Short bed tacoma livin?
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Im looking into purchasing an older 4dr short bed tacoma, the model before they put long beds on em. Any one have any experience living out of one. Im 5'9 and hoping I can sleep diagonally across the bed on a platform built above the wheel wells. Ive lived out of reg bed tacoma and T100 for a long time pretty comfortably, but not sure on this one. I will be traveling for school for several months at a time and looking to save some $$$ on rent. Any info would be appreciated, and I should mention that I need the 4dr for the family otherwise Id just go with the extended cab. |
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toyota.com/tacoma/features.…
based on their bed dimensions it looks like you could sleep comfortably. A quick calculation based on a 16" wide sleeping space suggests diagonally you should have ~78.8". (you could lay a 16" X 78" sleeping mat diagonally without folding the corners). |
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Thanks frank! Was really hoping to hear from someone with experience but i may have to go off the math. |
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My grandpa has that model. I tried sleeping in it once, and was not too impressed (I have the standard two-door, six foot bed). Get it if you need to for the family, but sleeping in the back in any sort of camper set up would be a pain in the ass, especially with more than one person. |
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I have one of the newer short beds. I made a loft that has a flip up extendable section about as long as the tailgate. The only bad part is you cant sleep with the gate closed, but I have a tarp that goes over a tent pole rigged up over the back. Its comfortable with two people. If I am by myself I can close the gate and the topper and sleep diagonal fairly comfortable (I'm about the same height as you). Here's a photo, dont know if it'll help. |
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Just saw Jonathan's post after I posted, hence mine is a moot point. Nice design Jonathan. |
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Sisyphus wrote:Thanks frank! Was really hoping to hear from someone with experience but i may have to go off the math.Of note: I made the assumption that the listed dimensions are the internal dimensions and neglected to factor in a lip around the bed (though that wouldnt likely be a huge issue and a human is shaped very differently from a 16" wide rectangle). Do they make the tacoma with the second half doors? I don't know what they are actually called, maybe a crew cab or some shit? the doors that swing back after you open the front doors? |
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thanks for the input guys. Jonathan, like the extendable platform, its definitely gonna happen. Camhead-yeah wish i could just go with the reg bed but with carseats in back of my T100 just took too much space and the tacomas are smaller. |
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I have this truck and I don't think you're going to like sleeping in the back unless the tailgate is down. I have slept in the back of mine with the gate up and I barely fit (I am 5'6"). Granted, I use a huge sleeping pad when I am car camping which definitely makes it a tigher squeeze but, regardless, I don't think an additional 3" of flesh and bone is going to feel that comfy even with a shorter or thinner pad. |
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My 08 4 door Tacoma was available as either a "Sport" (longer bed--about 6'6" I think) and "Off-road" (shorter bed). Due to the uselessness of the shorter bed on the Off Road package, I went with the Sport. It's long enough for me to sleep in at almost 6'. |
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I'll revive this thread. I just finished this platform. I got the inspiration off of the internet so I decided I'd pass along my vision to anyone thinking about something similar. |
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^^ Did you buy the truck with the original intention of car camping with it? |
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^^ It was one of the considerations, yes. So finding a (cheap) solution to the 5' long bed issue was also a consideration. I don't mind sleeping on the ground, so the short bed wasn't a deal breaker. |
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Looks great! What did you upholster the platform with and does the drawer slide on a rail? |
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^^ I upholstered it with the cheapest outdoor carpet they had at Home Depot. It was actually a remnant peice, they sold me it for $6. I would use more glue than you think you need, staple the undersides. |
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My girlfriend and I are looking to build the platform in her short bed 2012 tacoma this weekend for some winter camping! Luckily we are only 5'2 :) What dimensions of the wood did you use? I also was wondering if you used boards that ran down the sides or did you use the pre-existing notches in the bed of the truck? I need as much advice as possible!! |
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^ Yes, I used the notches in the wheel wells. A 2x8" fits in there if you shave about 1/2 inch off of it. I used 2x10's for the lengthwise supports, I had to cut a notch out of them as well so they would fit under the cross supports. You'll need a jigsaw and either a table saw or good Skil saw skills. |
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I built a platform for my shortbed last winter. Slept it in most weekends with my girlfriend (we are both 5'9"). Definitely a little cramped, but we were able to sleep well and it sure warmed up quick in there. |
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Seems like having the taller cap would make a world of difference, livability-wise. |
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Oh absolutely. I didn't buy the shortbed with the intention of camping in it too often, though. Hence me building the cheapest and most basic platform I could think of. |
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I made a bed/storage area that is about as lightweight as possible. It uses the side rails for support and is split into two halves. It is easy to remove one half in just a few seconds. 3/4" plywood for the top, 1/2" for the center supports. The Costco cargo bins double as additional support, and I cut a board that works as an extension when the tailgate is down which rests on the bins when I'm sleeping. I'm 6'4" so it isn't exactly comfortable, but I've slept in it a dozen times. It's tolerable. (The retired 48" slings make it easy to pull the forward bins out like drawers.) |