Show us your truck bed sleeping platform/drawer/storage systems

Marine adhesive and staples.
Just like carpentry ... glue it and screw it.

 

Did you build that over a bed mat?

 

That's a great idea, wish I'd thought of that. I used a combination of carpet glue from Lowe's or HD and staples the first time, mostly just carpet glue the second time when I replaced a section. It takes more glue than you'd think and it takes a day or so for it to set up with the rubber backed carpet (the weather wasn't cooperating with me either) and to finish off-gassing. I've got a couple of Arrow T50s but years ago when I was restoring VW campers I picked up a Harbor Freight pneumatic stapler and I just run the pressure up a bit to sink them into the plywood (darn thing still works despite me abusing it). I've also got a Bostich now that came as part of a package deal but I've never used it. I tried to avoid using staples as much as I could this time as they rust and will work themselves out imperiling things like knees, air mattresses, sleeping bags, etc.

 

You can get stainless staples.

 

basic.

 

Nice and clean look there.

 

After getting my wood cuts within an 1/8-1/4”, the carpet created the perfect fit. Happy with it, for sure.

 

The part I am struggling with is how to attach the legs to my extension. I have a double cab with a 5’ box, so I have created a platform extension to allow this to work for me. I’m 6’3”.

Because the extension is almost the full depth of the tailgate, it will be under quite a bit of weight as I’m crawling up onto the platform.

I would like the legs to be on a hinge so I can fold them down for storage, easily sliding the extension under the platform. A hinge that locks in a 90° position would make me feel it’s more safe. Would hate for the wife to take a fall when crawling into the truck.

Haven’t found perfect hardware yet.

 

Did you take off about 1/4” for carpet? 1/8” per side? Trying to gauge how much room to leave

 

1/8” per side would be perfect. This cheap carpet compresses really easily.

 

Thanks!

 

I made my plywood as close to the exact dimensions as possible, then used force to push the wood down in place. There is 0 wiggle as I drive.

 

Same. I cut the platform to 57 total inches, but I am not the most exact person when ripping with a circular saw, so I figure blade loss was around 1/8”, if any at all. Definitely want it tight to push it down into place. No way mine is moving as I drive either.

 

https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pts/d/high-liner-tacoma-canopy/6534181011.html

Selling my hi liner atc canopy for anyone looking to start a camping build! I had fun with it but I’m moving to a different set up and need this gone!

 

My bed sides are angled, wide at the top. If I made it too tight ... it would just rise. I cut and carpeted mine to fit the bed at the height of my supports.

 

Al

All our bed sides are the Same, we all drive tacos.
My carpeted plywood does not fall into place on it's own. I have to hit it into place to get them to fit. They do not ride up at all as I drive.

 

When I added supports to my parents Aliner dinette table in bed mode, I just screwed a flat PVC cap to the bottom of the table. Then glued another to a length of PVC that just slips into the cap under the table. You could do something similar but with two or three legs. Plasti-Dip them black and add some speed stickers to make them look like they belong there, and you're set.

 

If you find the perfect hardware, holler.

My setup for this exact purpose is pretty janky. I have folding legs, but like you said, they are not really sturdy enough to support awkward crawling in. So I used some 2x4 brackets on my extension that I pin removable 2x4's into after I set up the extension. It is strong enough to sit on, but in reality I have my girlfriend crawl into the back first, then I put on the extension and do the acrobatics to get in.

 

I ordered a set of these. The legs will not fold down quite as flat as I would like, but they lock and seem like a pretty good option for the 2x4 legs I plan to use.

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/332264455876

 

Just get a camper, like this fella did!