DIY SUV Bed Platform (5th Gen 4Runner & Others)
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Download the free PDF design plans: www.nickcarver...
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- General design notes (00:24)
- Plywood cuts (1:50)
- Support planks (3:03)
- Rug wrap (3:38)
- Under-lighting (4:09)
- Support pipes (4:32)
- Install (6:34)
- Turnbuckle stabilizers (7:25)
- The mattress (7:52)
- Mesh window sleeves (9:10)
- Cargo tray (10:07)
This is one of those videos where probably 2 or 3 people will REALLY benefit from watching it. The rest will just have to watch my ugly mug talk about something of no value to them for 10 minutes. Sorry!
In this video I'll walk you through the design and build of my custom DIY camping bed platform for the back of my SUV. Mine is designed specifically for a 5th generation Toyota 4Runner, but its simple design could be easily adapted to just about any SUV, van, or hatchback. And even if you don't need a bed platform, you might like the sweet cargo shelf this thing doubles as.
The entire project comes from supplies found at Home Depot or Lowe's and requires minimal handyman skills to get it done. The platform itself is composed of 3/4" plywood cut to size, wrapped with an indoor/outdoor rug, reinforced with 1x4 poplar board, and supported by Steeltek 3/4" structural pipe. All-in, cost of materials is under a couple hundred bucks. And if you want to spruce up the design, install some LED puck lights underneath and use some turnbuckles to add rigidity when off-roading.
One of the nice things about this bed platform is the single-person easy install and the flat storage when taken out. And since it's built of 2 main pieces, you can use just the rear section of the platform as a cargo shelf in the trunk.
The mattress itself is a memory foam bed topper found on Amazon or at Bed Bath and Beyond. It cuts easily to size and rolls up tight for storage. I also made some custom noseeum mesh window coverings to give me some ventilation at night.
All-in-all, this bed platform has served me well and is reasonably convenient compared to pitching a tent when I go out solo camping. And building the thing was fun, too.
Thanks for watching!
But the way, check out my online course all about light metering for film photography: www.nickcarver...
Website: www.nickcarver...
Instagram: / nickcarver
In this episode of "This Old Car" Nick Carver does is best impression of Norm Abram. Dude, you specify the screws, and if you screw up cutting the pipes how to fix it. You sir are a legend.
New Yankee Workshop is one of my favorites! I’m not worthy to be in the same breath as Norm Abram.
Nick Carver gonna work on your cahh in the gahden with Rogah?
I just completed this build using your directions. I have a 2011 SR5/Trail and had to modify the leg position, but came out perfect. I’m impressed how rock solid it is. Thank you for sharing this build!! See you on the trail!
Hi. I have a 2011 SR5. would you be to share your mods with me. I don't have the slide out shelf.
I have to say:
I have a 4runner, I'm not going to build this platform ever, but I watched this video and really enjoyed it. Probably one of the most professional, no nonsense instructional videos I came across on youtube. Thank you.
Yup, if you are over 6ft then forget it.
Just did this to my 21’ SR5 4WD without the tray. Really sweet setup. ~$300 and 10 hours of my time with some help from a buddy for about half of it. I’m not handy and needed to buy the pipe cutter and staple so gun so if you have the tools and expertise would be easier and cheaper.
Some difficulties were the 1 1/4 screws you maybe want to go longer. Also had to adjust the pipe length to 2x23, 2x12.75, and 4x 14.75 (front of car to back). I may add a 1/4in dowel to the middle 4 FYI. In addition I moved the front 1x4 of the truck piece a couple inches further toward the trunk to make sure the poles wouldn’t be sitting on the slope since his model has a different floor plan than mine.
Still deciding between turnbuckles or ratchet straps to secure it down with the d rings and haven’t slept on it yet so more to come
Just built this for a 2021 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium (no sliding tray or 3rd row of seats). Great outcome but some adjustments were necessary:
Leg lenghth front to back - 23", 12.75", 15.5" 15.5"
Had to move the 2nd (from front) 1x4 forward on the plywood 5.5" so that the 2 legs under it didn't wind up directly on the slanted part directly behind the rear seats.
Now for a worthy road trip...
Thank you Nick!
