Any campers out there?

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

My DD has to set up a temporary, unfurnished quarters for a job this summer. She will be living with 7 other people in a very large house. We're trying to come up with ways to reduce the number of trips back and forth (about a two-hour drive one way) and still be able to provide some comfortable furnishings. We have some fairly comfy camping chairs and a folding table that can double as a kitchen table. I've also gotten some sturdy plastic shelves and collapsable bins that can be used in place of a dresser. The biggest obstacle is a bed. She doesn't mind sleeping on an air mattress. However, my experience with air mattresses in my early days of camping hasn't been good. We always woke up the next morning with an uncomfortable, half-deflated mattress.
Has anyone here had any good experiences with air mattresses? I don't mind spending a little more money for one if it's going to stay inflated and last her through the summer.
Perhaps there's something else out there that is small enough to fit in a car, yet still confortable enough to be used for several months.

I know this is a question is a long shot, since most people here probably TS because they don't like to camp. But if anyone has any thoughts or ideas, I'd greatly appreciate the input!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I know several people who travel with 'aerobeds' because their kids don't like to share beds at TSs

Aerobeds SmartBargains.com

AEROBEDS Search Results | Overstock.com

They are much more comfortable then in the past.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

The air mattress sounds like a good idea to me. I think you'll find the quality has improved vastly over the years. If you are really worried about it, go pick one at a wal-mart or another store with a lenient return policy and let her try it out for a few nights.

We have two.. One is a Coleman brand- queen size and double height and the other is a Serta queen pillow top. We use them primarily for when we have family visit or sleepover parties etc, and also for the occassional camping (although I seem to do most of that with my youngest in the back yard now for some reason!)..

They are both comfortable to me. On the double height Coleman- the only thing I've found is that it's unavoidable that someone will always jump on it to send you trampolining into the air! On the Serta- that doesn't seem to happen as much.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I second the Aerobed idea. They are comfortable for sleeping.

The one I have is the double high unit. I find it is much easier to get into and out of the bed than the single high old style air mattress. This one has the pump built into it (maybe they all do) and it is fast.

Now do I consider that camping, no. Camping is laying on a half inflated mattress on the ground while you have the rain dripping on you through the leaking tent. My wife will never go camping again.

Anyone want to buy camping equipement?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Aerobeds are soooo much better than the old air mattresses. We got a couple of twin-sized Aerobeds at Costco, and we take them on vacation sometimes b/c the kids find them more comfortable than sofa sleepers.

I just looked online and Costco isn't showing the twin size anymore, but they have a queen size for $60.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

Has anyone here had any good experiences with air mattresses? I don't mind spending a little more money for one if it's going to stay inflated and last her through the summer.
Perhaps there's something else out there that is small enough to fit in a car, yet still confortable enough to be used for several months.

Since this is a longer term use, I would highly recommend getting an air mattress frame. These are collapsable frames that you put the air mattress on top of. That way, your air mattressis at "normal" bed height. Lots of companies make these now but Coleman is good.

As a side note, if anyone is in the real estate business and needs a tip for owners on furniture for the empty bedroom, the air mattress and frame along with normal linen is a good way of making that empty room look furnished without spending a huge amount of money.

Now do I consider that camping, no. Camping is laying on a half inflated mattress on the ground while you have the rain dripping on you through the leaking tent. My wife will never go camping again.

Anyone want to buy camping equipement?

It's not that bad! You forgot about the tree root sticking in your back

We still go camping (not that RV/trailer stuff) a couple times every year and definitely enjoy it! Just this weekend, DW said we need to plan a couple camping trips because it's summertime

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

My wife's current idea of camping is the Timeshare Condo

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

I would also say check out the aerobeds. There are lots of them out there that are pretty good. They have it all over air-mattresses in that they are higher, and usually come with elec pumps that do a really fast job of blowing up and they keep air fairly well and are fairly comfortable, especially for one person. They are pretty big, ours is queen size but with two people and like in my wife and I one person is usually larger (that would be me.. lol) and my wife is always afraid of being shot across the room when I get on the bed after her or if I get up in middle of nite... lol

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up with two Coleman double height twin mattresses. If these don't work, I'll look for the Aerobeds. I would rather have the twins because I don't want to "encourage" sharing the bed with her boyfriend - though I know they can just push the two mattresses together.