Anyone have a camping/sleeping setup inside of the 4Runner?
- Thread starter cooler2442
- Start date
Sorry it's taken a few days to get to this. From the flip up extension to the hatch I have a little more than 80".
Not the greatest pictures since I didn't remove the other things from the back but I think you can see what I did. In the end, I have a little over 80" of sleeping room. I just lay down an inflatable thermarest pad and use a sleeping bag. Move the passenger seat forward for more room and prop the extension up with the wood support. Super easy. I don't have a family so I was able to remove the back seats completely. Added a ton of space. I keep it all covered with moving blankets because my dog sheds like crazy.
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Just-Someone
New member
No problem. Thanks for doing work on behalf of a stranger on the internet. 80" is perfect to stretch out.
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yourfriend
New member
It looks really great! I miss those days when we were preparing for the camping. Sadly that now we don't have such possibilities. You know I also remember that I slept very badly during the camping. Don't know why maybe I'm too used to my room and my bed hehe. I always took some supplements in order to fall asleep better. Recently I've found melatonin for sleep kids and adults. I like that thing that they look like gummy bears and like this, you lie to your brain lol. By the way, melatonin really helps when you cannot fall asleep. It is a supplement, don't worry. Hope that soon I'll be able to go camping.
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TahnkaToy19
New member
Removable Bed Setup
Just last night I saw a YouTube video by a guy named Nick Carver. He built a really cool, carpeted, raised platform inside the 4Runner for sleeping. He appears to be extremely detail oriented. Covers all the materials and measurements. You'll need to look it up, but I going to build it myself. Let me know what you think.
Just last night I saw a YouTube video by a guy named Nick Carver. He built a really cool, carpeted, raised platform inside the 4Runner for sleeping. He appears to be extremely detail oriented. Covers all the materials and measurements. You'll need to look it up, but I going to build it myself. Let me know what you think.
krhayes79
New member
I am switching to outside the truck as I do not want to have to unpack the entire truck just to sleep. Bought a Gazelle T8 to fit my family and excited to use it end of March.
carlodonz
Member
Here is my simple setup.
I lay my Exped mattress straight behind the drivers side and sleep with head at tailgate so my feet can lay off the end. If I go straight then the mattress is a little too long, but still works because I can hang my feet off.
How do you like this mattress?
So far I have been using a self inflating pad but I feel I need something more conformtable.
DallasTRDPro
Member
Here is my simple setup.
I lay my Exped mattress straight behind the drivers side and sleep with head at tailgate so my feet can lay off the end. If I go straight then the mattress is a little too long, but still works because I can hang my feet off.
Just replaced my cooler with this Craigslist find. Dometic CFX3 45. The guy had used it once and realized he wanted something bigger. Trying to keep my dogs raw food frozen was impossible with a cooler and finding AirBNB's and hotels with freezers was also a challenge. I paid $650 for the Dometic.
DallasTRDPro
Member
This is also a self inflating pad and its very comfortable.
sn_85
Senior Member
Just replaced my cooler with this Craigslist find. Dometic CFX3 45. The guy had used it once and realized he wanted something bigger. Trying to keep my dogs raw food frozen was impossible with a cooler and finding AirBNB's and hotels with freezers was also a challenge. I paid $650 for the Dometic.
Damn that's a score. I also got a good deal on my fridge via CL. Got a Dometic CFX35, the cover, and the slide for $600.
DallasTRDPro
Member
That’s a better score. I didn’t need a slide since I have the rear cargo tray and that will work for my needs. I’m going to buy a cover and Dometic’s hardwire kit tomorrow.
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AdventureMan
New member
Something slightly different
After looking at all the platforms and drawer setups other guys did for their 4Runners, our needs dictated a low flat platform to sleep on without having to remove the rear seats (but level with the rear seats when they're down). Since this particular 4Runner has the lowest cargo floor (2-row seats/no sliding cargo tray), that requires a raised floor. In an homage to our family's dearly departed '99 Volvo station wagon, we wanted to be able to use the area underneath the floor for storage, and as this 4Runner is also used as a tow vehicle, whatever we built needed to be light-weight.