Am I reading this correctly; Leg height on forward most legs - 23", Rear legs on Big piece - 12.75", all four legs on smaller piece - 15.5"...... as opposed to 23", 14.75" & 12" respectively listed on the plans? Have a 2023 ORP and going to attempt to build
Hey there, I built mine for a 2021 ORP. Assuming the 2023 ORP is the same as my 2021, you should do the most forward legs 23". Those are the front legs on the forward section. The rear legs on the forward section are 12.75". All four legs on the rear section are the same - 15.5". Also I had to relocate the rear 1X4 on the front section 5.5" so it didn't wind up on the slant.
This is a fantastic addition to the 4Runner. We've slept on it a handful of times. Kind of tight getting in and out. You'll need to be agile and preferably not too tall or big. If you're claustrophobic, this might not be a great thing to sleep on being somewhat close to the ceiling.
Even without sleeping on it, the increase in cargo space (by effectively adding a top shelf) for road trips make this a worthwhile build.
I'm going to attempt the same, with pretty much zero tools, and ability when it comes to things like this. Also, I'm already nomadic so this has to be on the fly, and on the cheap. I have already a full seat delete. The two pinches, I'm trying to work around is that I have a Dometic 75DZ and Exped Megamatt Max which are juuust about an inch too wide for each other to be side by side. Other stuff, power bank, etc hopefully to fit all under this or level with it. Happy to take any ideas or tweaks they find that might solve for this. In my head, it seems like this should be easy and measure it out, but maybe my brain just can't wrap my head around it. I'm very very close to considering removing the front passenger seat too if I can't get this to work.
EXPED **MEGAMAT MAX 15**
Width: 30.3 in
Length: 77.6 in
Height: 6.0 in
**Dometic CFX 75DZ**
Depth: 19.49 in
Width: 35.12 in
Height: 18.58
@@ableandrew How'd it go? Bed created?
@@Iugeer Well ... honestly short version. Recovering from heart surgery, then my dog passed away, and two weeks later my little brother passed away, and in the midst of all that a few other things too. So things have become very difficult. So right now, I cross paths with a woodworker who had a ton of lumber, really nice stuff, mahogany to bamboo or cedar, all forms, etc. He had to get rid of it. He gave me about 8 tongue and groove planks of cedar. Cut them to the length I needed for the mattress (about 78"). Then a park ranger built some legs sort of. So .... yeah that's what I'm working with. I want to do this platform so badly, and need to but it cost me everything to get the surgery and settle the estate affairs of the loved ones. So ... @lugeer this will need to just be a dream until I can find the way to both afford this, but also the space and place to build it. Thanks for asking, hope your build goes well!
Now I'm looking forward to "Nick Carver's World of Gardening" and "Plumbing Tips By Nick" how-to videos!
Time to diversify this channel.
@@nickcarverphoto No joke, I'd listen to you talk about DIY/handyman stuff all day. I bet you have clever stuff like this all over your house, right?
Mitcham Tuell thank you, my friend. Apartment living for now, but looking forward to building stuff for a house one day.
I've seen a lot of these builds, this is definitely the style I like the most. Minimal and efficient.
Edit: I ended up doing this for my 2011 4runner and just converted some of the sizes and it turned out EPIC. I made it lower so I could fit a 6" trifold mattress on top. It now just stays in my car so I can take naps wherever I go.
I have this model of 4Runner and have done a TON of research on home build bed platforms, this is by far my favorite bed build. It's sp well thought out and functional. Definitely want to build this for my truck.
@@christopherpetro6716 you'll love it. The steeltek mounts were not easy to find, the only place I was able to find them was lowes.com when they were in stock.
How much lower did you go? I want a thicker mattress so my nose doesn’t touch the ceiling.
@@bruceleonard3096 what year is your 4runner?
@@nickohdub 2014 Trail Premium. It’s the first year of the 5th generation I believe.
Thanks Nick, these plans worked out well for my 2019 4Runner. Just a heads up to those who also have 5th gen 4Runners without the sliding cargo tray; the middle four pipes need to be longer than 12”. I made all four for the rear platform the same length at 14.75” and the two for the front piece 14”.
Thanks for the tip. I just finished except I used the original 12 inch pipes, I wish I had seen your comment before running with the design. I’m off to the hardware store for 4 more pipes at 18 inches to cut down to 14.75.
Thank you for this info. I do not have the tray either.
So you used 14.75 for the 4 pipes in truck area? 14 for the middle two to level out and account for slope?
That’s what I did, yeah. The shorter 14” pieces sit a little funny because of the slope they sit on but it still seems to work. I also went with a small ratchet strap because the turnbuckles kept coming loose on bumpy roads.
