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Memory Foam Pillow Top for Westy Fold out bed or Top Bunk
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imagesinthewind
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Location: Denver, CO
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 2:05 pm    Post subject: Memory Foam Pillow Top for Westy Fold out bed or Top Bunk Reply with quote

So, I saw the sleeping pad on GoWesty site for $220 plus shipping. Hmmm. I can recreate that for less, I'm sure.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4272&category_id=&category_parent_id=


I went to Amazon and found this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HQ0O9C/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$70 with free shipping if you have Amazon Prime. And I do.

The Go Westy one doesn't fit the whole bed on my weekender, and the Lucid one just needed a single quick cut to lay very nicely on my whole bed. With just the one cut, it can be moved to the top sleep bed and cover the whole thing.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I'm not going to make a cover for it, just put a sheet over it when we sleep on it. I laid on it for 30 minutes today and managed to fall sleep. I usually toss and turn on the lower bed, my hips start to hurt from the firmness. I usually sleep in a water bed (70s full wave baby!) so the Westy bed is hard. This makes it soft. Not bad for $70.

Camping, here I come!
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a1fa
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dig the paint job!
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PDXWesty
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lot's of people use the memory foam pads and they work great. I keep mine folded and up under the pop top when not being used. It fits nicely up there and it stays out of the way. Full size fits the Westy bed. Best comfy upgrade you can do for cheap.

The other thing I've learned to do is use the upper bunk pads on the lower bed as well. If you're just sleeping downstairs they do no good upstairs and you always have them along.
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gears
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
dig the paint job!


x 2 let's see more photos of your van, Image ..
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Gnarlodious Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 10:20 pm    Post subject: Thermarest Reply with quote

I used memory foam for a few years but discovered it is not so great.

Memory foam is already hot in summer, but having that engine underneath makes it intolerable. You will know it after a while your sweat will stink in the mattress and you won’t be able to launder it because it is memory foam.

Memory foam outgasses, especially when it is warm, and it stinks like formaldehyde. Probably highly toxic, especially when its raining hot and you’re stuck in there with an outgassing mattress.

My solution was to go to REI and buy a thin inflatable camping mattress made by Thermarest. It holds air really well, but needs to let out pressure when I drive up a mountain or it is too hard. Reinflating is simple as the mattress is self-inflating.

I have a 1” thick slab of stiff neoprene under it so it is really two-stage resiliency. Any concoction of yoga mats will do though. The important thing to remember with these mattreses is that you get in bed cold and they feel hard, but they expand as you warm up. In this way, your pads are there to take the hardness away as your matters warms up

As for heat, the air pad is very cool in summer. It does convect heat upward from the engine for a while in summer. You can also put an electric blanket under it in winter, since it is full of air it convects heat through it. Easy to launder. Easy. I even made a cotton wrapper for it by sewing two sheets together the right width.

I should say that I am using double-layer mattresses. The sheet above holds the layers nicely, as they would be impussible to double top and bottom without it.

I’ve been sleeping on the Thermarest camping mattress for about 5 years now and its a truly phenomenal invention. I get a great night’s sleep!
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 4:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

gears wrote:
Quote:
dig the paint job!


x 2 let's see more photos of your van, Image ..


There are many, simply click on her Gallery Button at the bottom of her post.

There is also a multi page "build" thread on doing the task.

Dave
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ryecatcher
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PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 5:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did a lot of homework on my mattress pad, as I'm a side sleeper and the Teutonic "mattress" of the van was positively medieval. I use this in the downstairs, where I sleep 99% of the time:

http://amzn.com/B00CDWQ78W

I don't find it hot at all. It's ventilated, so it breathes pretty well, and (after you let it breathe for one day) it doesn't have that "outgassy" smell that other memory foams I've owned have. Plus, removable cover. I'll also throw a thick sleeping bag on top if I want to get really cozy, but it works well on its own. The full size fits great, with just a little lip left over on the sides, and it folds in two nicely. I haven't throw it up on the top bunk yet. Depending on your body weight you may want to go thinner / thicker (I'm 180 lbs).
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