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Sleeping platform: Shoot holes in my dumb idea

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by hordboy, Feb 26, 2019.

  1. Feb 26, 2019 at 7:22 AM
    #1
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    Planning a trip from Ohio to Colorado, UT, Idaho, etc this summer with my son. Trying to come up with an idea for a raised sleeping platform, so that I could store things under the bed and not have to move a bunch of stuff around every night. Another consideration is that I don't want to pull out the rear seats in case I have more than 1 passenger once I get out west and visit friends. I've seen a lot of the platforms (mostly wood) that people have built. That's ok, but I was thinking "why don't I just get a big cot?" I couldn't find any cots that would allow easy access underneath for storage containers. Then I stumbled across this, a twin bed frame. It will take a little modification, but should work? Slap some sheet plywood on the top in two sections. If I need the rear passenger seats, I just pop apart the front part. It's 39" x 74.5" x 14" and $59 on Amazon. What am I missing?

     
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  2. Feb 26, 2019 at 8:41 AM
    #2
    DGP1961

    DGP1961 New Member

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    So you'll do what fold down the back seats and just have the frame in back? Is some thing inflatable to much of a PITA?
     
  3. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:34 AM
    #3
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    When I built my drawers for the back of my rig I kinda designed it so I could make a slide out plywood section that I could attach a few legs too and have a flat space without having to over engineer something. Basically, the back of my drawers is open enough and I used 1/2 c channel to slog a 1/2” section of ply wood into it. When the seat is folded down I could slide it out the back of the drawers and prop it up for a platform
     
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  4. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM
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    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    The rear seats will be folded down to use this whole unti as a bed platform. I'll have to extend the front legs downward to sit on the floor ahead of the passenger seats... or something. I may also have to shorten it slightly but that will be easy to do at the middle joint where it is bolted together. If I need the rear seats to haul a passenger, I just pop off the front section of the frame, slide the front section of plywood back over the top of the rear, and voila! At least that is the plan. I don't want to use an inflatable bed on the floor of the cargo area because I'd have to remove all the stuff we'll be hauling every night and set it outside just to sleep.

     
  5. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:38 AM
    #5
    4X4Runner

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    You can kind of see it in this pic.
    24BF20B8-FEFD-49D4-919E-BDA1360576D9.jpg
     
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  6. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:38 AM
    #6
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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  7. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:40 AM
    #7
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    I have been mulling over something like that too. With a sliding piece of plywood that can either go up front to complete the bed, or out the back for a camp table of sorts.

     
  8. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:42 AM
    #8
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    My intent was to be able to store the section of plywood in the c channel and just slide it out and prop it up when needed. This way it’s out of sight and out of mind while taking up minimal space
     
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  9. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:44 AM
    #9
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    I don’t recall the measurements but I was going to end up with about 68” in total so I figured my feet would be hanging off the edge of my drawers between the tailgate and drawers
     
  10. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:46 AM
    #10
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    I like yours. I had in mind 1 wide drawer and 1 plywood piece, but with 2 pieces I could choose to just fold down 1 seat if that's all I need. And, the center divider adds extra support.

     
  11. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:50 AM
    #11
    4X4Runner

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    Do you have the slide out tray or no? If not, you’ll have to find the place to drill to find the welded in nuts to mount it to. Forget the size bolt but it can be accessed from underneath the 4R. Just thread the bolt in enough to push up the floor pan and hit it with a mallet to mark the place to drill
     
  12. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:54 AM
    #12
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    I don't. I would probably just use turnbuckles to the cargo D-rings to hold it down.

     
  13. Feb 26, 2019 at 9:54 AM
    #13
    4X4Runner

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  14. Mar 14, 2019 at 6:46 PM
    #14
    Guitarplayer

    Guitarplayer New Member

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    Here is what I did in mine If you’re interested. I started out with just making a flat platform to sleep on. It’s just some plywood cut to shape with a carpet pad and then some automotive carpet on top. It looks like this:

    [​IMG]

    I had to just put some spacers underneath the back board to raise it up level. Also I didn’t like how it felt to put my knee on the seat back when I was crawling around there with it down. It felt like something might break. So I made a thinner little platform to lay on the seats backs (you can see it in the picture). Still with carpet pad and carpet though. Here are the “spacers” I put underneath the back board to make it level.

    [​IMG] .

    That setup was pretty good with a sleeping pad on it. But I barely fit lengthwise and was wanting a little more room. So I made a couple of platforms that go in the floor well when I remove the seats. Removing the seat backs is pretty easy (two bolts each) and takes 5 minutes. The platforms fold up for storage in my garage and can double up as a small bench if need be. Here is what one of them looks like.

    [​IMG]

    And Here’s what it looks like with my exped megamat duo sleeping mattress in there and the seats out.

    [​IMG]

    I slept in this last summer and it was great. But one thing that was a must was a switch in the back so I could open the back hatch from the inside. It was a pain climbing out the doors. So I added that.

