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

One pro of inflatable pads is easily stowing them. I got mine when I had my FWC. The "mattress" pads in it were not comfortable. I can side sleep comfortably with the pads I referenced earlier.

If I'm on a multi day trip I leave them inflated on their side next to my table and solar panel.

 

Getting caps off is easy! There's a bolt on each of the clamps at the top of the rail on the bed, undo it and lift off. Put a heavy duty step at the end of the tailgate, walk in, lift it up on your shoulders SLOWLY, taking care to balance it, and just walk off, setting it gently on a pair of sawhorses.

Even easier, if you fit in a garage and have a roof rack, just put a couple of heavy duty eyehooks in the garage above the topper, get a ratchet strap, and loop from the rack to the eyehook, just ratcheting it off.

Basic caps are usually 100-200lbs, heavy, but nothing too bad to lift and carry off with your shoulders if you're in shape. I used to go topless all the time on my Taco to haul loads before I bought a hi-rise with walkin and toolbox. It's way too heavy with the toolbox loaded for me to get it off now, so I just use a trailer if I need to haul anything big.

 

A plus to the rug in the cap is the reduction of condensation that will accumulate on the cap.

My stock rug, ARE MX, will pull off if I use a large enough piece of Velcro. And that actually is not that big of a piece to do that. I think they were cheap in the application of the glue on mine.

Ken in NC

 

I put a full size mattress back there. Fits great!

 

Oh I see, I never thought about the actual weight of the cap, just assumed they were too heavy for a couple of people to take it off. That helps, I'll get what I need over the winter and take it off in the spring to do the actual rug and sleeping platform install. If only I had a garage

Thanks for the help!

 

Get a 10x10 ft canopy.

 

The only reason to have carpeting inside of a cap, is to cut down on condensation. It is not going to save your head too much if you slam your head into it. There is no padding behind them it's just glued to the fiberglass. I do wish my chap had carpet, as the fiberglass does not look very finished but it is not a deal killer.
I would not personally go through the hassle of trying to install carpet inside of a shell. There is too many curves to get to line up and make it look decent.

 

I too use the 'turtle shell' method.

 

Let me rephrase, I wish I had a driveway! Haha! I've got the canopy but living in the city with street parking makes these kinds of projects harder.

Thanks everyone for the help, it sounds like I'll be doing a cap off rug liner install and sleeping platform build this spring!

 

Last weekend I slept in my Leer 100R leaving the tailgate open but camper door closed. I was laying on a 1" foam pad & 2 sleeping bags & inside a comforter & 1 sleeping bag. The amount of space wasn't an issue but the padding was. I woke up & felt like I'd broke a rib in my sleep! I need more padding for sure..

 

On my '89 access cab, I took the top off with the help of my wife and mother. The only problem was their kvetching...

 

Agreed. Amazing how a truck could bind so many of us. I will never forget you pulling into that gas station on Beach Blvd saying, “Hey! You’re HBMurphy!”

You’ve done some nice work.

 

I used to do that to swap between rack and cap. Even unto carrying it up a flight of stairs to a second floor storage unit back when I had an apartment. Now the cap stays and I just use roof rails that I can remove to carry in each hand. With the ditch tracks on the cab I can stretch the length too.

 

I finally made and installed my sleeping platform. Over all I'm very happy with the design and function of the bed. What i like about this design is its super easy to remove as needed. There is no center support touching the bed floor which leaves a lot of room under for storage. A few things I want to change/add are as follows
:
1) Drill hole or add handle to making lifting the platform sections up easier for access to back of the truck bed (right now with the flat surface its hard to grab hold of the plywood)
2) When not using the full platform I need to come up with a way to store it in the rear of the bed like a 1/4 platform. I want to stack the sheet and lock them in place at the rear of the truck
3) If i start to see that the middle section of platform sags with just one support I will make another and install it (just drops in place so very easy to add later)

 

I like it. You could get some of those plastic bins with wheels that could act like drawers. But they'd be easier to remove and would keep stuff from sliding all the way up towards the cab.

Does the middle sag at all when you are laying on it?

 

it did a bit ~1/4" before I added the center support. Now it works perfect. Like I noted I may add another support in the middle like the one I made (if needed). Its easy to make and drops right in place if i need

 

I really like the simplicity of this as I need to easily remove and limited place to store (in garage) when not used. Thinking I would use 2x8 notched for the cross bed supports. Tks for posting.

 

The sleep platform now doubles as a corn hole game. Only did the one section becuse the memory foam and sleeping bag will roll up on the back section.

And who says inspiration doesn’t come from hanging in bars?

 

How is the metal bracket secured? I'm thinking you drilled them on from underneath?

 

The bracket is Z shaped so it's screwed on the bottom