Sleeping in truck bed

I was having a hard time finding good info on building sleeping platforms in a 6 foot tacoma bed so i figured id post what i found! The 4 notches in bed hold 2x6 great and give plenty of support for 2 people (300lb). Lots of guys i have seen add center supports but thats unneeded for mine and eats up your storage space under. I started with a half inch plywood but upgraded to 23/32 for extra support and added handle holes for easier maneuvering. I found using just these 4 pieces saves money, is lighter weight, and is easily disassembled! Post tips and thoughts. Also wondering where to find 73x 57.5 inches of foam for the sleeping platform and what thickness?

 

I did the same thing. Works great!

 

Is it worth building a sleeping platform? I just throw some nice padding and Bam!

 

Check out this thread for more awesomeness

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eping-platform-drawer-storage-systems.424709/

 

Definitely for my purposes. I slide snowboards, surfboards, gear, etc underneath the platforms on my adventures. Sleep on top. Stays secure during the day. Pretty sweet cheap setup actually.

 

Those 4 notches hold doubled up 2x4s way better than a single 2x6.

 

Four 2x4's is definitely the way to go. They fit perfectly.

 

Interesting! I notched out a 2x8.

For camping though, I'm solo. Can't get the fam interested. Sleeping on the bed is all I need.

 

I did the same thing in my bed. Also wondering where to get foam that fits on top of the platform.

 

(2) 2x4s fit absolutely perfect.

 

I had no idea until this thread and never considered it when I measured. All that came to mind was loose 2x6s sliding in the remaining space and thunking, so the 10ft 2x8 made sense at the time. I think it was less than $10?

I notched them tight and even accounted for a tight fit side to side with the draft angle of the bed mold.

Silly, I know, but I was bored that day. They have worked great for loads.

 

I was needing to haul plywood one day cut a 2x6 and really hated the way it slid around so I grabbed a pile of scrap wood to see if something would fit better and started matching stuff up, those 2x4s were the ticket!

 

Get a twin size memory foam mattress topper at a big box store. Or a full size and trim it down.

 

If you have a long bed and space or weight isn't an issue, check out this 55" x 74" Ikea mattress.



Go to this link, post #748, if you want to see some more pictures of it in the truck. Thanks Jen (@jgr81) for posting! (btw, the Ikea link in that thread is no longer valid. Use the link above the picture)

I have a short bed, so I bought a full size, egg crate, foam mattress topper and and sewed custom covers for the two pieces. It did not provide enough padding so I bought some 8 lb x 1/2" carpet padding and doubled it up. The 2 layers of carpet pad works well, but it is very firm. Using the 3 pads together is the most comfortable. Another option is to substitute a 6 lb pad for one of the 8 lb layers, or add it as a third layer.

This is how I stored the egg crate pad. The narrow pad is on top of the big pad. The orange line tightens or drops the net so it can be loaded easier. The dangling line in the first picture removes the belly in the elastic net.

 

If you live in California AND you have a topper, it is definitely worth it. You can go to the DMV and get your registration changed from PK (pickup) to PM (permanently modified). The payoff is that you will no longer have to pay the $80 commercial license plate fee!

They (DMV) will check your vehicle to see that your "camper" has the inside space permanently set up for habitation. That's why you need the platform "bed". They don't check close enough to see if it is permanently attached.

 

I just wanted one to get myself up above the wheel wells to get that little extra elbow room. As stepbrothers would say ”room for activities”

 

Nice set up , how did you go about attaching the shades? That's one of my biggest complaints is the amount of light the comes in when I sleep in my bed.

 

I am surprised that nobody makes DIY bunks inside to sleep on.
I had made my 98 ranger into a camper utilizing a hi/lo cap, and carpeted plywood bunks. I had built a plywood box (24" x56") with a hinge top across the forward part of bed and created two side bunks with hinged tops for storage. (Think u shape) I had left 12 1/2" between bunks at floor level to accommodate my feet to turn and the bunk tops to overhang to create two 22-24" bunks. The front box had all my camping gear, the left bunk stored my fishing gear with rods assembled and the right bunk my tools. This was a very comfortable sleeping setup using camping sleeping pads. With the canoe on the roof I had many great fishing trips. Sorry no pictures.

 

I used 3/4” osb and cut it the full width. No cross or vertical supports needed. Saves a valuable 1.5” under the platform to slide totes and things. Then added a removable shorter section at the back with some support legs. That way when I’m not sleeping in there I can move the smaller back section out of the way for taller gear.

 

Can't speak for crackils, but I cut Reflectix to size, then used adhesive hook & loop tape. Put the hook side on the Reflectix so I can stick it to my headliner carpeting for storage.