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I often wonder if the tiny leveling pads that come with a truck mattress are actually useful. They seem too small to fix the big gaps in a truck bed, which matters because a bad night’s sleep can ruin your whole trip.
In my experience, those included pads only cover about half the space they need to. I’ve found that using them alone leaves my hips sinking into a dip, so I usually grab extra blocks from the hardware store for real support.
Fix Your Truck Mattress Setup Fast
Those tiny included leveling pads let your truck mattress slide around all night, ruining your sleep. I woke up constantly readjusting until I found a bedding set that actually stays put. The Nap Time 1266-200 Blue Polyester Trucker Bedding Set grips the mattress tight and stops the shifting for good.
Stop fighting loose pads and grab this: Nap Time 1266-200 Blue Polyester Trucker Bedding Set
- Features at a glance 4-piece set: flat sheet, fitted sheet with storage pockets...
- Ultra-soft brushed microfiber for a hotel-like feel on the road
- Built-in pockets on the fitted sheet for easy access to essentials
Why Small Leveling Pads Ruin Your Sleep Setup
I remember my first night sleeping in my truck. I was so excited to test out my new mattress and those tiny leveling pads it came with.
By 2 AM, I was wide awake with my back aching. My hips had sunk into a deep valley between the wheel wells, and those little pads did nothing to stop it.
The Frustrating Reality of Uneven Truck Beds
Most truck beds have a bump in the middle or deep grooves on the sides. The included pads are often just thin foam squares that get crushed flat under your weight.
In my experience, they only work if you weigh under 130 pounds or sleep perfectly still all night. For the rest of us, they are basically useless.
How Bad Pads Affect Your Kids and Your Wallet
I took my son on a camping trip last summer. He tossed and turned all night because his mattress was tilted sideways. He woke up grumpy and tired, which made the whole day harder.
We ended up buying proper leveling blocks at a hardware store the next morning. That was an extra 40 dollars I did not plan to spend, all because the included pads were too small.
What You Actually Need for a Flat Sleep Surface
- Pads that are at least 12 inches wide to cover the full gap
- Dense foam that does not flatten under 200 pounds of weight
- Multiple pieces so you can stack them for different truck models
I learned the hard way that cheap pads lead to expensive mistakes. You do not have to make the same error I did.
How I Found the Right Leveling Solution for My Truck Bed
Measuring the Gap Before Buying Anything
I grabbed a tape measure and checked the widest gap between my wheel well and the tailgate. The included pads were only 6 inches wide, but my gap was 14 inches.
That simple measurement saved me from buying more useless gear. You should measure your own truck bed before you spend a single dollar on pads.
Testing Different Materials for Stability
I tried using folded blankets and old yoga mats at first. They worked okay for one night but shifted around when I moved in my sleep.
Pool noodles cut in half were a popular tip I found online. They actually worked better than the included pads because they did not flatten completely under my weight.
The Simple Fix That Finally Worked for Us
My wife and I now use dense foam blocks cut to fit our specific gaps. We stack two pieces on each side so the mattress sits perfectly level from end to end.
I honestly wish I had done this from the start instead of fighting with those tiny pads for months.
You are probably tired of waking up with a sore back or watching your kids roll into the dip in the middle of the night, so I grabbed these leveling blocks that finally gave us a flat sleep surface.
- Luxury Mattress conforms to the shape of your body, promoting healthy, restful...
- Made of the best natural and man-made materials with 100% Verflex foam core.
- Hypoallergenic and environmentally safe.
What I Look for When Buying Leveling Pads for My Truck
After wasting money on bad pads, I learned exactly what to check before buying anything new. Here are the things I personally look for now.
The Width Must Match Your Truck Gap
I always measure the widest part of my truck bed gap first. If the pad is too narrow, it will just sink into the space and do nothing.
For my Ford F-150, I need pads that are at least 12 inches wide to cover the full gap between the wheel well and the side of the bed.
Density Matters More Than Thickness
A thick pad that is soft will flatten under your body weight. I learned this when a 4-inch thick pad squished down to half an inch under me.
I now press on the foam in the store to see how much it resists. Dense foam holds its shape all night long.
Stability Keeps You From Rolling Off
Some pads slide around when you move in your sleep. I woke up with my pad shoved against the tailgate more times than I can count.
Look for pads with a non-slip bottom or a textured surface. A little grip makes a huge difference in how steady your mattress stays.
The Mistake I See People Make With Truck Mattress Leveling Pads
Most people assume the included pads will work because they came with the mattress. I thought the same thing until I spent my first miserable night on a tilted sleeping surface.
The biggest mistake is trying to make those tiny pads work by stacking them or folding them. They are simply not designed to fill the wide gaps in a modern truck bed.
You are better off accepting right away that the included pads are just a temporary fix. They might work for a quick nap in a parking lot, but they will not give you a good night’s sleep on a camping trip.
You have probably already tried propping up your mattress with blankets or towels and watched them slide away by morning, so I sent my brother these pads that actually stayed put all night.
