How to: Build a custom storage/sleeping area

[Dementedfish]

I wanted to share with all of you one of my recent projects. I got a lot of inspiration from others on this forum but no one has posted a write up or detailed pictures. Here's my custom sleeping area in my 4Runner which was designed to create more sleeping space for me and to create storage drawers. Here's the walk around video:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K6QGjj8cuhE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I posted the full write up with specifications here:

How to build a 4runner Sleeping and Storage area

Let me know if anyone has any questions!

 

[JeepKiller]

I wanted to share with all of you one of my recent projects. I got a lot of inspiration from others on this forum but no one has posted a write up or detailed pictures. Here's my custom sleeping area in my 4Runner which was designed to create more sleeping space for me and to create storage drawers. Here's the walk around video:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K6QGjj8cuhE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I posted the full write up with specifications here:

How to build a 4runner Sleeping and Storage area

Let me know if anyone has any questions!

Looks great! I love the fact that you don't have to take anything out to raise the seats up. You did a great job on this. What was the total cost?

 

[Dementedfish]

Looks great! I love the fact that you don't have to take anything out to raise the seats up. You did a great job on this. What was the total cost?

I spent about $250 for the hardware. The most expensive pieces believe it or not are the "L" brackets, they cost like $6 for a pack of 4 and I used 16. The large plywood sections are expensive as well.

 

[cp99sr5]

Very nice write up, I have been struggling with ideas for a platform without sacrificing seating and this gives me good ideas to work with.

 

[JeepKiller]

How long did it take to build?

 

[nc-grayson]

how tall are you?

love your build. the only reason I ask is because I'm in the process of designing my platform, and there's NO way i can lay flat in there without extending the "head" of the platform over the edges of the rear seats.

 

[Dementedfish]

how tall are you?

love your build. the only reason I ask is because I'm in the process of designing my platform, and there's NO way i can lay flat in there without extending the "head" of the platform over the edges of the rear seats.

I'm 5'11". I guess it really depends how you sleep, if you sleep stiff and fully extended then you may run into trouble if you're taller than 6'0. But it wouldn't be any different than sleeping without these extensions.

How long did it take to build?

Took me quite some time, it took me a couple weeks working a few hours at a time, maybe 20 hours total.

 

[bybeed1]

Really like it! Thinking about doing something like this too... as a thought, you could simply take your support boards (on the sleeping extension) and hinge them as well! So when you have passengers and you flip the sleeping extensions back, the supports that held your bookbag could be laid flat and not stick up/take away space.
Love the engineering here! Thanks for the share...

 

[Dementedfish]

Really like it! Thinking about doing something like this too... as a thought, you could simply take your support boards (on the sleeping extension) and hinge them as well! So when you have passengers and you flip the sleeping extensions back, the supports that held your bookbag could be laid flat and not stick up/take away space.
Love the engineering here! Thanks for the share...

A couple of people have suggested that, only concern is the hinges might give out. Spring loaded hinges may work though.

 

[ElysianComrade]

Thanks for the write up!!

Following your guide this is what I built! A couple of your measurements needed a little playing with, but overall this worked excellent. I decided to make my platforms removable instead of hinged. Here are some pics:

 

[Don Lumberto]

Wow i really like your bed platform its alot like my first one just better, mines way to close to high. however i have a new design that i have been working on and would like some feed back. Instead of a fold in the platform I'm going to put drawer slides so the platform just slides out. I know there are some things that need to change in my drawing so far like the slides but any feedback or questions would be appreciated.

 

[kook rooster]

Wow i really like your bed platform its alot like my first one just better, mines way to close to high. however i have a new design that i have been working on and would like some feed back. Instead of a fold in the platform I'm going to put drawer slides so the platform just slides out. I know there are some things that need to change in my drawing so far like the slides but any feedback or questions would be appreciated.

This is a great idea. Did you ever move forward with it?

 

[LilGoat02]

Thank you so much for the video and build thread on your photography page. I've been trying to find some measurements to start off with for my dad and I to work on together and no one seemed to want to give those up for some reason.
I really appreciate your efforts in sharing! Lovely photography work too!!