My first post at this great great source of knowledge and experience!
I followed the recommendation of many on here and have moved from blow-up airbeds to campbeds.
I opted for the Hi Gear Folding Campbed and the next step is now to decide on which SIM to use on top.
The campbed has 6 folding areas where the cloth is cut out around the metal hinge and supporting bolts which aren't quite smooth.
A SIM of a bit less than 60cm wide would fit in between those hinges, but most SIMs are wider than that and therefore I guess would rest on top of the metal and bolts.
Does anyone with this camp bed and SIM combo experienced any problems such as a punctured SIM? Did you put anything underneath the SIM or cover the metal pieces up?
Is that your pic, of your camp bed? How come it's blue?
We have that camp bed (x2) in your link, and coupled it with This SIM, at 63cm wide, and yes, it does reach the side bars. We've since added a cheapo Aldi/Lidl SIM to go below the one from GO, to double the thickness (didn't really need to, as 5cm seemed fine, but you really can't turn down a bargain!! ).
Either before that addition, or since, we have experienced no problems with which you concern yourself.
Admittedly, it wasn't something I thought about, and will now check them over next time they are out, but I roll them up, and I haven't noticed any signs of undue wear, either in those locations or elsewhere.
I think you'll be fine, but I will take a look at ours.... now you've worried me!!!
One thing I would advise though... get/make yourself a snug fitting sheet, to go around both the SIM and the bed frame. Keeps it all in place, as they can move with you otherwise.
(Thinking about it, that in itself would do more good than harm, in reducing the amount of rubbing it would cause!)
If you are really posh, like us, you can have a valance sheet..... which hides all the junk we chuck under the beds!!
It is indeed a picture I took of one of our camp beds. I wanted green, but they only had blue....
I noticed some 'give' in the material when in use and I imagined that anything non rigid put on top of the camp bed would take on that same shape and quite likely rub against those metal/bolt parts.
I was already thinking of possible solutions like covering the metal / bolts but didn't really want to go that route but you've put my mind at ease so will make a decision soon on which SIMs to go for.
Better to have a SIM which covers the frame, in my opinion. I took a narrower SIM recently and the exposed frame was uncomfortable at night as I kept making contact with it, and also the bed isn't comfortable to sit on during the day if there are hard metal bits along the edge. My usual SIM is wide enough to cover the frame, and more comfortable as a result.
It's never done my SIM any harm, even being sat on regularly, as I've mentioned. Mind you, I do have a fleece cover on it which probably protects it a bit.
Hmmmm, potentially I too could have the same issue with my camp bed + SIM combo, and shall check during my next trip in Dec 13.
I shall get some more Surgu - Self-setting Silicone Putty (available from B&Q) so that I can make a protective mould covering the hinge if the risk of scuffing and puncture is high.
Thanks OP for identifying the risk.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We haven't used our new Kampa folding bed yet, so I had a look at the area in question. It appears we might have the same problem, so what I've done is cut up a cheap rubber floor mat and slipped the pieces over the bolts, like so:
Is that black tube in the middle of the picture the concealed permanent connection between the airbed and a compressor to ensure pressure is maintained?
Seriously, the regular 'topping up' with air, puncture fixing and back ache made me decide that air beds is no longer a feasible option for me. glad it works for you though!
IMHO, the risk of a puncture of a SIM placed on top of camp bed held in place by a fitted sheet is far lower than a puncture on an airbed.
My SIM has lasted longer than my double airbed, that's for certain.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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Topic: Risk of SIM puncture on Camp Bed?
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