Goose-Gear sleeping platform

[Tejas]

Has anyone installed one of these in their 5th Gen? I am torn on whether or not I want to remove my rear seats in favor of a sturdy and durable platform. I am also torn on whether or not going with the standard height is worth it just for the sake of installing the rear drawers.

We have two large dogs who travel with us so the textured platform would be durable and hold up to their nails and make for easy cleaning. We rarely have any passengers and we can always use one of our other vehicles if we needed to take someone else with us. I like the idea of a drawer system for extra storage but it comes at the cost of room overhead for the dogs and for ourselves when it is being used as a sleep platform. Basically I am looking for feedback from those that have invested in one of these systems and whether or not they would recommend someone else buying into one.

 

[Mtnman01]

I have the 6" drawers and sleeping platform on order at the moment. Due for install in May. So I can update you then. We went 6" as we wanted he storage for vehicle recovery stuff e.t.c. Also, in the future, I may mount a fridge and go rooftop tent route. One advantage of the drawer install is you only need to remove the lower section of the rear seats. So you can reconfigure it. I want to be able to just install one side of the platform for when we want to use the rear seats for passengers.

 

[Mutant138]

Has anyone installed one of these in their 5th Gen? I am torn on whether or not I want to remove my rear seats in favor of a sturdy and durable platform. I am also torn on whether or not going with the standard height is worth it just for the sake of installing the rear drawers.

We have two large dogs who travel with us so the textured platform would be durable and hold up to their nails and make for easy cleaning. We rarely have any passengers and we can always use one of our other vehicles if we needed to take someone else with us. I like the idea of a drawer system for extra storage but it comes at the cost of room overhead for the dogs and for ourselves when it is being used as a sleep platform. Basically I am looking for feedback from those that have invested in one of these systems and whether or not they would recommend someone else buying into one.

Have not seen ton's of posts about these setups. I personally would love to have the full low profile setup. With my current minimalist camping setup that under floor storage would be more than enough space for most of my gear. I sleep in the back of my truck and I'm quite a large fellow, so I appreciate the full headroom the low pro option provides.

The price point is quite high given the materials. I think it's 3 or 400 just for the cargo floor plate. Prob closer to 1000 for the 60/40 split. I called a local distributor for a quote but they blew me off :wtf:. If I was made of money I would cough up in a heartbeat. That is not the case and the distributor was less than impressive so I will likely build my own knock off.

Subbing to see what turns up.

Edit: I tried again and got ahold of someone trying to make some f*ck'in money. $419 for the 40 split, $449 for the 60 split, and $495 for the cargo plate. Sooo f*cking over a G for what is essentially some plywood sprayed with bedliner. Sure looks nice tho, oh well, I ain't no sucka.

 

[Tejas]

Yea it's a lot of money, $1363 for the entire low kit and nearly $3K for the standard kit with 10" drawers. It is essentially plywood with a textured surface, but the engineering has been done for you and it simply works. I too am struggling with the cost as I agree with your stance, but on the flip side I know that it'll be a direct bolt in that won't require any further tinkering by me and should I have an issue I have a company to fall back on. Easy access to storage areas in the rear foot wells is a nice touch too.

The easiest and cheapest solution is to build up the gap between the middle row seats and the cargo area when the middle seats are folded down and make a sleeping pad/pallet of sorts. This keeps yours seats in place to be used whenever you like and allows for roughly the same comfort when sleeping. Feeling very torn as I like the simplicity of the system and the pre-drilled spots for a fridge slide. I think having a completely flat surface in the rear for our dogs will also add to their comfort when riding around as they get very sketched out on the backs of the seats since they are at an angle.

It's only money right? LOL

 

[Mutant138]

Yea it's a lot of money, $1363 for the entire low kit and nearly $3K for the standard kit with 10" drawers. It is essentially plywood with a textured surface, but the engineering has been done for you and it simply works. I too am struggling with the cost as I agree with your stance, but on the flip side I know that it'll be a direct bolt in that won't require any further tinkering by me and should I have an issue I have a company to fall back on. Easy access to storage areas in the rear foot wells is a nice touch too.

