ginger_taco03
Observer
So like the title says i finally got spare time to start my sleeping platform. After months if not years of looking around on expedition portal i came up with a design that i thought was worth putting money and time into. I wanna say thanks to everyone who shared there ideas and thats why im doing the same here. Sorry in advance if i sound like a robot or if i wright like a 4 year old but im French haha.
My sleeping platform will be built in the box off my toyota tacoma access cab with a leer shell, the shell is same height as the tacoma roof so head room is very limited. I wanted the sleeping platform to stay as low as possible. With such small space every square inch counts, using 2x4 lumber was out, takes too much space for the structural strenght. Then theres plywood... 3/4 " is the most common but it still takes a lot of space in the end, is a bit heavy and i just dont like using screws everywhere.
Being a welder/fabricator, using 1"x1" x 1/8" aluminum tube for the platform stucture was the obvious choice to me. Its light, strong ´ish' and doesnt take a lot of space. There will be 2 drawers, one will be a 14" wide 8" high and 54" long and will house the kitchen with two burner stove and a sink. A 21 gallon water tank will sit at the end of the box under the platform, the tank is 39"x 16" x 8" so it was ment to be there. The second drawer will be 25 1/2" wide 8" high and 46 " long, it will be used to store camping gear, spare parts, and other items. The storage drawer is 8 " shorter than the kitchen drawer so i can put a battery and the water pump.
Friday i picked the material anf today i got to work.
This wont be a step by step build thread cause it appears most of the pictures i took with my ipad shows sideways when i post them so i will just show you the progress with the picture that work.
I started with the two main cross members
I changed my mind about the second cross member and only went with one tubing, i added a set of legs instead and the water tank wil fit perfectly snug between it and the back of the box.
I added a lot more structure to the front because i end up puting most of my weight on the edge as i climb in and then lay down where my weight is more spread across . Theres also the weight of the fridge that will sit on top on the right.
With a bit more thinking and measuring and cutting the front came together nicely and is very strong... no flex or bending when i sit on it.
Everything is stiched together with a weld on each side temporarly until im done then it will be fully welded
At this point i have used two 20' lengh of tubing and the hole thing is very light and can be taken out wih one hand without struggle. I have 2 more 20' lengh of 1" x 1" x 3/16 " angles that will probably be used for the rest of the structural work out back above the tank and to make the slide system wich will be explained in a future post
After 4 hours or so of work including hourly breaks for some freesbee with my dog this is where i am
This week i will be picking up the plywood and carpet... the tank and pump should arrive in a couple weeks along with the led lights and switch panel.
If anybody has questions or suggestions please feel free to comment
Thanks Gabriel
My sleeping platform will be built in the box off my toyota tacoma access cab with a leer shell, the shell is same height as the tacoma roof so head room is very limited. I wanted the sleeping platform to stay as low as possible. With such small space every square inch counts, using 2x4 lumber was out, takes too much space for the structural strenght. Then theres plywood... 3/4 " is the most common but it still takes a lot of space in the end, is a bit heavy and i just dont like using screws everywhere.
Being a welder/fabricator, using 1"x1" x 1/8" aluminum tube for the platform stucture was the obvious choice to me. Its light, strong ´ish' and doesnt take a lot of space. There will be 2 drawers, one will be a 14" wide 8" high and 54" long and will house the kitchen with two burner stove and a sink. A 21 gallon water tank will sit at the end of the box under the platform, the tank is 39"x 16" x 8" so it was ment to be there. The second drawer will be 25 1/2" wide 8" high and 46 " long, it will be used to store camping gear, spare parts, and other items. The storage drawer is 8 " shorter than the kitchen drawer so i can put a battery and the water pump.
Friday i picked the material anf today i got to work.
This wont be a step by step build thread cause it appears most of the pictures i took with my ipad shows sideways when i post them so i will just show you the progress with the picture that work.
I started with the two main cross members
I changed my mind about the second cross member and only went with one tubing, i added a set of legs instead and the water tank wil fit perfectly snug between it and the back of the box.
I added a lot more structure to the front because i end up puting most of my weight on the edge as i climb in and then lay down where my weight is more spread across . Theres also the weight of the fridge that will sit on top on the right.
With a bit more thinking and measuring and cutting the front came together nicely and is very strong... no flex or bending when i sit on it.
Everything is stiched together with a weld on each side temporarly until im done then it will be fully welded
At this point i have used two 20' lengh of tubing and the hole thing is very light and can be taken out wih one hand without struggle. I have 2 more 20' lengh of 1" x 1" x 3/16 " angles that will probably be used for the rest of the structural work out back above the tank and to make the slide system wich will be explained in a future post
After 4 hours or so of work including hourly breaks for some freesbee with my dog this is where i am
This week i will be picking up the plywood and carpet... the tank and pump should arrive in a couple weeks along with the led lights and switch panel.
If anybody has questions or suggestions please feel free to comment
Thanks Gabriel
now i can put the shell back on and start wiring and plumbing.
