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- 2025 Toyota 4Runner
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Just sharing some thought and plans on setting up the back of my 4Runner as a bed for camping....
I was a little disappointed when I first saw the that the cargo area would not be sufficient for me to sleep in comfortably "as is" (it's too short for me to stretch out head to toe). But it seemed like it should be OK to build a platform in the rear cargo area at the same level as the second row seats when they are folded forward (and not fully "rolled" against the back seat). My plan was to first find some cargo boxes that would take advantage of the space below the bed platform and possibly provide direct support to the platform. I found these Husky cargo boxes at Home Depot this evening ($40/each) that will probably be about the right height:
The idea would be to cut a piece of plywood that would go over the boxes and the folded down seats. This would give me at least 80" from the back of the front seats to the rear of the cargo area. The width at the most narrow point is 44". So, the area would be a little bigger than a twin (single) bed.
The platform (plywood) will probably not set flat on the boxes and folded down seats. It would need some small shims/supports attached under under the plywood to allow it to set stable and flat (without bowing under the pressure of someone sleeping on it). I'll figure out the support crossbar positions and thickness using a straightedge over the boxes and folded down seats. To provide a flat mating surface across the boxes, I might use another thin sheet of plywood, if needed. I would be cognizant of the bed leveling, but just eye-balling everything right now, I don't think this will be an issue. If there is a slight angle and it bothers me, I'll sleep with my head toward the high end.
The next part I'm concerned with is dealing with a cumbersome bed platform that makes it difficult to get to the cargo boxes underneath it. So, I might build the platform so that it has hinges, or I might build it in multiple sections. I'm thinking that multiple sections will be better (easier to move around). I'd also like to build it in such a way that the second row seats could be up with the platform in the vehicle (which is probably more achievable by building it in multiple sections). The whole thing needs to be easily removable since we use the 4Runner for all sorts of things, not just off-roading and camping. My dogs would be very disappointed if they got replaced permanently by cargo boxes and a bed we hardly ever use!
The finished platform will be sanded and painted. Then I will figure out what kind of pad will work best with this setup. While on the move, additional gear could be stored on top of the platform as needed.
I would build this to just have the option to sleep in the 4Runner more comfortably if needed. In most situations we would just be setting up a tent. But it's nice to have options, especially in situations with potentially severe weather, or just needing extra bed space.
If anyone has thoughts on design or avoiding pitfalls before I dive into this, I'd love to hear them (especially if you've built a platform like this before). Overall, it seems like a a fairly straightforward and simple project. I would just buy something if there was a drop-in aftermarket product that was reasonably priced. Eventually, there might be one, but I'm not aware of one now.
My biggest concern right now is just keeping the weight down with the building materials I select. I could get a little fancier and finish it with some kind of upholstery material, but I'll focus on the structure first. I'm not sure when I'm going to get around to doing this because I have a lot of other projects on my plate right now, but eventually I'll come back around to this and share whatever I end up doing.
I also thought others might find this interesting because I've seen some posts where people have mentioned the limited room without mentioning the possibility of building a platform at folded seat height as I am suggesting here. By taking this approach, there should be plenty of room for folks of average height to sleep in the back. For folks that are really tall, you could push the front seats forward for additional room, but I haven't bothered to see how much additional room could be achieved. I'm about 5' 11", or 71", so there should be plenty of space for me. Yes, I did lie down on top of what you see in the pictures just to make sure it would be OK!
To ensure the cargo boxes I purchased are strong enough, I stood on top of one of them and it was fine (didn't bend or break). So, having my weight evenly distributed over four of them shouldn't be a problem at all. I could also add additional framing support that doesn't rely on the boxes for support. I don't think this will be necessary but I'll know more when I start taking precise measurements and seeing how well the platform works directly on the boxes. If I built an independent structure (not thinking about the boxes), it would probably be a little easier to build (and a little heavier). But, I thought it would be more practical to start with some good cargo boxes since I know that I will need them anyway (rather than try to find cargo boxes that will fit later). I'll also add some hooks under that platform so I can strap it down to the 4Runners anchor points, acting like a cargo net for the boxes.
