Zinus Ultima RV Short Queen Mattress Review
The Zinus Ultima is an 8-inch, 74 by 60 inch memory foam mattress that suits short queen RV beds with headroom. It is a practical upgrade for a worn or thin mattress, but at 44.4 pounds it is a job for two people.
On this page (19 sections)
- What the Ultima is built from
- Size and height: 74 by 60 by 8 inches
- Firmness and the medium feel
- Heat, airflow and freshness
- Weight, moving and lift beds
- Expansion, unboxing and the first nights
- Warranty and what to read first
- What buyers often mention
- Trade-offs at a glance
- Sheets, protectors and bedding
- Edges and sitting on the bed
- Topper or new mattress
- Care and rotation
- Ordering checklist
- Who the Zinus RV short queen mattress suits
- Who should skip it
- Compared with the Green Tea and Novilla options
- Our score and what it weighs
- Verdict: headroom for 8 inches, or a lighter option
The Zinus Ultima short queen is an 8-inch memory foam mattress sized 74 by 60 inches for RV beds with headroom. Compared with the other 8-inch short queen options, it fits best if you want a fuller feel and a written warranty.
What the Ultima is built from
The Ultima is a memory foam mattress with a 7-zone comfort system, infused with green tea and charcoal. Zinus says those infusions help keep the mattress fresh.
The fill is memory foam and high-density foam, with a polyester cover. Zinus's foam is CertiPUR-US certified and the cover is OEKO-TEX certified.
CertiPUR-US is an independent program for foam content and emissions, and you can read its standards at certipur.us. OEKO-TEX is a textile testing standard, described at oeko-tex.com.
Zinus also calls the mattress fiberglass free and describes the foam as breathable. If fiberglass matters to you, confirm it with Zinus before you order.
Size and height: 74 by 60 by 8 inches
The Ultima measures 74 by 60 by 8 inches, which is a short queen footprint at full mattress height. The 8-inch height adds noticeable lift, so check the space above the bed before you order.
Some RV beds run 75 inches long, and a 1-inch difference can leave a gap at the foot. Use our short queen size guide to measure and compare before you buy.
Our RV mattress sizes guide lists the common RV bed sizes, from short queen to bunk, so you can confirm which one your bed uses.
Firmness and the medium feel
Zinus rates the Ultima medium firm and says the foam gently molds to your body. A medium feel is a common middle choice for mattresses, but side sleepers who want more give at the hips and shoulders may need a softer top layer.
Zinus designed the 7-zone system to target pressure points. Treat the feel as a general middle option, and ask whether it matches your sleep position before you decide.
Heat, airflow and freshness
The Ultima uses breathable airflow memory foam, and Zinus says the green tea and charcoal help the foam stay fresh overnight. Breathable foam is a helpful feature in a closed camper, but it does not replace airflow under the bed.
A roof vent or a small fan running overnight does more for a closed RV than any single layer can. Keep the bed clear of the wall where possible, so air can move around the edges.
Weight, moving and lift beds
The Ultima weighs 44.4 pounds, which is heavy for one person to carry through an RV door. Plan the move with a second person, and walk the path first.
It ships compressed in a box, but the box is still heavy, so measure the route before it arrives. Clear the hallway and any tight turn near the bed so the carton can move straight through.
If your bed lifts on struts, check the lift's rated weight and the mattress weight together before you buy. Our how thick an RV mattress should be guide covers the height trade-offs that come with a thicker layer.
Zinus RV short queen mattress weight on a lift bed
Add the mattress, your bedding and any topper, then compare the total with the lift's rated limit. The Ultima's 44.4 pounds is about 4 pounds more than the Zinus Green Tea short queen at 40.2.
The lift rating comes from the bed maker, so look it up before you order.
Expansion, unboxing and the first nights
Allow 24 to 72 hours for the mattress to expand to its original shape. Unbox it in the space where it will sleep, and leave it flat until it has fully expanded.
Buyers of 8-inch foam often mention that full expansion takes longer than they expected, so plan for a few days before you judge the feel. Keep the packaging until you are sure about the fit.
Owners who plan a trip soon after delivery should allow the full window, since a half-expanded mattress is hard to judge fairly.
Warranty and what to read first
Zinus backs the Ultima with a 10-year limited warranty. A limited warranty usually covers manufacturing defects and sets conditions for claims, so read the full terms before you buy.
Keep your order record and the warranty terms together, since a claim usually needs proof of purchase. That small step saves time if a problem comes up later.
What buyers often mention
Buyers of thick foam mattresses often mention the weight when moving the bed, especially through the narrow doors and hallways of an RV. Some also say the first few nights feel firmer until the foam settles, which fits the 24 to 72 hour expansion window.
Owners of 8-inch foam also tend to mention the height change more than the feel, especially when the bed sits close to a cabinet or the ceiling. Measuring that gap before the box arrives is the simplest way to avoid the problem.
