A pop top gives your campervan valuable extra sleeping space, but the bed supplied with many roofs isn’t particularly comfortable.
Shop Pop Top Mattresses
A thin factory pad or hard bed board might be manageable for a night, but it can quickly become uncomfortable on longer trips.
Adding a proper pop top mattress is one of the simplest ways to improve your campervan without making any permanent changes. However, thickness, dimensions and roof clearance all matter. The wrong mattress could be uncomfortable, move around during the night or prevent the roof from closing properly.
Here is what you need to check before choosing one.
What is a pop top mattress?
A pop top mattress is a slim mattress designed for the elevated sleeping platform inside a campervan’s pop top roof.
Unlike a normal household mattress, it needs to work within a restricted space. It must provide useful cushioning over the bed board without being so thick that the roof cannot close.
Some mattresses are made for a particular vehicle or roof system, while others are designed to fit a range of common pop top beds. Always check the actual dimensions rather than relying on the vehicle model alone.
What size pop top mattress do I need?
Begin by measuring the usable sleeping platform inside your roof.
Measure:
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The maximum usable length
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The maximum usable width
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The available clearance when the roof is closed
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Any space taken up by hinges, gas struts or roof mechanisms
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Any curves, cut-outs or changes in the shape of the bed board
Do not assume that every roof fitted to the same campervan has identical dimensions. A VW Transporter T6 fitted with an Austops roof may have different available space from a T6 fitted with an SCA, Skyline or another aftermarket roof.
The Play Dirty VW Transporter Pop Top Mattress measures 1770 × 1100 × 30mm. It has been tested with a range of popular roof systems, but you should still measure your individual installation before ordering.
How thick should a pop top mattress be?
Pop top mattresses have to balance two competing requirements: sleeping comfort and closed-roof clearance.
A thicker mattress can provide more cushioning, but it also occupies more space when the roof is lowered. If it is too thick, the roof may not close or latch correctly.
A slim 30mm foam mattress provides additional cushioning over a hard bed board while remaining practical for many standard-height pop top roofs. It will not feel the same as a full-depth household mattress, but that is not its intended purpose.
The aim is to make the roof bed noticeably more comfortable without creating another bulky item that must be stored elsewhere in the van.
Low-profile roofs usually have less internal clearance and may not accommodate an additional mattress. If you have a low-profile roof, check with the roof manufacturer or converter before buying.
Can you leave a pop top mattress inside the roof?
Being able to leave the mattress inside the closed pop top is a major advantage. It saves storage space and means the bed is quicker to prepare when you arrive at a campsite.
Whether this is possible depends on:
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The mattress thickness
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The design of the pop top
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The available closed-roof clearance
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The bed board and roof mechanism
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Whether anything else is stored in the roof
A slim mattress can remain inside many standard-height roofs, but this should never be assumed. Measure the available clearance and check that the roof closes without resistance.
Remove pillows, duvets, sleeping bags and additional bedding before lowering the roof. Never force the roof shut against the mattress, as this could damage the roof, catches or lifting mechanism.
One-piece or folding pop top mattress?
A one-piece mattress provides a continuous sleeping surface without gaps or joins beneath you. It is also quick to position because there are no separate sections to arrange.
A folding mattress can be easier to store outside the roof, but the joins may be noticeable when sleeping. Hinges and folds can also create thicker areas that require additional clearance.
If your roof has enough space to leave the mattress inside when closed, a one-piece design is usually the simplest option.
What type of foam is best?
The best foam is not necessarily the softest. A very soft, thin mattress can compress completely under an adult’s weight, leaving them effectively sleeping on the bed board again.
A suitable pop top mattress should:
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Recover its shape after use
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Provide cushioning without excessive compression
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Be supportive enough for adults
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Remain light enough to handle easily
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Work within the limited height of the roof
Comfort is subjective, particularly with a slim mattress. Its job is to improve a restricted campervan sleeping area rather than recreate a household bed.
Should a pop top mattress have a removable cover?
Campervan equipment inevitably comes into contact with damp clothing, muddy kit, children, pets and campsite dust. A removable, machine-washable cover makes the mattress much easier to keep clean.
A dark cover is also practical because it is less likely to show minor marks between washes.
Before washing, follow the care instructions supplied with the cover. The foam insert itself should not normally be placed in a washing machine.
Will one mattress fit every VW Transporter pop top?
No. VW Transporter pop tops are produced and installed by numerous manufacturers, and the usable sleeping area can vary.
A mattress advertised for the VW T5, T6, T6.1 or T7 should still be checked against:
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The manufacturer of your pop top
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The exact roof model
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The bed board dimensions
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The position of the hinges and mechanisms
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The clearance available when closed
The Play Dirty mattress has been tested in several popular roof systems, including Austops, WestDubs, SCA, standard-height Skyline and VW California roof beds. Individual installations can still vary, so measurements should always take priority over the name of the roof.
Can I use a pop top mattress on a rock and roll bed?
A slim pop top mattress can sometimes be used as an additional topper on a suitable RIB or rock and roll bed.
This can help to soften joins and uneven sections in the folded seat. Check that the sleeping surface can accommodate the mattress dimensions and that it lies flat without interfering with seat mechanisms or safety equipment.
Is a pop top bed suitable for adults?
Yes, adults can sleep in many pop top beds, provided the roof, bed board and mattress are designed to support them.
A slim mattress will improve comfort over a hard platform, but expectations should be realistic. A 30mm campervan mattress is designed around limited roof space and will not feel like a deep domestic mattress.
For families, the pop top is often used as an additional bed for children. Adults can also use it, particularly where keeping the mattress slim enough to remain inside the roof is more important than achieving household-level cushioning.
Pop top mattress checklist
Before ordering, confirm:
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Your usable bed-board length and width
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The mattress dimensions
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Your available closed-roof clearance
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Whether your roof is standard-height or low-profile
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The location of hinges and lifting mechanisms
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Whether the mattress can be left inside when travelling
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Whether the cover is removable and washable
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Whether the foam is suitable for adults, children or both
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Whether you need a one-piece or folding design
Taking five minutes to measure the roof properly is much easier than discovering that it will not close after the mattress arrives.
A pop top mattress for VW Transporter campervans
The Play Dirty VW Transporter Pop Top Mattress is designed for T5, T6, T6.1 and T7 campervans with a suitable pop top roof.
It features:
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One-piece 30mm foam construction
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1770 × 1100mm dimensions
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Removable, machine-washable black cover
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A slim profile designed for restricted roof space
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Suitability for adults and children
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UK design and manufacture
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No specialist installation
It has been tested in several popular VW Transporter pop tops, but roof installations can vary. Measure your bed platform and closed-roof clearance before ordering.
If you are uncertain, send us your vehicle model, year, roof manufacturer and roof model. Our team can help you check whether the mattress is likely to fit.
