Need ideas for sleeping platform with fridge

[Martinjmpr]

Other alternative...

If sleeping inside is a requirement, and a fridge is a requirement, then the other alternative I can see is going to a different vehicle, like a 1995-04 Tacoma extra cab with a shell. Put the fridge in the extended cab portion of the truck and sleep in the back.

Of course, the drawback there (besides all the hassle of selling your 4runner and buying a new vehicle) is that a Tacoma isn't that great as a DD if you need to carry passengers (which is why I got rid of mine.)

Bottom line is that you're going to have to compromise somewhere.

The easiest compromise would be to find a way to set the fridge outside or in the front seat while sleeping. I don't know how big/heavy those fridges are so I don't know how practical that is.

The next easiest compromise would be to sleep in a tent and leave the fridge where it is.

 

[UK4X4]

"In our current set up we can't take him because there is no way to get him up into the RTT"

My dog will tend to disagree with that point !

 

[goodtimes]

"In our current set up we can't take him because there is no way to get him up into the RTT"

I have a very easy solution to that problem.

It's called 'the ground', and it's where the dogs sleep. They're dogs -- that is where they belong. Sure, I'll put out an old blanket for them, but they simply are *NOT* sleeping in the bed. Naturally, they are not allowed on furniture either, and they are only allowed to eat out of their food bowls, off the ground, or out of someone's hand (only if they are sitting, and the hand is extended to them).

Yea, Jonathan tells me I'm horribly mean to them too . . .

 

[Rexsname]

After reading through the responces thus far it sounds like the OzTent is the way to go. Very nearly as fast to set up as a RTT, plenty of room for both (all three) of you, and ,if you sold the RTT, not too bad money wise.

I know it's not what you wanted to hear but it seems like the best compromise.

REX

 

[datrupr]

Heidi,
I think Rex is on to something. Through the sale of the RTT cost of the OzTent should be minimal. Jacki and I still love camping on the ground and we do have a fridge, thus we have not yet stepped up to an RTT. Nothing to be ashamed of having to pitch a tent. The OzTent as Rex mentioned should not be that much more of a hassle to set up than your RTT. Just something to mull over.

 

[Martinjmpr]

:iagree:

Also, consider that camping on the ground doesn't neccessarily mean sleeping on the ground. You can get decent cots that fold up nicely and keep you from sleeping with the worst of the creepie crawlies (I see from your pictures you already have a cot in your 4runner.)

Cots aren't great but I slept in one for 6 months and it wasn't that bad. Considering that this was in Haiti, it sure beat sleeping on the ground!

 

[UK4X4]

"It's called 'the ground', and it's where the dogs sleep. They're dogs -- that is where they belong. Sure, I'll put out an old blanket for them, but they simply are *NOT* sleeping in the bed. Naturally, they are not allowed on furniture either, and they are only allowed to eat out of their food bowls, off the ground, or out of someone's hand (only if they are sitting, and the hand is extended to them).

Yea, Jonathan tells me I'm horribly mean to them too . . ."

Every one treats their animals diferently, I bought mine for protection in venezuela, he can't protect me while sleeping in the kennel in the back yard

he has his own bed in my room

yep in the tent we sleep in our bags and the mutly has his own,

ground , oh yea you'll get a good nights sleep with the dog barking at every furry that walks past and him scratching your truck as you have a river running underneath.

my gets zero from the hand,,,,only in his bowl, likewise the seats are offlimits

we all treat our animals diferently, mine is part of my family, and gets treated as such in payment for his services.

he has protected me and mine on more than one occasion, and when that knock on the tent comes in the middle of the night ...............

I'll have a buddy with a big toothy grin answer the door for me

and now back to the thread !

 

[dms1]

Mount the fridge permanently in the front passenger seat and make your boyfriend \ husband sit in the back seat :wings: - this will solve all your problems as you could now also bring your dog. :victory:


I am planning a platform \ drawer system for my 4Runner and will mount the fridge behind the Front Passenger seat on the floor, the platform will wrap around it - I plan on making the fridge easily removable and will have a cutout to fill the spot where the fridge goes so that the platform will fill the whole back of the 4Runner and me and the wife can sleep back there.

Kind of like this (sorry my text art sucks) - the fridge goes in the cutout where the X is, in the upper right corner and sits at floor level - the platform will be 9" tall with 7.5 inch tall drawers (sorry I dont have any pics)

______
|**** |
|**** | X
|**** L__
|******* |
|******* |
| *******|
|******* |
|________

P.S. i wanted to add that I plan on removing the rear seats and have the platform go to within 8 inches of the back of the front seats, but you could do the same type of platform with the seats folded down.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Thank you for the continued advice everyone!

I'm not even going to consider an Oz Tent until #1 I see one in person, and #2 we unload the FJ. But I do like the option.

Dave, I like your configuration, that is pretty much what Tim has in his 4Runner although it is more "permanently" mounted. :sombrero: Did you see the post about the new ARB fridges? The small one might be low enough that you could just build the platform over it like Tim has as well, then no taking in and out.

Jeff I like your idea about the awning and that was an idea I had forgotten about. We do have a Camping Lab awning with the netted walls, so I would just need to get my hands on the solid ones and call it a day. Right now that would probably be the cheapest and easiest set up to go with. The only downside I can see to that is again, no ability to sleep in the cab and if we would want to say leave camp and return at a later time we would have to take down at least the awning part of our set up.

 

[RHINO]

when the wife comes with me i just take the fridge out of the rig when its time for bed,,, it stays plugged in just goes on the ground. as for sleeping platform it doesnt have to be permanent mount at all, just replace the cot with a piano hinged platform.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Wow, I just checked out the old OzTent review thread.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10268

I've never seen one in person, but that's about as good as it gets for ground tents! Spendy, though...

 

[austintaco]

when the wife comes with me i just take the fridge out of the rig when its time for bed,,, it stays plugged in just goes on the ground. as for sleeping platform it doesnt have to be permanent mount at all, just replace the cot with a piano hinged platform.

How much does an expedition type fridge weigh? I haven't gotten to that point yet, but as time and money(the two limiting factors in life) allow, I will probably get one in the future.

I have posted a few times on here about how much we liked or sportz tent SUV tent that we attached to the campershell.

We didn't have a system the first time out, but by the end of the first trip, we kept our gear in bins and the tent, partially configured at the back of the truck. When we stopped, we deployed the tent, connected the "sock" part and unloaded the bins into the corners of the tent to keep it down.
We slept in the truck, off the ground and the dogs slept in the middle of the tent area.

I know this isn't what the Original poster is looking for, but for anyone following the thread I wanted to throw this out there.

 

[RHINO]

How much does an expedition type fridge weigh?

dunno, but fully stocked its not any heavier than the ice chest we used to carry.

 

[bikelanta]

Swing Away Carrier

Hi there,

What if you found some sort of way to mount the fridge on a swing away arm? Something like a swing away tire carrier. I would imagine you could make some sort of bracket/metal straps that could go over it with a lock that would secure it. You'd probably need to come up with some way to weather proof the fridge, then again, I have no idea how weather proof these fridges are.

My thought is that if you made sure the power cord was long enough, the fridge could stay in place while traveling, and swing away from the tailgate for access. Then you have the interior free.

Another idea would be some sort of movable arm that inserts into or mounts onto a tow hitch.

Probably a little more involved than you're thinking, but maybe these spark some thoughts for you.

T.J.

 

[bikelanta]

Sample

Check out the link to this 4Runner:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=686158&postcount=1286

Different model, but similar idea to what I'm trying to say. Replace those fuel / water canisters with your fridge. Then you have plenty of space inside.