So wish I had seen this BEFORE putting it all together. Have to cut some more pipe, but think I will sub in some PVC. That steel pipe is a pain to cut.
A few people have asked about the height on this platform. You can make it shorter if you're willing to remove the rear seats rather than just fold them up. I made the platform as tall as I did so that I wouldn't have to remove the rear seats. If you look at minute 7:13 in the video, you'll see that the platform sits just on top of the folded up seats. If you remove those, you can drop the platform several inches until it hits the wheel wells.
How high does your current configuration sit above the wheel well? Adjusting pipe heights accordingly...
I have a configuration that allows for a shorter platform for more head room and doesn't require you to remove the rear seats. Check out the video on my channel. Great work by the way! SEEZELIFE!
Hi Nick - do you happen to know how far in you out the d-rings (the center connects) - I figured out the ones for the trunk area but can’t tell about the others.. looks like about 4” in? Thanks!!
Hey Nick, don't know how often you check your comments section but I built this platform with some minor adjustments and thought I'd report back on a very specific change that improved this design a TON for me.
The issue was turnbuckles. I'm somewhat convinced that turnbuckles are the worst because any kind of bumpy road/vibration will cause the turnbuckle to spin out and loosen. Every test road I took it on with monster potholes they were almost completely loosened by the end of and who wants to retighten those things after every since road? Only really expensive turnbuckles have a locking mechanisms and the extra metal bits jangling around added road noise. Lashing straps seemed like the right way to go, but ratchet straps are too wide, too long, and have that giant bulky mechanism to content with AND they're also kind of expensive.
I found these NRS 1" lashing straps that work PERFECTLY and don't loose their tension the way the turnbuckles do. You can order them in different lengths, and I only needed 4 total for the original d-ring location in your plans. I used x2 3' straps for the back anchor points and x2 6' (I probably could have used 4' though) to thread through V style for the center points. They also come in black. www.nrs.com/product/1440/nrs-1-hd-tie-down-straps
Because of the wiggle room the steeltek receivers have, I wrapped the base of each pipe with some black gaffer tape to reduce wiggling, road noise, and tighten the grip slightly.
The d-rings I bought came in a 4 pack and the front of the center platform still wiggled a bit so I added the remaining d-ring anchors to the front mirroring the other side. Then I used a couple more straps to anchor those d-rings (you can get away with 2' straps or possibly even 1' depending on where you put your d-rings) to lash the front of the platform to the rectangular anchor point in the center of the bottom seat cushion. This further reduced platform wiggle.
My overall results look a little different because I used a lot of scrap wood/leftover paint I had laying around but I think this is a fantastic system and I'm happy I built it. Thanks for sharing the plans, and I hope anything I wrote here might be of help to you!
What a professional quality video and narration. Helpful. Thanks.
Use galvanized conduit instead of black pipe. Cuts easy with a pipe cutter. Is plenty strong enough in compression. Doesn't need painting. The pipe fittings will still fit.
I’ve been looking at so many different videos on this and I keep coming back to yours. This is the best and easiest one to do.
I just want to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I was able to do this! You were excellent at describing how to do it. Also you pdf design was PERFECT!!. I just went to Lowes and had the boards cut to your specifications and did exactly what you said and it worked. I was too intimidated by this who thing until I saw your video. It was so well laid out. Having it in pieces made it so much easier to manage.
Just did this on my 23 trd off-road prem. Leg lengths are off in this video, and I see several ppl in the comments say the same. If you did this these measurments, the platform would sink in. To have it leveled, you keep the front legs in the front panel 23" and back legs 14.75". The back panel legs should all be 15.75". In this config, platform sits pretty high which is fine but not good for dogs, etc and you can't make it much lower because the folded seats are in the way of the front panel. Also the screws on the flanges get loose after getting in and out a couple times. Don't know how long this thing will last but i honestly wished i never started. Respect that you tried helping
I think why some are suggesting the measurements are off for the legs is due to the different styles of 4Runner. I have a 23 with the sliding tray and the back is already level. I believe there is a slight slope if you don’t have the sliding tray or if you have the 3rd row seats. I like the concept of being able to use my sliding tray and getting the platform above the 2nd row seats so I don’t have to take them out. Awesome design!