I'm also still thinking about getting a rooftop tent, but this in-vehicle bed option would be in addition to whatever else we do.
I was a little disappointed when I first saw the that the cargo area would not be sufficient for me to sleep in comfortably "as is" (it's too short for me to stretch out head to toe). But it seemed like it should be OK to build a platform in the rear cargo area at the same level as the second row seats when they are folded forward (and not fully "rolled" against the back seat). My plan was to first find some cargo boxes that would take advantage of the space below the bed platform and possibly provide direct support to the platform. I found these Husky cargo boxes at Home Depot this evening ($40/each) that will probably be about the right height:
The idea would be to cut a piece of plywood that would go over the boxes and the folded down seats. This would give me at least 80" from the back of the front seats to the rear of the cargo area. The width at the most narrow point is 44". So, the area would be a little bigger than a twin (single) bed.
The platform (plywood) will probably not set flat on the boxes and folded down seats. It would need some small shims/supports attached under under the plywood to allow it to set stable and flat (without bowing under the pressure of someone sleeping on it). I'll figure out the support crossbar positions and thickness using a straightedge over the boxes and folded down seats. To provide a flat mating surface across the boxes, I might use another thin sheet of plywood, if needed. I would be cognizant of the bed leveling, but just eye-balling everything right now, I don't think this will be an issue. If there is a slight angle and it bothers me, I'll sleep with my head toward the high end.
The next part I'm concerned with is dealing with a cumbersome bed platform that makes it difficult to get to the cargo boxes underneath it. So, I might build the platform so that it has hinges, or I might build it in multiple sections. I'm thinking that multiple sections will be better (easier to move around). I'd also like to build it in such a way that the second row seats could be up with the platform in the vehicle (which is probably more achievable by building it in multiple sections). The whole thing needs to be easily removable since we use the 4Runner for all sorts of things, not just off-roading and camping. My dogs would be very disappointed if they got replaced permanently by cargo boxes and a bed we hardly ever use!
The finished platform will be sanded and painted. Then I will figure out what kind of pad will work best with this setup. While on the move, additional gear could be stored on top of the platform as needed.
I would build this to just have the option to sleep in the 4Runner more comfortably if needed. In most situations we would just be setting up a tent. But it's nice to have options, especially in situations with potentially severe weather, or just needing extra bed space.
If anyone has thoughts on design or avoiding pitfalls before I dive into this, I'd love to hear them (especially if you've built a platform like this before). Overall, it seems like a a fairly straightforward and simple project. I would just buy something if there was a drop-in aftermarket product that was reasonably priced. Eventually, there might be one, but I'm not aware of one now.
My biggest concern right now is just keeping the weight down with the building materials I select. I could get a little fancier and finish it with some kind of upholstery material, but I'll focus on the structure first. I'm not sure when I'm going to get around to doing this because I have a lot of other projects on my plate right now, but eventually I'll come back around to this and share whatever I end up doing.
I also thought others might find this interesting because I've seen some posts where people have mentioned the limited room without mentioning the possibility of building a platform at folded seat height as I am suggesting here. By taking this approach, there should be plenty of room for folks of average height to sleep in the back. For folks that are really tall, you could push the front seats forward for additional room, but I haven't bothered to see how much additional room could be achieved. I'm about 5' 11", or 71", so there should be plenty of space for me. Yes, I did lie down on top of what you see in the pictures just to make sure it would be OK!
To ensure the cargo boxes I purchased are strong enough, I stood on top of one of them and it was fine (didn't bend or break). So, having my weight evenly distributed over four of them shouldn't be a problem at all. I could also add additional framing support that doesn't rely on the boxes for support. I don't think this will be necessary but I'll know more when I start taking precise measurements and seeing how well the platform works directly on the boxes. If I built an independent structure (not thinking about the boxes), it would probably be a little easier to build (and a little heavier). But, I thought it would be more practical to start with some good cargo boxes since I know that I will need them anyway (rather than try to find cargo boxes that will fit later). I'll also add some hooks under that platform so I can strap it down to the 4Runners anchor points, acting like a cargo net for the boxes.
I'm also still thinking about getting a rooftop tent, but this in-vehicle bed option would be in addition to whatever else we do.
