3rd Generation Sleeping Platform Camping Build

[forgrave]

Hi guys,

I put this together over a year ago but am finally posting. I feel this is one of the better designs I've seen for a sleeping platform in a 3rd gen that allows passengers to use the backseats when desired. I took ideas from multiple sleeping platforms from around the T4R site as well as other sites around the internet. I've used the platform many times over the last year for camping trips and couldn't be happier. Hopefully someone will find this post useful.

The platform consists of two main pieces. The first is the drawer and wheel well compartments, and the second is a piece that rests on the back lip of the drawer and the folded down back seats. The second piece can also be stored on top of the drawer for when the back seats are needed. (I store the second piece under my bed during the winter months).

The carpet is just standard garage carpet I got on Amazon. It is held down with carpet glue and wrapped and stapled down.

The drawer simply slides on the carpet of the trunk area. No drawer slides or anything. I tried to keep it pretty simple.

I used a circular saw and jig saw to make all the cuts.

Frame:


Progress...:


Before carpet:


Finished product:








With back seats up and front part of platform resting on drawer:

 

[etc.]

Looks a bit heavy, but well thought out.

How's the OSB holding up? Beginning to bow?

 

[Killer Squirrel]

What is the length of the trunk portion of the box, ie from the inside of the rear door to the back of the rear seat when it is in upright position? I am thinking through various plans for my build once I find my 4R and may have a source for drawer rails, but I don't know if they are too long or not.

 

[96Runr]

double the dimension request... thanks

 

[Nottoday]

Looks nice!

We recently built a platform as well!

We opted to build it as light weight as possible and skipped the drawer this time. We may revisit the build after our trip out west after getting some use of the current setup.

 

[96Runr]

Contractor buddy of mine told me about "Marine Plywood"


Has anyone used this in their camping platform? Lighter than "normal" plywood

 

[theesotericone]

Contractor buddy of mine told me about "Marine Plywood"


Has anyone used this in their camping platform? Lighter than "normal" plywood

It's not lighter for the same nominal thickness, at least not by much. Marine ply uses better core layers that contain only very small(1/8") holes. Normal ply has much bigger voids in the core. Marine plywood is stronger because of this. Meaning that you can use a sheet of less nominal thickness to achieve the same pound per square foot rating.

I've built more than a few sleeping platforms. I've never bothered to worry about the weight savings going with marine ply. At best for most platforms you'd save maybe 20lbs. The extra cost of the sheet isn't even close to worth it for me. YMMV.

 

[Kanoe]

Contractor buddy of mine told me about "Marine Plywood"


Has anyone used this in their camping platform? Lighter than "normal" plywood

Here's a link to my plywood design. It's light just because there is not much material involved. I can easily put it in and out by myself. Girlfriend wants to mention the hinged section is her idea.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/211428-my-low-profile-bed-platform.html

 

[tito_zako]

hi there, does anyone have dimensions for the boards that could share with me?

 

[Shlomo]

Very neat and practical, props to you. Did you or do you plan to use slides on the drawer?