Truck beds are built mainly to transport heavy cargo. However, their versatile nature allows for a good number of other activities such as stargazing and camping.
All you need is a good mattress to plop onto your truck bed and you’ve got yourself a real comfortable sanctuary. Now, the question is what size mattress would fit into a truck bed?
What Size Mattress Fits in a Truck Bed?
Truck beds come in a variety of sizes that serve many different purposes. You have your standard truck beds, short beds, and long beds.
Given that, there are many different sizes of mattresses that will fit your truck bed, depending on what kind of bed you have.
Typically speaking, a standard truck bed is usually 6.5 feet in length and 5 feet in width. Given those dimensions, you could expect that most trucks of this size can easily house a twin-size mattress.
If built a certain way, a standard size truck bed could also squeeze in a full size or “double” size mattress that sleeps two people.
Long beds, on the other hand, measure around 8 feet in length which gives you a little bit more leg room for extra storage. You can also squeeze in a full XL or even a queen size mattress in this type of truck bed.
Finally, short beds usually measure up to 5 feet long. With these dimensions, you can’t fit anything more than a standard crib size mattress.
However, if you really want to stick a mattress in there, you can always get your own custom made mattress.
This is all based on the average measurements of the different types of truck beds.
Some truck beds may vary a little in measurement which is why it is always a good idea to measure your truck to see what size mattress may fit it best.
How Do You Measure Your Truck Bed For Mattress?
Now, not everyone knows what kind of truck bed they have nor do all truck beds follow the exact same measurement for each category.
Given this, it is best that you measure your truck bed prior to getting a mattress to ensure that nice, snug fit.
To measure your truck bed, you’re going to need a measuring device such as measuring tape and measure your truck bed’s length and width.
If you don’t have a measuring tape, you can use other materials that may be lying around such as string, yarn, or even your own feet to estimate the measurements.
To measure your truck bed’s length, start from the top (or the front most) portion of the truck bed and measure all the way down to where the tailgate closes.
For the width, measure the inside of the truck bed from one side to the other. Be careful to consider the wheel wells if you plan on placing the mattress flat on the bare truck bed.
Is a Customized Mattress for Truck Bed Worth It?
Whether finding a good fitting ready-made mattress for your truck bed is proving to be a challenge or you just want to personalize the size of your truck bed mattress, a customized mattress is the way to go.
Customized mattresses are usually a little bit more pricey compared to standard mattresses. However, if you have a little bit more cash to splurge, getting a custom made mattress for your truck bed offers you many benefits.
These include a secure, personalized fit, control over size and materials, plus comfort levels that are tailor-made to address your needs.
Do I Need To Modify My Truck If I Want to Put a Mattress In?
While a proper fitting mattress should fit into your truck bed without any problem, some truck owners may opt to slightly modify their truck beds in order to better accommodate or even protect the mattress as well as the truck bed.
Here are some examples of the modifications that you may want to consider for your truck bed:
- Truck Topper
A truck topper, from the name itself, is a top that you place on your truck bed to protect its contents from the rain, dust, wind, and whatever challenge nature has to offer.
Putting a mattress in the bed of your truck is all fun and games until you take it out on the road and run the risk of it getting wet or dirty.
Having a truck topper keeps your mattress safe from the elements thus allowing it to last you much longer than it would
- Platform
Building a platform onto your truck bed not only provides a great place for your mattress to sit on, it also gives you a little bit more room to securely store your items.
Because building a platform onto your truck bed elevates the mattress, you are now given the freedom to store your pillows, blankets, food, and other items in the space underneath.
This modification may also be great for those trucks whose wheel well takes up a large amount of space on the truck bed.
- Tethers
Depending on the structure of your truck bed, road terrain, and what kind of mattress you pick, you may need to securely tie your bed down to keep it from flying around when your vehicle is in motion.
What Other Things Should I Consider Before Choosing a Mattress for My Truck Bed?
The size truly is just the tip of the ice berg of the things that you want to consider prior to getting a mattress for your truck. There are a lot of other things that you should keep in mind.
For one, what kind of mattress do you want to get — material-wise. Do you want an air mattress or a proper foam or spring mattress?
An air mattress, given that it is more often than not made out of PVC, is easier to clean but does not offer the same level of cushy comfort that a proper foam or spring mattress would provide.
Another thing is will you be using it that often? If you’re going to be regularly using the mattress, you might want to splurge on something that’s a little bit sturdier and comfortable.
If you’re only going to be using it occasionally, you may want to consider a mattress that is easier to put away and store for those days that you don’t want to lug it around.
Conclusion
Getting a mattress for your truck bed instantly turns your off-road beast into a cozy little nook where you can gaze at the stars, go camping, or just lay down and relax after a hard day of work.
To get the most out of it, make sure that you get the fit you need and the type of mattress that suits your intended use.
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