AIR Truck Bed Mattress

Congratulations on purchasing the AIR Truck Bed Mattress, and welcome to the truck camping revolution. In this user manual, you’ll find everything you need to make your first Luno adventure (and all those that follow) a resounding success.

Unboxing And Pre-Trip Prep

What’s In The Box?

Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress might be the star of the show, but there are a few supporting characters you should know before you hit the road. Here’s what’s in the box:

AIR Truck Bed Mattress
*Two Tailgate Buddies
Rechargeable Cordless Air Pump
Carrying Case
Repair Patch

*A Note On Tailgate Buddies

If you have a mid-sized truck with a five-foot bed, you’ll have purchased our shorter, five-foot-long AIR Truck Bed Mattress that comes with Tailgate Buddies. Tailgate Buddies are inflatable extensions that allow you to drop the tailgate and boost mattress length from five feet to six feet. If you’ve purchased our six-foot AIR Truck Bed Mattress, your mattress doesn’t come with Tailgate Buddies, as they’re unnecessary.

Before Your First Trip: Inflate The Mattress & Let It Rest For 48 Hours

Before your AIR Truck Bed Mattress’s maiden voyage, fully inflate the mattress, and Tailgate Buddies if you have them, and keep them inflated for 48 hours. This doesn’t need to be in your car, but can be anywhere you have space—the garage, living room, or even out on the deck. Don’t sleep on the mattress during this window, just let it chill.

Why do we recommend this test run? It’s not common, but it is possible for the valves to warp during the shipping process, potentially resulting in a minor leak. Keeping your gear inflated for 48 hours may reseat an off-kilter valve and resolve any issue before it materializes.

Setting Up Your Luno AIR Truck Bed Mattress

AIR Truck Bed Mattress setup is easy and takes a matter of minutes. Check out our install video here or follow the directions below to quickly and efficiently set up your mattress.

Unroll the mattress in your truck bed.
If you have a five-foot mattress, position the narrower foot of the mattress closest to the cab, and the wider head of the mattress closest to the tailgate, aligning the diagonal sides of the mattress with the wheel wells.
- If you have a six-foot version, align the mattress using the wheel wells.
- For both the five-foot and six-foot mattresses, the white stripes on the top of the mattress should be closest to the cab, while the Luno Logo on the side of the mattress will face out toward the tailgate.

Inflate the mattress to your liking by inserting the included Rechargeable Cordless Air Pump into the inflation valve.

Inflating And Installing The Tailgate Buddies

If you’d like to use the included, optional Tailgate Buddies to extend the length of the five-foot AIR Truck Bed Mattress, follow the steps below:

Lower your tailgate and place the Tailgate Buddies on top.
Make sure the Tailgate Buddy labeled “Driver” is on the driver’s side of the vehicle, with the label facing the mattress.
Do the same for the Tailgate Buddy labeled “Passenger.”
Attach both G-hooks on each Tailgate Buddy to the loops on the mattress. Adjust straps as needed.
Inflate the Tailgate Buddies the same way you did the mattress.
Adjust the height and firmness of the Tailgate Buddies by gently tapping the flap found inside of the inflation valve to deflate, and using the pump to inflate.

Deflating Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress

You can deflate your AIR Truck Bed Mattress and Tailgate Buddies without the Rechargeable Cordless Air Pump, no problem–just open the deflation valves and squeeze the air out the old-fashioned way. However, using the pump both saves time and ensures your gear packs down as small as possible. Here’s how to use the pump to deflate your setup in seconds:

The pump has two nozzle positions: one on the side for inflating, and one on the top for deflating. Assuming the pump is in inflation mode, remove the nozzle from the side position, then secure it to the deflation intake on the top of the pump.
Insert the nozzle into the mattress deflation valve.
Turn on the pump and deflate until the AIR Truck Bed Mattress is as flat as possible.
Repeat steps two and three for the Tailgate Buddies if needed.

Folding And Storing Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress

Fold the mattress in half, so that the head of the mattress meets the foot of the mattress. You may remember this as a “hamburger-style” fold from elementary school.
Fold the mattress in half once more along the opposite axis–“hot-dog style,” if you will–so the mattress wings press together.
Fold the wings of the mattress in, so that the folded mattress is a rectangle.
Holding the wings in place with one hand, use your other hand to start tightly rolling the mattress up. Once the wings are secure, roll up the mattress with both hands.
Place the mattress in the included carrying case.

Folding And Storing Your Tailgate Buddies

There are two main methods you can use to fold and store the Tailgate Buddies:

The Mega Roll: Some campers place the deflated Tailgate Buddies on top of the folded mattress, then roll up the mattress and Tailgate Buddies simultaneously in one mega roll.
The Tuck N’ Roll: Others roll up the Tailgate Buddies separately and tuck them inside the carrying case with the mattress.

Both methods work great–it’s just a matter of personal preference. Try both and see what system you like best for quick and easy stowage.

