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

Amazing !

 

Yeah I kinda got carried away on thisIt started as a weekend project and turned into a month of tinkering with it and I've been making changes to it here and there ever since.

 

Looks great!

Can you say anything about your heater? Brand and power type/consumption?

 

Its a Mill brand safety heater, it has 3 output settings, 600, 900 and 1500 watts, 120 volts. I originally had one of those cheap heaters you get at Walmart but couldn't regulate it, it would either freeze you or run you out. This one works really well, I spent 9 nights in it last December with lows in the teens and on the lowest setting it I was comfortable. I have yet to use the other settings. I made brackets and bolted it to my cabinet but it comes with its own feet. I use it with a

$1,199 Honda eu2200 ITAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder - 49-State

Honda eu2200 and a 2 1/2 gallon extended run tank and it would last 3 nights without running out. Just search safety heater on Amazon, its a little pricey but works great. You can see in the picture its only about 3" thick which makes a big difference in a little taco bed, really nice thing is I can adjust the thermostat without getting up as the thermostat is right beside my pillow.

 

Not mine, but if you are in Southern Ca and have more $ than time....


https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/d/huntington-beach-tacoma-custom-built/6835352234.html

 

This might be the best resource for truck camping currently; posting for reference.

 

and welcome to TW.

I was drawn to tacomaworld in 2011 when I was trying to find examples of people building sleeping platforms in the back of their Tacoma's. At the time there wasn't a whole lot of examples but I saw enough to have a direction to head with my first attempt (which is on the first page of this thread)
It wasn't until after several years of lurking here I finally created an account and made my post to this thread (which was among my first). And now I've spent more time on TW than I care to admit... all due to researching a sleeping platform for my truck!

 

With my 98 Access Cab, took a road trip from Seattle > Banff > Alaska. Great setup, simple and worked well. Have a similar setup in my 08 DCLB.

 

Does anybody know of gas springs for the rear window that are lockable or incremental? I want to sew (sister-in-law is gonna help me) a canvas flap for the rear of the shell, and would love to lock the rear window at a 45º angle to support the "tent".

 

Not sure if this will do what you're looking for, but someone just posted these in one of the gfc threads:

 

Anyone have a price tag on those?

 

I built a platform out of two laminated boars that were placed inside the grooves. I had these boards notched to keep the tops flush with the top of the ledge. The Two parts of 3/4" plywood were cut and put in place snugly. The entire set up can be quickly removed for full use of the bed without tools and store in the garage easily. I used the outdoor carpet available at Lowes for the covering of the plywood and attached it using the marine grade carpet epoxy and staples from the Bostitch stapler. I opted to avoid using drawers to reduce weight and not lock me into always requiring the drawers to be installed. Instead, I used i3300 Pelican Storm cases that easily pull out and can be tuned sideways on the tailgate. The storm cases also have the benefit of keeping anything inside them extra protected from water and moisture. I can fit two of the i3300 cases and a 60" hi-lift jack or maybe a narrow case.

 

Expensive from the looks of it:
https://www.alliedelec.com/view/search/?keyword=camloc

Suspa appears to have a similar solution, but I can't find any specific part numbers:
https://www.suspa.com/us/products/gas-springs/special-functions/

I just bought new regular Suspa struts for my Leer (went with 17" x 35lb from Amazon). They work much better than my old ones that were dying a bit (and not giving full lift either.)

 

I think the new Pelican Vault line will also work well in that setup. Two V800s should fit two between the wheel wells, and be just short enough to fit in the SB as well:
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/double-rifle-case/vault/v800
Exterior is 56.11" x 19.15" x 6.65". You probably couldn't also fit the HiLift with 2 V800's though.

I have the V730 and it fits in one "tunnel" under my platform (center divider). It's the same width, but slightly taller (6.9" vs. 6.65") and shorter (47" instead of 56" long). My platform is also setup to have the surface sitting on the side lip, but I do have a full width support board as well. The V730 fits under it perfectly, and I can fit the V730 down either "tunnel".

The Vault series aren't quite as "bombproof" as the original Pelican, but overall I've been very happy with the V730, especially given the cost savings and the fact that there isn't an original Pelican with remotely close to the same dimensions.

https://www.pelican.com/us/en/products/cases/vault-cases

 

Please post when your get it figured out! I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I was just going to make a sleeve thing that fits over the Piston shaft to limit the strike though

 

Any more info on that plastic bin? Brand/Dims/Etc? Looks like it could replace two that I'm using in a similar space as you. I could easily build some dividers out of corrugated plastic to separate my cooking and recovery gear.

 

Quick and simple for holding your window where you want it - ie 30 degrees, 45 or 90. use a piece of para cord with multiple loops tied in and then just loop one end over the t handle (my rear glass has a handle on each side)and then the end loops around the strut mount pn the shell- just adjust the distance between each loop for the amount you want the window open. Pic below shows where i just used a cam strap before rigging up the para cord. Only pic i have since i have removed the shell in anticipation of selling it

 

Nice set up! Love the bumper sticker haha.

 

I’m gonna see if my hammock straps won’t pull double duty should I ever need to keep it at a specific height. No need right now, just thought those locking struts were kinda cool