Next weekend I'm hoping to build a rear storage box like many of you have, But I'm wondering if any of you have one that folds out to a sleeping platform?

I was thinking about building the box with 2 pieces of ply wood on hinges that fold up and lay on top, but I'm not sure how to support the folding part when its laid flat w/ having bulky support legs that I'd also have to store all the time.


Thoughts? Hopefully you could follow that.


I'm also thinking of having it tall enough so that when its all laid flat it clears and lays on top of the flipped-up seat bottoms

@rickashay on here built one just like that, but he had a journey man carpenter friend help him, so his looks awesome, but is much harder to acheive in real life haha.

Link: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-platform.html

Mine took some inspiration from his, similar idea (takes you to specific post):

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ml#post1109276

Tthanks! I wasn't aware having two folding sections (double the length from the back seat to tail gate) was long enough, When I first got my runner last october I thought I had measured but maybe that was something else

Rickashay has a pretty sexy whip there..

One thing I'm noticing about rickashay's, is it dosen't extend past the flipped out of seat bottoms.

I'm not that tall at 6' but still, with the seat bottoms there the length of the bed/trunk isn't long enough...

My thoughts are to make it all taller to clear seat bottoms, and have a third section that flips out and lays on top of the seat bottom, or make it slope so I have more trunk room but when it flips out it clears the top of the seat bottoms.

I'm hoping to get a start tomorrow, will be updating this thread with pics as the build starts moving along.

As far as finishing...should I go for spray on bed liner or finish it off with some carpet?

looking forward to your pics as your build starts moving along

I would finish it with carpet...

I have built what I think is the pefect sleeping platform and cargo area. The extra piece is hinged, and very sturdy and comes in and out within minutes. The legs unscrew and I bolt the other side down with a long bolt and wing nut that screws into a 2x2 that the front portion of the platform can sit on. The cargo area was incredibly easy actually. Just pick up two 2x10 pieces of wood and a piece of 3/4" plywood. Most 2x10's are not actually 10", which is the heighth you need to clear the wheel wells on both sides. Cut your 48" wide piece of plywood to the length you want and drill it down to the 2x10's. You now have room underneath and can add a drawer very easily. I hope these pictures help.

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Here are the rest of the pictures of it mostly finished. I will try and get better pictures later and actually add it to my build thread or start a new thread because I know many people on here are interested to do this! When I take the seats out I can put my sub box underneath the platform (it fits literally perfect) and adds a lot of extra support.

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Here is the side shot of the sub box

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My sleeping platform is currently all setup so it is hard to take pictures, but, if you look at the third picture I posted the farthest left piece of wood is a 2x2. I drilled that to the back of the cargo box 3/4 inch lower than the top. That is where the front piece sits. In the fourth picture although very blurry you can see I tried to lift up the front piece to show you how it sits. I then drilled a hole through the front piece and the 2x2 and I put a 3" bolt through it and secure that with a wing nut so the two pieces are now connected and will not move.

I will try and get exact dimensions as soon as possible. For the front, just cut the piece in half and put door hinges on the bottom. Works perfect! I will try and get you better pictures as soon as I put the seats back in.

this might help if you can understand what you are looking at. You can see where the bolt goes through the top part and the 2x2 it sits on and then is secured with the wing nut on each side.

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Ok, I took some measurements!

(1) 3/4" Plywood- 36" x 48" (For top piece)
(2) 2"x10" that are cut to 36" long (Next to wheel wells)
(1) 2"x10" cut to 35 6/16" (for in between the other two pieces for added support)
(1) 2"x2" piece cut to 38 6/16" (for front piece to rest on when connecting the front portion for sleeping area.

If you want to make a drawer you will need to finish all of this first and then once you order drawer sliders take measurements to make the drawer whatever size you would like it.

For the front piece, it is just a piece of 3/4" ply that is cut to 48" wide and 38" long. Cut in half so you have two pieces that are now 24" x 38". Drill a hole in each piece as well as the 2x2 that this will rest on and secure it together with whatever kind of bolt you would like. I used a wing nut so I could take it out in seconds. For the front I made two legs that screw in and out so when I fold the front piece up I can store the legs as well. I will post up better pictures of everything when I can but I hope this helps!

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I'm sorry to anyone that was looking forward to pics and build progress (though I think g3ran3t delivered,hard) I just got super busy this weekend, especially with family being in town and it being mothers day. My hope is to get a late start sometime during the week although theres a million other little things I need to do so no promises.


I'm sort of glad I postponed starting it though, g3ran3t if you don't mind I'm going to take a few queues from your build... looks really good, and thanks for the explanations, I think I get whats going on.

One question though. You mentioned you have the seat bottoms out of the truck, are you able to use your system w/o removing them? I was really hoping so on my build so I could use it with out much planning (ie. crashing after drinking, impromptu camping and the like). Just fold the seats down flip it out, maybe clip on one more piece for length thats stored between the box and seat back and be good to go.

I'm going to grab a cup of coffee and go through your photos in the morning with a fine tooth comb so hopefully I answer my own question.

what kind of sleeping pads are those?

You can see my storage/sleeping platform in my build thread.
If you build and brace right, you don't need thick plywood. I used 3/8" for my tops.
Also, keep it low so you can move around and don't feel like the roof is inches above you.

Check out snowrunner's build Rear cargo box thread? . Also there are lots of other versions here.

glenyoshida also has an awesome one but I can't find a thread with it in.

I suggest that you pick your tallest thing (CV, recovery/tree saver strap, etc) that you want to store and build around that height.