Using information from other posts on this forum, I ended-up pulling out all the cargo floor carpet, foam padding, and trim, and building a slightly raised floor out of a combination of 2"x1" and 1"x1" aluminum T-nut extrusions and birch plywood (some of us have been making roof rack crossbars out of these extrusions for the stock roof rack). The frame is made of parts purchased from Tnutz.com, who will cut all the rails to whatever length you specify (so measure 3 times). It uses 4 of the the sliding cargo tray mounting points to secure it to the floor. The front of the frame sits on the front mounting brackets from the sliding cargo tray version of the 4Runner floor (available from Toyota parts).
To keep things light, 1/4" birch plywood was used for the floor panels, but 1/4" plywood really isn't 1/4" thick anymore, so the larger panel needed to be reinforced with a doubling panel and some small aluminum U-channel that was laying around. The whole assembly came in around 25 lbs. before finishing.
Because the birch plywood actually had figuring in the grain, it was sprayed with urethane varnish (mostly for water protection) and the floor was secured down with hinges from the local hardware store and stainless cargo eyelets (threaded into channel nuts). The original chrome floor cargo rings are used for the very front of the floor.
We also purchased a Napier Sport Cove tailgate tent/awning (the large size) which actually fits the 4Runner pretty well. It adds both space and ventilation and can give you at least 6 more inches of leg room if you need it. When at a track event, I use a foldable futon from home on the wide (passenger) side and don't even have to remove my Pelican 50qt cooler. If you pull the cooler and put more sleep pads, there's enough space for two "very friendly" people.
There is room to stow a considerable amount of gear under the floor, so long as nothing is more than 4" tall.
The floor panels are a bit willowy but the frame is really strong. The whole assembly is plenty strong enough to support human weight, but you wouldn't want anyone to drop an anvil on it. Maybe there will be 3/8" birch plywood in the next iteration.
If people want details, let me know and I can post more info.
After looking at all the platforms and drawer setups other guys did for their 4Runners, our needs dictated a low flat platform to sleep on without having to remove the rear seats (but level with the rear seats when they're down). Since this particular 4Runner has the lowest cargo floor (2-row seats/no sliding cargo tray), that requires a raised floor. In an homage to our family's dearly departed '99 Volvo station wagon, we wanted to be able to use the area underneath the floor for storage, and as this 4Runner is also used as a tow vehicle, whatever we built needed to be light-weight.
Using information from other posts on this forum, I ended-up pulling out all the cargo floor carpet, foam padding, and trim, and building a slightly raised floor out of a combination of 2"x1" and 1"x1" aluminum T-nut extrusions and birch plywood (some of us have been making roof rack crossbars out of these extrusions for the stock roof rack). The frame is made of parts purchased from Tnutz.com, who will cut all the rails to whatever length you specify (so measure 3 times). It uses 4 of the the sliding cargo tray mounting points to secure it to the floor. The front of the frame sits on the front mounting brackets from the sliding cargo tray version of the 4Runner floor (available from Toyota parts).
To keep things light, 1/4" birch plywood was used for the floor panels, but 1/4" plywood really isn't 1/4" thick anymore, so the larger panel needed to be reinforced with a doubling panel and some small aluminum U-channel that was laying around. The whole assembly came in around 25 lbs. before finishing.
Because the birch plywood actually had figuring in the grain, it was sprayed with urethane varnish (mostly for water protection) and the floor was secured down with hinges from the local hardware store and stainless cargo eyelets (threaded into channel nuts). The original chrome floor cargo rings are used for the very front of the floor.
We also purchased a Napier Sport Cove tailgate tent/awning (the large size) which actually fits the 4Runner pretty well. It adds both space and ventilation and can give you at least 6 more inches of leg room if you need it. When at a track event, I use a foldable futon from home on the wide (passenger) side and don't even have to remove my Pelican 50qt cooler. If you pull the cooler and put more sleep pads, there's enough space for two "very friendly" people.
There is room to stow a considerable amount of gear under the floor, so long as nothing is more than 4" tall.
The floor panels are a bit willowy but the frame is really strong. The whole assembly is plenty strong enough to support human weight, but you wouldn't want anyone to drop an anvil on it. Maybe there will be 3/8" birch plywood in the next iteration.
If people want details, let me know and I can post more info.
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Roccoeight
New member
I have lived in my 4Runner for months at a time. I rented my house and moved into my 4Runner!
