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

So fancy - that is amazing! Well done.

 

Where did you source your 8020? Thanks!

 

Thanks! I still have a bit more to do, so it's a work in progress.

Most of it came from a robotics shop that was selling cutoffs and old projects. I found it through a posting on Craigslist where they were offering it for sale before recycling, and just bought a couple of old projects off of them so I would have what I needed with some excess. I still have enough tslot in my garage to almost build a second one, and enough hardware to build like 4 more, and I've spent under $100 on materials including picking up the scrap.

I wouldn't ever use new tslot. It is ridiculously expensive new because it's designed for precision applications. For example, here's a good source - https://8020.net/40-4040.html - that's about the same profile I'm using and it's $0.61/inch before adding cutting or hardware. I have about 40' of tslot in this build, so ~$300... before shipping and before cutting and before adding hardware (screws, brackets, etc). I have no idea what hardware costs are since I didn't have to buy any, but the robotics company I bought this all from said they usually quote project hardware by matching the cost per length of the actual tslot (so they'd quote $0.61/inch for hardware as well, before considering labor).

On the plus side, tslot is ridiculously durable, so if you can find any used tslot structures, it would work great and already come with fasteners. That said - I wouldn't use any profile smaller than 1.5" / 40mm because smaller sizes will deflect slightly over a 6' span with a few hundreds of pounds on it. The frame I have now doesn't move at all when me and my wife sit on it, or when the inside of the truck is loaded up with IT gear.


Tslot's really easy to work with. It went together faster than welding and finishing a frame, and if I ever want a layout change, it's fairly easy to rebuild. It's ridiculously light too, at least compared to building out of mild steel. It's perfect for this application if you can source it for a reasonable cost.

 

Thanks man. A lot of good info there. I'm looking and small storage and shelf applications for my camper coming in. I'll keep an eye out on craigslist!

 

Got some great ideas off this thread so wanted to put my drawer build up. Super happy with how it turned out so far but will have to wait another 2 months for my ARE canopy to arrive and test it out for real.

Like lots of others I went with shop grade birch and used UHMW strips for drawer slides doesn’t seem to take too much effort but haven’t loaded them up either. Thinking about rubbing them down with some snowboard wax to help.

Cut out an old stop sign to strengthen up the back of the t handle.

piano hinge mock up before staining and carpeting.
Made a couple slide able flat tops for food prep etc.

 

I also got a little excited to stain the drawers and did so in suboptimal conditions. (Below 10 degrees Celsius.) so had to find a dry warm spot for them to hand out and dry out. Much better now. Just used a thompson’s water seal plus protector.

 

Going to do the outdoor carpet on top soon enough but wondering how to attach it?

I’ve seen you guys glue it down but could I not just staple the bell out of it?

 

Your build looks nice!

I have done both stapling only (on the underside of the platform) as well as gluing with staples (glue between platform and carpet and staples on the underside of the platform) for different platforms that I have made.

My preference was the glue, here is what I used:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-16-75-oz-Super-77-Multi-Purpose-Spray-Adhesive-77-24/100067550

I would also recommend gluing some carpet padding on the wood first, then gluing the carpet on top.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring-Carpet-Carpet-Padding/N-5yc1vZbois

Show off some pictures when you get more done!

 

Thanks. I’ll check out those products. Hadn’t thought about the padding as I was going to get a mattress later on.

Is there any other reason to put the padding down? (Ie. helps the carpet stick better) or did you use it just for the comfort factor?

 

The padding makes it so much easier on your knees when you need to crawl into the shell for anything. I've never used it as the primary padding to sleep on.
I built my first platform without it and decided to give the padding a try on my next go around... I wouldn't build another one without it.

Here was my first build:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...r-storage-systems.424709/page-2#post-12320742

And here is my second one:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-storage-systems.424709/page-63#post-19019706
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...storage-systems.424709/page-105#post-23040694

 

Turned out pretty good. I wanted it to be easy enough to get in/out yet very stable.

Used all pressure treated lumber.

-5/8" Plywood
-2×8s Ripped down and angled the ends to fit the notch also planed to a true 1"
-2×10 Center support notched for cross braces
-Marine grade carpet wrapped with padding

 

What are the bottom notches for?

 

Fishing rods.. I normally will store 2-3 under the platform and have to place them diagonally.

 

Not trying to impress and looking to keep the load light:


Perk is that it all cost ~$115. Ornamental legs and all.

 

Version 1.1

I found a relatively cheap solution, lighter weight than wood base. They are 2" bars so it does take up a bit of space.. but I think the durability and versatility is going to pay off in the long run.

Aluminum dunnage racks.
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/re...dunnage-rack-1400-lb-capacity/600DUN2036.html

I got 3 36x20x8 because they are a ready to go size and only 31.95 each.

The cargo mat+rack sits perfectly at the height of the wheel well channels.


This creates one large opening which I left justified, one long skinny opening on the other side and fill access to the cubbies and 120v. My ideal would have 1 large drawer but apparently no one will make that for under 4k for this truck.

The dunnage racks are super strong and rediculously light. I found we were storing some stuff at my work on them, and immediately caught my attention for this. I ran one out to my truck and lo and behold a perfect fit. Common heights are 8 in and 12" (to the top so 6/10 beneath).

There is another site that makes custom racks and I think a 42x60x8 or 12 would perfectly optimize the space and stability. That size custom was going to be about $200 so I thought I'd give this a whirl first. They are useful storage racks for me either way.

 

What is the name of the site that does the custom ones? This is a great idea BTW

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIEhAC&usg=AOvVaw0NK7w5_fF3hvzBAHmDZJFB

 

A jet sled makes a dandy drawer. or put skate bearings on each post for a piece of square tubing to ride on.

 

Man what a sick thread...glad i DIDNT see it before embarking on bed drawers..i’d still be nerding out and going back to the drawing board hahah.

whipped this up over 2/3 days:



“Kitchen” / food prep on the right side and gen storage on the left.

The fact that the wheel wells angle very slightly (1.5” over 7” of height) bothered me too much to let that small space go to waste making rectangular drawers...so i got nerdy and made them match the angle of the wheel wells haha. Worth it for my OCD.

I used 3/4” baltic birch for the top and 1/2” for the sides and drawers. Mostly because it comes in 60”x60” pieces, so perfect for a short bed.

I probably could have used 1/2” for the top given how supported it is.

The Aluminum channel seems like a great material to investigate i’m just a wood guy by trade so made it with what i know. Got fancy with some ash cutting boards and food prep counter.

Also the cut down the middle would have solved my issue with sliding it in. Great inspo in this thread if i ever get around to going back to the drawing board on this.

 

Nice work there! Just curious how much you think it weighs total?