Most of the current Casita models (Spirit, Freedom, and Heritage) have a large dinette table at the back that converts into a double/full size bed. The Independence has two twin beds in that place for people who prefer to sleep separately.
Both the Spirit and Freedom have a second smaller dinette (the Heritage has bunk beds in that location), so many owners of these models keep the dinette converted into a bed all the time. That's what we do and like many others, we found that the dinette cushions aren't very comfortable.
Because the back wall curves, you can't just put in a regular full size mattress. There are companies that sell mattresses made to fit Casita trailers, but they're pretty expensive. For example, LoveMyCasita (an awesome company!) sells a full size mattress for about $500.
For those of you looking to save some money, we found a solution: trim a memory foam mattress topper. This is very easy to do and only costs about $130 for everything. You only need two things: the memory foam topper and a hot wire cutter.
Memory foam mattress topper
If you want a different one, there are two things to consider: material and thickness.
Because you'll be using a hot wire cutter to trim the corners, the topper needs to be memory foam only. Don't buy a topper that has fabric quilting or anything like that, because you won't be able to cut it with a hot wire.
It also can't be thicker than the length of the wire on your hot wire cutter. It may be tempting to go really thick, but if you do that then you'll need a bigger hot wire cutter. That's not a big deal, but you should keep it in mind.
Hot wire cutter
As the name implies, these heat up a wire to melt through material. They only work with some materials and are popular with crafters.
Fortunately for us, they cut through memory foam easily! It takes no effort to slice through the memory foam and you get a much cleaner cut than you would with a knife or saw.
We bought
this GOCHANGE 3-in-1 Foam Cutter because it was cheap. It worked just fine, but you'll want to look at other models if your mattress topper is thicker. This model's wire is 18cm long (about 7 inches), so it can only handle mattress toppers thinner than that.
Trace your cushions
The easiest way to cut the mattress topper to the right size is by tracing your dinette cushions. Just pull them out and lay them on top of the mattress topper. Then use a regular old ball point pen or a marker to trace the curved edges of the cushions.
If possible, you'll want to do this inside to avoid getting dirt and debris on your new mattress topper.
Cut the mattress topper
This uses heat to cut the foam and it produces fumes. We don't know if the fumes are toxic or not (no suing us if your lungs fall out!), so it's best to wear a respirator or do the cutting in a very well ventilated area. That said, the fumes didn't smell/feel particularly acrid or anything.
Attach the arc cutting wire to the hot wire cutter handle, then plug it in. Flip the switch on and then wait 30 seconds or so for it to heat up. The mattress topper is pretty heavy and unwieldy, so it might help to have a partner hold it for you.
Cutting is easy, but you might want to first practice near one of the corners that you'll remove, then cut along your traces after you get the hang of it. The trick is to slide the wire back and forth as you push it through the material. That sliding motion causes the hot wire to slice through the foam like butter. It's pretty amazing!
When you're ready for the real cut, line everything up and start slicing. It's okay to go slow if you want (the hot wire doesn't seem to char the material if you leave it in place). You can also pull the wire back out partway through the cut if you need to, just be careful not to cut into the material that you're keeping.
And that's it! You only have to trim off the two corners to leave behind curves. After you're done, put the memory foam on top of the dinette cushions, throw on some sheets, and enjoy your comfy and affordable bed.
Have you done something similar? How do you like it? Let us know in the comments!
