Sleeping platform

I'm on my second sleep deck.
The best support is the "uni-strut" or "power-strut" metal c-channel from Lowes. They have it in a 3/4" height that is perfect for the notches, and if it sags, you just flip it over and sag it back over time.
I bought two (8' or 10') lengths, cut them down, and have 4 total cross beams (2 per notch set) running in my truck. Way better than wood because it maximizes the space under neath

 

What kind of mattress/foam topper/thermarest/futon are you guys using in the back, on top of the platform? Trying to get ready for a winter camping trip and want to make it comfortable so i hear no complaints from gf!

 

Any issues with your plywood sagging in the middle? I'm going going to be building something similar to this for me and the GF but I'm wondering if I should have a center support or something...

 

Nope not at all so far. It's not all that wide and it's thick sturdy stuff so I don't ever anticipate it sagging. Not even out here in the PNW where it's always wet.

 

Do you have any spacers put between them in the notches, or are they just loose?

 

Spent the day at the lumber yard and hardware store. The cross beams are 2x6s that are sliced down to a true 1x6 (as opposed to .75 inch). I put a support underneath on each crossbeam as well. Top is 3/4" ply upholstered with the 'ol staple gun.

I also took my time with the tailgate seal and went to town. Crucial on these things by the looks of it. The moment I finished they day's work, the skies absolutely opened up. Spent a while in the shell looking for any leaks. Thing is tight as a drum at the moment. I guess my obsession with waterproofness at the Leer installer went well. Had them silicone the third brake light too.

Also, call me crazy, but my wife and I are thrilled with the cab high shell. I'm 5'8" and dont feel like I need more.

 

What was the measurements you got on the plywood? This is perfect

 

Damn dude, that truck looks familiar!

 

Nice work. I have that same setup. I have a roof top tent for the wife and I. My two daughters sleep under the truck cap. I can load the back of the truck with all the camping gear and assemble the bed in seconds once everything is out of the truck and camp is set-up.

 

How I spent Christmas Eve...

 

Well I just built my first addition to my 2016 Tacoma OR. Went to the local metal supply and bought 1" X 3" rectangular steel for the cross support. I went with steel for strength and it fits the 1" cutouts in the bed perfectly. (I think I saw somewhere on the forum someone did the same steel supports but cannot find it.) Then covered plywood. Notched the tailgate corners to fit.

 

nicely overbuilt.

 

Solid build

 

I built a platform/storage system after lurking around here looking at others' builds, so I thought I would post mine up. I didn't take a lot of mid-built pictures and I don't have measurements, but I can probably answer questions from memory. In case you can't tell from the pictures, it's a fairly simple, three topsheet design and can be removed without taking off the camper shell. The top sheets are plywood, the frame is 2X3s, and the frame is held in place with turnbuckles on all four corners. There is storage in each corner on booth sides of the wheel well, in the center the length of those bins, and right behind the cab there a large door/hatch/storage compartment.

 

You don't say ...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sleeping-platform-2x6s-or-2x8s.273563/page-2#post-6754513

 

Where can one get those long plastic bins ?

 

Target

 

Well, I built this yesterday with the idea of an ultralight sleeping platform that would be easy to remove. Today I am gonna get some 3/4 birch, but I am kinda regretting it now. I feel I would have been better off with just using the notches like most of you did.

 

Finished mine up today. 5/8" treated ply, had to notch 2x8's to sit flush and cut them down to 7". Marine grade carpet with some padding underneath. Turned out pretty good.