Short Bed Sleeping Platform Idea... Feedback Please

So I've been trying to come up with a way for a 6'3" guy to sleep in a 5' truck bed. I've read tons of threads about the various ways people make platforms, but I want something small, simple, removable, and easy to store.

My thought is to use three 32" x 32" pieces of plywood hinged together so they would fold up/flip out. This give me an 8' platform that will stick out of the bed and past the tailgate. Might need a leg on the last piece to stabilize it.

Plus side, it's flat and relatively small. Folded out it's long enough to have room at the top for some head room and the tailgate end could even function as a table for cooking. I'm also not sleeping inches from the top of my shell so not so claustrophobic.

Downside is when deployed there isn't much room for gear and since it sits between the wheel wells it wastes space. I guess a lot of stuff could fit in the backseat and I don't really need that much gear anyway. No protection from critters either but some sort of net for mosquitoes would be good enough.

Anyway. What do you think. What am I overlooking? Sorry no pic so just try to visualize it.

 

I just use a tent. A backpacking tent goes up in in five minutes. Self inflating pad and away you go.

 

I think the obvious solution is an extra large roof top tent, a huge slide in wedge camper or a badass overlanding trailer. I afraid these are the only solutions.

 

Yeah I say RRT is the best way to go. Mine is small only 4' wide and 8' long. I still have full bed storage, along with storage on top of the Diamond back cover. Yes the front cover can still be opened with the tent on the cross bars.

 

Simplest way? Just lay a sleeping pad down on the bed. That’s the way I’ve always done it. But I usually just carry a tent.

 

Thanks for the feedback but a RTT is the wrong direction. I wan't more simple not more complicated. I'm not going to haul one of those around all the time and taking off and storing is a pain too.

I have tents and have done that and will continue too. I'm just thinking about a way to do the camping thing with even less stuff - no tent, sleep in the truck. A few slabs of wood might weigh more but no real set up.

 

Yeah, I guess that would work. I think my pad is longer than the bed plus tailgate but not by much. Guess I can toss it in and try. Mainly I didn't want my head jammed against the back of the bed nor do I want it hanging out over the tailgate. An 8' platform gives me the room I think I'd like to have.

 

Then maybe cut a 4x8 plywood to fit the bed and have it hang over the tailgate.

But try sleeping in the bed for now. Lay in it at an angle. I think you’d fit.

 

That's more or less my idea except I'd cut in 3 pieces for easy storage and fits in the back when driving. Also not 4' wide as that's more than I need. Hinged so it folds but stays together.

I'll give it a try with just my sleeping pad.

 

You could eliminate the leg by using some heavy duty glides to support extensions that slide out from under your platform. Sort of like how an extra table leaf works. Maybe have the front 1/3 attached to the fixed front rails and the back 1/3 attached the sliding section with the middle hinged from the leading edge of the back section drop the tail gate, slide it out, and flip over the middle section to fill the gap. Make them all 30" each gives you 7'6" and fits with the tail gate closed. Make it 2' wide and do shelving, crates, or pull out drawer down one side.

 

Hammock!






I was being silly, but it may not be that dumb

 

Google topper ez lift. I'm currently researching it, but I'll warn you it's not cheap.

 

Seriously, I wasn’t joking. Modern backpacking tents have two poles that have a bungee in the middle, so they self assemble. You bend and hook them in the four corners then there are half a dozen hooks on the ten you just click on the poles. You can do it blindfolded in the dark in less than 5 minutes and they disassemble just as easy. There is an optional fly you throw over the top, if needed (four more hooks).

 

I have that tent. It's ok. Setup is way more than a ground tent, and I couldn't use all the poles for fear of ripping the tent, but it is great for keeping you off the ground in the rain.

 

A - Backup your truck in the parking lot of a hotel. Rent a room. Sleep in bed.
B - Visit downtown LA and ask the bums for ideas. They sleep anywhere.
Camping: spending a fortune to live like a hobo.

 

I got nothin'

 

Thanks for the mostly useless ideas and the few good ones. I have a tent - several actually. I use them all the time. This was an idea for tent-less camping. Shorter trips where I'm less interested in setting up camp or for road trips when I need a few zzzz. I have a topper so a truck bed tent won't work although I saw one that works with toppers. Still, if I do that I'd rather just use my tent. I need to drag out my stuff and see how/if I can just sleep in the back with the tailgate down but I think I'm going to want a bit more length.

 

Hang a tarp over the truck bed, connected to the trees, sleep in bed.

 

Don’t over think it. I just bought a brand new TRD OR and came from a full size F-250 diesel with a top on it that I slept in a lot going to shooting matches.

My routine has always been just open topper window, lower tailgate, throw in sleeping bag, and hang mosquito netting over the open sides, drape around the sides and tuck around tailgate (Louisiana here). Now I have a short Bed Taco. Same routine works fine only I hang out a little. Not at all uncomfortable in a bag. If I get extravagant I also carry a mil surplus combat shelter I can put up in my sleep for times when I am using the space or it is really (really) raining.

I am 6’9” and probably like you as well - used to it. Sure slept ok in LOTS of less comfortable places.