I looked at a lot of options and I liked yours the best for my 2020 4Runner. There’s more clearance sleeping with my head towards the hatch back.I also lost some clearance by having to raise the board above the cup holders for the 3rd row seat. The length was just perfect for my height (5’2”). A taller person would need to extend the platform further toward the driver seats. The cutout is genius! Makes it so much easier to get out of the car. Thanks for the design!
I also have a 3rd row. May I ask the measurements you did for the steeltek pipes?
Was shown this inconveniently AFTER I built my bed platform in my SUV. I love this design. It looks so easy to set up and store! I’m definitely going to steal a few details from your design, Nick!
Damn! I knew I was late.
Dude, this is the best sleeping platform I've seen! I was already thinking of painting the exposed wood black... not sure why more people don't do that! And wrapping the carpet around the edges... looks much more professional. Love the idea for the steel pipes as supports so that they can be removed to take up less storage space (which I'm short on). Great job, I'm gonna use this as inspiration for mine!
Man, I love how you present the contents! An engineer's approach and thoroughness! One of the best out of millions 4runner self made camper vids!
Great design Nick and thank you for sharing this. My son and I used this design but made a few minor tweaks to make it fit a 2006 Lexus GX 470. For the rear platform, most of the measurements in the 48 wide direction we kept the same. I'll share what we did because I feel you have one of the best builds out there.
Since we did not have a slide out tray, which is super sick BTW, we added one center support in the middle of the rear section and 2 additional center supports on the front and rear of the front section. This gave us a total of 11 supports and the measurements are as follows. Instead of four 12 inch posts on the rear section, we used 5 and made a sixth to have a spare support in case we need to load a heavy item. On the rear portion front section, the floor on the GX does not taper like the 4Runner, so we were able to use 3 more 12 inch posts. On the front part of the front portion we used two 20 inch posts and one 18.75 post that we angle grinded to meet the slope on the middle hump. We decided to add the center posts on the front section because the bulk of the weight of getting in and out of the sleeping platform would be there. If one does not want to use a center post on the front of the front section, you could lengthen the front portion 6 to 7 more inches to get more head and foot room. However, you will need to move front seats all the way up and unless you drive that way, it wasn't a reasonable option if you wanted to keep it in tact. Once could play with this measurement based on their seat positions. But both front and rear sections at 36 inches does work and a 5.11 person or taller can drive with the sleeping portion fully in tact.
The only other notable change we did was instead of securing the posts to the plywood with the #12 woodscrews, we opted to use T-nuts and bolts. We used smaller T Nuts with the "D" rings as well. We still used the wood screws to secure more of the 1x4 to the plywood sheet. You can barely feel the T-nuts through the carpet, but we figured we would have a sleep topper on there and it would not be noticeable through that. In our build, we only used the Steel-Tek rectangular style Flanges. For our build you will need the following:
6x8 Carpet
1 Quart of paint, small roller and brush.
4x8 3/4 inch Plywood, Lowes was cheaper and had better quality
(2) 10 foot 1x4 boards (Home Depot)
(8) 12 inch posts (Lowes)
(2) 20 inch posts (Lowes)
(1) 18.75 inch post (we did build a bridge spanning the center hump out of leftover plywood scraps to get a level landing.
Since we had some left over pipe, we cut another at 12 inches, used some left over plywood and carpet to make a support to be able to use if needed.
For the above, we bought a 10 ft and 6 ft section of pipe. We also out a metal cutting blade in our chop saw and cut it that way. (Lowes)
12 Flanges Lowes part number 962236
For the Flanges, we used 3/8 inch T nuts to secure them. The ideal length is 1 3/4, but all we could find were 1 1/2 or 2 inch. We had to add washers to the 2 inch or not use any on the 1 1/2, so we opted for the 2 inch.
(12) 1 inch Rubber Let Tips (Home Depot)
Box of 50 #12 x 1 1/4 wood screws (Home Depot)
Box of 50 1/4 inch x 1 1/2 Round head machine screws (Home Depot)
(12) 1/4 T Nuts (Home Depot)
(24) 3/8 inch T Nuts
(24) 1 3/4 machine screws
6 Turn Buckles 3/8 x 7 3/4 (Home Depot)
6 Quick Links 3/16 (Home Depot)
Staple Gun
9/16 inch Socket & Ratchet
Tape Measure
Ruler
A Speed Square, comes in really handy.
Hammer.
Chop Saw with a metal cutting blade, I guess Lowe's will cut your posts too.
Hand sander to smooth the edges.
