Our Small RV Leveled Up With a Tuft & Needle Mattress

We didn't think it would be possible to get a regular house mattress into our small RV and level up the sleeping situation. Yet, we had to try. After a bout of some restless nights and terrible tossing and turning, we knew we needed something different. The RV mattress which came with Maude was a thin, very light piece of wood and maybe (?) some springs, which we layered with both a 3 inch-thick foam mattress pad and a very fluffy topper. But still, we were able to sink into the layers and find the hardness of the mattress below each and every night.

We needed something different. We needed a change. Our poor bones weren't getting enough rest and when you're on the road you totally understand and appreciate what a good night's sleep does for you. So we decided to take the plunge and replace the RV mattress. The RV mattress was connected to a few pieces of metal, which were seemingly attached to a hydraulic-type-mechanism. With just a few bolts to unhinge, we got it out with a celebratory sigh.

The problem though, is that when we tossed the mattress, we left a gaping hole in where there would be support for our bunk. There was no longer any pieces of wood to keep us upright in the bunk, and for that, we had to devise a plan. Turns out, just a few pine boards from Home Depot combined with some screws and metal supports to connect it all allowed for a makeshift bed frame to be created. Not only is it sturdy (we screwed it into the sides of the RV bunk base) but it provides a really nice structure for our new mattress. 

That's right, we said it-- new mattress. A Tuft & Needle mattress at that. Never did we think that we could rip out the RV mattress and replace it with a full-size, house-intended mattress, but guess what? We did. And the results were freaking fantastic.

We have officially slept on our Tuft & Needle mattress for over a month now and we have a few exciting things to report:

• Marisa no longer has back problems. She doesn't wake up with pains along her spine, nor does she toss and turn during the night.
• This mattress is easily a life-changer. It is thick and sturdy yet soft on the top. The firmness is what makes it such an incredible RV mattress replacement.
• It fits. Our old RV mattress was specifically designed to fit in the bunk, and we were unsure of whether or not the Tuft & Needle mattress would fit. But, it does. Even with the slide completely in, the mattress stays in place wonderfully.
• The company itself, rules. We were first told about Tuft & Needle from a few friends over at  The Modern Caravan. At the time, we heard about it and thought "wouldn't that be nice?" But we didn't think we would have enough room. We did some research before reaching out to Tuft & Needle because we value companies that are transparent in their goals and message, plus actively want to help consumers while also contributing to an eco-friendly mission. Tuft & Needle does just that.

One of the coolest aspects about our Tuft & Needle mattress was that it came in a box, perfectly packaged. We had heard about mattresses arriving in boxes from other fellow-travelers or through podcast commercials, and really admired how simple receiving a mattress could be. It wasn't until we received our Tuft & Needle mattress in this compact box that we really were impressed. 

We can't say enough good things about Tuft & Needle. Not only has it added a huge layer of comfort to our small RV, but it also provides us with consistent sleep night-after-night no matter where we pull off to doze. We are actually excited to climb into bed and rest.

For those who are interested in checking out a Tuft & Needle mattress, you can try it out for 100 nights to see if it is a good fit. Plus, any mattress that is returned after the 100-night sleep trial is then donated to local charities and non-profits across the county. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Tuft & Needle offers one fair price always which means that there are no sales pitches or gimmicks attached. Transparency at its finest.

Please note: We were not financially compensated for this post. We received a mattress for review purposes. However, the opinions are completely our own based on our personal experiences with the product. We only choose to review products and brands that we love.