Okay I give, how DO you keep a RTT mattress from getting caught in the hinge?

[JCruse]

It's like I'm trying to decipher a bar puzzle or something. How are you supposed to keep the mattress cover from getting clamped in the joint of a RTT? There's velcro at each corner, and that one mysterious mattress strap on the swing out half of the tent, but I'm not sure how these things are supposed to help.

 

[Coastline]

Mattress Cover? What covers the mattress?

 

[hifu]

You could cut the foam out some. I take a board about 5 or 6" wide and about 14" long , I let the lid rest on that while re stuff anything that blows out when your closing. Works for me especially when no ones around to help out.

 

[hifu]

Whoops sorry, i have a hardtop so yurs might be something else.........

 

[Vulin]

Get a good anti condensation mat. Done.

 

[JCruse]

Get a good anti condensation mat. Done.

That's it? I wondered if that would work. And the mat won't get caught in there too? Do you want to recommend a good mat?

Thanks.

 

[Vulin]

Tepui looks like they sell a good version of the mat now (actually allows air flow). There is also one other guy on the net, Ill need to find the link.

 

[TemboTusk]

I have the same problem as the OP with my Eezi Awn. After I open the tent, I stand between the ladder and the vehicle and at the same time support the ladder and lift with one hand to keep the gap open; I then stuff the mattress back through the gap with the other hand. Then slowly lower the ladder. Normally the mattress only needs a nudge to slide over the gap.

Of course, one needs to pay attention while doing this acrobatic maneuver or your fingers may get pinched. The idea of using a stick to push the mattress back in is a safer idea.

 

[80t0ylc]

You could cut the foam out some. I take a board about 5 or 6" wide and about 14" long , I let the lid rest on that while re stuff anything that blows out when your closing. Works for me especially when no ones around to help out.

Whoops sorry, i have a hardtop so yurs might be something else.........

Yeah, I think OP is talking about the larger fold out tents, I have a hard shell myself. But, I was thinking that there may be something common between the two types. The first time I tried closing my hard shell RTT, it was in the rain - I was getting ready to leave for a trip. Being wet I thought that closing up all the doors would be best. WRONG! You should leave (at least half) open the doors and windows. You can fully close all screens. This allows the air inside to escape as it collapses and minimizes the tendancy of the sides to expand out into the joint as you're closing or folding it up. Hope this helps!

 

[Box Rocket]

Interesting, I've never had this problem with any of my Tepui tents. Not sure what's different with the mattresses on other brands. Is the ARB mattress just a rectangle? The Tepui mattresses actually have a small cutout on the mattress where the hinge is. If you are looking for an AC mat to go under your mattress, I think without question the Tepui one is the best on the market. The Tepui mat is a bit more expensive but there's a reason, it works and it will last. Feel free to check them all out first but I'm confident you'll come back the Tepui mat as the best choice. They've been very popular and as a result the size that would probably work in the ARB tent is sold out at the moment but should be back in stock in the next few weeks. Let me know if I can help you get one.

Here's a shot of one of the Tepui mats if you haven't seen them before.

 

[JCruse]

I recon I will have to get something to go under the mattress. The Tepui mat looks awesome and is my first choice right now but funds are tight. I recently put a lot of dough into the rig and this will have to wait a bit.