If there is one upgrade that can change how your trailer feels right away, it is the mattress. A better mattress does not just make nights more comfortable. It makes the whole trip better. When you sleep better, mornings are easier, travel days are easier, and the trailer feels a lot more enjoyable to use.
That is especially true in a Coleman Lantern 17B or 17R. These are small, simple trailers, so the best upgrades are usually the ones you notice every single day. A mattress upgrade is one of those. You may not think about it much when you are buying the trailer, but after a few trips, it becomes one of the easiest places to improve comfort.
If you are still getting your trailer set up for the season, this page also pairs well with First Trip Checklist for the Coleman Lantern 17B / 17R, Must-Have Coleman 17B / 17R Upgrades That Actually Improve Camping, Installing a Backup Camera in a Coleman Lantern 17B / 17R, and Coleman 17B / 17R Owner Resources.
What size mattress fits the Coleman Lantern 17B / 17R?
This is the first thing I would tell anyone to check before buying. The current official Coleman 17B and 17R floorplan pages list the main bed as a 60x74 queen. At the same time, Camping World’s Coleman upgrade articles describe the main bedroom mattress as a short queen at 60x75, and the 17B bunk mattresses as 29x72. Because there is a real mismatch in what different official and owner-facing sources say, the safest move is to physically measure your mattress platform before ordering.
For most owners, that means shopping in one of two categories:
-60x74 RV short queen style mattresses
-60x75 RV short queen style mattresses
If you own a 17B and you are also thinking about replacing the bunks, measure those separately too. The 17B bunks are commonly described as 29x72, and a lot of Amazon bunk products are sold in 28x72 instead, so that is not something I would guess at.
What I would look for in a Coleman 17B / 17R mattress
For a trailer like this, I would focus on fit first, then thickness, then feel. A mattress that technically looks better on paper is still the wrong choice if it does not fit the bed platform properly or if it is so thick that bedding and clearance become annoying.
For the Coleman 17B and 17R, I think the sweet spot is usually an 8-inch to 10-inch mattress. That gives you a noticeable comfort upgrade without going so thick that the bed starts feeling oversized for a compact trailer. If you want a simpler and lighter option, memory foam makes a lot of sense. If you want more support and a more home-style feel, a hybrid mattress is usually the better move.
The best mattress picks I would look at first
The product links below go to Amazon.
Best overall for official 60x74 fit
Amazon pick:
Zinus 8 Inch RV Memory Foam Mattress, Short Queen 60x74 on Amazon
This is one of the strongest starting points for a Coleman 17B or 17R if you want a straightforward mattress upgrade that matches the 60x74 size listed on the current official floorplan pages. Amazon’s product page lists it as a short queen measuring 74 by 60 by 8 inches, with a medium feel and memory foam construction. It is a simple pick that makes sense for owners who want better comfort without overcomplicating the trailer.
Best premium upgrade for 60x74 fit
Amazon pick:
WanderRest Cool Hybrid 10 Inch RV Mattress, Short Queen 60x74 on Amazon
If you want a more serious comfort upgrade, this is the one I would look at next. Amazon’s product page lists it as a 60x74 short queen with a 10-inch profile, medium feel, gel memory foam, and pocketed coils. That makes it a much more home-style option than a basic foam mattress. For owners who camp a lot and want more support, this is the kind of upgrade that could be worth the extra cost.
Best option if your bed measures 60x75
Amazon pick:
EGO White 10 Inch Short Queen Memory Foam RV Mattress 60x75 on Amazon
This is the pick I would keep in mind if you measure your bed and it comes out closer to 60x75 instead of 60x74. Amazon’s current product page lists it as a 60x75 short queen mattress, medium firm, with cooling gel and green tea memory foam, and it was listed as in stock and sold by Amazon.com when I checked. Because there is conflicting size information around the Coleman 17B and 17R main bed, this is exactly why measuring first matters.
Which one I would choose
If your trailer measures out at 60x74, I would probably start with the Zinus if you want the easiest and most affordable comfort upgrade, or the WanderRest if you want something that feels more like a real home mattress. If your trailer measures closer to 60x75, the EGO White is the cleanest fit out of the three.
For most Coleman 17B and 17R owners, the real decision comes down to this:
-keep it simple with foam
-spend more for a more supportive hybrid
-measure first so you buy the right size the first time
Bonus protection picks that are worth adding
A mattress upgrade is also a good time to add a protector. In a trailer, I think that matters even more than it does at home because moisture, pets, spills, and general campsite mess are harder to avoid.
Amazon pick:
Kingnex Waterproof RV Short Queen Mattress Protector 60x75 on Amazon
Amazon’s product page lists this one as an RV short queen 60x75 waterproof protector with a breathable bamboo-viscose and cotton surface. It is a good simple add-on if your mattress ends up being the 60x75 short queen size.
Amazon pick:
Allersoft 6-Sided RV Short Queen Mattress Protector on Amazon
If you want fuller protection, this one is worth a look. Amazon’s page shows it in both 60x75 and 60x74 RV sizes, and describes it as a zippered 6-sided protector rather than a simple fitted-top style protector. That is especially useful if you want to protect the mattress from all sides while the trailer is stored or when camping with pets or kids.
A quick note for 17B bunk mattresses
If you are upgrading a Coleman 17B, do not forget that the bunks are a separate project. Camping World’s 17B upgrade guide describes those bunks as 29x72, while a lot of Amazon bunk products are sold at 28x72. That does not mean they cannot work, but it does mean I would measure carefully before ordering anything for the bunks.
If I were buying for a 17B family setup, I would upgrade the main bed first, then figure out whether the bunks need full mattress replacements, toppers, or just better covers.
Final thoughts
A mattress upgrade is one of the best comfort upgrades you can make on a Coleman Lantern 17B or 17R. It is practical, it improves every trip, and it makes a small trailer feel a lot more comfortable without adding clutter or complication.
If I were buying one today, I would start with the Zinus for a cleaner budget-friendly 60x74 option, move to the WanderRest if I wanted a more premium hybrid feel, and use the EGO White if my measured bed size came out closer to 60x75.
The biggest thing is just making sure you measure first. On these trailers, getting the right size matters as much as getting the right mattress.