RV Mattress Replacement – From a King RV Mattress to a Queen Purple Mattress

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If you’re reading this post, then chances are you’re looking for an RV mattress replacement. Why? Because your current mattress is probably just as uncomfortable as ours was haha!

There were two main things we wanted to replace in our RV to make it more comfortable. The first was our couch (which we replaced with a nice sofa bed), and the second was our mattress. In this post, I am going to tell you about our RV mattress replacement and the process of switching from a king-size to a queen-size bed in our RV.

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Purple – Our RV mattress replacement choice

The original RV mattress in our 5th wheel was very uncomfortable. We did order a memory foam topper that helped a little bit, but I was starting to have back issues and we decided it was time for an upgrade.

There are a lot of options for RV mattress replacements.

  • Memory foam mattresses
  • Gel memory foam mattresses
  • Custom mattress builder companies designed for RVers
  • Latex mattresses
  • Polyfoam mattresses
  • Hybrid mattresses
  • and more!

However, most RV mattresses have a reputation for being far less than comfortable. Mattresses are an investment and we knew we wanted something that we would be happy with.

We decided to go with just a “normal” mattress instead of an RV mattress or a memory foam mattress. Our plan was to use it long-term, even after we move out of the RV.

New white RV mattress laid out on a wooden bed frame with a decorative sign reading 'And so together they built a life they loved' above in a cozy interior.
Our original RV mattress

We had heard good things about purple mattresses online and from family members who had tried them. We decided to go to a few mattress stores and see what we liked best before buying one for ourselves.

After looking at what seemed like 100 mattresses, we decided on the Purple Premier 3 queen-size mattress. There was a deal at the time that we got a set of Purple sheets and a Purple pillow for free as well! (If you decide to go with Purple, I highly recommend getting a pillow as well – they are amazing!)

This post is not sponsored by Purple (they don’t even know we exist) but we are very happy with our decision and would recommend it to anyone else looking for a super comfortable RV mattress replacement option!

Man unfolding a vacuum-sealed RV mattress onto a wooden bed frame in an RV interior with red and black curtains and modern decor.
Unwrapping our new Purple mattress

Pros

  • Way more comfortable
  • No need for a mattress topper anymore
  • Smaller size freed up extra room space

Cons

  • It is a heavier mattress
  • Getting to our under-the-bed storage is more difficult due to the extra weight

Going from a king-size mattress to a queen-size mattress in an RV

Our RV came with a king-size mattress. It was nice having all of the extra bed space, but for us it was unnecessary. We decided to switch to a queen mattress and we’re glad we did! Going down a mattress size allowed us to free up more space in our bedroom. It is easier to make the bed now and walking around it isn’t nearly as difficult.

If you aren’t too tall you could even go down to a short queen mattress which is the same width as a queen mattress, but 5″ shorter in length.

Empty wooden bed frame in an RV bedroom awaiting mattress placement, adorned with black and white curtains and stylish grey cabinetry.
Our plywood bed frame before cutting it down

We did have to make a few small modifications to accommodate the smaller mattress. Our bed has storage underneath. The bed frame is made with plywood and has hinges that allow it to lift up for accessing the storage underneath.

The plywood deck was bigger than our new queen-size mattress so we had to cut it down. Tucker explains it better in the YouTube video linked above, but he took it all apart and trimmed several inches off of each side of the boards. The corners were able to stay as they were.

As long as you have the tools to do so, it was an easy modification. And as mentioned above, it saved us a lot of space in our bedroom! I am very happy with our decision to downsize.

Outdoor view of a man preparing wooden planks for an RV project, with the RV in the background, showcasing the mobile lifestyle.
Cutting down the plywood for our bed frame
Watch this video on YouTube.

Closing thoughts

As we mentioned, buying a Purple mattress wasn’t cheap, but it was an investment in our future and also in our health. I sleep much better now and have less back pain which is a huge win for me!

Be sure and visit a mattress store and see what works best for you before making a decision on your RV mattress replacement.

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If you have any questions, please let us know.

Happy travels!

Much Love, Janae xoxo
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About the Author
Janae McCormick
Janae, alongside her husband, Tucker, has turned the world into her playground. Having lived and traveled in an RV for over four years, she has trekked through 22 US national parks, ventured across 28 states, and explored the natural beauty of 12 countries. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been when she witnessed Iceland's shimmering Northern Lights, explored the rugged terrains of Southern Utah, and traveled across Ireland for almost two months. A lover of adventure and couple travel, Janae's writings have been featured in notable travel websites and magazines, and she has collected an online community of over 30,000 passionate fellow travelers.