Luton Sleeping

[Saf]

Hi all

I have a small luton in my lorry enough for a single mattress, what has everyone gone with?
Memory foam
Ordinary foam
Mattress

Just trying to plan as will need to sleep 4/5 nights in April

How do you stop it getting damp?
Do you take out after use and take home to air etc

Thanks for any ideas

 

[Winters100]

This might sound a bit odd, but when I needed something for similar, and did not want to shell out a lot for one time use, I 'borrowed' 2 memory foam beds from my dogs (don't worry, they are perfectly happy sleeping on the couch instead). They were these ones https://www.orvis.com/orvis-memory-foam-platform-dog-bed/2Z75.html in size XL. Put together, with a sheet over them, they were very comfortable, and also easy to move.

For sure you will need to store it in your house when you return from the trip as it will get damp in the lorry.

 

[ycbm]

I cut down an old double memory foam I had. It didn't seem to get particularly damp and was sold in the lorry when I downsized several years later.
.

 

[humblepie]

Not sure what we have - pretty sure ordinary foam. Isn't in the luton as have a fold down bed but have never taken it out of the lorry. Just take the bedding home to wash. It hasn't ever got damp.

 

[ihatework]

Maybe consider a good quality air mattress

 

[Wizpop]

Sorry to jump on here- when you say “Luton” are you meaning the area over the cab? Even if it’s not designed for sleeping?

 

[Tarragon]

Another idea is a camp bed, the old fashioned sort on metal legs, as it rolls up to practically nothing. The old Army ones are very handy, and you can get them from army surplus shops. Horse rugs underneath you give extra insulation.

 

[terrierliz]

I have a good single airbed on mine, have to blow it up occasionally but it then comes out for winter so no damp mattress

 

[Saf]

Sorry to jump on here- when you say “Luton” are you meaning the area over the cab? Even if it’s not designed for sleeping?

Yes its above the cab and is boarded out, just need something to sleep om

 

[oldie48]

I never took the mattress out of the luton, just the actual bedding However, we used the lorry every week although we didn't sleep in it during the Winter.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

We used blow up beds they are quite comfortable with a sleeping bag or quilt on top of them.

 

[rara007]

Our Luton is quite ‘shallow’ so we have a relatively thin foam mattress. It’s still acceptably comfortable and doesn’t get damp. Bedding comes in between seasons to keep fresh but the mattress is ok. You wouldn’t fit an air/camp bed on ours unless you were extremely 2D and nimble. Not skills and attributes I possess!

 

[ycbm]

Sorry to jump on here- when you say “Luton” are you meaning the area over the cab? Even if it’s not designed for sleeping?

What do you mean "not designed for sleeping"? Lutons are designed for storage and all you're doing is storing a mattress with a body on it.

 

[dorsetladette]

When we got our lorry it had a manky old bit of foam as a mattress bit only about an inch thick. We found a local bed store has a sale on and picked up a memory foam matress (quite a slim one so doesn't use up 'head room' to much) for £80. Its more comfortable than the bed at home. We kept the plastic cover it came in and come it up when not in use to save it getting damp over winter. You might be able to find a bargain locally before your trip in april.

 

[Green Bean]

On average, do people sleep more in the luton space or on the horsebox floor? I have thought about this and am thinking that a cheap tarpaulin over the floor, a fold away camping bed with cardboard then blow up mattress on top. I would think it is quite cramped in the luton area after adding a mattress, sheet, duvet and pillows (let alone the perils of climbing up and down a ladder?

 

[Wizpop]

What do you mean "not designed for sleeping"? Lutons are designed for storage and all you're doing is storing a mattress with a body on it.

Well, I store tins of beans in my cupboard, but I wouldn’t sleep in there!”

 

[Fieldlife]

On average, do people sleep more in the luton space or on the horsebox floor? I have thought about this and am thinking that a cheap tarpaulin over the floor, a fold away camping bed with cardboard then blow up mattress on top. I would think it is quite cramped in the luton area after adding a mattress, sheet, duvet and pillows (let alone the perils of climbing up and down a ladder?

I dont have the floor space in my lorry to lie on floor (except in horse area and my horse wees a lot!). Not enough space length or width ways on floor. Cupboards or walls in the way. I could maybe sleep with mattress across all seats in cab.

My luton is a reasonable headspace, my thick memory foam mattress is comfy. I got my lorry man to put some wooden steps into the wall. I have a child anti fall out of bed side that goes under my mattress, just in case I turn over in night. My luton is pretty comfy. I have slept there in minus temperatures with thermals, hot water bottles, and multiple duvets and been toasty!

