RV Murphy beds are becoming more popular lately due to their space-saving benefits. But are they worth it? Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of this style of RV bed to decide whether or not they’re really worth it.
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What Is an RV Murphy Bed?
An RV Murphy bed is a bed that folds up against the wall. When a Murphy bed is in the up position, it folds away seamlessly. These beds create more floor space in an RV and are a popular bed style for those who want to maximize their living space.
How Does an RV Murphy Bed Work?
The bed secures to the wall with latches or other safety mechanisms. To unfold a Murphy bed, first, unlatch the safety mechanism. The furniture typically lies flat to accommodate the bed if it folds down over a couch or other piece of furniture. RV Murphy beds fold down manually and lock into place.
To put a Murphy bed away, pull a lever to unlock the bed and lift it back up to the wall. Most Murphy beds have a spring mechanism that helps with lifting the bed back to the up position.
Benefits of RV Murphy Beds
These beds are best in small RVs. When the bed folds into the up position, it creates a lot more floor space and room to move around.
These beds are also great for campers who don’t have a separate bedroom. When the bed is in the up position, the RV transforms from a bedroom to a living room in one easy step.
Downsides of RV Murphy Beds
Although they create more living space and help you transition your RV from “night mode” to “day mode,” there are downsides. For example, they’re more work than a traditional fixed bed.
For some people, the hassle is more trouble than it’s worth. After a long day of driving, the last thing you may want to do is pull down your Murphy bed. You might not want to take the extra time to make the bed and fold it up on busy mornings either. Of course, you could always leave the Murphy bed in the down position, but then you lose out on valuable floor and seating space.
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Are They Comfortable?
RV factory mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. As a result, many RVers upgrade their mattress before they ever sleep in their campers.
However, the general consensus among RV Murphy bed owners is that the mattresses are pretty comfortable. Some owners choose to add a foam topper to make the mattress cushier. Others have chosen to upgrade their mattresses. If you go this route, be mindful of the dimensions so you can still close the bed.
➡ Did you know there are twelve different RV mattress sizes? Learn more here: What You Need to Know About RV Mattress Sizes
What Types of RVs Have Murphy Beds?
Many different types of vehicles have Murphy beds, especially because these beds are becoming more popular. You can usually find them in travel trailers, Class C RVs, and campervans. Wall beds are popular choices in smaller RVs due to the amount of floor space they free up.
Can You Install a Murphy Bed in an RV?
If you’re handy and prepared to take on the project yourself, you can do the installation yourself. Many campers come from the factory with Murphy beds pre-installed. But if you’re renovating your RV and want to include this style of wall bed, you can find examples and plans online like this one.
Pro Tip: Remember that most of the weight in a travel trailer should sit in the front half of the RV, and a bed is a pretty heavy piece of furniture.
Are They Worth It?
The space-saving benefits of an RV Murphy bed make it worth it, especially for people with small campers and campervans. Ultimately, the benefits outweigh the downsides because these beds are pretty simple to put away quickly.
Have you ever tried a Murphy bed? How did you like it? Let us know in the comments!
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Read More From The Mortons:
Steve
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
Our Murphy bed is great it’s the couch that is really uncomfortable. Need some ideas on how to make the couch comfy to sit on.
Forest river ultra lite 23ft Steve
O'Sullivan
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
We have a Murphy in our 19' travel trailer and love it. It is comfortable and easy to put up & take down. The only negative comment is the window in the front. It gets obliterated when the bed is put up & it's present when bed is put down. This logic is backwards to me. I would prefer a window during the day in my 'living space' and at night when sleeping to have no window in my head board. Poor design.
Mortons on the Move
Thursday 29th of July 2021
Yes, we see this window issue with a lot of Murphy beds. It's odd to have a window behind the bed if the point of the window is to let in light.
Jacques Hopkins
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
We chose a 2019 Rockwood MiniLite 2503S with a Murphy bed for a simple reason - an unshakeable objection to hauling around at least 6' of extra length of travel trailer just for a bed in the down position, for night use only. After almost 1,000 times pulling the bed down, and the same again putting it back up, we have never regretted that decision. The Murphy bed has an added bonus - the extra space it allows for our bathroom, which people who have seen our trailer regard as enormous relative to bathrooms in most significantly larger rigs, of all classes.
Mortons on the Move
Thursday 29th of July 2021
Makes sense! A lot of RVers prefer to have the extra space without the extra length.
Marc Stauffer
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
We like the look and comfort of a high end hide-a-bed couch. You don't lose the front window, you still save space and if you get a high end one, they are of good quality and comfort in my opinion.