Storing Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress

Storing Do’s:

Close your valves before storing to avoid unnecessary damage.
Store your AIR Truck Bed Mattress and Tailgate Buddies in the included carrying case when you’re not on an adventure.
Store your mattress in a dry, room-temperature environment.
When putting away your mattress for the season, inflate and then deflate your mattress and Tailgate Buddies for the last time in a dry setting so that no moisture is left in the mattress or Tailgate Buddies.

Storing Don’ts:

Don’t store your mattress under heavy items, as this can compromise the valves over time.
Don’t store your mattress while it's still wet.

Cleaning Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress

All Luno mattresses are extremely durable and built to handle life on the backroads, but regular cleaning will extend mattress life. This is especially true if you forgo a sheet or sleeping bag and sleep directly on the mattress surface, or if your truck bed is regularly coated in grit and grime.

Cleaning Do’s:

Wipe down your mattress and Tailgate Buddies with a damp cloth to remove dirt, mud, sand, etc. Let gear air dry before you roll it back up. This is our go-to cleaning regimen for most instances. It’s simple, easy, and effective.
Let’s say your pup jumps on the bed with muddy paws, and you need a more thorough cleaning. Roll out your mattress and Tailgate Buddies on a clean surface–grass, concrete, gravel, etc. Close the valves, then spray the mattress with a hose.
If you don’t have room to clean the mattress outside, you can always rinse it in a bathtub, but again, be sure to close the valves.
If the hose isn’t cutting it and you need extra cleaning power, give the fabric a quick scrub with Formula 409®, BioClean™ All-Purpose Cleaner, or another general household cleaner. Avoid using household cleaners that contain bleach, as they can stain the mattress.

Cleaning Don’ts:

Don’t forget to close the valves while washing!
Don’t put your mattress in the washing machine.
Again, don’t use household cleaners containing bleach!

Repairing Your AIR Truck Bed Mattress

Finding A Leak

Inflate your AIR Truck Bed Mattress (or Tailgate Buddy, if that’s your issue).
Ensure the inflation and deflation valves are closed tightly. (Believe it or not, this may solve your problem. Often, a valve cap seems closed but isn’t fully seated in the valve opening. Make sure all valve caps are sitting flush!)
Check for a leak in the fabric.
1. In a quiet room, put your cheek a few inches away from the mattress and slowly use your ear to scan the mattress from front to back and back to front.
2. If you hear a faint hissing sound, or feel a trickle of air against your cheek, you’ve found your leak.
3. Jump to the “Repairing A Fabric Or Seam Leak” section below.
Check for a valve leak.
1. In a quiet room, put your cheek a few inches away from the valves.
2. If you hear a slight hissing sound or feel air escaping from a valve, you’ve found your problem.
3. Jump to the “Repairing A Valve Leak” section below.
If listening for a leak doesn’t work–or you want a more foolproof technique–use soapy water to find a leak.
1. Squirt dish soap in a bowl, then mix with water. We like four parts water to one part soap, but it doesn’t need to be an exact science.
2. Using a sponge, dish cloth, or wet paper towel, apply the soapy water liberally to the mattress (front, back, and along the seams).
3. Watch diligently for bubbling. When you see bubbles materialize in the soapy water, you’ve found your leak.
4. Jump to the “Repairing A Fabric Or Seam Leak” section below.

Repairing A Fabric Or Seam Leak

There are two common types of fabric leaks, one of which is easily repairable (leaks in the fabric itself), while the other is more difficult (leaks stemming from the seams). We’ll go over solutions to both below.

Fabric Leaks

After making sure the valves are closed, rinse off any soapy residue.
Deflate the mattress and allow the mattress to dry completely.
Once the mattress is dry, retrieve the (included) repair patch from the pocket of your carrying case.
Using sharp scissors, trim the patch to size.
Peel off the backing paper and firmly apply the patch.
Inflate your mattress and leave it inflated overnight. Ideally, you’ll let the patch cure for 24 hours without sleeping on the mattress. However, a patch should get you through the night if you do need to repair a leak and then sleep on the mattress shortly after. That said, you may need to apply another patch later.

Seam Leaks

Seam leaks are trickier to fix. If you’re handy, you can try using a product like Aquaseal to seal the leak. However, in many cases, the best course of action is to reach out to our customer service.

Still Need Help?

If you’re unable to fix that fabric or seam leak, please reach out to [email protected]–we’ll do what we can to get you ready for your next car camping trip as soon as possible.

Repairing A Valve Leak

Below, we’ll go over the two main types of valve leaks and how to fix them. The first type of valve leak occurs when the cap is open, and the second occurs when the cap is closed.

Valve Issue #1: Inflation Valve Leaks When Valve Cap Is Open

Unlike the deflation valve, which releases air whenever the cap is open, the inflation valve has a one-way seal. This one-way seal should stop air from escaping even when the cap is open. If you can hear air hissing out of the inflation valve when the cap is open, the valve has likely shifted during storage or transit, and the one-way seal is out of place. There are two solutions we recommend to reseat the one-way seal and fix this issue:

Solution #1: Inflate for 48 Hours

This is our go-to method for fixing this issue, and it usually solves the problem.

