Hey ladies and gents. I'm going to build a simple, 2-person sleeping platform in the next couple weeks to use while I'm doing a 7 week road trip around the US. I know it takes about 10 inches or so above the trunk floor to clear the rear wheel wells for the majority of the sleeping platforms I've seen built on this site, but I'm curious if anyone has built one that sits higher than 10 inches above the trunk floor. My concern is not having enough storage space under the sleeping platform at a 10 inch height. On the other end, I don't want the platform to be so high that the 'sleeping compartment' feels pressed against the ceiling of the vehicle. Any insight from those of you who've build sleeping platforms in your 4runners?

I just did ten or 11 inches to clear the wheel wells. Plenty of room underneath to put plastic storage bins in... They slide pretty well on the carpet, so they functioned almost like drawers. We also had a 6 inch mattress on top... It was a little tight, but not too bad. Sorry no pics... Away from my computer for a few weeks

Thanks for the info. That's good to know you were able to fit everything underneath okay.

Here's mine with a pretty big dude (with a pretty broken leg too) laying on it... Now sure how tall it is anymore... I'll go grab a quick measurement and a picture.

I honestly think this is as tall as you'd want to go... I don't sleep on it anymore, but when I did, at 6', I could still move around a bit in there... Enough to roll over, crawl around, etc. I think any shorter and it'd be pretty tough to get in/out. Or fornicate.

I didn't take a picture but the front half folds up so that you can store stuff under there too... I usually keep my camp chairs, stove, and propane tanks under there. Other stuff I don't want flying around.


DSC_0200 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

I ended up having mine be way too tall, dont get me wrong it works but more room would be nice. I would say keep it as close to the wheel wells as you can, buy a roof basket or a cargo box if you need more cargo space. The one good thing is my platform can fold up and i can keep my rear seats.

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My set up was similar to both above with a 6" mattress. My wife and I both slept on it for two weeks... worked great. You couldn't sit up, but you could be on all 4's to crawl around. I'm 5'9 170, she's about 5'5" 110. Wish I could show you pics, it was pretty inexpensive and quick to make... the storage bins worked great, and we fit recovery gear, camping equipment, tools, etc. Two coolers fit behind the front seats. our luggage we put on the bed while driving, and on the front seats while sleeping... only thing on the roof, was a hi lift, folding chairs, and 5 gallon gas can. Forgot my wife posted pics in her blog about the whole trip....https://ultimatemancation.wordpress.com/2012/08/page/3/ look at post for aug 7th 2012... a place for everything... the right sized storage bins are key!!

Thanks for all the pictures, measurements, and suggestions. I feel good knowing you all had plenty of room for storage. I'm only going to have a 2 inch thermarest on the platform so that should afford me a good amount of space. I'm also 5'9'' 137lbs and my travel companion is a similar size, so we should have plenty of room. Like you @lhsoulrebel I think I'll be placing a cooler (actually a mobile fridge) behind one of the front seats and under the platform. I'm also planning on having a piano hinge in the middle to for easier access to items under the front of the platform, and so that after the trip the platform can be folded in half and the rear seats can be utilized. I'll also have a roof box to store extra items, so I think we'll be in good shape. This is a rock climbing trip, or rather a tour, so we'll have quite a bit of climbing gear to negotiate with storage.

i made one for my 2nd gen clearing the wheel wells but also level with the folded down back seats. the platform was two pieces (not hinged) so you could slide the front half backwards and use the seats without removing the back half. the under support was T shaped with 2x6 and left a lip for the front piece to rest on, the front on the rear seats.

worked really well for 8 months in south america to san diego.

Thanks for the measurement info! Think I'll start work on mine this weekend!

I went the opposite way for my platform. Mine is 6 inches off the floor in the rear area, getting deeper as you move forward since I took the rear seats out. I took a nautical approach and made my storage access through 4 lift up hatches in the top of the platform. We like this set up as we roll the bed up each morning for traveling. It doesn't clear the wheel arches but rather curves nicely around them. We don't notice the arches at all for sleeping as our heads are generally forward so the legs are down by the arches. There's lots of room.

My wife and I have done two 8 month trips with this set up, one to Mexico and one to the SW US. Wouldn't really change anything at all. I like that on a cold or rainy night we have full sitting headroom in the back for cards or reading. I'm 5'9" and the wife a little smaller.

As for storage, we find it plenty. Over 15 months living in the back every night. We use the rear most 2 compartments for boots, backpacking gear and truck spares. I should add that we are backpackers and canoers so we travel light and the wife packs things well(I just make a mess).

Just to give you another option to consider.

My Low Profile Bed Platform

still working on mine, and its way more simple than most, but i think its 9" of space under to store stuff, and sits about 10" high. im leaving the sides open as ill be the only one sleeping in it



stored away with full use of rear seats




slide pulled out to sleep on




im 6'3 and around 280, and i can fit comfortably on it, although i cant stretch out fully

I don't have exact measurements, but mine is about level with the top of the wheel well. The height of the drawers works out perfect for storage, but it would be nice to have more height so I could sit up on the bed.









- Matt

@slomatt

Anymore information on those vents in your windows?

They are 1/8" plywood covered with window screens. I made cardboard templates first to get the fit and then cut the plywood. They work great. Perhaps I should make a few sets and sell them.

Window Screens



- Matt

Just wondering where y'all found carpet to cover the wood, I'm having trouble finding it. Tan colour.