I had Lowes cut the plywood, 36x48, 36x30 and 36x18.
(4) 1x4 47.75" Long
(1) 1x4 38.75" Long
It was a fun project that took us about a day and a half and 6 trips to Home depot and Lowes and we kept making tweaks here and there.
Thank you again...maybe we will see you out there!
Hello, do you think you could make and upload a quick video of your build? I have the same vehicle and would want to use your design if you don't mind. You have very clear instructions, but it would be beneficial for visual learners like myself to see the platform. Thank you!
@@maximpopov9891 It is my son's vehicle and he is now in Colorado. I may have a few photos, but no video's, sorry.
@@scottschulz3475 Thank you for your response! Do you lift and lock the second row seats at the second position up against the front seats?
@@maximpopov9891 No, we designed the system so he could lay his second row seats flat (you do have to remove the headrests). With the seats leaning forward, there was not enough room for him to lay down. That way if he needed to transport more people he had the option. He decided in the end to remove the second row seats completely to gain more storage space. FYI, a Yeti 45 fits under the deck perfectly.
@@scottschulz3475 Thank you so much!
I built this exact platform based off the plans that were provided. Held up very well on a 1 week trip with significant off-roading. The turnbuckles start to shake loose after a while but that is an easy adjustment. I also ended up using bolts instead of screws to secure those fittings that the pipe insert into. The screws didn't hold up too well from the off-roading. I've had it for 2 years now and it's still going strong!
Very nicely done! You've aptly demonstrated how attention to detail and taking time to add finishing touches takes a project from 'Redneck DIY' to 'Professional'
And I'll echo what others have said....you're an excellent orator!
This is by far the best design and functionality that I have seen so far for the runner . Can’t wait to build our own thank you for the ideas
DUDE... This is almost exactly what I decided I wanted to do after a recent trip to CO. I'm giddy with excitement. Haha
Boom! Glad I'm not the only one who gets giddy about DIY bed platforms.
Did this today with my '18 SR5 without the sliding cargo deck. Instructions were basically spot on. I moved the front two legs out the the widest point possible. The only other significant change was the rear legs on the front section, those ended up being 11" long instead of 14.75". Alternatively, I think you could leave those 14.75", and make the 4 rear section legs about 15.75", which should be level, but taller. In my case, I wanted the rear to be a little lower. This also means the front isn't level, it's at a slight angle, which is a good trade-off for my needs.
Rear hatch pop & window control harness and switches are on their way. That's the final piece for me on this project.
Thank you for the tutorial and the PDF! Simple and effective, and it'll make my frequent cross country road trips with my dogs so much better. Cheers! 🍻
Just made this over the weekend with our '17 SR5 and those measurements for the 4 back legs are correct (15.75") for it to be level. And we moved the 14.75" legs to the back of the front half, and moved those mounts in to 9.25" so they would sit where the D-rings go so they sit level. Other than that everything was the same.
Thank you for confirming this. I’m just about done with my project and was wondering why level was so off. Did some testing and came to the same conclusion as yours
I echo all of the comments here about the great, but simple, design of this platform. I built it over the course of a couple of weeks as I sourced materials. I also had Lowe's cut the pipe for me on their machine. I'm no finish carpenter. Nick, you did an outstanding job of walking us through the build and providing the design. This thing adds so much functionality to my 5th Gen 4R. Couldn't be happier. The only modification I made was to the length of the 4 center posts. Because I don't have the pull out tray the four center posts were short. I added roughly 2 inches to Nick's dimensions to level the front and back decks. The two middle posts on the front platform sit directly on the ramp in the center of the cargo area that is part of the folding rear seat frame when they are down. They tend to shift a little bit on the ramp. This means you might need to make a few adjustments to height in order to tune the fit. No big deal. I took it to the backcountry last weekend. Performed like a champ. Thanks, Nick! Keep up the good work.
I am *loving* your attention to details! The opposite corners of the foam overlay having the same notch cut as the bed was perfection. Thank you so much for sharing your build.
This is great! I’ve literally been trying to nut something like this out with separate sections because I need to access the spare wheel if need be. I didn’t want to use timber for legs because of weight, awkwardness, and storing in the garage. But these legs you’ve used have given me an idea to recycle an old metal fold up garden recliner that was on the scrap heap. 🤔⚙️💡😃
i'm commenting just to make sure youtube algorithm knows I love this genius man.
Thank you very much for that!