I have a 5" memory foam mattress screens for the windows and a solar rooftop shower. It is all you need in just about any conditions when the weather is warm. I leveled out the rear with 2" hard foam removed one of the rear seats and I'm off exploring everywhere! No need to over think car camping.
IamNoremac
New member
I followed his build and it mostly worked out well. The cargo space under the sleeping platform is great and I really like the 60/40 split in the section that goes by the middle seats.
He has the slide out cargo tray which skews the length of the measurements a bit. Also, if you or anyone who may be sleeping in the car is claustrophobic I would look elsewhere as the platform puts you pretty close to the roof.
Additionally, the industrial pipe pushes into the trunk bed. So after a weekend of camping, once I remove the platform I can feel a slight depression or dent under the felt of the trunk. The dent always goes away but I would like to disperse the weight a bit better.
I've got the third row and sleep in the back regularly. Kind of hack but my camp table folds down and fits perfectly in the back to level it out. I move the front seats forward and stick some plastic containers on the floor of the back seat and throw a blanket or down jacket on top of them to gain a bit more room. Then I use my regular car camping sleeping pads, the 3.5 inch ones from Rei. I crack the rear hatch window. Getting a good level spot is key.
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Hi there,
What brand is the camping table? and what are the dimensions? Looking for a quick set up that works. Cheers
DallasTRDPro
Member
I recently added some molle panels and a cover for my fridge. Next up will be a Jackery to power the fridge overnight. I really like this setup and so glad I got the sliding cargo tray. Gives me a flat floor and a fridge slide. There is plenty of room behind the fridge for my dog to have his own space. Just move whatever gear I have to front seat at night. For more room I wish I could remove the 60% seat bottom. My dog likes it better with it in while driving.
honda250xtitan
New member
After looking at all the platforms and drawer setups other guys did for their 4Runners, our needs dictated a low flat platform to sleep on without having to remove the rear seats (but level with the rear seats when they're down). Since this particular 4Runner has the lowest cargo floor (2-row seats/no sliding cargo tray), that requires a raised floor. In an homage to our family's dearly departed '99 Volvo station wagon, we wanted to be able to use the area underneath the floor for storage, and as this 4Runner is also used as a tow vehicle, whatever we built needed to be light-weight.
Using information from other posts on this forum, I ended-up pulling out all the cargo floor carpet, foam padding, and trim, and building a slightly raised floor out of a combination of 2"x1" and 1"x1" aluminum T-nut extrusions and birch plywood (some of us have been making roof rack crossbars out of these extrusions for the stock roof rack). The frame is made of parts purchased from Tnutz.com, who will cut all the rails to whatever length you specify (so measure 3 times). It uses 4 of the the sliding cargo tray mounting points to secure it to the floor. The front of the frame sits on the front mounting brackets from the sliding cargo tray version of the 4Runner floor (available from Toyota parts).
To keep things light, 1/4" birch plywood was used for the floor panels, but 1/4" plywood really isn't 1/4" thick anymore, so the larger panel needed to be reinforced with a doubling panel and some small aluminum U-channel that was laying around. The whole assembly came in around 25 lbs. before finishing.
Because the birch plywood actually had figuring in the grain, it was sprayed with urethane varnish (mostly for water protection) and the floor was secured down with hinges from the local hardware store and stainless cargo eyelets (threaded into channel nuts). The original chrome floor cargo rings are used for the very front of the floor.
We also purchased a Napier Sport Cove tailgate tent/awning (the large size) which actually fits the 4Runner pretty well. It adds both space and ventilation and can give you at least 6 more inches of leg room if you need it. When at a track event, I use a foldable futon from home on the wide (passenger) side and don't even have to remove my Pelican 50qt cooler. If you pull the cooler and put more sleep pads, there's enough space for two "very friendly" people.
There is room to stow a considerable amount of gear under the floor, so long as nothing is more than 4" tall.
The floor panels are a bit willowy but the frame is really strong. The whole assembly is plenty strong enough to support human weight, but you wouldn't want anyone to drop an anvil on it. Maybe there will be 3/8" birch plywood in the next iteration.
If people want details, let me know and I can post more info.
Absolutely stealing this. We built a taller one that was posted in this thread a few times and it worked great but Baja tore it up. This design looks way more secure and super light for extended fast paced trips.
