Elevated bed for a short bed

New to the Tacoma world but well seasoned in the camping department. Just bought a 2018 trd sport and have been scouring the internet for sleeper conversion setups. Everything is super diy and I am wondering if anyone has found a shortbed sleeping setup on the higher end. There are some really nice pull out platforms but none of them are elevated. Looking for a track system so the bed blatform can slide out ideally on the side rails without vertical supports to the end of the tailgate. How is this not out there!!!

 

Join the heard. Lol

 

That was the first thought I had as well but here are the big reasons it doesn’t work
1. Dog + baby in the pretty near future = no roof tent
2. They are pretty damn expensive / hard to justify when I already own two really nice tents.
3. A good friend reminded me these are all over town (Slc, UT) and yet they never come off. We all get lazy in the summer and don’t ever take it off so we end up loosing another few miles per gallon in an already losing battle.

 

Seriously considering doing it right and turning it into a kickstarter

 

A regular 5-7 person tent is in your future. Wife + my kids + dogs = big tent with inflatable mattress and pack n play for the baby.

When it's just me I can sleep in the bed with my soft topper over my head.

 

I don't think the side rails (the ones the bed cleats go into) can sustain a significant amount of weight.

 

So a bit more info. @rlx02 engaged and use the truck for filming in crazy locations half the time just my lady, 40lb dog, and myself @JaCado I think you are right but what about removing them entirely and using the rigging spots for some beefy steel rails that serve as the tracks for the sliding bed platform?

 

They are still mounted into the composite bed (basically strong plastic) and being at the top it loses most of its strength. As I see it the load would need to be distributed evenly.. and reinforced with some angle supports . Maybe something like my crude drawing below.
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These braces are spread out more



Edit, now you have me thinking. If it was a piece of round tube with flat ends so they rest on top of the bed rail and mount a metal box with wheel inside. I made another crude drawing.

 

I thought about doing the same, but ended up just making it sectional. You’re free to take my measurements and play with this if it helps. One suggestion- make it so uou can put a cooler berween the closed tailgate and the closed bed instead of having to lift the cooler or other heavy boxes over it. Im thinking of modding my original design shown here to accomplish this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...between-4’-to-a-6-5’-bed-in-a-weekend.539080/

 

@JaCado i like the rail idea especially because I have a bunch of speed rail fitting laying around from film world. Kind of like pvc fittings but made out of aluminum. The other rout I have been thinking is removing the existing side rails and bolting in a square frame to prevent the sides from tacoing inward. You could then use the square frame as the side rails with casters inside the rail. Need to break out the sketchbook as well to paint a clearer picture

 

You are also going to need a set of these too
http://www.chaosfab.com/2016-2017-T...3xQMaslDc57z-BDOgnvX7e8HKdRA5MR8aAjEhEALw_wcB

 

Thanks for the link. Those will be very helpful. Funny I have that exact same cooler and I love the idea of the easy access. Here is a super quick drawing of how it would work.

 

Another reason this system would be so cool is because when you want to use the full truck bed interior you can just slide the full bed platform out of the tracks and store it.

 

It is an interesting idea. I wanted to mention the gofastcampers.com just in case you might not have known. It's elevated and roomy?

 

That is a neat idea, but $5700 bucks .

 

I dig those a lot but they are beyond my price point. Not to mention my Overland Shell gets here next week. I also have a deal with Rhino for 75% off so I would like to through one of their racks on top of the shell for additional storage. This is basically what I am working with but in cement gray.

 

I hear you. I was saving and projecting a purchase in about 9mo at the $5k price before the tariffs hit. Now, I'm in a land of confusion. That extra $750 really hurts. It is still less than other all-in-one options, but I am considering just a canopy in about 6mo.

Ah! I was just going off of your high-end quote and didn't realize that you already had a canopy coming.

That will make a nice setup and looks like it will support your side slide idea.