The easiest and cheapest solution is to build up the gap between the middle row seats and the cargo area when the middle seats are folded down and make a sleeping pad/pallet of sorts. This keeps yours seats in place to be used whenever you like and allows for roughly the same comfort when sleeping. Feeling very torn as I like the simplicity of the system and the pre-drilled spots for a fridge slide. I think having a completely flat surface in the rear for our dogs will also add to their comfort when riding around as they get very sketched out on the backs of the seats since they are at an angle.

It's only money right? LOL

I mean if you want to talk cheap comfortable setups I got you. I removed the 60 side seat bottom (no third row). Then I took several iso mats and cut them and sandwiched them together matching the contour of the cargo hump. That fills the cargo area with comfortable sleeping surface for your torso. I shove an action packer in the 60 side footwell with the front pass seat slammed forward. I'm 6'5 and have more room then I need. It cost me 10 bucks for the two iso mats and like 20 for the action packer.

I'm ready for a permanent solution. I want the ability to use my truck as a pickup. Go camping, be the slob I'am, and just wipe out the back when I'm done. If I keep my current setup I'm going to eventually destroy the back seats which I could sell to recoup some losses from endless modifications. Rn my back seats are a cargo barrier and a waste of space.

 

[Mtnman01]

I choked at the price. I even had to pay a higher premium to get it imported into Canada. However, none of the homemade build platforms I have seen come close. Its made from Baltic Spruce too which is a premium product with premium drawer slides. I had savings but it was still a hard pill to swallow. I doubt I will be selling the rig for a long time after this. Probably hand it to my kids. If you can afford it then go for it. If you want other upgrades more then go homemade.

 

[rageandlove]

You should check out some of the work linked to in this thread.

There are some very well done pieces of work (and likely a lot cheaper).

And if you go find MTNRNR's build thread, he's also continued on and built replacements for the rear seat.

 

[Mutant138]

You should check out some of the work linked to in this thread.

There are some very well done pieces of work (and likely a lot cheaper).

And if you go find MTNRNR's build thread, he's also continued on and built replacements for the rear seat.

Oh good shit. I barely looked and seen a design I had never seen before. KingTaco's setup is wild. Going to have to take a closer look tomorrow. I ran out of time at wor...free time.

 

[MTN4RNR]

One thing I will mention here is people bocking at the $1k price. For my platform and seat delete (not including the metal fab that the seat delete requires, done by another fabricator) the materials rack up to about $300-400, plus another $300-400 for line-x, plus my 14+ hours of labor. Long story short, if you don't cut corners (carpentry pun) you'll be at or above the GG asking price. Would I build my own again? Hell yes. But GG makes a really solid product that I have installed on another 4Runner and have been impressed.

 

[rageandlove]

One thing I will mention here is people bocking at the $1k price. For my platform and seat delete (not including the metal fab that the seat delete requires, done by another fabricator) the materials rack up to about $300-400, plus another $300-400 for line-x, plus my 14+ hours of labor. Long story short, if you don't cut corners (carpentry pun) you'll be at or above the GG asking price. Would I build my own again? Hell yes. But GG makes a really solid product that I have installed on another 4Runner and have been impressed.

The thing about the GG offer is that if you plan to keep the rear seats (because, say, you also use the vehicle to move kids), it's not a solution because it still leaves a nice ledge between the platform and the rear seats.

And after reading about 30 of these threads, it seems like most people are just looking to level out the back (sleeping!) in a way that provides some other utility (storage, slide out, etc.) that provides a fully level surface when the rear seats are folded down.

 

[MTN4RNR]

The thing about the GG offer is that if you plan to keep the rear seats (because, say, you also use the vehicle to move kids), it's not a solution because it still leaves a nice ledge between the platform and the rear seats.

And after reading about 30 of these threads, it seems like most people are just looking to level out the back (sleeping!) in a way that provides some other utility (storage, slide out, etc.) that provides a fully level surface when the rear seats are folded down.