Trade-offs at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 74 by 60 by 8 inches |
| Feel | Medium firm, memory foam |
| Weight | 44.4 pounds |
| Expansion | 24 to 72 hours |
| Warranty | 10-year limited |
Sheets, protectors and bedding
A standard fitted sheet may not reach under an 8-inch mattress on every RV frame, so check the pocket depth before you buy. Deep-pocket sheets sized for short queen beds are the safer choice at this height.
A mattress protector adds a moisture layer and keeps the cover clean. Pick one sized to 74 by 60 inches with a fitted edge, so it does not bunch under the mattress as the bed moves.
Edges and sitting on the bed
Edge support varies from one foam mattress to the next, so notice how the foam holds your weight when you sit on the side to put on shoes or get up.
A foam mattress can feel softer at the perimeter than in the middle, so people who use the edge often may want a firmer design. If that describes your routine, weigh it against the medium feel.
Topper or new mattress
If your current mattress is only slightly worn, a topper may be enough. If the mattress sags or the foam has broken down, an 8-inch layer like the Ultima is the better fix.
Our topper versus new mattress guide walks through the signs that point to each choice, so you can decide before you spend.
Care and rotation
The cover is polyester, so follow the care label on the mattress and spot clean if the label is missing. Vacuum the surface every few weeks and keep the bed dry.
Wear on foam usually shows first at the edges and at the spot where you sit most. Keep the bed frame slats or board even, since a sagging base shortens the life of any foam, including this one.
If the bed allows it, rotate the mattress end to end every few months to spread wear across the surface. Rotation is a simple habit, and it matters more on a bed that is used every night.
Ordering checklist
- Platform length and width, measured end to end, against 74 by 60 inches
- Height above the bed, including cabinets, a slide-out and the ceiling
- The door and hallway route, plus the lift rating if the bed moves
- Sheet pocket depth for an 8-inch mattress
- The terms of Zinus's 10-year limited warranty
Who the Zinus RV short queen mattress suits
It suits RV owners with a short queen bed that has a few inches of headroom and wants a fuller feel than thin foam gives. It also suits owners who want a medium feel with a 10-year limited warranty behind it.
It works well as a step up from a worn factory mattress when the frame and platform are sound. Replace the mattress only if the bed itself is level and firm, since an uneven platform makes any foam feel off.
Who should skip it
Skip it if the space above your bed is tight, since the 8-inch height can hit a cabinet or the ceiling. Skip it also if you need a light mattress that one person can move alone.
For a thinner choice, read our FoamRush 4 inch short queen review.
Side sleepers who want a very soft, deep top may prefer a plusher layer or a thicker hybrid. If you have ongoing back, hip or joint pain, talk with a doctor before you change your sleep setup.
Compared with the Green Tea and Novilla options
The Zinus Green Tea 8-inch short queen uses the same 74 by 60 size and height. It weighs 40.2 pounds, which makes it an easier move.
The Novilla 8-inch RV short queen is a longer 75 by 60 inch gel memory foam option that weighs 37.9 pounds.
For a wider look at memory foam picks, see best memory foam RV mattresses. If you are torn between foam and a hybrid, memory foam versus hybrid walks through the difference.
Our score and what it weighs
We compared specs, materials and what owners report. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
The Ultima scores 8.7 because its size, height and warranty are clear. Its 44.4-pound weight is the main trade-off.
Zinus Ultima 8-Inch Short Queen RV Mattress
- 74 x 60 x 8 in memory foam
- 7-zone comfort system
- Green tea and charcoal infused foam
- 10-year limited warranty
A medium-firm, 8-inch memory foam mattress in a short queen size. It ships compressed and carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Pros
- 8-inch profile gives a fuller feel than thin foam
- CertiPUR-US certified foam and an OEKO-TEX certified cover
- Fiberglass free
- Backed by a 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- At 44.4 pounds it is heavy to move inside an RV
- 8 inches may be too tall under low cabinets or a slide-out
- Needs 24 to 72 hours to expand
Verdict: headroom for 8 inches, or a lighter option
Pick the Zinus Ultima if your short queen bed has room for an 8-inch mattress and you want a medium feel with a 10-year limited warranty. Pick the lighter Green Tea or Novilla option if you need an easier move, and check the clearance before you choose.
Measure the platform and the space above it first. Those two numbers decide this purchase more than any feature.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zinus Ultima short queen 74 or 75 inches long?
The Ultima measures 74 by 60 inches, which is the common short queen length. Some RV beds run 75 inches, so measure your platform end to end before you order, since a 1-inch gap at the foot is easy to miss on paper.
How heavy is the Zinus Ultima?
The Ultima weighs 44.4 pounds. That is heavy for one person to carry through an RV door or up a narrow hallway, so plan a careful move, clear the path and ask a second person to help you lift it onto the bed.
How long does the Ultima take to expand?
Allow 24 to 72 hours for the mattress to expand to its original shape. Unbox it in the space where it will sleep, keep it flat while it rises, and avoid judging the feel until it has fully expanded, so plan trips around that window.
What is the warranty on the Zinus Ultima?
Zinus backs the Ultima with a 10-year limited warranty. A limited warranty usually covers manufacturing defects and sets conditions for claims, so read the full terms before you buy, since they decide what a claim covers, and keep your order record with the warranty terms.
