Tacoma sleeping platform help.

[davidd]

Hey there I am a total noob so put this where it belongs if misplaced.

Looking to add a sleeping platform to my 2011 Tacoma long bed.

Thinking of making it go 32-34" across to leave room for putting on shoes and ease of exit/entry.

Looking for guidance or pointing in the right direction. I will be doing 1-2 week solo trips.

Thanks, and I will share as I go!

 

[alutii]

I did a ton of searching on these and other forums for ideas. Some people make very elegant solutions. I went quick and dirty for my first go - the stock bed liner has slots for wood (1x6's?) to go across for support before and after the wheel wells. I had the local lumber store rip some plywood into two to go on top. If it's just me and/or my kids, we sleep on it. With the canopy it's enough room, snug. I also use it when family camping to keep things organized with things that get dirty below, and rubbermaids on top.

With the bed liner, it narrows closer to the tailgate forcing the plywood to end around 6 inches back. That is a handy place for shoes.

Note I've had rainy nights where I've had to keep the windows closed or narrow, and it's gotten quite damp in the canopy; less breathability than a tent.

I've used it for a few years now and haven't felt the need to make it more complicated. It's great to just pull it out quickly after a trip, stores flat against the wall in the shed.

Whatever you go with, please put pics up!

 

[Michael]

Lots of good ideas have been posted for sleeping platforms -- try searching on "sleeping platform" or other related terms and you'll find some very creative ideas and practical solutions. Baja Taco led the way for many of us with his prototype on his website at www.bajataco.com.

Here is a link to some photos of my 2006 Tacoma. As far as I know, it has the same bed configuration as yours. There is a layout drawing and parts list in another post somewhere here on Expo. If your search doesn't turn it up, I'll dig up the link.

 

[Gerdo]

I think the first concerns are about size. Conserve space where you can.
*Sleeping single. Make it comfortably wide but not excessive.
*If you are using store bought storage bins to go under, take that into consideration too (Rubbermaid plastic bins or the like)
*Keeping it to just one side will allow you to slide down the length of the bed. You can even add a shelf down the other side for food prep or computer work area. This is good when weather is bad.
*Sit up height. The lower it is, the more sit up room. It's nice to be able to sit up while in bed to play cards/eat/get dressed/etc. This is figured out with your bedding.
*The higher it is the more storage under the bed.
*Materials. Most platforms are way over built. Most of the time 3/4" plywood is not needed. I know of people that have used hollow doors as sleeping platforms. The material is thin but the mattress spreads out your weight. I used 3/8" and it could have been 1/4".
*Add a side to the bed. A strip of wood along the edge to keep the mattress on the platform while driving. Not too tall that when you hang your legs over the edge that you feel it.

 

[robert]

I do almost all of my trips solo too plus I need to be able to throw stuff in the back of my truck when I'm not traveling. I've built both of my sleeping areas with that in mind (I built mine before I ever started looking around the net thinking others might being doing something similar). Mine is directly on the bed with a storage box built along the left side- it juts out just past the wheelwell so that I can put longer items like hiking staffs or tent poles in there. It has two hinged lids and the plywood and box are covered with that gray indoor/outdoor carpet from Lowe's.

This allows me to easily use most of the bed of the truck during normal everyday use and still have a comfortable place when camping. I prefer to be able to sit up and move around and all of the stuff for one person easily fits down the right side with tools and stuff in the box. When I've had two people in the back, I stack some stuff on the storage box at night and throw the rest behind the seats in the cab.