I just put my name on the waiting list for a 2024 4Runner. And I had this idea for a hinged 2 piece, but I couldn't figure out the 3rd piece for the cooler. And you put it all together like fitting a puzzleI LOVE this layout the best! Creatively done! Love the lights!
BRAVO!!! And thank you!!! 😊
this platform was so fun to make. taking my runner on its first adventure tonight!
I surprisingly enjoyed this video way more than I thought I would, Nick never disappoints.
I appreciate that! Was a little worried I was turning my back on most viewers with this one.
Awesome video. Would love to see you get in and out of the sleeping area!
Thanks for putting up the detailed instructions on how to build your platform. I don't have the slideout platform and it is way too expensive to add it. While I am deciding on what kind of drawers I want, this will be an awesome sleeping platform for my first summer. The LED puck lights are a nice touch.
I like the spot “where the feet can land” area !! I found having this is easy to get out of the back fast and my shoes, water and keys lay. They lights are a good idea too
Thanks again. I found those pipes at Lowe's and used them. I used 3/4" plywood (really .688 inch) with no under cross supports and it supports two of us without any problems.
Dude. Inspired to make one for my grand cherokee! That's a sweet setup!
This is the most legit platform I’ve found on UA-cam so far. Great work man ✌🏽
Way more better than other platform beds videos. Technically designed with attention to details and very well explained.
Awesome set up! My 9yr old daughter and I are ecstatic to finally set up our truck. Made it look easy and appreciate all the attention to detail. Thank you! :)
Quality of this video and the simplicity of the explanation is unreal!
For someone who doesn’t really do overlanding/vehicle mod videos, this is one of the most helpful 4Runner videos I’ve found on UA-cam. I copied your setup exactly and added some D rings to my slide out tray to secure cargo boxes and gear while still being able to slide the tray out. Thanks so much for all the detail in this video!
Doing the same setup, did you screw the D ring's right into the sliding cargo tray for anchor points? I'm figuring out where I am going to do that as well.
@@stuartkanof8531 yes, I screwed them into the sliding tray but don’t use them as anchor points for the platform, because then you wouldn’t be able to slide it in and out under the platform
Nice, yea no I want to anchor down a Roam case on the back side of the cargo deck.
You sir. Are an amazing human. Free pdf....free instruction..parts list...AND a video showing it animated. Dude. Thank you. Beyond thank you.
I know nothing about cars, DIY or camping but I could watch everything you throw at us! Thanks for the content man.
Thank you!
@@nickcarverphoto sent you $20 man, its not much I know but it may pay for a shot of New 55. Thanks again pal
You’re the man! Thank you!
So, I took screenshots of key parts of the video. Even took notes on the screenshots. Just prior to the end of the video, I thought: Does my Toyota Highlander have D-rings? Hallelujah, it does! Great video! Great concept, even down to using dowels for subtle leveling adjustments. Thank you for your efforts!
I got all equipment at Lowes, they cut everything; wood and pipe! Thanks for the video, can’t wait to assemble and use.
Hi Nick!. Thank you for your ideas. I was got stuck too long for how to build a sleeping without putting too much weight of wood in side. That steeltek ideas is genius.
Thanks for the build and specs. Replaced my other platform and using this design went up higher allowing for getting more gear under the platform than before.
Getting set up for overlanding as a way to get myself back into landscape photography.
Glad the youtube algorithm suggested this video to me today.
Great video, Nick! I'm a photographer and I was thinking about creating something similar for my FJ Cruiser. That slide out shelf is a must, and a spot for my cooler, tripods and light stands, charging station, etc... so much to think about. I got lots of great ideas from this video. Thanks for sharing!
This is exactly what I am looking for! Cannot wait to put a bed in my SUV. Thank you so much!!!
Thank you! I’ve got the same model 4Runner and was looking for a video like this. Thanks for including the exact dimensions and making my life easy. No need to reinvent the wheel.
This is great. You're a good designer and you teach well. So kudos to you my friend. No unnecessary blathering...straight to it. Grazie mille!
This is the only design I've seen that with minor modifications should work with my 4runner with 3rd row seats. Great design!
But wait! There's more! This has 2 a.m. infomercial written all over it. Love it Nick!
If you call within the next 15 minutes, you’ll also get...
Amazing video, the attention to detail was incredible. Building one immediately for an upcoming Big Bend trip, can't wait to break it in!