 

[humblepie]

I’ve only slept in a Luton once - worried was going to roll up ver and fall out

 

[Tracking_up]

On average, do people sleep more in the luton space or on the horsebox floor? I have thought about this and am thinking that a cheap tarpaulin over the floor, a fold away camping bed with cardboard then blow up mattress on top. I would think it is quite cramped in the luton area after adding a mattress, sheet, duvet and pillows (let alone the perils of climbing up and down a ladder?

This is what I do, but a rug rolled out on the floor, camp bed, one of those narrow (10cm) deep airbeds, a king sized duvet clamped in 3 places, (along the edge of duvet to the 'open' side of the camp bed) and the the king duvet is then wide enough to fold over me. (More generous than a sleeping bag for me!).

I also set up on the side away from the ramp to reduce drafts, (3.5t lorry) which is the side the horse stands in, so a bit of scrubbing if nec! and then a tarp goes under the rug!

 

[Tracking_up]

This was my first attempt, so before airbed and a double duvet (which was a bit gappy!) and rug/tarp on floor, and also on the drafty/ramp side!

 

[ycbm]

Well, I store tins of beans in my cupboard, but I wouldn’t sleep in there!”

I assume your cupboard isn't rated to carry 3.5 tons down the motorway, but it probably smells a bit better that most Lutons
.

 

[Wizpop]

I assume your cupboard isn't rated to carry 3.5 tons down the motorway, but it probably smells a bit better that most Lutons
.

Quite right!- my first thought re sleeping in a Luton was whether it was designed to hold the weight of a human ( or 2) - my first wagon so it’s all a bit new to me.

 

[Fieldlife]

I assume your cupboard isn't rated to carry 3.5 tons down the motorway, but it probably smells a bit better that most Lutons
.

My Luton smells fine! And is full rated for human weight!

 

[hollyandivy123]

What do you mean "not designed for sleeping"? Lutons are designed for storage and all you're doing is storing a mattress with a body on it.

next episode of "silent witness"............. cut to the scene ycbm lorry.........trundling down the motorway with a couple of tins of beans rattling around..........

 

[MissTyc]

I'm a floor sleeper, although my luton is perfectly capable of holding me ...
I use a thick ground sheet, a foldable thick mattress, get out all my things, and make myself cosy ... including hookup if I am feeling flush and it's available.
Why yes, that's a standard lamp .... so I can read my book at night ... with my heater on full blast ahem. I am bad at "camping".

 

[humblepie]

Am loving the standard lamp. Friend come to a show with me and was very disappointed that my plastic table and chairs outside the lorry didn’t have a china vase with fresh flowers as one of the top professionals did. She felt I was slumming it.

 

[Goldenstar]

You can get a mesh from marine chandlers that is designed to go under the mattress and stop damp .

 

[Jenko109]

Oh gawd!

Can we see more pictures please? I'm finding it both terrifying and fascinating.

 

[Squeak]

Finding all the photos really useful as I'm building up to camping in my 3.5t at some point. Does anyone use some sort of canopy/ marquee at the back by the door to give a bit of extra space and if so which ones? Also any clever ideas for securing them given the recent spate of tack thefts due to the living and tack locker doors all sharing the same keys?

And a word of warning to anyone sleeping in lutons - a friend fell out of a luton whilst sleeping and broke their back so well worth getting something to stop you from being able to just roll out.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Finding all the photos really useful as I'm building up to camping in my 3.5t at some point. Does anyone use some sort of canopy/ marquee at the back by the door to give a bit of extra space and if so which ones? Also any clever ideas for securing them given the recent spate of tack thefts due to the living and tack locker doors all sharing the same keys?

And a word of warning to anyone sleeping in lutons - a friend fell out of a luton whilst sleeping and broke their back so well worth getting something to stop you from being able to just roll out.

Ref secure locking, anything I need to leave unattended that is valuable to me, gets securely locked in the cab. Tack goes on the passenger seat overnight and at other times if I'm camping away.

I clear out the grooms area on the inside - especially the top of the outside locker. Then I set up my 'dressing table/bathroom items' and they share half with the camping gaz for my cuppas.

My luton is used for storage of spare wheel, my camp bed, then I add my bedding in when going away and can even ram in a rolling rug box too, my luton has a good 3inch lip on it.