Memory foam mattress, will it 'squish' at one end?

I think it could, although you'd lose some of the 'squish' which might make it feel harder. Mattresses are made from different layers of foam (soft at the top, hard at the bottom) and it's possible the layers might compress differently, leading to unevenness and maybe ripples.

You could just get one and cut it down? It's just a big lump of foam layers. Use something like a first fix wood saw and just saw off pieces. It's probably in some kind of fabric cover, but if you cut that open you can get at the foam, and then join the cover back afterwards.

If you want to experiment, you could look for one of those 'mattress in a box' types, which sell for not-very-much secondhand especially if well used, hack it about to experiment, and then buy the same mattress compressed in its box to take down to France and modify it on site.

Theo

I agree that you can saw chunks off quite easily, but my experience is that a saw is a really poor tool for the job. It will cut the foam without any problems, but it will create huge amounts of broken bits of foam that get everywhere. (I've got the T shirt.)

Try a carving knife initially. If that doesn't work, try a bread knife.

I agree with Theo's suggestion of cutting it down, but I'd suggest using an electric carving knife. I think they're rubbish for cutting meat, but just about perfect for shaping foam. Make a pattern first - old cardboard boxes work well for this. Don't attempt to do it all in one go - it's easy to accidentally cut too much. (DAMHIK)

Yes - an electric one.

Thanks all. So it seems the general opinion is to get a memory foam mattress and shave bits off it until it's the right shape/size. ... and the shaving should be done gradually with a sharp knife! :-)

I've previously cut memory foam (and insulation foam) with a 'steak knife':

Theo

Chances are you will be able to squish it into space. Foam is easy enough to cut if the worst comes to the worst. A sharp knife is adequate... I used some from an old memory foam mattress, cut into pads to make new seat cushions.

Not surprisingly... same as anything designed for a boat normally!

Just by the by, a BOAT is a bridleway open to all traffic. :)

Byway Open to All Traffic

Thank you. :)

In message snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org>, Paul Herber snipped-for-privacy@paulherber.co.uk> writes

Indeed. Owned generally by the neighbouring properties but with the surface vested in Highways. I have one. Quite why the wannabe military 4/4 owners need to wreck the surface by high speed wet weather incursions is a mystery.