This is great! There are very few actual plans online for sleep platforms. I have a LandCruiser, but your video is so good that I'll be able to translate the ideas/solutions easily!
Thank you so much for this video. We are planning a cross country trip and I was looking for ideas to build a platform and I stumbled across this video. Got the supplies for this today and will be assembling tonight :) This will be my first solo project so here's to hoping! It also helped because I have a sliding rear cargo tray so this video was perfect! Thank you!
You just save me with my dilemma about the head legs sir. Very wonderful and detailed 10mins video. Please do make more sir.
bro, this is so well organized and you give away free plans.. all I can say is THANK YOU
I don't even own a 4runner or camp in my vehicle, yet I enjoyed watching this. 10/10
Great setup! This is the cleanest, simplest SUV sleeping platform out there.
Wow this video was so impressive. Instructions were nice and clear and the presentation was joyous.
made my platform just like this for a VW Touran. It's perfect. No better way to build a bed platform! Thanks a lot Nick! You are a genius!
Don’t own your truck (or any truck for that matter) and would probably never be able to put this together, but it was an honest pleasure to watch. Amazing DIY! 👍
Thanks for this great detailed how to video. We are planning to get a 4Runner next year and this is exactly what we want to build.
Really good idea, I’ll be building one for my 2021 Four Runner 👍👍👍
I can't agree more on the "attention to detail". This vid is full of inspiration. Very thorough explanation with the diagrams. Thanks!
I'm hoping to get a 4runner, probably next spring, and I want to make it so that I can go on solo road and camping trips. I'm trying to learn all that I can. Thanks for the video.
Nice! It's a great car for that.
I absolutely love this platform. Thank you! I hope I can put this together myself for my 2015 Pathfinder. I know the dimensions will be different. 😬
That was absolutely amazing. Kick ass! I'm a professional artist and dudebI appreciate your efforts! Video was funny too! 😂
This has to be the most informative build video on UA-cam. Thank you sir
Dude, thanks for that. No stone UN-turned in thinking that thru. Nice ingenuity. I imagine, you don't use this as often as the outdoor tent you showed off recently.
Thank you! And I’ve actually found myself using this much more than my tent. My tent is was more comfortable, but set up and break down - especially on hard desert ground - can be too much to deal with sometimes.
@@nickcarverphoto did you do as thorough a research in thinking this thru as you did when purchased the 4Runner ? Ive been looking at the TRD/ Jeep GC Altitude/ LandRover Discovery and Lexux GX 470. Cant deside which works best for outlanding and Photography. If $$ was no object, Id just go with a Revel.
"hands down" Yours is the best design by far
I’ve been watching your channel for film photography stuff for a couple of years, but as luck would have it, I’m also in the process of making a minivan camper, so it’s pretty awesome to see this here :)
This is so much nicer and easier to use than the bed platform I made for my car. I might now need to rethink mine, or at least add some of that carpeting to it.
It’s pretty good carpet.
I LOVE this! Simplest design Ive seen yet & exactly what I have been searching for.
Ditto!
Ahhhh this is SO GOOD!!! Have been looking for something like this (with attention to detail) and this is PERFECT! Thanks for sharing the dimensions too!!!! 🙏🏻🙌🏼
Simple & neat bed design. Now I just need to figure how to modify the measurements for a Subaru Outback. Thank you for being so detailed with the video. Love your attention to details.
Buying a 4runner in a couple of months. been watching many videos on different designs. Ended up going with yours! Thanks for the awesome vid!
Haven’t got a 4Runner... Haven’t got a car... Haven’t got a driving license... Still watched it all because, you know... Nick...
I think I could watch him prepare breakfast
Same here xD
Thank you, my friend!
@@robyoung125 We have watched him prepare breakfast, search for the saguaro cactus vid's from 2 years ago.
I don't have a car, not interested in cars, or driving, not interested in photography, not interested in men with beards, not interested in other people's cars, not interested in Orange County, Southern California, not interested in deserts, or people explaining things they've done to their car...you get the idea. But I still watched the video.
Built this platform for my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Followed the color scheme too! It looks AWESOME. Thanks for the video!
I totally expect to see a darkroom behind your truck one day!
The day I finally let myself try wet plate collodion, I’m sure I’ll fall deep in that rabbit hole and have to start bringing a darkroom with me in the field.
@@nickcarverphoto Maybe the New55 film was your way of developing in the field?
