barb's4Runner
New member
Hi all,
I wanted to post my final version of a 6' long sleeping platform and bike tray that was started with the help of a friend and his wood shop at the beginning of the summer. It was composed mostly of high-grade 1/2" birch ply. It started out with the typical 8" lift to fit over the wheel wells, and was then modified to 3 1/2" high necessitating cutting it out around the wheel well, since the 8" high platform did not allow for any headroom when sitting up. The new rails were cut to 1" x 31/2" x 6' birch hardwood. Also, I wanted it narrow enough to fit a bike tray for my mountain bike, so I could transport the bike inside the car, and also lock it inside, since mountain bikes are very expensive now. The tray section slides in and out so I don't have to dead lift the bike into the rear of the car, and the fork with wheel removed, locks to the tray with a Yakima fork mount. Here are photos of the final 31/2" high version. Slides which were first put on the bottom of the tray, ended up on the sides, and the tray itself had to be narrowed, since moving the bed platform down, also resulted in moving it over. Also cut were two, square, lift-out covers on the front of the sleeping platform for storage underneath. Storage is limited, but again, this is for a single person/adventurer. Still working on a box with compartments for the space under the bed platform, since one of the rails was warped, which I didn't realize, so side slides for a drawer wouldn't work. Not being a carpenter, these are issues I discovered after it was all together. Painted it robin's egg blue, used some cheap, indoor-outdoor carpet for the bike tray liner, and found a nice 3" tri-fold foam futon from craigslist. Total cost, about $300. Total hours, a lot! Many thanks to Frank Irving for his help with the project!
I wanted to post my final version of a 6' long sleeping platform and bike tray that was started with the help of a friend and his wood shop at the beginning of the summer. It was composed mostly of high-grade 1/2" birch ply. It started out with the typical 8" lift to fit over the wheel wells, and was then modified to 3 1/2" high necessitating cutting it out around the wheel well, since the 8" high platform did not allow for any headroom when sitting up. The new rails were cut to 1" x 31/2" x 6' birch hardwood. Also, I wanted it narrow enough to fit a bike tray for my mountain bike, so I could transport the bike inside the car, and also lock it inside, since mountain bikes are very expensive now. The tray section slides in and out so I don't have to dead lift the bike into the rear of the car, and the fork with wheel removed, locks to the tray with a Yakima fork mount. Here are photos of the final 31/2" high version. Slides which were first put on the bottom of the tray, ended up on the sides, and the tray itself had to be narrowed, since moving the bed platform down, also resulted in moving it over. Also cut were two, square, lift-out covers on the front of the sleeping platform for storage underneath. Storage is limited, but again, this is for a single person/adventurer. Still working on a box with compartments for the space under the bed platform, since one of the rails was warped, which I didn't realize, so side slides for a drawer wouldn't work. Not being a carpenter, these are issues I discovered after it was all together. Painted it robin's egg blue, used some cheap, indoor-outdoor carpet for the bike tray liner, and found a nice 3" tri-fold foam futon from craigslist. Total cost, about $300. Total hours, a lot! Many thanks to Frank Irving for his help with the project!
