Sleeping platform

Going wheeling, camping, and rock climbing this weekend! Got all 3 pieces in the truck and thought I'd share a photo. You can see the amount of storage I can fit under there with 4 bins.

 

Very similar to my setup, I even have the exact same plastic bins haha if you wanted to, covering it with a felt material like mine really wasn't too hard and really finishes it off I think.

 

I've thought about carpet but I decided no. This platform tends to get wet and dirty and I want it to dry fast and clean up easy.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what does the pop-n-lock do? Is it redundant if your tailgate already locks? I love the sliding lock idea for the platform and think i'll use it - just trying to figure out if there is some tailgate idea ya had as well.

 

The pop-n-lock is a locking handle that replaces the handle on your tailgate. I believe what he was saying was: combined with the locking tailgate, having two of the pictured locking mechanisms attached to the two halves of plywood, would allow you to fully secure what's underneath in storage.

Without the locking tailgate, and only the pictured locks, you could open the tailgate and take what's from underneath it. On the flip side, with the locking tailgate and nothing connecting the two panels, a thief could easily just lift the wood apart with the same end result.

 

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Some good plans here that a buddy can use ...
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Sweet, confirms what I was thinking. I have a lockable tailgate and will be building a platform like this. Definitely going to put in some slider locks!

 

This guy has an interesting and versatile setup:

http://www.desktodirtbag.com/pickup-truck-camping/

 

That one seems pretty popular. Definitely advantages. I see a ton of setups that are honestly pretty awesome but weigh way more than I would want. But sometimes I catch myself daydreaming...

 

Thanks for the link to the blog from which I found another blog.

https://onegirlontherocks.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/living-in-a-truck-a-manifesto/

If I have to sleep in the canopy, I use a floor level pad. In this second blog, she uses a platform shelf at the front of her bed that rests on the camper shell lip, a brilliant idea. The front shelf allows you to shift storage items up high and allows you to sleep feet forward.

 

I had some leftover scraps after building my sleeping platform, so i made this little extend table that works great for cooking/prep. I added a lil scrap so that it seeds itself in the tailgate jam, so it won't collapse on itself. On the other end i used some hinges so the 2 parts would fold together nicely. Hope it inspires somebody to do the same!

 

I bought supplies to build mine out.
Will get er done this weekend and will post pics.

 

I did the same but I used a fence post that has holes in it that will take a cotter pin. That way when the ground is uneven I can set the right height. I rarely use that table. Some nice NRS roll tops are what I seem to use more often.

 

Anyone done something like this on the tailgate?

 

I don't have a cap and have been looking for a way to make something that is a platform to hold stuff/ sleep on, but also have removable side supports that will hold a tarp and mosquito netting. I only plan on using this a couple of times a year.

 

I think I'm going to use high quality 1x6 deck boards for the cross pieces. Trying to collect opinions on the plywood. Can you go thinner than 3/4s without sag? Trying to shave a touch of weight. Probably being overzealous and will get the 3/4 ply, but still curious.

 

Posted these in the "Camper Shell" thread, thought I'd share here as well. I went with 2x6s with the ends notched to sit flush with the lip of the bedliner. Since I wanted to do a two-piece platform, I used 3/4 ply for stiffness. Indoor/outdoor carpet applied with spray adhesive and its done. 1 1/2 hrs and $84 (I needed 2 sheets of ply cut 28 1/2 x 69in.). I probably could have gotten by with 5/8 ply, but I think 1/2in would sag.

 

I was going to go 1/2" also for weight reasons, but ended up going with 3/4 and glad i did. There is a little tiny bit of sag, but its sturdy.

 

Have you noticed any mpg difference between an empty bed and platform?