That much attention to detail and craftsmanship makes me think you were an Architecture major in college, or thought about it - secretly aspiring architect as a young lad. You forgot to show us how you fit in it.
Geeze man. For real you are a master of reading people. I was the only 9-year-old who idolized Frank Lloyd Wright and wanted to be an architect. Found architectural photography at some point instead, but still love architecture.
Nick Carver Awe man! FLW!!!! His work can inspire so much beyond architecture out of people. I have a degree in architecture but found a love for videography/film and photography along the way (now a video editor for a marketing team - which I love doing).
I really like this pipe flange idea, been looking for a way to have a removable bed platform. This pretty much solves it
This just pooped up in my feed, as I have been looking at some alternative shelving for the SUBI. Dude great video - I have a plan to work with now.
Not sure you'll read this but I hope you do. I finished my platform last week and spent 5 days in the San Juan mountains using it. Long story short, one night after the sun had set I was driving down the mountain and passed a spot I photographed earlier in the day that had 2 people shooting 8x10 large format. Well you don't see that everyday so I pulled over and chatted with them for about thirty minutes. At one point I asked where they were staying and they pointed to their SUV and I said "Oh me too!" I ended up showing them the back of my 4runner and they loved it. We talked about the turnbuckles coming loose, using some nuts to keep them tight, removing it etc. Well turns out one of those people was Rodney Lough, whom I embarrassingly didn't know lol. Thought you'd enjoy the story!
8:38 i love it when he thinks he’s so smart and great because he actually is lmao
“Yeah, im pretty great” xD
Really Great solution and fantastic presentation. I did the exact same except mine is lower so I have more headroom when in sleep mode. For below storage i use low profile plastic under bed storage tubs that roll in and out easily. Thanks for such a well presented design.
Ed, I built one according to Nick’s plan and I get claustrophobic. Can you tell me how you were able to lower it a few inches? Did you have to remove the rear seats rather than fold them up? Thanks for you input.
@@bruceleonard3096 sorry I didn’t see this until now.
I lowered it but I still feel claustrophobic. I’m considering actually raising it so I can sleep on a mattress on the floor. Instead of it being a sleeping platform it will be a shelf and my legs will be below it. When I get it done I’ll let you know and maybe provide photos.
Very sleek and smart.. watch 100s of videos on micro camping, modifications etc and to me this looks the best so far, and will be incorporating this idea to my corsa c hatchback in the uk..was thinking of putting in a hinge behind the front seats as need to push front seats forward as I’m 5:10 height and my cars not quite as long as yours... Great build and appreciate you putting this on you tube..100% mate thankyou 👍👍👍👍
Great job! I have a similar setup for my RAV. Always looking for new ideas. I shudder to think of how much trial and error went into this build before you got to the final result. I love the idea of cutting the memory foam so it works either way.
This is the best 4Runner sleeping/organization setup I’ve seen
Dude! THANK YOU! Haha this is EXACTLY what I needed! Clean, simple, direct, hard to find videos that answer the questions directly so quickly!
Awesome vid thank you! Just followed this and did it myself. Lying on the platform in a sleeping bag in my driveway trying it out lol.
Man that’s awesome. Enjoy!
Nick Carver 2020
“Yeah, I’m pretty great.”
😂👏🏼
Not just any old mind can come up with the genius that is notching out the corner of a memory foam mattress. Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Nick Carver.
Note key word "pretty".
You didn't demonstrate how easy or challenging it is to get in and out of your bed.
@@1958zed Via the left back door I guess , removing that part of the platform. Stiil a bit claustrofobic .
Very impressive. I liked the attention to detail to make sure one's feet keep tidy and in place..
You are a super minded kind of guy...😂😂 This DIY flat tray got my attention and I will be doing one for my X3! I went thru two 4Runners over the years and loved them... I don’t have a sliding tray but that’s ok. I have a little less space in my X3 compared to a 4Runner. I’ve been watching pretty much all your videos and learning in the process...you know, you never stop learning! I have a Chamonix 45H-1 on the way 👶..can’t wait. Stay safe man...Cheers.
Alex
❤❤❤ the Attention to Detail!
That presentatiok was premium! Top shot animation, close-ups, all the infos..
great content!
Looking to build something like this for my Rav4 Hybrid and I wanted it to be modular exactly like you have yours. The detail on the cuts and the overview you made for all of those parts was really great. Thanks for the details and the inspiration! Cheers
Do you have dimensions for your build?