Truckster (Vic) replied:

All I can say is TRY before you buy if you can.

I borrowed a set, and for me with a bad back, they were way too hard..

Ive gone back to an air bed myself.

Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

I've got a couple I'm just about to donate to the scouts (if they want 'em).
I bought them for my 2 older kids (now 9 & 7) and they were okay for a while, but not anymore. Can't remember the brand, but they have 4 separate "U" shaped steel legs that fit into the holes in separate steel poles which have to be slid into the seam along each edge of the green vynal base material. I soon got sick of threading the steel pipes/poles into the seam each set up and ended up leaving them permanently in place and held in the right spot with a number of short tech screws. Then I just rolled the things up around each other and slid them into the PVC pipe on my roof rack. The 8 "U" shaped legs were then stored in the boot of the camper.
The legs started to lose their springiness after a while and i kept having to bend them back out a couple of inches to enable them to maintain tension on the 2 outer poles, which is all that held the stupid things together. Certainly no good for adults and as uncomfortable as all get-out!!!!!

flappa replied:

I've got a set that are fantastic.

They are called Disco Beds. (nothing to do with LR).

Not sure if they are still available or not.

They are steel frame , with large Disks that fit into a U shaped bracket on the end of the bed. rated for 200kg each I believe.

You can make it into single beds , a bunk , or a lounge.

FANTASTIC.

One drawback . . . they are/were expensive , and are quite heavy , probably 10kg each ????

Ken replied:

The better half and I took two kids aged 4 and 6, an Oztenet, the old Patrol and two sets of double bunks to central Oz two years ago. We purchased all of the above at the same time. When we went to get the double bunks they did not have the ones in stock that we ordered. So they gave us a Shakespere one and another brand. I have a bad back and the Shakespere was just the ticket. The other one is not that great. About $120.00 a set I think. They are still going well and we also drag them out when the kids have friends for sleep over.

Bob Y. - Qld replied:

Ross,

When I was a kid, the parents had a canvas stretcher, that folded in half, had 3 feet that had a coil spring on each end, that hooked up onto the side rails of the bed. Gave a firm but comfortable base. Don't know if I'd like to have sleep on it with a bait on board. But not as bad as air bed.

The Stock Inspectors in NT, back in the 70's, used a stretcher/bed, that folded in half, with 3 fold down legs, and a mattress. Like a modern design of a shearers' stretcher. They were good, and they almost always got a good nights sleep. Used to keep them off the ground, especially when the King Browns were about!!! Weren't real heavy, but as bulky as a meduium sized suitcase.

Hooroo...

Kumanara (SA) replied:

We bought a couple of stretchers. Bought the best quality we could and still found them uncomfortable.

I have never had any luck with air-mattresses. They always go flat.

Bought and used a queen size Coleman self inflating mattress instead. It was great. There are other brands equally as good.

I would recommend you purchase a self inflating matress instead of stretchers. The final decisions is obviously yours.

Member - Mozza (NSW) replied:

i also highly rate my double self-inflating matress better than both standard blow-ups and strechers.
the only down side is their size when 'deflated'.. but then again.. that's a big van your towing.. lotsa room inside!.
you could even use it as your bed inside your van.. than on your o'night trips deflate it and throw it on the roof of the car?

80scruiser replied:

I bought some stretchers for $39.00 each from Boots.
Take about 5 minutes to put together and pack flat.
I put my mattress from my swag on it and sleep great. ( I sleep better on these than the $2000.00 bed at home. I threatened the missus that I would put my tent up and sleep out in the yard with the dog on my stretcher but thats another story)
I chose these ones as they fold up flat and pack really well. They are a canvas style bed with tubular frame. Only drama is that if you carry them inside the car and don't pack them properly they can rattle. We either carry them in the roof bag or lay them flat and put our bags ontop. For the money can't go wrong. They probably take up less room than air mattress.

BigPop replied:

I got this one for Xmas from the States link text
and bought some 2" HD foam locally for a mattress.

It worked out at the same price as the X legged ones you buy in Oz but the freight made it a tad dearer - orderd on a Thursday and had it on me front doorstep lunchtime the following Thursday.

Tried it out and it would be one of the most comfortable beds I've slept in - I'm not a 'lightweight' and not a 'small pixie either' and this 'cot' is over 7' long and about 1m wide and as comfortable as can be. I'm glad I got it and looking at the Oz ones they don't come anywhere near the quality etc of this one.

At least no one will come near my camp now because of the simple equation :- comfy bed = lotsa loud snoring :):):):)

Regards
BigPop
(I never get lost because everyone tells me where to go)

Member - Sand Man (SA) replied:

Ross,

Do yourself a favor and forget the stretchers. They are just downright uncomfortable.

IMHO you will be better off with good quality Swags. The high density matresses are quite comfortable and the swag gives you greater flexibility. (eg. sleeping in them without any tent, camper, caravan, etc.

Richard & Leonie replied:

It took me a while to discover why our stretchers were uncomfortable. When you lie in them you are lying in a trench. Everytime you want to turn over, which one does numerous times during the night, you are constantly trying to overcome the trench effect. Its like climbing uphill all night. Back to the blowups, which sometimes go flat but overall are great, especially as they are adjustrable for whoever uses them. Self inflating are great but too hard to put away, especially if they are over 20mm thick.

Troopy Travellers (NSW) replied:

We have got the Xleg Al stretcher, large, from "Boots Outdoor Stores" $210 for 2. We use our self inflating mattress on top. Terrific & comfortable, I highly recommend them. Also. they fold up easily for storage..
Sparky

old-plodder replied:

I remember the old canvas stretchers, not too bad. Our boys are now 6' plus and finding a stretcher is a real problem. The discos wern't too bad. Gave up on airbeds. Been using a piece of 20mm very high density foam in a canvas cover onupside and vinyl on downside. Wife who has a bad back reckons she sleeps better on holidays than the sealy at home. Has been known to pull the camp mattress out at home when her back is troubling her.
The foam rolls up to about 350mm in dia. If space a problem, cut it a bit shorter. Your feet don't need a mattress. Just use a blanket or something underneath when it is cold.

DARREN replied:

As mentioned above the coleman self inflating double mattresses are great & the closest thing to my bed at home I have tried, yes they are very big when deflated but if you have room they are worth it. I slip on a fitted sheet and it feels like a "proper" mattress. If interested in one I suggest Rays (asuming they are in NSW) when they have their 20% off sales.

Regards,

Darren

StormyKnight replied:

Not sure if you have one of these stors near you but, we have 2 of the beds at the top of this page & find them a good compremise between space & comfort. I like being off the ground a bit & you can adjust where the springs attach so you can overcome some of the trench effect. They also fold up into a handy carry bag.

Aussie Disposals

Cheers
Richard

Mike-TS replied:

Great Outdoors 60 mm self inflating - the long blue ones. Best I've tried and I've tried a few!

Of course, what I mean is that I have bought many and tried them then disgarded!