meant this as a reply to another thread, but this is fine. i want to put a bed in a 4runner, 1st gen seems best, but can 2nd gen's rear seats be removed?? is the floor raised on 2nd gen?
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personally i'd intend to remove the rear seat. is it easily removable?
and what i want to do is relatively simple but i think useful: build a platform above the wheel well like you mentioned. i'd have 2x4 supports in three rows, along the sides and one in the middle. ideally i'd not want to have to attach these supports to the bed of the truck; perhaps the assembly could be lifted in and out with the top off? with big long heavy screws, i shouldn't get too much wiggle room from the struts.
then here's my thought of how to utilize the space underneath: rather than just shoving things under there, i'd like to build two pull-out drawers on wheels. they'd be next to each other (seperated by the row of supports down the middle), on wheels ideally, and pull out so i could get into them, then just shove back in. something like that.
anyway, i wonder if others have done it. i like the 4runner better than trucks because there is no wall between cab and bed. i'm 6ft and i would have to buy a fullsize truck which i don't want. this way i can sleep with my head at the tailgate and even if my toes stick off a bit hopefully it would be ok.
i'd probably just get a 3-5" memory foam mattress "topper" to use as a mattress. most economical might even be to buy a thinner one in king size, and cut it once in half, double it up. not too bad if you have enough padding. tight for two but mostly it would be just me, and my wife is small if she comes
with a small truck i'd have to leave the tailgate open, and that's lousy on cold days, and don't want fullsize. i found the 1st gen runner simply because i was looking for something to fit a bed. nice thing about this too is that it's inconspicuous. don't know how much of a dirtbag you are (i'm a climber as well), but i'm fond of avoiding campsite fees and just dossing in a parking lot if in can find it. done it before much in joshua tree. it's a heck of a lot less conspicuous if you don't have a westfalia with your top popped up
just make sure not to sleep on the top floor of the MGM grand parking structure in vegas. i tried that once in my 94 explorer and had a rude awakening by security
..................
personally i'd intend to remove the rear seat. is it easily removable?
and what i want to do is relatively simple but i think useful: build a platform above the wheel well like you mentioned. i'd have 2x4 supports in three rows, along the sides and one in the middle. ideally i'd not want to have to attach these supports to the bed of the truck; perhaps the assembly could be lifted in and out with the top off? with big long heavy screws, i shouldn't get too much wiggle room from the struts.
then here's my thought of how to utilize the space underneath: rather than just shoving things under there, i'd like to build two pull-out drawers on wheels. they'd be next to each other (seperated by the row of supports down the middle), on wheels ideally, and pull out so i could get into them, then just shove back in. something like that.
anyway, i wonder if others have done it. i like the 4runner better than trucks because there is no wall between cab and bed. i'm 6ft and i would have to buy a fullsize truck which i don't want. this way i can sleep with my head at the tailgate and even if my toes stick off a bit hopefully it would be ok.
i'd probably just get a 3-5" memory foam mattress "topper" to use as a mattress. most economical might even be to buy a thinner one in king size, and cut it once in half, double it up. not too bad if you have enough padding. tight for two but mostly it would be just me, and my wife is small if she comes
with a small truck i'd have to leave the tailgate open, and that's lousy on cold days, and don't want fullsize. i found the 1st gen runner simply because i was looking for something to fit a bed. nice thing about this too is that it's inconspicuous. don't know how much of a dirtbag you are (i'm a climber as well), but i'm fond of avoiding campsite fees and just dossing in a parking lot if in can find it. done it before much in joshua tree. it's a heck of a lot less conspicuous if you don't have a westfalia with your top popped up
just make sure not to sleep on the top floor of the MGM grand parking structure in vegas. i tried that once in my 94 explorer and had a rude awakening by security
