circumstances.
On the other hand, there should be no problems with foam mattresses. Likewise, you can freely bend and stack kit bed mattresses. However, to stay on the safe side, always check with the retailer or manufacturer.
What Kind of King Mattresses Can You Bend?
RV king mattresses are slightly smaller than regular king mattresses. Therefore, they should be easier to lug through narrow corners and stairwells. But don’t bend or fold it if it’s a coil mattress.
That being said, you should always check with the retailer or manufacturer whether it is OK to bend and fold a foam mattress. With the warning out of the way, let’s check out the types of king mattresses that you can bend.
Mattresses that Come Disassembled
King-size mattresses that are delivered disassembled can usually be bent and folded for transport. These include air beds, modular bed kit mattresses, waterbeds, and futon mattresses.
They are extremely mobile and easier to carry around than the traditional variety. While they’re less popular, these alternatives truly shine in situations where they have to be moved through narrow corridors and tight staircases.
Foam futon mattresses can be bent, as well. They are made of multiple layers of foam and cotton and serve a dual purpose. When they’re flat, they’re your regular mattresses. However, you can fold them up and use as a seat cushion.
Of course, these mattresses still can’t provide the same level of comfort as the traditional variety but they are slowly catching up, especially futons. If you are looking for increased mobility, modular bed kits, futons, airbeds, and waterbeds might be the way to go.
Mattresses that Come Assembled
There are also varieties of one-piece king mattresses that you can fold and bend. You can bend most foam mattresses including memory foam and latex.
Memory foam mattresses are thick, heavy, and pretty flexible. They don’t have coils and border rods that can get in the way or break when the mattress is folded. While they’re not that easy to manipulate and lug around due to their size and weight, king-size memory foam mattresses are still easier to move than the standard mattresses.
King latex mattresses are not as flexible and or bendable as memory foam. As mentioned, latex materials tend to be firmer, but they are still a lot bendable than coil mattresses.
As mentioned, almost all latex and memory foam mattresses come with multiple layers of foam. Make sure that they are properly glued together before bending, which is usually not a problem. Only the cheapest mattresses come with stacked foams that are not glued together.
How to Fold and Roll a Mattress
Futon mattresses are initially stiff and might take some time to loosen up. You might have to fold and unfold them several times for them to become more pliable.
Here’s how to fold a futon mattress.
- Lift the back side of the sofa off the ground.
- Lift the futon off the sofa with one hand.
- Push the back panel until it clicks into place with the other hand.
- Go around the sofa and bend the futon. If it is too stiff, use your knee to bend it.
Here’s how to vacuum pack a king-size foam mattress. For this, you’ll need a sealable queen/king-size mattress bag and a vacuum cleaner.
- Pack the mattress into the bag.
- Seal the bag and reinforce the seal with duct tape.
- Cut a small hole on the side of the bag.
- Put the vacuum hose through the hole and seal it with duct tape.
- Suck as much air as you can from the bag and the mattress. You should press the mattress to get as much air out of it as possible. You might walk, sit, or lie on top of it.
- Next, roll up the mattress.
- Wrap duct tape around the roll. You’d like to apply the tape in several places across the roll to prevent it from unrolling.
- Remove the vacuum cleaner hose and seal the hole with duct tape.
Is an RV Mattress The same As a Regular Mattress?
No, an RV mattress is specifically designed for RVs and can be much thinner than a standard mattress. An RV mattress is generally meant for temporary use.
Can You Use a Residential Mattress in an RV?
Yes you can if it is small enough and can fit in the RV. The size of bed is one important factor in determining whether the mattress will fit. If you are handy, you can make the bed with some flexibility in the frame to allow the mattress to fit easily.
What’s the Takeaway?
The final answer to the question of how much you can you bend an RV mattress depends on the mattress type. If your RV mattress has coils and border rods, you shouldn’t bend or fold it; you might permanently damage it and void the warranty.
On the other hand, you can bend most foam mattresses. However, it is recommended to contact the retailer or manufacturer especially if you have a more exotic or high-end foam mattress.