Long Bed Sleeping Platform

Selling my sleeping platform. Located in SLC, Utah: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/utah-tacoma-classifieds.551216/page-12#post-26036308

 

Want to try your setup. Where did you get your hands on the screw in supports and the metal bracket they screw in?

 

I would guess the legs are 2x2s, the threaded parts are studs - wood screw on one end, machine thread on the other and the plates are furniture leg bases.

 

Finished my platform the other day. Super happy with how it turned out. Thanks for all the inspiration folks!

 

Awesome work!

 

Sorry for the delayed response, haven't been on the forum in awhile. I bought the legs from Home Depot. They're made to be furniture legs, but work great for this also. I cut them to length and painted them black.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Waddell-15-1-4-in-Parsons-Table-Leg-2665/100540024?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Waddell-Heavy-Duty-Top-Plate-2755/100390125

 

Too cool, nice build, might have to copy your build!!

 

Selling my Taco today. It is a sad day. My final request is that the Moderators will make this thread a sticky so it can live on. (searching this exact title text doesn't even return this thread, and you have to select "titles only" to even get it at the bottom of the first page) I put detailed measurements and we got 5 pages of responses with different ideas. Can we sticky this? @4x4Runner @tcBob

Much love to the community, and keep those sleeping platforms coming!

 

Awesome build! Thanks for the pictures!

 

Long bed or short bed?

 

I have yet to figure the advantage of a sleeping platform.

Speed might be one, but when I camp, I try not to be in a hurry. Weather does change however.

All the gear that goes under the Softopper is readily removed and slipped under the tailgate, or into the cab.
Cooking/ camping gear stays out. i.e. coolers and water bottles etc.

The extra headroom when sleeping on the bed floor is welcome. I do use a Therma-rest pad. The factory bed mat helps a lot.

I have fitted a 12 inch wide "shelf" at bed height at the front of the bed to hold "essentials", such as flashlights.

 

yeah i agree, I'm building storage cabinets but bed is going against the bed of the track, I want the head room and the ability to sit up right and hang out if the weather is bad. also doesn't hurt that i have a hi-rise leer 122.

I have really wide shoulders and haven't found a "camping" mattress thats comfortable,tried cots, air mattresses, exped megamat, none worked for me since i'm a side sleeper. so i've built it to be twin width, and am going to put a 4" futon and a 3" memory foam topper on it.

but i am debating with myself about raising it up just 1" so i can make a slide out table underneath.

 

Not everyone has the same goals or needs so it’s cool if it doesn’t work for you. For me, it’s great for many reasons. Sometimes I camp with my boyfriend, so the platform makes for a lot more usable space for two people, and our stuff. I like having all my stuff organized under the platform. That way when I get to camp I spend less time organizing the bed, and more time enjoying being outside. I also camp for work sometimes and it’s just about efficiency. I don’t want to waste my time every night moving totes and coolers and such. Especially when I have to work dawn to dusk then have to eat and get ready for sleep. It’s what works for me!

The lack of headroom sucks for sure but I really am only sleeping in there anyway. If the weather is bad and I need to be in the bed longer, I can shift one platform piece forward and still have the room I need with little modification so I can sit up more comfortably.

 

Sleeping up off the actual truck bed is one reason ... daily exposure to dirt, oil thrown out by badly maintained vehicles, etc. Allowing some space below the sleeping surface for storage is another. I do not need more reasons, but YMMV.

 

I see a strong distinction between a recreational i.e. camping viewpoint and that of the need for shelter on a regular basis.
Myself, I clean the bed with soap and water prior to "heading out". Then when camping, over 80% of what is in the bed comes out.
Tent, Fly, cooking, water, etc. The idea of under bed storage is moot. I need to get at everything.with a platform just in the way. But...!

I'm a tent camper first, and only count on the truck bed when the weather sours.

I do enjoy the crafting and problem solving displayed on these build threads. Or why would I visit? ;-)

 

I did this original build because I was doing a two-week road trip and some of the dates would be a single night in a campground, leave in the morning. So instead of pulling in late, setting up an entire campsight, then breaking it down in the morning, I could just sleep in the truck, leave in the morning.

It's about quickness and convenience. Some people will drive and need to sleep. Better to sleep in this than the backseat, if you're taller than 5'8 anyway. It was honestly something I didn't use a ton but when I needed to it was great.

Also, I strategically packed the underside: only things that were "maybes" got pushed to the very back. I also attached those things to bungee cords so I could pull them out. Low-height plastic tubs are great, they can fit under the platform and can be slid out. It's a really convenient setup if you have any desire or need to sleep in a covered part of the truck.

 

Nice. I went a bit less complex. Made two frames(a fore and an aft) with 2x10 material. Only use 3/8's plywood. Marked and drilled holes for wood pegs. When not in use all the pieces are in the attic. When in use we toss an inflatable queen size mattress on top(fits perfectly into the bed) and a Tacoma specific tent over. Stowable space is still available under the platform. Built this in 2017 and used it for 7 nights in SD and just this past May 4 nights in NC.

 

made some progress today, I'm almost finished with the driver side cabinets, still need to finish the door for the battery compartment and design and 3d print the inserts for the cupholders.

passenger side should go alot faster.

then i'll start on the wiring, got 25 ft each of red & black 2 gauge welding wire, 120 amp fuse block, 6 way fused distribution panel. probably going to wait till spring to do the solar panels and battery since they aren't going to be used for a few months.

 

for me, the advantage of sleeping platform with the drawer underneath is being able to pick up and go on a moments notice. I’ve got a pretty hectic schedule and when I find that I’ve got a free night to myself I might decide to head out of town with my mountain bike and my camping gear and I like to be gone from the house within a few minutes of making that decision. The drawer means that most of my gear is already in it. The mattress is already there, the blankets are already there. When I wake up in the morning I want to crawl out of bed, make my coffee, and get on my bike within the first few minutes. The camping itself it’s just a means to be in the place I want to be, sitting around the campsite is not really the goal for me.
I also sometimes end a work trip at an airport that’s 3 hours from my house, on a flight that lands after midnight. This happens to me at least several times a month and when it does I drive about an hour away to a state park and crawl in the back and sleep til the sun comes up and then finish my drive home in the morning. On those days it’s nice to have everything there, and to be able to wake up and just drive away immediately with minimal set-up or take-down time.

 

Yes, speed has it's attractions. I appreciate your perspective.