Oh, I tell ya, finding a pickup truck mattress that fits just right can be tricky business. Now, if you’re thinking about putting a mattress in the back of your pickup for a comfy night under the stars, ya gotta get the right size, else you’ll be wrestling with it more than sleepin’ on it.

First things first, let’s talk about the different sizes of mattresses and which ones fit which trucks. You see, there’s all sorts of sizes, but not all of ‘em work for a truck bed. Let’s get down to the basics:
- Twin and Twin XL Mattress: These are pretty good for the smaller, compact trucks. Twin mattresses, being smaller, are easier to fit, so if you’ve got one of those compact pickups, a Twin or Twin XL should do the trick nicely. Compact truck beds can hold a Twin mattress without much fuss.
- Full Size Mattress: Ah, now here’s a popular one! A Full mattress, also known as a double, fits a whole range of trucks, even if the bed’s a bit shorter. At 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, it’s big enough for two if you don’t mind cozyin’ up. Great option if you’ve got a standard-size truck bed.
- Queen Mattress: Now, a Queen mattress is a tad tricky. It won’t fit in every truck bed – only in them full-size or extended beds, and even then, it’s a tight squeeze. You’ll need to make sure the truck bed is wide enough and deep enough, else you might end up with the mattress leanin’ up a bit on its side.
- King or California King Mattress: Honestly, most folks don’t try this unless they got an extra-long bed, and even then it’s rare. If ya really need a King size, you’d have to load it up on its side and secure it real good. But honestly, it’s a lot of hassle unless you’re set on that big ol’ King.
So, once you’ve got the right size figured out, you’re gonna wanna measure that truck bed proper. Take the length and the width of the bed from the inside walls, and don’t forget to check if there’s any wheel wells pokin’ out. Those can mess up your plans if you’re hopin’ to lay flat!
Now, just a word of advice, if your mattress is a hair too big, you can always trim down a foam mattress to fit just right. Scissors or a utility knife’ll do, and you can shape it to your truck bed like you’re tailorin’ a pair of pants. Just remember, foam’s the easiest to cut, so that’s your best bet if you’re doin’ some DIY sizing.
Got your mattress in place? Well, you’re not done yet! For a real comfortable sleep, consider addin’ a few little extras:
- Portable Fan: This little gadget helps block out noise and gives ya some airflow, which is great in hot weather.
- Heating Pad: If you’re headin’ out on a cold night, a heating pad under your back’ll keep ya warm and cozy.
- Window Covers or Curtains: For a bit of privacy, hang some side curtains or covers on the windows. You’ll be thankin’ yourself come morning when the sun’s not blarin’ in your eyes!
Oh, and if you’re thinkin’ about a real truck bed air mattress, there’s plenty of those too! They’re made to fit right into the bed of a truck without any cuttin’ or squeezin’. Some of ‘em are inflatable, so they pack away nice and small when ya don’t need ‘em. Brands like AirBedz and OHMU got some good options, especially if you’re campin’ in a 5.5-5.8 foot bed – that’s what they’re sized for.
And if you’re wonderin’ about how to secure the mattress if it’s on the bigger side, you’ll need some good rope or bungee cords. Get that mattress tied down real tight. Nobody wants their bed flyin’ out on the highway! You can use the truck’s tie-down points to anchor it in place, especially if it’s leanin’ up a bit on its side.
So there ya go, a whole rundown on puttin’ a mattress in a pickup truck! You got options from Twin all the way up to King, dependin’ on your truck’s size, and plenty of tricks to make it nice and cozy. Nothin’ like a mattress in the back of a truck to make the world your campground.
Tags:[pickup truck mattress, truck bed mattress, pickup camping mattress, truck bed air mattress, twin mattress for truck bed, queen mattress in pickup]
