Last summer I built this sleep platform to use in conjunction with our cap as an experiment to evaluate it's potential. Using left over materials from several jobs here's what I came up with.
I built two framed boxes with the intent to keep weight to a minimum while having sufficient strength to hold up to the task. Also I wanted the boxes to be easy to store (stack able) and be flexible enough in design to accommodate set-ups for different lengths and styles of trips.
I built the boxes to fit around the fender wells and associated bump outs in the Tundra's bed. The lids were set back from the back edge to allow them to open fully and clear the bed rails and the shell clamps. I purposely built these boxes with no floors as it keeps the weight down and to not allow dirt and debris from collecting in the boxes themselves.
Here's the drivers side box set in place. It is held in place by fasteners that utilize the factory tie down points in the bed.
Both boxes installed with my 25 gallon water tank in place. The boxes were built to match the height of the water storage crate, this way the crate acts as part of the sleeping platform. I want the tank to the front of the cargo space to keep the weight centered in the truck. The hose is run back towards the rear so it is easy just to tug out the hose and spray away.
Next shot is of the fridge installed. This photo is of the test fit, now there is a frame work that bolts in and out the provides a cradle and lashing points for the fridge. The end of the storage/sleeping boxes was left open to allow easy access to items that are used regularly. The drivers side alcove holds cooking utensils, stove and house keeping items, the right holds the food stuffs and potable water.
When not using the water tank I made two panels to fill in the space of the missing items. That way I can run without the water tank or fridge or just one or the other. In reality you can sleep just on the boxes (benches?) but I roll quite abit so the extra surface is nice. Besides it's hard to snuggle when your better half is way on the other side of the truck.
Impressions so far? We've use it three times and it works really well. We've been laying our sleeping pads on top and it makes for a comfortable sleep. The items store in the boxes are easy to access once you get your carcass crawled up into the truck. But no worse and is some ways better than when everything is just piled up in the truck's bed. My only hang up is the height of the platform. It's nice in that it swallows all the gear but the sleeping stuff but with a standard cap we only have 25" of space to move about in. Choices are to keep it the way it is, buy a smaller height water tank and lower the height of the platform, or purchase a slightly higher contractor styled cap to raise up the interior height. No decision yet, so the platform stays like it is until I make my mind. I'll leave the project unfinished until that time.
