skcolb
New member
For a recent road trip to and from Colorado, I built a sleeping platform. I started with a list of requirements:
Finished sleeping platform.
First thing I did was remove the rear seats completely. We didn't need them for this trip, and needed the extra space. The platform should still fit and work with the seats in, but there would be a lot less storage space.
I bought a bunch of steel tubes and clamp fittings from McMaster-Carr. Cutting these with a tube cutter was a pain, but at least the cuts were clean.
The completed frame, extending just short of where the rear seat-backs go. Bolted to the rear two cargo tie-downs.
Close-up of the tube fittings.
Next, I cut some aluminum tubes to the right length to telescope out of the long steel tubes in the frame. I attached carabiners to the ends for hanging supports later.
Aluminum tubes from fully telescoped to stowed.
Aluminum tubes fully telescoped out.
Next I cut a bunch of furring strip from Home Depot to the right length for slats. I was in a rush at this point so I didn't cut shorter ones for the wheel wells, they sort of just go to one side where they have to. I used broom hangers on three slats to attach them to the tubes, and stapled webbing to the bottoms to keep them at roughly the right spacing.
Slats fully spread out.
Broom hanger and stapled webbing.
Slats rolled up for access underneath, or for rear seats.
Obviously the telescoped tubes are going to bend immediately under any weight, so they are hung off the front seats via the carabiners and a ratchet strap.
Front weight is supported off the front seats. You have to adjust the ratchet strap if you move the seats.
The last bit is to inflate the air mattress. It a Lightspeed mattress from Costco, and just barely fits. There's not a ton of headroom because the mattress is so tall, but it is very comfortable. We can still (barely) climb in and out from the front seats.
Inflated mattress with sleeping bags.
Here are a bunch more pictures.
View from the driver's seat.
Plastic containers fit just right. The black bag in the middle is a tent in case the platform didn't work out.
Storage under the platform accessible from the rear doors. The cooler just barely fits and is kind of a pain to take out.
Water jugs on the other side. We shoved folding chairs, table, and backpacks in the space above where the tire tools are.
More view underneath. There is a stove and another plastic bin behind the bins immediately accessible from the back.
We slept on this for 4 nights and are going to have a hard time going back to tent camping. It was amazing how much time we saved by not having to set up the tent, unpack the sleeping pads, set up sleeping bags, and then do it all in reverse in the morning.
Here is a list of the parts.
I wrote down the tube cut lengths somewhere, but I can't find it. It was mostly a cut-to-fit build anyway.
- lightweight (gas mileage is already bad enough)
- able to store our camping stuff underneath
- fit my air mattress on top
- able to be stowed/deployed easily
- able to be built between my apartment and parking spot
- cheap
Finished sleeping platform.
First thing I did was remove the rear seats completely. We didn't need them for this trip, and needed the extra space. The platform should still fit and work with the seats in, but there would be a lot less storage space.
I bought a bunch of steel tubes and clamp fittings from McMaster-Carr. Cutting these with a tube cutter was a pain, but at least the cuts were clean.
The completed frame, extending just short of where the rear seat-backs go. Bolted to the rear two cargo tie-downs.
Close-up of the tube fittings.
Next, I cut some aluminum tubes to the right length to telescope out of the long steel tubes in the frame. I attached carabiners to the ends for hanging supports later.
Aluminum tubes from fully telescoped to stowed.
Aluminum tubes fully telescoped out.
Next I cut a bunch of furring strip from Home Depot to the right length for slats. I was in a rush at this point so I didn't cut shorter ones for the wheel wells, they sort of just go to one side where they have to. I used broom hangers on three slats to attach them to the tubes, and stapled webbing to the bottoms to keep them at roughly the right spacing.
Slats fully spread out.
Broom hanger and stapled webbing.
Slats rolled up for access underneath, or for rear seats.
Obviously the telescoped tubes are going to bend immediately under any weight, so they are hung off the front seats via the carabiners and a ratchet strap.
Front weight is supported off the front seats. You have to adjust the ratchet strap if you move the seats.
The last bit is to inflate the air mattress. It a Lightspeed mattress from Costco, and just barely fits. There's not a ton of headroom because the mattress is so tall, but it is very comfortable. We can still (barely) climb in and out from the front seats.
Inflated mattress with sleeping bags.
Here are a bunch more pictures.
View from the driver's seat.
Plastic containers fit just right. The black bag in the middle is a tent in case the platform didn't work out.
Storage under the platform accessible from the rear doors. The cooler just barely fits and is kind of a pain to take out.
Water jugs on the other side. We shoved folding chairs, table, and backpacks in the space above where the tire tools are.
More view underneath. There is a stove and another plastic bin behind the bins immediately accessible from the back.
We slept on this for 4 nights and are going to have a hard time going back to tent camping. It was amazing how much time we saved by not having to set up the tent, unpack the sleeping pads, set up sleeping bags, and then do it all in reverse in the morning.
Here is a list of the parts.
Code:
Line | Vendor | P/N | Description | Qty | Price | Total | Comments
-----|----------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----|--------|---------|--------------------------------
1 | McMaster-Carr | 2534T73 | Zinc-Plated Steel Framing Tube, 6' Long, 1.08" Diameter | 5 | $10.80 | $54.00 |
2 | McMaster-Carr | 2534T21 | Clamp-on Framing Fitting Tee, Steel | 6 | $ 3.00 | $18.00 |
3 | McMaster-Carr | 2534T22 | Clamp-on Framing Fitting Open Tee, Steel | 6 | $ 3.72 | $22.32 |
4 | McMaster-Carr | 2534T34 | Clamp-on Framing Fitting Panel Connector, Steel | 3 | $ 2.72 | $ 8.16 |
5 | McMaster-Carr | 2534T15 | Clamp-on Framing Fitting Plastic End Cap, Pack of 10 | 1 | $ 4.46 | $ 4.46 |
6 | McMaster-Carr | 2614T74 | Adhesive-Backed Silicone Rubber, 1/8" Thick, 1" Width | 1 | $ 3.11 | $ 3.11 | used as spacer on AL tube
7 | McMaster-Carr | 3933T23 | Zinc-Plated Steel Carabiner, 500 lbs Capacity, 5/16" | 3 | $ 1.23 | $ 3.69 | "Not for Lifting"
8 | McMaster-Carr | 1723A22 | Tool Holder, Zinc-Plated Steel, Pack of 10 | 1 | $12.93 | $12.93 |
9 | McMaster-Carr | 90591A151 | Zinc-Plated Steel Hex Nut, M6x1 Thread, Pack of 100 | 1 | $ 2.30 | $ 2.30 | not sure why I used this size
10 | McMaster-Carr | 91290A204 | Black-Oxide Socket Head Cap Screw, M6, 45mm, Pack of 10 | 1 | $ 5.52 | $ 5.52 |
11 | McMaster-Carr | 91090A113 | Zinc-Plated Oversized Washer, Pack of 50 | 1 | $ 5.80 | $ 5.80 | used to fasten to cargo D-rings
12 | Online Metals | | Aluminum 6061-T6 Tube, 0.875" OD, 0.635" ID, 4ft length | 3 | $15.99 | $47.97 |
13 | Home Depot | | Furring Strip | | | | don't have records on this
14 | Harbor Freight | | Ratchet Strap | | | | orange webbing
-----|----------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----|--------|---------|--------------------------------
| $188.26 |
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