Inflate the mattress.
Make sure all valve caps are fully closed.
Leave the mattress inflated for 48 hours, without sleeping on it, giving the inflation valve’s one-way seal flap time to reseat itself.

Solution #2: Manual Valve Adjustment

Deflate the mattress.
Open the inflation valve.
Look closely at the round, black rubber valve opening that’s attached to the cap and embedded in the fabric. Does the valve opening appear more oval than circular? It should be a perfect circle. If the valve opening isn’t a perfect circle, that can explain why the one-way seal isn’t airtight.
Manually pinch and squeeze the inflation valve opening firmly between your thumb and forefinger until the oval shape returns to a circular shape. Don’t be afraid to use some elbow grease.

Valve Issue #2: Inflation Or Deflation Valve Leaks While The Cap Is Closed

Another possibility is that a valve leaks while the cap is closed. This issue can occur both on the inflation and deflation valves. More often than not, the solution is a simple one.

Solution: Ensure The Problem Valve Is Fully Closed

Inflate the mattress.
Shut both valves.
Look closely at the problem valve. Often, the valve can appear closed, but the valve cap isn’t fully seated in the valve opening. Is the valve cap sitting flush? It should be.
Use some elbow grease, if needed, to shut the valve and ensure it is 100% closed.

A Note On Inflation Valves:

Inflation valves have a one-way seal, which means that even if the valve cap is open, air shouldn’t escape. This design is helpful for mattress setup, because you don’t want air to escape after removing the pump and before closing the cap. However, some minor leakage can still occur, especially overnight, so it’s still important that your inflation valve cap is fully closed.

Still Need Help?

If these methods don’t solve the problem, contact customer support at [email protected] for individualized troubleshooting or to warranty your mattress. We’ll do what we can to get you back on the backroads as soon as possible!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are Tailgate Buddies, and are they necessary?

Each five-foot AIR Truck Bed Mattress comes with two Tailgate Buddies, which are inflatable attachments used to extend the length of the mattress. We designed the five-foot mattress so that it can fit in short-bed trucks even when the tailgate is closed, improving comfort and utility in colder weather. However, if you drop the tailgate, then you can use the mattress-extending Tailgate Buddies, which boosts your sleep platform to a more comfortable six feet long.

Q: Can I use my AIR Truck Bed Mattress in the cold?

The short answer? Yes! Absolutely. We camp in the cold all the time, especially when there’s powder in the forecast. Check out our guide to car camping in ski resort parking lots here.

The long answer? Still yes, but it’s a little easier with a six-foot bed compared to a five-foot bed, as it can get tricky if you’re dropping the tailgate and using Tailgate Buddies. More on that below.

Insulation

Before we dive into truck bed camping configurations, let’s talk about the mattress itself. We purposefully didn’t insulate this air mattress because it’s designed to be used in a truck bed. Vehicles provide a dense, significant barrier between you and the elements, meaning Luno campers can rely on the insulation of the vehicle itself for warmth.

We’ve tested our mattresses in zero-degree weather and howling blizzards, sleeping soundly without extra insulation. However, if you’d like to make our warm sleep setup even warmer, you can lay a fuzzy, fleecy blanket or closed-cell foam camping pad on top of your mattress. This provides extra insulation and extra warmth, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep. If you’re camping in a ski resort parking lot, the extra layer certainly can’t hurt.

Truck Bed Camping Configurations

Now, let’s talk about truck bed configurations. You're understandably exposed to the elements if you don’t have a shell, topper, or at the very least, a truck bed tent. A way to get around this in cold or wet weather is to use a warm sleeping bag, then wrap your sleeping bag in a waterproof bivy sack. However, we prefer using a topper, shell, or tent as you’ll be much more comfortable. Also, these enclosed options allow you to keep additional gear and clothing dry.

If you do have an enclosed truck bed, you’ll be able to stay quite warm while truck camping with the six-foot AIR Truck Bed Mattress in cold weather. However, if you have a five-foot AIR Truck Bed Mattress and want to drop the tailgate and use the Tailgate Buddies, you may be exposed to the elements. That said, there are products, like this one from Softtopper, that allow you to drop the tailgate and still stay warm and dry.

More Cold-Weather Camping Tips

There are a ton of other tips and tricks truck campers use while snoozing in sub-zero temperatures. If you want to learn more about camping in the cold, check out our detailed blog post on the subject here.

Q: Can I drive with my AIR Truck Bed Mattress set up?

Unless you have an enclosed shell that covers your truck bed, we recommend not driving with your mattress set up. We don’t want it to blow away!

Questions?

We’re here to help. Get in touch at [email protected].

AIR Truck Bed MattressUpdated 8 hours ago