I just want to thank everyone in this thread for posting their setups. There are so many great ideas in here and some extremely skill craftsmen.
For our platform we debated between making it out of wood or metal, and finally decided on metal because we could go without stabilizing the middle and have one big drawer. Then we decided to nix the drawer and leave an open space under the platform. We will finish it with a door on the front that will probably flip downward, however the drawer idea might still pop up once we get out and use this a few times.
So anyway, we used 1x2 steel for the 35x41 frame, built it to fit the entire cargo area. We then put wood flaps either side to cover the wheel wells that are hinged for access if needed (thank you Jerad) and supported underneath. The top is plywood covered in black carpet. Everything is anchored using turnbuckles and the stock brackets in the floor.
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The extra sleeping platform piece that goes over the back seats is 53.5x30, made of wood and covered with carpet. It has removable wood legs that slot into place so that that piece can be stored on top of the cargo area piece during transit. The two pieces slot together using sectional couch brackets.
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It gives us a sleeping area of 65" length and ~54" width (width-wise will fit a full size mattress). We are short, lol. I fit on the platform perfectly but my husband's feet hang off the end and he's ok with that. We have a tent for the back with the cargo door open so the length isn't really an issue. This setup allows for the back seats to remain intact in case we have a passenger, but we may consider lengthening the middle part and removing the seat-bottoms.
Still need to make the door (I want one that says "TOYOTA" like btcsxj's amazing drawer) and the pieces that cover the front on each side. Not bad for a work in progress but at least we can begin sleeping on it!
This is exactly what I want to do, thanks for beating me to it so I can proceed with confidence!


