Sleeping in truck bed

Thanks, cracklis! I, too, used Reflectix (Home Depot) to cover all 4 windows. However, on the front and the side windows, I used the heavy duty wired ties found on coffee bags. I cut the ties into 1.5 - 2" pieces; three per each window frames. Insert them at the top and behind the three window frames. Push each one about a 1/2" below the frame. Simply fold them over the window covers. On the rear window, I used the adhesive hook & loop tape. This really keeps the light out. You won't have any problem with sleep!

 

My kids were pumped to camp in mine. After one night of everyone kicking each other they decided that one gets to sleep in the cab on the folded down rear seats and the other crashes in the back with me. I think tents will still have a place in our lives...

Good to know. I intend to do this but thought the shell alone would be enough..!

 

Here’s the setup I just put together. Turfed the bottom too for my surfboards.

 

I am envious that you had that experience. The best thing that my wife and I did was go camping the week before our wedding. The camping was way better, but she has not been along since.

I still enjoy my tents, but lately every damn trip, it has rained. I got tired of airing everything out. So if it is dry, I'll be tenting. If it is wet, I'll mount of the Softopper. It is hanging in the rafter for the summer otherwise.

The camping that I did over Presidents Day weekend was killer in the bed.

 

Both wrong, 1"x1" steel square tube fits like it's made to go there. Stronger, lighter, way easier to live with, and no reason for vertical supports in the middle. I don't understand why more people don't go this route.

I don't have my platform installed at the moment but you get the idea.

 

$239 ZINUS 6" Ultima Memory Foam Mattress, Full, Fiberglass Free, Pressure Relieving, CertiPUR-US Certified, Mattress in A Box, White

https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Ultima...ttress+full&qid=1586984980&s=furniture&sr=1-3
Fits the long bed perfectly, but used to be about $60 less.

 

Here is my setup. I did mine in three panels so I could stack them by the cab when not in use.

I tried that but they took one look at my truck and said "absolutely not". They wouldn't even look inside the truck, so I think it depends who you get at the DMV.

 

My neighbor went down to the DMV in his truck with a shell, but no platform bed. He was rejected.

Before doing it, you should have the title in hand. It is a lot more difficult if the bank has it. I used the information from @Crom that he put together in his build thread. He explains in detail all necessary steps. I had an appointment when I went to the DMV and the forms already filled out. I was finished in about an hour.

Give it another shot at a different DMV location. Maybe have your sleeping bag on it and some camping gear stored under it!

 

Well done, glad you found it useful that's exactly why I wrote it up! I've saved $560 since doing it. So glad I did.

 

@Nomad26, I didn't see you're in San Diego! I went to the Clairemont/Genessee DMV. I think @Crom went to the El Cajon DMV.

 

I’m in north county so went to the one in San Marcos. It seems hit or miss for sure!

 

I might wait until I pay it off, I’m close! That way less hassle. I saved that thread for future reference!

 

I built mine out with a drawer system where one side is fully open to the bed, plus an option to go full width of the bed with my sleeping platform. Roughly designed using SketchUp and then called a few audibles on the way. Basically just using 3/4in plywood. It's decently heavy and given some changes in my requirements (new kid, big dog and her crate have to ride in the back now...) I'm planning a V2, where I'm thinking about using 80/20 as my structural material.
here are some quick screen grabs of some of the measurements.

Sorry for the huge images?

 

Lowe's or HD. They have interlocking foam squares for flooring.

 

@plurpimpin this is genius. About how much weight have you put on a platform supported like this? (any engineers know the deflection calculations for 1 inch steel off the top of their head?)

 

here's the best picture I have of it right now. drawer is 4.5 feet deep and on 4 foot long, extra heavy duty (500 lb) full extension slides.

 

this set up worked out pretty well too. you could leave it in and if you needed more height, just slide out the middle and put it on the bottom. it also makes good benches for kids and short people with the middle down.

 

I’ve probably had close to 400lbs on it with no noticeable deflection. I’m using 0.120” wall tubing.

 

This is the most functional/logical setup I’ve seen for part time use. My one big, one small setup works but I have to pull the big one out through the windoor if I need the full bed.

Some of you guys are way overthinking this. Unless you weigh 500 lbs and are doing jumping jacks, there’s no need for any cross supports at all. They just take up valuable vertical clearance under the platform.
I get that some design elements may require them. But for a basic flat platform they are excessive.