And that's why I created my platform. Flush with the back seats, and a few more features

 

[Tejas]

Removing the seats is my biggest hang up. In the end I can handle the cost, I had no idea the wood they used was spruce, that definitely ups the value and cost. I don't have time to mess with making my own setup and with my OCD it would end up costing twice as much for me to make something as good or better.

I like the cargo piece simply for a preset area to attach items securely to. Like Mutant said, I'd like to use the back area of my 4Runner more like a truck bed and this would allow me to do so and would certainly provide an easier surface to clean up. Should I need the rear seats and I know in advance I can always reinstall them.

I like the idea of drawers as well but that forces me into accepting less headroom with the platform and that's at a premium as it is. Lots to consider here.

 

[Khjphoto]

Build your own

Easy

 

[mqphung]

I really like the Goose gear platform and I want to install this down the road. Does anyone know how durable the mounting holes are? If I get this system, I would probably be putting and taking off accessories all the time as I often need the back space.

 

[SlickTRD]

I really like the Goose gear platform and I want to install this down the road. Does anyone know how durable the mounting holes are? If I get this system, I would probably be putting and taking off accessories all the time as I often need the back space.

I only have the rear plate but the durability and design is top notch. The mounting holes to hold the plate down uses factory bolt locations and once bolted down they can hold my fridge and fridge slide with ease. All the little holes you see are also rivnuts so you can mount their drawer system or use them to bolt down your own gear. The bottom is also contoured to fit the base of the trunk floor so it doesn't flex when you weigh it down. I think most people can make one for less and perform nearly as well, but I doubt they can match or exceed the quality of goose gear.

 

[Mutant138]

Removing the seats is my biggest hang up. In the end I can handle the cost, I had no idea the wood they used was spruce, that definitely ups the value and cost. I don't have time to mess with making my own setup and with my OCD it would end up costing twice as much for me to make something as good or better.

I like the cargo piece simply for a preset area to attach items securely to. Like Mutant said, I'd like to use the back area of my 4Runner more like a truck bed and this would allow me to do so and would certainly provide an easier surface to clean up. Should I need the rear seats and I know in advance I can always reinstall them.

I like the idea of drawers as well but that forces me into accepting less headroom with the platform and that's at a premium as it is. Lots to consider here.

My plan is to have low profile (in line with the cargo floor) on the 60 split side. On the 40 split side I plan to build a drawer with a fridge slide on top. The single drawer paired with the underfloor storage where the 2nd row used to be should be plenty of storage. Any additional storage needs could easily be added after the fact.

Done heaps of camping and wheeling since I bought the truck to help me figure out what I wanted. My only obstacle is my current budget.

 

[Tejas]

Easy

That looks great but unfortunately with the seat bottoms still in place there isn't enough room/available length for me to lay out straight to sleep.

 

[mqphung]

I only have the rear plate but the durability and design is top notch. The mounting holes to hold the plate down uses factory bolt locations and once bolted down they can hold my fridge and fridge slide with ease. All the little holes you see are also rivnuts so you can mount their drawer system or use them to bolt down your own gear. The bottom is also contoured to fit the base of the trunk floor so it doesn't flex when you weigh it down. I think most people can make one for less and perform nearly as well, but I doubt they can match or exceed the quality of goose gear.

Thanks! This explains what I wanted to know. Glad to see that they used rivnuts for their mounting system and here I thought it was just predrilled holes that you had to fab up some sort of system to get things to stay.

 

[Tejas]

Well I ordered the rear cargo piece to get started, this will allow me to mount my fridge and slide and see first hand the durability and build quality of the product before I commit to the other $900 for the seat areas. I'll report back my thoughts when I receive it, which will likely be weeks from now since they build to order. Thanks for all of the input guys!

 

[Mutant138]

Well I ordered the rear cargo piece to get started, this will allow me to mount my fridge and slide and see first hand the durability and build quality of the product before I commit to the other $900 for the seat areas. I'll report back my thoughts when I receive it, which will likely be weeks from now since they build to order. Thanks for all of the input guys!

Nice well I'm envious of you. It will be quality I wouldn't worry about that.