Gavin

This is the setup I used in my truck (Tacoma) and it has worked very well over the years.

This guy's website is a great resource:

Tacoma Camper

Hope that helps...

Jason

 

Gavin
This is the setup I used in my truck (Tacoma) and it has worked very well over the years.
This guy's website is a great resource:
Tacoma Camper

I based mine on that one too, though for a Dodge Ram 6' bed. I've liked it a lot, though I should have made the door up front a bit wider to allow getting into the side pocket. The 2 major changes I made was rather than dividing it into 2 equal sized compartments, I did a 2/3 wide and 1/3 wide, and I added an extra access door at the back.

The 2/3 side has it's top (sleeping surface) fixed permanently to it. The 1/3 side has heavy duty velcro holding it down. It is sized so that I can remove the top piece and put my bike in a fork mount holder. I reverse the handle bars and then put in an additional piece of wood (~2' deep) near the tail gate which allows me to sleep in the bed with the bike in the truck. This fills in part of the gap from the missing decking. Without that I wouldn't fit as I barely fit diagonally anyways.

The other change was rather than just having the access door in the front of the bed (near the cab as the web page shows, I made a second one at the rear of the bed that lines up with the tail gate allowing storage of coolers and the like that are taller than the bed. I also didn't bother with the locking setup, the back is open ended on mine.

For interior lighting I find the LED battery lights for closets work great. slap some velcro on the back of them and they stick nicely to the ceiling of the shell if you've got carpet in there.

Definitely expect condensation and frost for winter camping. I keep toying with a portable heater but always get too paranoid on CO poisoning.

John

 

I don't know how Toyota's do it, but my Nissan Titan came with a bed. I didn't have to build it or anything...

But I guess that's what it's coming down to in this economy.

 

I put some pics and my thoughts on this thread, lots of ways to go about it but this setup works really well for me:

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/catching-zs-in-the-back-ideas-22971.html

 

Thanks for the laugh Anchorless!

Although I'm usually the one chuckling at my companions while they set up their tents...gotta love the instant set up and take down factor when you're not backpacking or on the river...

Jason

 

here is one from our own. Sleeping in the car in the winter?

and one more. Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

lots of good info amongst the junk, pics etc.

think about it and try to design a custom outfit that works for your needs be it mtn biking, kayaking, skiing what ever it may be.

 

crazy swiss, check this out...

swissRoomBox-home

it only costs around $8000. Cool idea though.

 

I built a standard box that can hold gear underneath and simply put a futon mattress on top. worked well for about 3 months but did get moldy in the nw

 

I'll try to get pics one of these days. Some things I've settled on after a couple carpet kit builds:

- I cam straped the side boxes to the built in anchors so they don't bounce around when the center is out.
- I've got just enough space under the bridge to store rocket boxes upright. That still gives enough room above to sleep, although it's not spacious.
- I built the center bridge sections like a hollow door. I did 3 sections, each with (bottom to top): 1/8" ply, 2 x 3/4" perimeter frame, 1/2" ply, carpet foam, indoor / outdoor carpet. The whole thing is ~2" thick, and the dual layers of plywood glued are stiff enough to support 2 people without difficulty - even when, ahem, stressed. They can stack at the front, lay flat on the bed, or come out entirely depending on my load.
- I kept the top-load compartments over each wheel well, but cantilevered the side boxes so nearly the full width of the truck is open at the back. 1/2 tons these days are so tall you can't really reach in from above anyway...
- 2 Therm-a-rest 2" camp rests nicely fill nearly the whole space.

6 total pieces, I can move it in and out of the truck easily myself.

 

I have a 2008 tacoma which has a 1 inch lip that runs down each side of the truckbed just above the wheel wells. We use 3 pieces of 3/4 inch plywood covered in carpet as a sleeping platform. Two of the corners have been cut off so that you can get the panels in and out easily. It works great as you can easily pick up a panel and slide it back to get to stuff underneath.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_9PB4oEu-O0/Tsz-3T34yaI/AAAAAAAAFK4/IQaV_eS1DgU/s128/IMG_6722.JPG

Simple, easy, and cheap.

 

hell yeah guys...these are some great ideas. Thanks for all the input!

 

F150: I use two 2x6 using the bed brackets and 1/2" plywood to bolted with t-nuts. Covered in home depot carpet. The cover opens in the middle lengthwise using 2 piano hinges. VERY simple system. Comes out in <10 minutes. My plywood choice was too think IMO.

 

F150: I use two 2x6 using the bed brackets and 1/2" plywood to bolted with t-nuts. Covered in home depot carpet. The cover opens in the middle lengthwise using 2 piano hinges. VERY simple system. Comes out in <10 minutes. My plywood choice was too think IMO.

Meant too Thin. If I did it again, I would use 3/4"

 

I drive a GMC Canyon. The bed has cutouts on the sides for boards ( I think tacomas do to). I cut 4 2x4s to fit and built a plywood platform with hinges in the middle and glued cheap carpet over it. Works fantastic. It's a 5'x6' space with storage underneath. I had JPW make me a paco that fits perfectly. I sleep better in that thing than I do in my bed at home and it's easy to take in and out. Also, if the bed is in there and I need space, I just drop the boards and don't even have to take it out. It lays flat and I have the space for boats or whatever I need to put back there. I can't find any pics, but it's pretty cool and it cost me about ten bucks.

 

Finally got the camera out today.

 

paco

check out the double wide paco pad from jacks plastic welding 4'x6' ...wet gear, snow etc. no problem i've had mine 6+ years worth every penny!
p.s. great on the river too ....perfect for a couple.hint hint