To read the original full thread and post questions/comments on this topic, please go to Yet another sleeping platform ...
I think this is more like a bed frame..
The requirement:
We want to be able to sleep inside the truck when we dont feel like setting up tent. The FJ lacks storage compartment, and I need some to haul all my stuff, the plastic tub I used in previous truck doesnt have enough room anymore. Oh and we want to sleep with the door closed...
I didnt want to remove the back seat completely because I might have to haul co-workers/people in the back seat when needed. The compromise: remove just the seat bottoms and leave the seat back & fold them down.
First I build a "ghetto box" for the cargo area to store my stuff:
Now you know why I call it the ghetto box.. two tubs as drawers because I cant cut things into right size and have no skill making any sort of container that has any hope of fitting into those slots:
pull out:
small section of the box top opens up:
The frame is made with something like 15/32" plywood. It holds me and my husband pretty well.. and I stand on the edge of the frame when I need to get/put stuff on the roof rack too. It seems to hold..
The folded seat back is a problem area. I didnt really want to put any weight on it directly, so I figured I will just run some "beams" across and find something out front to sit the beams on.
The board on the right hand side uses the seat bottom holes (4 bolts & nuts) and seemed to be pretty sturdy.
Another reason to do it this way is I dont want to be driving a bed frame around, it will probably make a lot of noise...
I later carpeted the front board so it does not look as ghetto..
then to hold the board vertically up so we can have a flat surface area:
Originally I used nylon strap but velcro works just as well. I like velcros..
Then the cross beams:
This is the second revision, the original version I used 2x4s ... they were bulky and I have no place to carry it.. the Thule load bar comes in handy.. I got a pair of 78" bar (cheapest per inch) and cut them in halves.. plasti-dip the ends so I dont have to file them.. It's not pretty but it works..
The bars are just sitting on the wood block screwed onto the cargo frame.
to make sure they dont slide I tie them with bungee cords. I have no picture for that.
Then two boards to form the platform:
and we have our platform:
with sleeping pads and bags (and pillows!)
to stow it:
stacking the two boards:
Instead of the two section boards I can probably use a bigger single board, but then I couldnt store it in the mid section of the truck. This way I got a flat spot to put my stuff..
One of the challenges I have when making this is we have sloped drive way, so it took me a few tries to sort of leveled this thing..
We tested this out last weekend camping in Yosemite. It does not wiggle & hold both me and my husband pretty well. Although being the taller one (6') my husband cant really move much inside besides "getting into the sleeping bag". It doesnt feel cramped (much) and we both were able to have a good night of sleep.. so this sort of worked.