    [​IMG]

    Can’t wait to sleep in it with that. It is nice.

    But in the winter off season I got thinking about it. If I already have to raise the platform in the back up about 1 1/2 inches or so. Why not go another 1 1/2 or 2 up and put drawers under there. So that is what I’m doing now. Here is how it looks.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    So now I have to put some hardware on the drawers (latches) and of course I’ll have to come up with a way to raise the other platforms up a bit to match the height of these. But I think it’s gonna work great.
     
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  15. Mar 15, 2019 at 7:02 AM
    #15
    jtice

    jtice New Member

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    Nice work, can you please tell me what sire you tapped into for your inside rear hatch release switch?
     
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  16. Mar 15, 2019 at 7:59 AM
    #16
    Guitarplayer

    Guitarplayer New Member

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    I followed this post here: Let me know if you have any questions. I was nervous but it was pretty simple. The scariest part was drilling a hole in the plastic door panel for the switch but I had it wired up and verified to work before I had to do that.

    Doug
     
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  17. Mar 15, 2019 at 8:39 AM
    #17
    jtice

    jtice New Member

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    Thanks alot, looks simple enough.
    Now, If I could just find out what wires to splice into for the window controls also :)
    I know someone on the forum was selling a kit for this, that has instructions for what wires are for the window, but I like to do things myself and already have buttons and switches on hand.
     
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  18. Mar 15, 2019 at 2:25 PM
    #18
    WallyT4R

    WallyT4R New Member

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  19. May 14, 2019 at 4:39 PM
    #19
    BYKmatty

    BYKmatty New Member

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    Ceramic Coated TRD grey rims 80% tint all around Lighting: Red LED interior lighting Atack LED SUPER Brite white constant yellow front turn sigs LED super bright reverse lights Body Mods: Tyger rear step Bumper Tyger Front Nerf Bumper GREENLANE OFFROAD Roof Rack and Real ladder (Awesome) and no need to replace the rear hatch hydraulic arms. I cannot say enough about these guys especially because their shipping was completely reasonable. Custom interior: custom rear window power button and unlock button (found here in forums) Pedal Commander (this really does give your vehicle more get up and go) RAGO Mollie side trunk panels (Awesome but pricy) Victory center roof Mollie Panel (Ham radio mount) DIY rear sleeping platform (for camping)
  20. May 16, 2019 at 8:15 AM
    #20
    Lifeline

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  21. May 23, 2019 at 8:24 AM
    #21
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    It took me a while but here’s an update. Basically, it works. I had to shorten it 4", which I did by taking 2" out of each half in the center. Had to remove some rivets, cut, drill and reattach using bolts. It's sitting on a cargo area leveler I made earlier for sleeping. Unintentionally, this worked out perfectly as far as height and the platform being level with the front part resting on the seat cushions. The pics explain it better than I can.
    60669237_10216634114639535_7512069131244_4aada49e7a72f02f46924704a3369029c1c1ade6.jpg 61280670_10216634115039545_5272747481749_dbcae21bacb5ba97b6851c299259d70bc3ca17f7.jpg 61158760_10216634115439555_4168891971294_00fef5cef72e84a66a6889c29c21ad5279e9668a.jpg 60980718_10216634115839565_6637548854168_8d8418ff1e52ea85940c904d17692632d37f3cab.jpg 61354450_10216634116319577_9892129634894_ee305ffa55b3879187cc0db869ca004c3e0d5efb.jpg
     
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  22. May 23, 2019 at 4:32 PM
    #22
    BYKmatty

    BYKmatty New Member

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    Ceramic Coated TRD grey rims 80% tint all around Lighting: Red LED interior lighting Atack LED SUPER Brite white constant yellow front turn sigs LED super bright reverse lights Body Mods: Tyger rear step Bumper Tyger Front Nerf Bumper GREENLANE OFFROAD Roof Rack and Real ladder (Awesome) and no need to replace the rear hatch hydraulic arms. I cannot say enough about these guys especially because their shipping was completely reasonable. Custom interior: custom rear window power button and unlock button (found here in forums) Pedal Commander (this really does give your vehicle more get up and go) RAGO Mollie side trunk panels (Awesome but pricy) Victory center roof Mollie Panel (Ham radio mount) DIY rear sleeping platform (for camping)
    Looks nice glad it is working. Ooooooo! you must tell me the brand of your Mollie rear window racks and when you install them can the existing OEM hook go back in place? I think that is one of the versions im looking at and would value your assessment of their quality.

    also yoru platform, do you have instructions on how you made it can you post here please?
     
  23. May 28, 2019 at 7:12 AM
    #23
    hordboy

    hordboy [OP] New Member

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    The window mollies are from Rago. I added D ring hooks, can't remember if the OEM hooks can be used, it's been a while. The platform is a twin bed frame from Amazon.

     
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