Late Bay Westy Pop Top Comfort

Manfred · Post by **Manfred** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:00 am

I was camping this weekend and couldn't get a good night's rest, sleeping in the pop top. I like the design. Plenty of room for two people, but there is not enough padding. The PO reupholstered the wooden platform, but I'm not sure if they took out some of the padding or not.

Does anyone use additional padding? If so, what do you use?

BellePlaine · Post by **BellePlaine** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:30 am

This spring I went foam shopping and found out that there are many different grades of foam. The original foam is very dense and very expensive (at least it costs more then I thought foam should cost). Anyway, your PO may have replaced the original foam and went for the cheap stuff.

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:13 pm

What about that memory foam, pillow top stuff. I always see it at Target and Walmart.

Gypsie · Post by **Gypsie** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:16 pm

I have a memory foam mattres pad that we use on the bottom. Rolls up nice and small to store between camps.

Same thing could be done for the top, I suppose. Might even store up there.

Vdubtech · Post by **Vdubtech** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:44 pm

I have the stock padding in the top bunk of obth Westies...never been uncomfortable up there. In fact, I sleep like a stone in the top bunk. The padding isn't very thick, but it is very dense and comfy, at least for me. I thought about upgrading the foam in the '79 I'm building...then I priced out the foam. Holy hell...ever check the price on a decent piece of good foam? I'll be cleaning and reusing the stock stuff with new covers.

bretski · Post by **bretski** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:57 pm

As others have stated: memory foam toppers seem to be a common choice. My top bunk is very comfy when topped with a quilt that I keep in the closet.

I also keep a Therm-a-rest pad in the bus...as it rolls up very tightly for easy storage. Very comfy for when I want extra padding.

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/ ... mp/product

Ritter · Post by **Ritter** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:58 pm

Vdubtech wrote: Holy hell...ever check the price on a decent piece of good foam?

No doubt, but it's on my list. The better the bed, the happier my wife. Therefore, the more I'll get her to go camping.

glasseye · Post by **glasseye** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:03 pm

Enough 2" standard foam for two mattresses 80" by 24" was $55 in Phoenix last month. Comfy enough but of indeterminate lifespan.

poptop tom · Post by **poptop tom** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:07 am

Automotive foam is the way to go when replacing the foam. Yes, it is expensive. But you only want to do this job one time.

Use an electric knife when cutting foam.

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:05 am

What's an electric knife?

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:11 am

I have a terrible night sleep when I sleep on top of my bus.

dtrumbo · Post by **dtrumbo** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:29 am

chitwnvw wrote:What's an electric knife?

It's a gizmo that you plug in and it has two serrated blades that alternately saw back and forth. Kinda like a hedge trimmer. Works great for slicing roast beef.

Manfred · Post by **Manfred** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:46 am

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the memory foam would work the best for me right now. I don't plan on ripping apart the upholstery anytime soon.

Ritter · Post by **Ritter** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:23 am

For what it's worth, some more thoughts here:

http://itinerant-air-cooled.com/viewtop ... light=foam

BellePlaine · Post by **BellePlaine** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:02 pm

After I recovered from the sticker shock from foam shopping, I washed my orginal foam in a bathtub of warm water and OxiClean. I then rinsed with cold water and began the week-long ritual of drying the foam by placing it between towels and pacing back and forth on the foam to sqeeze out the moisture. The result was good smelling clean foam that I can sleep on.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Late Bay Westy Pop Top Comfort

Late Bay Westy Pop Top Comfort