35” Spare Tire Placement

Came across this thread while searching for 35” spare storage options.
I used a spacer under my bam beds style platform to fit the spare. It works great for storing as much as possible.

The spacer left enough height for milk crates against the cab side of the bed with recovery gear.

But when I sleep in the short box I really miss the head room.
So I have been considering this: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/35-inch-spare-in-factory-location.741292/

 

Cool man.

That's funny. I've had a similar idea when I saw the bam beds style platform. I was like, well, it looks like they sit too shallow to throw the spare under, but If I added some sort of spacer to modify where the platforms sit, I could make it work. I've also thought that you could go the other route using the bam beds style platform and just put the spare on top. It really just depends on how you want to configure the bed and the crap you feel you need. After having a 3rd gen 4Runner with a swing out bumper, I decided that I'd rather not do that again if it can be avoided.

Do you have more pics of the overall bed setup? What all are you keeping above the platform? Or, do you try to keep that flat to sleep on or something?

I am trying to keep my setup as simple as I can. I am a bit too tall to comfortably sleep in my short bed, so I will try to perfect my hammock solution. I am even willing to add one of the hammock stands that are out there to give more flexibility. It's pretty rocky here in Washington so tent stakes and lack of trees can sometimes be a limiting factor. But if I had a stand, then I don't ever have to worry about one of the main limitations to going with a small hammock option.

*Edit* I had to laugh at myself for realizing that I had said pretty much the same thing a couple months ago. I am getting old and senile.

 

Did you bolt your “spacer” to the bed or to the platform? Looks like you used 2x1? Thanks for any info— I’m probably going to do something very similar.

 

Firstly, apologizes didn’t realize I had posted in the 3rd gen section!
I do keep the platform as open and low as possible for sleeping.


I’m short and can get away with sleeping diagonally, though not the most comfortable. I did pull the platform and spacers out to build an extension for sleeping.


But I discovered the underside of the panels to be quite moldy.
Not sure if the water based sealer didn’t hold up or generally too much moisture from camping back there. My bestop also leaks pretty badly.

I ripped the spacers from left over 3/4” ply that I made the platform from, they’re just shy of 5’ long and about 2” in height. But they also became moldy towards the cab side of the bed. They’re completely toast from water exposure. I did seal everything with multiple coats but moisture is a tough one.


I used some “industrial” hook and loop fastener with adhesive back. Stuck one side to the spacers and the other side to the inside of the bed. I only used sections of it since it was holding so strong. The spacers never budged or moved, they were a bear to take out. It’s something like this (

$14 3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener 250 Black, 1 in x 4 Ft

3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener 250 Black, 1 in x 4 Ft) without the soft or “loop” side.

I’m curious if using a roll on bed liner would be thick enough to protect the ply from moisture.

 

Cool set-up. That's a bummer about the water intrusion/mold. Be careful, some people have pretty strong heath reactions to mold. sleeping back there with a heater running could tee-up a bout of mystery illness. I wonder if there is a suitable non-organic option that would accomplish the same and not cost more than a Decked system.

 

Your truck also leaks if it has the same construction as the 3rd generation. Water on my truck comes up the outside wheel well though many square holes in the sheet metal bed rail and into the bed. The square holes are to secure the plastic rails on the sheet metal rails. While you have your vehicle apart take a hose and shoot some water up there and watch the water drip down from the rail area.