so i just got back from a 3,500 mile road trip in my runner from seattle to vegas to plush,or and then home to seattle, we used this set-up for the majority of our trip. it worked well. these photo's are from a test fit before i left can post some better ones after everything was made better if you'd like but you should get the general idea.

materials used

walmart solar screen found in the dyi area next to window screens/frames. $15 a roll

walmart nib magnets $5 a pack /4 packs

super glue: $5

lowes circular felt pads from the nut and bolt department $1.10

the screen is cut to length to go over the back bumper this creates a sort of tent area for your feet giving you an extra 6-7 inches of leg room and added ventilation when sleeping in the back of your runner, the solar screen is good for keeping the bugs out and most of the light in the morning you can always layer up the screen material to make it darker if you want.

the screen is held in place by the magnets used where you feel the need, apply the felt pads to bottom of magnets to stop your rig from being scratched by the magnets and whatever gets trapped between them, i find if you just pull the magnet off with the screen material this problem it null and void anyways it never hurts to be safe though.

we used 2 piece of memory foam and a few blankets for padding and where very comfortable. let me know if you guys have any further questions or comments.

everyone is more than welcome to post !!!!! another good idea from glenyoshida, please post up your ideas together we can come up with the best and cheapest system.

Bow chich bow wow.

Good idea! You could also make a frame out of PVC pipe or something to extend it further.

yeah i was thinking about that and i'm even considering getting some tarp material to make this a water/rain proof set up as well, thinking about making a big tarp thing that simply slides over the hatch when it's up and draps down to the ground with some of this mesh attached to snug up the material to the truck, it would make a sort of big room to change your clothes shower or what ever, something kind of like this but made for my runner and it drops all the way to the ground....gotta give it to the vw guys their creativity never ceases to amaze me!





or something like this but using the rear hatch as a roof/lid to make it a fully water proof and enclosed to the runner.


post stolen from another site, but i have done this on my vw and it works great, i don't use the plastic tub to catch the water i just pull the bus further ahead into the dry bit. so with something like this you can have a little changing room a shower and extra leg room when your sleeping, i just need to look at whats the best way for adapting this sort of thing to the runner.

any ideas?

Pretty cool!
The second pic where the screen is overlappin in the middle, takes me back to my hippie days, cept there where alot more colors

I am what is known by some a trout bum. I will take fishing trips on the least expensive route possible by myself. If weather is nice, warm, and dry, I have a camp packed in a military duffel that consists of a sleeping bag, Thermarest mats, pillows, tarp, fan/light, and a nice 3 season pack tent. If weather is windy/stormy or cold past the rating on my sleeping bag, its inside the truck or a cheap motel. If I get too tired and lazy, my reclining seats sleep well to. I have weathered a hurricane in the Smokey Mtns in the front seat of the Blazer after winds threatened to level my tent. I slept through Tornadic winds that were less than a mile away in the back of my Silverado with a camper shell.

I carry a small tub with propane single burner stove and lantern with other essential, a small tub with cooking supplies and pots, an a folding charcoal grill with charcoal in a 3lb coffee can for cooking. A nice folding chair and fishing/kayak accessories make for a great campsite. I love the outdoors.

I like this thread...there are so many different variations of this idea we could all do....so anyone with any other ideas, fab it up and post pics! i think I may just start working on something now....

Very cool ideas. Question for a future T4R owner, when the rear hatch is open I assume your interior cargo lights/dome light will be on?

It's the same as the interior dome light [ON-OFF-DOOR]
You can turn it off if you plan on leaving the door open for long periods of time

Removing the back seat bottoms adds extra room too. It's been a while since I last camped in my 4Runner, but removing these seats allowed me the extra room I needed to sleep comfortable. However now, I still find myself removing the seat bottoms any time I need the extra room while hauling misc stuff. Removing the seat bottoms creates just the addt'l room I need.

You can make your own set of quick disconnects or buy a premade set from Steve @ Sonoran. Either way, they make removing the rear seat bottoms quick and easy.

Here's a shot of mine:






Painted black:




Hard to tell in the above photo, but I only painted the head and wing of each bolt black. The shaft I wrapped in electrical tape. On occasion, when you're either removing or installing these bolts, they will rub against the seat frame. Wrapping them in black elect tape not only matches the painted wings, but if your scrape the tape, it's much easier to rewrap each bolt than it is to repaint them

Here's the cheaper alternative: http://www.4runners.org/writeups/seatbolts/index.html


Darren also has some useful ideas when 4Runner camping: http://www.mycolorado.org/4runner_camping.html

[QUOTE=Rock Slide;447406]






yeah i was looking at these and the thought of having to store my nice seat bottoms outside or having to remove them and replace them every-time i put up and tore down camp seemed a bit much so my thoughts were why not go the other way with it? also as for the thread with the guy who built teh wooden box with drawers on it and sleeps on top of that i though about doing the same thing as that but with a drop hinge on it to extend out the rear of the truck, i like the ss steel wing nuts idea but storage of the seat bottoms bother me a bit, but hey each to his own and if it works for you rock it!


as for my 4runner survival camping kit i bring:

1: msr pocket rocket stove
22) cans of msr fuel
3. mountain hardwear -20 down sleeping bag
3. mamrmot pre-cip rain jacket and pants
4.coleman titanium spork and knife set
5.assorted freeze drieds (i like the mountain home brand)
6.tire puncture repair kit(the good ones with the foam that melts)
7.small tool kit complete metric and standard sockets, screw drivers, and dead blow
8.Costco tire inflator thingie
9.semi-retired dynamic climbing rope
10. tow strap
11. msr water filter
12.shake and go flash light
13. GRMS radio
14.cover all's

i carry all of this in a plastic tub with a lid and sling it in and out of what ever vehicle i'm taking up into the woods, surprisingly it all packs down pretty small and doesn't take up much room. i'll post pics of the kit in it's tub later this week.

You live in Seattle? Where do you camp around here? ( I live in Auburn)

Glen you need to post up some pics of your sleeping platform/ cargo box. It's truely awesome.

everywhere really !!
i have over 100 summit in the cascades since i started climbing 8 years ago, some of my fav places are out in the olympics, glacier peak wilderness ,enchantments and mt. baker areas. this state is truly amazing i have lived and climbed in Europe for a number of years off and on as well and really have to say washington has it all!!! drop me a pm sometime if you wanna go wheeling or camping or something man i'm always up few getting out.

you should really check out the olympics and do the lake ann hike up at baker if you get the chance, both are very easy hikes but have some of the most spectacular views ever!

hurrcaine ridge olympics


mt baker area




and one of the girlfriend cause i think it's hot lol




i got tons of places for you to check out man, you can sped a whole life time here and not see all of it just let me know where your trying to go for the weekend and i'll send you some ideas of things to check out while your out that way (where ever it may be ;-) )


sorry i just get excited about this sort of thing, i LIVE for the outdoors!

Dang that sounds good to me! This spring I will probably have lots of time to do fun things! Ill let ya know!

Those pictures are great, do you just go up to the mountains and pitch a camp? Do you hunt?