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

thanks. worked with a guy (1972 ish) who cut/ sold cordwood and he cautioned me against carrying heavy loads without the tailboard to keep the body from spreading. he had repaired & welded steel reinforcements across his backbox because he needed to let logs hang out on a regular basis.

 

There are several vendors making them and the price varies.
I cannot add them with my walk-in door on my cap.

 

Interesting video. Not a camper but ideas could transition to outdoor use.

 

interesting. I assumed that style BIG hatch would be a prime candidate.

 

I thought so too.

 

Tailgate doesn't really do much of anything to hold the bed walls so the stiffeners are used whether you remove the tailgate or not. There's just not enough steel in the corners to support the bed walls and keep them in place.

 

in the olden days, the tailgate latches held the tops of the bed sides from spreading.

with the dissimilar materials & design of the Tacoma bed, I can understand why there is not much inherent strength. long term, are there stress cracks around the bed to frame bolts?

 

So I've heard, certainly problems with tailgate alignment. It's something I've seen in a lot of trucks over the years even before the composite bed. With no frame connecting the top as with an suv, wagon, or minivan any significant movement (and there's often some) causes problems. Trucks carry heavy loads more often than either of the other two and frequently that load lands squarely on the rails. Any weakness in the cap or rack that's mounted gets transmitted and a fiberglass cap I'm guessing is probably weaker though my lumber racks had a removable rear bar which couldn't have helped.

 

Finished the project this weekend. I built the platform more for storage and crawling access to the front of the shell than for sleeping. I cut in a hatch in the front to reach stored objects easier. The storage locker will be used for kayak paddles, life vests, bike helmets, and a bike pump.

It will now be easier to crawl over the storage boxes that I previously built for the rear of the shell that also do double duty as platforms to stand on while loading and unloading the kayak.

It was kind of a pain to attach the front turnbuckle but I finally got it working. The carpeting is 'Sky Grey' indoor / outdoor carpeting from Home Depot. Plywood is a 5/8ths sheet of 4x8 that Home Depot cut to my specifications. Total cost, including hardware, was a little less than $90.

 

Copied from my build thread...

Finished up my modular drawer and sleeping platform. Feels stout. I discovered Ganahl Lumber during the build. They are great if you don't have the ability to do cuts to large portions/sizes of wood. I had a parts list and did the optimization to decrease loss during the cutting process. They did all but two cuts and that's only because I had to have that part in place to make the measurements.

The drawer section is primarily where I'll be sleeping. There is a small shelf piece which runs along bedside and it is easily removable. Various things are stored under the shelf. One item which fits perfectly and provides support are the Camco leveling blocks.

The driver's side is one piece which is supported by the wheel well and two glued 1x1 pieces. I'll probably add another 1x1 piece towards the tailgate. Under this section is my hi-lift, compressor, recovery bag, and other miscellaneous items.

So far I'm pleased with the end result. Gotta give thanks to HBMurphy for loaning me some tools to get this project done. One of the best things about this forum is the friendships I've made here.

 

I plan on making basically a truck vault with a bed slide on top. Any recommendations on how to keep the "vault" box secured down on the bed especially when the slide is fully extended as a counter weight? I was thinking about securing where the torque bolts are, but I haven't checked out the length of them.

 

I made the same exact thing. I absolutely love it! Best mod I have ever done. I attached mine at the front tie down as you can see in pic.

 

I used two turn buckles plus bolted the legs of the platform down to a plywood base. It is VERY secure!!!

 

THat looks awesome! Any photos of the top of the box? Debating what to do to Aroud the perimeter to get to the 110 and other compartments.

 

My top deck is solid all the way, because I store tools along each side of the slide. I access the power and bins from the back.

Here is a write up.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...truck-drawers-pic-heavy.550152/#post-17875936

 

I don't have a bed slide. But if you search back through here for some of my pics, or go to my thread on building NY deck you can see the hatches I put in my deck. One on each side to still access the cubbies and power.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/building-my-bed-platform.497053/

 

I built my truck camper using a Topper EZ Lift system. The drawer/sleeping platform is really sloppily put together but it works! I can ask any questions if needed, especially if anyone is considering the topper ez lift. My instagram (@tacomatronn) has more photos and i'll be posting a lot more as I build a travel

 

Awesome

 

Awesome time exposures! Your dog is really still too.

 

Something specific to ARE Walk-In Doors I created a new thread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/are-walk-in-doors-show-your-platforms.561598/