Cargo sleeper box for tall people?

[Mackalicious]

I am 6'5" and I'm thinking about building a cargo box with a section that flips down to extend over the folded rear seats for extra space.

For those who have build these sleeper cargo boxes, how much space did you have? How tall are you?

I've tried sleeping in the 4runner one very cold night camping and it was not comfortable at all, but that was on the bare unlevel carpet.

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[Brian.]

I'm 6'4" and in my younger days I slept in the back of my '86 Jeep Cherokee (XJ), sleeping diagonally and curled up. I can't do that anymore. I've trolled old posts and it looks like 5'8" or so is the limit for comfort with 2 people, and that's After you remove the rear seat bottoms to gain a little extra room.

If you're going solo, perhaps if you run the passenger seat all the way forward (or remove it completely), you'll have the room.

 

[Kanoe]

I am 6'5" and I'm thinking about building a cargo box with a section that flips down to extend over the folded rear seats for extra space.

For those who have build these sleeper cargo boxes, how much space did you have? How tall are you?

I've tried sleeping in the 4runner one very cold night camping and it was not comfortable at all, but that was on the bare unlevel carpet.

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I'm 5'9" and I fit. I think 6" is about the most you are going to get without needing to push the passenger seat up and getting into that space.

I saw a guy do this in a CRV years back. He would push up and fold the passenger seat as far forward as it would go then his platform extended into that space. You might fit in!

Or if you are going solo pull the passenger seat too and stick a dog in the footwell.

 

[rkntoy]

Not 6'5" but I just pulled the seat bottom on the passenger side and put in a piece of plywood to make a flat sleeping spot.

 

[FrogginAround]

I'm 6'4" and in my younger days I slept in the back of my '86 Jeep Cherokee (XJ), sleeping diagonally and curled up. I can't do that anymore. I've trolled old posts and it looks like 5'8" or so is the limit for comfort with 2 people, and that's After you remove the rear seat bottoms to gain a little extra room.

If you're going solo, perhaps if you run the passenger seat all the way forward (or remove it completely), you'll have the room.

Gf would attest to that. I'm just under 6' and it was tight with 1 dog(when it is 32 outside that's not such a bad thing). 2 dogs and a gf was real tight... Don't think she will ever do it again. At your guy's height you are looking at heavy modification or fetal position.

 

[APhelps]

Not 6'5" but I just pulled the seat bottom on the passenger side and put in a piece of plywood to make a flat sleeping spot.

This. Basically the only way it is comfortable to sleep in the 4Runner. I'd imagine anyone over 6'2" is going to just be very uncomfortable sleeping in a 4runner.

 

[APhelps]

Gf would attest to that. I'm just under 6' and it was tight with 1 dog(when it is 32 outside that's not such a bad thing). 2 dogs and a gf was real tight... Don't think she will ever do it again. At your guy's height you are looking at heavy modification or fetal position.

I suppose one could pull the passenger seat if they were solo and just let your legs dangle.

 

[rkntoy]

I suppose one could pull the passenger seat if they were solo and just let your legs dangle.

No need to pull the whole seat. Plenty of room if you just remove the seat bottom for the back seat.

 

[Ser1clymb]

Like everyone else is saying, take out the rear passenger seat bottom and that should give you enough room. Or push the front passenger seat forward.
You will need some plywood or something to extend the sleeping area. I used some threaded metal pipe as legs for my platform so I could remove them and fold the platform away, and they were stiff so they didn't sag, squeak, or break.

 

[Its GSatt]

I’m 6’1 and manage “fine” with a short female and a larger dog. It’s all about replacing a seat with a flat surface and moving the front seats forward. You can place gear in the void between your bed and front seat to put a pillow on top of it. For reference; From back door to the front edge of my platform is ~73” and that driver seat is slid all the way back in pic. You can make a lot more room sliding the seat Forward.

Hopefully you’re going to be solo, or at least not try to squeeze a dog too. If you’ve got a +2 situation like mine, go get a sequoia or maybe one of those roof tent contraptions.

I’ve got to bring mtn bike/ski gear as well, so my space gets tight quick. Shuffling coolers outside and gear to front seats gets irritating, even with the storage under the bed and a big cargo box up top. My buddies sprinter starts looking like it’s worth the price tag.... until you drive it

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[Brian.]

My buddies sprinter starts looking like it’s worth the price tag.... until you drive it

That's actually the route I took (on my 2nd, the Sprinter was a maintenance nightmare, the Ford Transit has been tons better). Full queen bed, plenty of room for Everything, drives fine... The Sprinter (130" wheelbase) was great in town, a little twitchy on the highway. The Transit is great on the highway, a bit of a bus in town.

You're not going crawling in one, but I haven't had any issues with USFS roads out in the Rockies (short of impassable due to snow). Really want to go all out, there's the Quigley 4x4 conversion.

wife had to do the requisite vanlife photo this summer in Montana:

I'm looking and not finding a photo of a transit going through a squeeze in Moab... plenty of guys in the Rockies that are taking them over the many passes and into places you just don't think they could get. Proper tires, some experience (and confidence in your recovery gear/people) goes a long way.


