your really going to be inspired then when my retrofit is done! hahaha

damn, i better start saving up some money for you! lol! would LOVE a retrofit on these heads!

and for the sleeping area, it looks like maybe there could even be a small side drawer or wing compartment if the supports were at a right angle as opposed to 45. ??? theres some good room over the seat back as well. good place to stick blankets or some bins! Soooo awesome!

not sure if you have the same problem because I have a rear bike rack attached to mine, but the reason why I removed my storage unit that has the similar concept is because my dog couldnt jump up anymore.

might be the angle due to the bike rack.... does your dog have any problem?

anyways, looks comfy...time to get the bug nets over the windows.

so is it bolted in anywhere? its just all resting in there correct?

and yeah, looks like theres some room for some 6x9's with flushmount grills in those side areas ;)

not to mention limitless sub options by using some of the space underneath. i would have to say that a bed made of speakers would be pretty damn pimp

I already have a screen for the rear slide down window. My dog is crazy and can probably jump on the roof if needed lol.

Yah, you could make room for speakers for sure. I just dont want the added weight of extra subs/speakers. My new energy speakers and tweeters do just fine...

The platform is tied down to the factory floor mounted D-Rings behind the rear seats.

AWESOME build so far! Really impressed with the number of practical mods you've done... very tasteful rig... I like the sleeping platform, and though I sleep in my rig from time to time, I'm more interested in the space implications, having that extra layer...

Question: what kind of bins are those, between the backseat and the back of the front seat? (in the picture where your backseats are folded down...) and looking closer at the picture, where did the backseat bottom seats go?! That explains why you're able to get it flat, as well as get those bins in!

I'm almost 6'1" myself and so I relate with the space in the 'Runner... I've noticed i have to sleep at an angle if I put my seats down, I can't sleep directly north-south... So am interested to hear how you make your 6'6" frame fit? Does the platform go further, closer to the back of the front seats and allow you to have another 5-6 inches of room?

Thanks for the compliment! It's really nice that others can appreciate what I am going for with my build, and I hope my contributions and trials can help others along the way....

The storage bins are Rubbermaid Action Packers. They can be bought in 3 or 4 sizes and are awesome for camping. I got them at Canadian Tire, not sure where in the States?? The small ones I have fit perfectly into the footwells of the rear passenger area as you can see.

I usually have my rear seat bottoms removed, so my truck is normally a two seater. My dogs go in the back, sans-seats, and then aren't crawling around on the seats. This also gives you a little more cargo space for the Action Packer bins etc. and allows the sleeping platform to fold flat (with my design anyhow...). To fit inside, I slide the driver and passenger seats fully forward, place the Action Packer bins on the floor on each side, and usually keep my small travelers camping bag on top of the bin. I sleep with my head at the rear hatch end and my feet dangle above my travel bag. (hey, at least I can squeeze in there somehow haha)

Now that I have had the sleeping platform in place for around 8 months I can fully comment on my setup.

Pro's:
- The drawers are priceless: camping cookware etc always left in the left drawer and recovery gear in the right drawer. Easy access and good organization. check.
- My original plan of storing my Thermarest mattresses in the extra cubby has failed due to it being slightly too small. However, it has made a excellent compartment for storing my spare CV axle for wheeling trips.
- I still love sleeping in the truck, 1-2 people it's perfect! (more on that later...)
- I can fit my 6'6" body inside and actually stretch out! Having the full width above the wheel wells is key for more shoulder room.

Con's:
- When the platform is folded shut, it's annoying having a 3/4" lump on the cargo deck above the drawers where the extended portion folds back on itself. Not a big deal though... could be re-designed to correct the issue.
- Loss of headroom when in "sleeping position." (obviously, due to the height of the sleeping platform off of the floor of the truck.
- Should have finished the faces of the drawers and the wood is getting dirty. Eww. haha I may re-bedliner the whole thing soon.
- Weight: I should have used 1/2" and slightly less bracing to shave some lb's off.

I just recently bought a good tent, however. I just find that with my big dog, my gf and her small dog, the sleeping platform simply does not have enough space. If just myself and the gf go camping or just me and my dog, I won't bring the tent. If I ever find that the sleeping platform no longer gets used because I like my new tent so much, I'll keep the drawers and simply eliminate the fold-out sleeping platform section and put a 1st gen roll-bar in instead for more storage options.

Thanks man for the impressions! They are really valuable and your build has given me some ideas... I have a large subwoofer in the back that I really like (came with the vehicle) so that's a special consideration for me... It takes up a lot of space, but I'm deaf, so I especially get a kick out of it with the bass

The storage/sleeping platform is on the list!

Rubber Maid action packers can be found at Wal Mart from time to time here in the US.

They are expensive though, for what they are. And they are not made as well as they used to be.

Been looking into this project more and more, as I work on mine... I hope you don't mind if I copy some aspects of yours?

Curious how you're getting the drawers to stay shut? like if you park uphill, what keeps them from rolling out?

What kind of wood and size of wood did you use? I'm thinking perhaps pine or alder...

What is that thing called, that you have hooked from your sleeping platform to the 4Runner tie down loops? I'd like to get several of those to tie down the platform in case I roll...

Also, all I really have access to build this project are some sawhorses, a drill, and a skill saw (and hand saws as well)... I think it's pretty feasible to do a decent job with just those tools... I'm planning on keeping this pretty simple.

My biggest problem is that I have a huge sub in the back, about 12 wide by 12 high by 21 inches long and it won't fit between the cargo cover and the platform... I could fit it in the same cubby as your CV axle box, but then I can't keep other stuff in there...

Sorry this is so long, just asking some questions and thinking aloud with someone who has built one of these...

Cheers!

Not at all. That's why I created the thread, so others could learn or get ideas from my build.

The drawer slides I have, have a built in "stop" at the end. When you close the drawer you can feel a slight increase in tension to shut the drawer the final amount. It's like there is a small bump on the slides or something that you have to bump over. Those little silver latch buckle's above the drawer handles are also there for extra security. I have to turn the little knob 90 degrees for it to release before I can even open the drawer. If I did it again, I would buy some fancy latches with built in drawer locks.

Honestly I forget what kind of lumber it was. Birch? I bought 3 sheets total and used 2 full ones. One of the sheets had a "pretty overlay" on it and is what I used for the drawer faces. I still need to stain those or just fully bedliner them. I used 3/4" thicknes all around. Like I mentioned earlier I would probably do the top of the platform in 3/4" and the frame for the drawers and everything else I would do 1/2" to save some weight.

I got my Journeyman Carpenter friend to help me build this. We did it in an afternoon. We had a table saw, skill saw, and a jig saw. I think they are all essential as when you are trying to build perfectly square and "true" drawers you need to have a more precise cut than one offered by a skill saw. The table saw made quick work of the precise and longer cuts. But you may be able to manage without.

GL!

good build man, would you recommend using mdf instead of the ply?
My wife would only let me build one of those if it came with night stands

Thanks! I would honestly recommend 1/2' ply for the strength. Although it depends on how/who will be sleeping on it. I'm a big guy 6'6" and ~240lbs so with my GF, myself, and sometimes a 65lb dog, I needed it to be pretty strong!

^^^hahahaha

I finally got around to mine, about a week ago! I'm loving it and hope to camp it in this next week!

Rough stages but I like it...



More photos at build thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ml#post1109276

Thanks for the inspiration and help!

these threads are inspiring me to build my own sleep platform with sliding/locking drawers