[TheNotoriousTRD]

Sharing my slight mod to some of the helpful DIY leveling platforms that I have seen in case this is useful to people in similar situations. I live alone in a townhouse without a garage or basement with extra room to store a large platform so I decided to make mine in two parts for easy storage in a closet or under a bed. It's also much lighter and easier to move in two pieces if you don't leave it in your vehicle and need to move it by yourself.

Without my own tools, I was able to get this done pretty inexpensively with just a trip to Home Depot during a quiet time with the help of an associate who graciously made a few extra "finish" cuts. I used 1/2" plywood which might not be necessary if you put three rows of supports underneath each half. I also added a 1/4" rug pad between the plywood and carpet for my knees when I get in or if I'm ever in there hanging out. This combined height put it visually just a tad higher that the seats but when I sit on the seam everything evens out and my butt can't even feel a joint, let alone when there is a mattress or pad. It's perfectly snug as is but one could cut off 1/4" or 1/2" from the plywood dimensions if you want a bit more play (I think it's technically cantilevering as is without weight on it so maybe a touch shorter would help to slide it back but I think it's just the nature of the "2"x —unless you can rip something, this is probably inevitable and I couldn't find anything usable that actually measured 2" vs. 1.5").

If I did it again, I'd probably switch to thinner plywood but keep the pad. For some reason, I couldn't find a black version of this carpet roll but I don't really care (I did find one that matched the color of the interior better but was scratchier so I kept this smoother one). I'm sure one can look around for actual auto carpet sources if they are so inclined. I was only trying to level the back not add storage underneath but one accidental bonus of the half boards I ended up with in the middle is that there's an empty space that isn't visible unless you pull them up where I could leave a laptop or something valuable if I never needed to for some reason (which I would hope not to). I just used a larger drill bit to make crude counter sinks for the screw heads.

Here's what I bought and the dimensions:

2 pieces of 1/2" finish plywood, each cut to 41.5" x 21.5"

2 standard 2"x3"x8' posts, each cut to 2 lengths of 36" (with the extra pieces used for the middle supports)

2'x8' 1/4" felt rug pad. 6'x8' indoor/outdoor carpet. Wood screws. Staples.

[TOYO74]

Clever design! The simple design shows that a platform does not have to be a heavy weight monster to be functional and comfortable. Good job!

[california_daze]

Thanks @TheNotoriousTRD for the inspiration. I was trying to come up with a lighter weight solution than using a single 43" x 41.5" inch board. Saw your post and it was one of those "DUH" moments. Split them into two boards! I had some 5/8" ply and some 2x4 scraps laying around, so I went to work.

I roughly measured the height of the backseat bump to be around 2-5/8"... so I ended up ripping some 2x4's to about 2". I probably should have made them a tad shorter... like 1-3/4" because of the added carpet pad and carpet, but I really can't feel much of a difference. My wife and I use our camping sleeping pads back there anyway, which makes things much more comfortable.

Anyway - I just copied your design. I used:
* 5/8" plywood cut into 2 pieces at 21.5 x 41.5" each
* 2 8 foot long 2x4's (ripped down to ~2 inches)
* 1/4" carpet pad from Lowes
* Outdoor carpet from Lowes
* 3M Super 77 adhesive spray & 1/2" staples

[IslandJim]

Looks great, good job. Do those sit there still with the back seat folded up? It looks close.

[california_daze]

Originally Posted by IslandJim

Looks great, good job. Do those sit there still with the back seat folded up? It looks close.

Hey @IslandJim - yeah, they can remain in place while the seats are up and the hatch is down, though admittedly, I got lucky. It's a little tighter than I would like it to be.

The plywood dimensions itself would fit no problem, but I didn't account for carpet padding and the carpet itself.

Fortunately, everything fits and the gate doesn't *seem* to be smacking and the plastic on the inside doesn't *seem* to be deforming.

If I were to do it again, I'd probably trim the length down a 1/2" (~41").

[Awyeah]

Thanks so much, you saved me over $200. Almost bought a premade one and saw this. 4runners unite!

I changed the length to 41” and that fits perfectly snug with a tiny bit of play so the the backdoor closes without hitting.

Mod = I am going to clamp them together so I pull it out to use as a shelf. Amazing how much weight you can put on it if you pull it a couple of feet for a shelf (when clamped together).

Another mod is I am using gorilla tape for the carpet in case I get it wet. Then I can hang dry it. I’m a whitewater kayaker so wet gear can easily taint the interior.

Thanks again!