But, they are for different uses. Funny that my Ecoboost Transit gets better fuel economy than the 4runner though, with a Much bigger size, more weight and double the HP. Cripes, the Sprinter was closer to 30mpg than 20mpg. The van is a road warrior, it's nothing to go from GA to WA in a couple days with 2 people (one sleeps while the other drives). I have almost every convenience of home... no inside shower is about the limit. Well, space ~ you don't have a ton of space inside Any vehicle you're trying to sleep in. But having done the Jeep sleeping as a young 20-nothing, and then later doing the full-on truck-bed sleep platform ~ both of which were cramped and uncomfortable, then a normal "conversion" van which was actually worse (bed goes cross-wise, yeesh) ~ a full queen bed in a big van is a God-send for sleeping comfort. We've done 2 different 7-week long trips, and other than just wanting a good shower, it was doable for a lot longer.

I'll never even try to sleep in my 4runner. Not worth the pains/crappy nights sleep when I have something better. Similarly, if I want to get away, I'll tow my dirtbike with the van, use the bike to go explore and come back to the van to sleep. I understand making do with what's available, I had a lot of years of doing just that. Tall and a 4runner though, best bet will be a tent. Rooftop if you like having to climb up and down a ladder all the time (only takes one 2" heart-attack at 3am while going to pee... your lady companion isn't going to go in a bottle so her experiences/comforts count too... and you might not think so fondly on a RTT), or conventional if you want to Easily use the gear regardless of vehicle.

 

[TonyB66]

With two little ones, this is something I won't be doing, at least not at any point soon (college still about 8-10 years out for them), but I dig the builds and thoughtful considerations including some of which being discussed here.

After much thought I ended-up going with a small utility trailer I got off CL for 400 bucks. I have plans to modify it quite a bit. I envision a low-slung rack on it with RTT and all kinds of goodies below...

Figured I'd share because for some, during the pondering process, this becomes a viable option.

 

[rickashay]

Hi fellow tall person. I am 6'6" tall.

This is my first attempt:
Rickashay's Sleeping Platform

What I didn't like:
a) you have to load/unload all the cargo to flip the length extension open and closed
b) not enough headroom as IMO I built the storage system too tall.

What I did like:
a) sleeper for two
b) more cargo capacity in the drawers

A few vehicle builds later, this is my newest creation.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-...shays-sleeping-platform-v2**.html#post3382694

What I don't like:
a) I wish I didnt have to pull the rear seat bottom to get this into sleep mode. But that was a trade-off I was willing to make in order to maximize legroom and headroom while in the sleeping space. It's nice to be able to sit up and get dressed with lower height.

What I do like:
a) versatility of switching between 3-person seat mode and single sleeper mode
b) lower height on sleeper side (as mentioned above)
c) max cargo capacity with removal of the one seat permanently (and I actually use that side cargo platform area for many other things when it's in daily mode)
d) items not used a lot are stowed fully out of the way but still relatively easy to access when required.

 

[Kanoe]

Since I am waiting in airport land tonight and this thread popped up, I'll repost a link to my semi-light sleeping platform.

My Low Profile Bed Platform

Since this original post I have put a few more holes in the under structure to reduce weight and pulled the rear seatbelts entirely out of the back space.

We have now used this setup for 3 1/2 trips totalling well over 24 months of sleeping in the back. Pretty happy with it. This could easily be stretched for the long shanked among us.

 

[Its GSatt]

I'll never even try to sleep in my 4runner. Not worth the pains/crappy nights sleep when I have something better. Similarly, if I want to get away, I'll tow my dirtbike with the van, use the bike to go explore and come back to the van. I understand making do with what's available, I had a lot of years of doing just that. Tall and a 4runner though, best bet will be a tent. Rooftop if you like having to climb up and down a ladder all the time (only takes one 2" heart-attack at 3am while going to pee... your lady companion isn't going to go in a bottle so her experiences/comforts count too... and you might not think so fondly on a RTT), or conventional if you want to Easily use the gear regardless of vehicle.

Well, you and I are clearly playing with a different set of needs if I regularly did over 1 week trips, I’m getting a van. But I’m trying to justify camping enough, often enough,and with my runner actually being the rig taken on trips to even justify putting time into perfecting a sleeping situation. Most my trips are 2-3 nights, but the trick is that I may need to roll with 4 people with 4 bikes which means it’s a tent anyway. Then next trip may be in someone’s sprinter etc. I’m building all this to use it less than 10x a year? Definitely not gettin a van. RTT no way. For the reasons you mentioned plus when you realize you forgot ice right after it’s popped up and your awnings out.... just drink em before they’re warm.

Everyone’s got a rig and wants to drive. Ridiculous when everyone drives as couples so they don’t have to set up tents. Mine’s a “quick” and dirty build to see if it even gets used really just an excuse to use tools and use brains.

I do enjoy that I can remove the front extension with 2 screws and bolt the 4th seat back in, keeping the rear section. Having a grille in the ski lot and storage slot for a case of beer is reallll nice.

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