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

Sorry to probably ask this question for the millionth time in this thread -

Is there a link to the outlines to be cut? Since Home Depot/Dixie Line is better prepared to cut plywood sheets than I am, I’d like to give them the numbers.

Is there a difinitive width to cut if you want the piece down the middle and will be adding carpet? What about length of the slats, and height of the vertical support for the slats? I’ve see anywhere from 0.5” to 1” plywood being used. I can’t wrap my mind around 1” here unless you’re driving around 100lb kettle bells on a bumpy road.

Also, I’ve seen people use “fence board” which is the correct thickness to go into the slat cutouts such that the plywood isn’t slightly raised.

Thanks.

 

For mine, the width depended on the height. The sides of my '13 bed taper, so a higher platform needs to be wider than a lower platform.
Decide how high you want the platform, for storage, and then see how wide it is there.
I had two side panels that were varnished and carpeted, and ..... I gave them away when I raised the platform a little. I had to made 2 more.
I used 3/4" plywood.

 

My plan is for the oem shelf already in the bed. Don’t need too much space under. Just surfboards.

I’m trying to go as minimal as possible, and have a hard time believing if I do a centerline support much more than 0.5” is needed, even if I plan to sleep on it.

 

Used 3/4" ply for the deck. I used steel square tube for the rest but most use wood. The cutout pockets on the side are 1" deep.

I have not seen a proper drawn out dimension sheet for the bed. So many people have done different designs that I doubt you could say there is 1 definative setup.

As for home depot doing the cuts, I'd pass. You want it to be good and tight. Everyone I've seen at home depot just makes it kinda close, not the precision you want to get it right.

Pull out a piece of paper and a tape measure and start taking every measurement you can see of the bed.

 

Thanks for the details. I’m familiar with the HD/DL cuts. I assume if I’m doing carpet, nearest 1/8” cut should be fine.

Probably best I’ll do with my rubber ruler, anyhow. Same logic behind getting other people’s measurements. Concerns about my rubber tape measure...

Cheers.

 

Also - curious if any of you used carpet padding between the outdoor carpet and the plywood. I think this would mostly be to save my knees when crawling in, but also maybe help with it as a makeshift sleeping platforms the once in 5yrs I plan on using it for such.

 

I used carpet padding. It helps with the knees. Isn't ideal for sleeping unless you prefer extremely stiff. I still use a memory foam pad. Would still put the pad between wood and carpet if I were to redo it.

 

I have a kick board to kneel on the tailgate since i need to slide tools across the plywood drawer deck. Carpet wouldnt work. I use it instead of knee pads since I hate the straps behind the knees.

 

One cabinet is 10in the other is 7in wide. Enough for 2 people snug

 

Love this set up!

 

Simple, 3/4" plywood deck bent to a 1" crown then 6 oz fiberglass cloth and West System epoxy resin coated. Under that plywood drawers also coated with one layer of 6 oz and epoxy. The center latch locks both drawers, but I also added a Pop & Lock tailgate lock.

I use the truck for exploring, but also still need to haul yard waste and other bulky stuff, so no canopy yet. The deck is finished off with a rubber bed liner cut to size, rolled up in the front under the bed rail, and caulked on the side. I drilled "scupper" holes in the side of the bed up forward so the new bed floor drains ahead of the wheel wells.

The 400w AC outlet was moved so it's still available - there on the right.



Since this photo was taken I've painted the drawers all around.

 

Still trying to decide what sort of sleeping pad to use. Has to be able to fold in half for when I only use the "singles" bed.

 

I have two Klymit Static-V Luxe Insulated pads. Sometimes you can get them at a great "make offer" price on their ebay store. Think both of mine were refurbished ones where only one had a silk screen flaw. YMMV.
https://www.klymit.com/insulated-static-v-luxe-sleeping-pad.html

 

Thanks man! I was thinking that or just get a big piece of 4 inch foam and cut it in half or something. Actually getting pretty excited to sleep in my little set up. Just gotta make some curtains and were golden

 

I can put my fishing rods and rifles in there

 

It’s a truck so get something comfortable. It is carrying the weight.
You don’t need a backpacking pad.

 

I may have more questions to come, and thank you all for the awesome setups to look at and get ideas from!

My first question, I have a Leer 100R cap installed by the previous owner, it does not have the rug liner, just the raw fiberglass. I've slept a couple of times in the bed with a pad and it works OK, but now I want to build a plywood deck to sleep on. So how hard is it to put a cap rug liner in with the cap already installed, and how mandatory is it to have a liner when sleeping on a platform? My gut is telling me that I would slash my head open too easily on the ceiling without the liner.

Also if it's really hard or impossible to put the cap liner in while installed, is it realistic to try and just get a strip of rug liner on the ceiling of the cap in the middle and skip the corners and sides?

For sleeping pads I switched to a 3-4 inch memory foam that folds into 3 pieces this year, it's small enough to fit into a two person tent and spreads out into a full size mattress. It may not work in the winter but it's been a huge improvement over backpacking sleeping pads. This one looks even better than mine and there are hundreds to choose from on Amazon:

$159 Milliard Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover (Twin)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJ8HWBU

 

I would not want to deal with the inherent PITA that working upside down on the cap would entail. You could probably do a strip of carpet in the middle but at that point why not take the cap off, flip it over, and do the whole thing?

 

Yup, I'm right there with ya. It's the whole getting the cap off that I wouldn't even know where to start, maybe go to a Leer dealer in my area.

 

With a couple people taking a cap off is doable. Then set it down on moving blankets or padding and put the carpet in.