- Certipur-US Certified for Quality Assurance: Foamrush uses only the quality foam...
- Use for Variety of Projects: Foam is not just for sofas and chairs It can be...
- Easy to Customize: Our foam is easy to work through with tools such as most...
My Best Tip for Getting a Flat Sleep Surface Without Spending a Fortune
Here is the trick I wish I had known from day one. You can use dense foam camping pads from the dollar store cut to size instead of buying expensive leveling kits.
I bought two thick foam floor mats for ten bucks and trimmed them with a bread knife. They fit perfectly in my truck bed gaps and have held up for over a year now.
The included pads are not completely useless though. I actually keep them in my glove box for emergency naps when I park on uneven ground at a rest stop.
They work fine for that one-off situation because they take up almost no space. Just do not rely on them for a full night of camping sleep.
My Top Picks for Fixing the Small Leveling Pad Problem in Your Truck
After testing different solutions, I found two mattress options that solve the leveling issue completely. These are what I personally recommend to friends who ask me about truck bed sleep setups.
Kogler Premium 7-Inch Thick High-Density Foam Semi-Truck RV — Perfect for Deep Gaps and Heavy Sleepers
The Kogler Premium 7-Inch Thick High-Density Foam Semi-Truck RV is thick enough to bridge the biggest gaps in a truck bed. I love that it does not flatten out under my 200-pound frame, so my hips stay level all night. It is perfect for side sleepers who need extra support, though it is a bit bulky to store when not in use.
- DESIGNED FOR TRUCK & RV USE - The Kogler 7-Inch Foam Semi-Truck & RV Mattress is...
- INCLUDED ITEM & SIZE DETAILS - Includes one foam truck mattress measuring 36 x...
- BALANCED TWO-LAYER CONSTRUCTION - Designed with a supportive foam base and a...
FoamRush 6-Inch Bunk High Density Foam RV Mattress Replacement — Great for Budget-Conscious Campers
The FoamRush 6-Inch Bunk High Density Foam RV Mattress Replacement is a solid choice if you want a flat surface without spending too much. I appreciate how it cuts easily to fit weird truck bed shapes, which saved me from buying custom pads. It works best for lighter sleepers or kids, but heavier folks might want the thicker Kogler option.
- About our Foam: Our foam is certified for suitability. Our foam features are...
- Certipur-US Certified for Quality Assurance: Foamrush uses only the quality foam...
- Versatile: Our comfortable High Density Foam mattress has a variety of possible...
Conclusion
The included leveling pads are almost always too small to give you a flat, comfortable night of sleep in a truck bed. Save yourself the back pain and measure your gaps before your next trip.
Grab a tape measure and check your truck bed tonight — it takes two minutes and will tell you exactly what size pads you actually need to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Are the Included Leveling Pads for a Truck Mattress Too Small to Use?
Why are the leveling pads that come with my truck mattress so small?
Manufacturers include small pads to keep costs low and make the packaging fit in a standard box. They assume most people will only use the mattress occasionally.
In my experience, these pads are designed for quick naps, not full-night camping sleep. They are too narrow to fill the wide gaps in most modern truck beds.
Can I make the included leveling pads work by stacking them?
Stacking them does not help because they are too soft to support your weight. They just compress into a thin layer under pressure.
I tried stacking three pads on each side and still woke up with my hips in a dip. You need denser material to actually bridge the gap.
What is the best solution for someone who needs to level a truck mattress without buying a whole new setup?
You are smart to want a fix that does not require replacing your entire mattress. The included pads fail because they lack both width and density for real support.
I recommend getting dedicated leveling blocks that are at least 12 inches wide. I picked up these foam blocks that finally gave me a flat surface after months of frustration.
- Complete body support helps provide a good night's sleep in the great outdoors...
- Great for University Dorm, collages, daybeds, Folding Beds, Camp Beds, Guest...
- Complete body support that eliminates pressure points and significantly reduces...
How wide should leveling pads be for a standard truck bed?
Most full-size trucks like Ford F-150s and Chevy Silverados have gaps around 10 to 14 inches wide. Your pads need to be at least that wide to work properly.
I measured my own gap at 13 inches and bought pads that matched that width exactly. It made a huge difference in how stable my mattress felt all night.
Which leveling pads won’t let me down when I camp in cold weather?
Cold temperatures make cheap foam turn stiff and brittle, which ruins their ability to support you. You need high-density foam that stays flexible even in freezing weather.
I camp in below-freezing conditions and have tested several options. The ones that held up best were these cold-weather blocks I now take on every winter trip.
- Luxury Mattress conforms to the shape of your body, promoting healthy, restful...
- Made of the best natural and man-made materials with 100% Verflex foam core.
- Hypoallergenic and environmentally safe.
Can I use pool noodles instead of the included leveling pads?
Pool noodles are actually a decent budget fix because they are thick and do not flatten completely. I used them for three months before upgrading to proper pads.
They work best when you cut them lengthwise and stack two halves together. Just know they will wear out faster than dense foam blocks.