Building a climbing truck
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DGraham, take a look at the pictures in my earlier posts. This is a 5'4" bed, and I'm 6'0". I do have to sleep diagonally if I want to stretch out, but no big deal. When my lady and I both sleep in the truck we try to leave the tailgate down and put a piece of plywood over the pull out box so we can stretch out. |
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Thanks Tim! |
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I have a 2003 Toyota with a standard six foot bed and a fairly conventional set up in the back that you can read about all over the internet. It works great and is cheap to make. |
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Nice setup, like the stealth mode! |
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Just bought the truck cap heading to buy lumber tomorrow! |
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Flip that upside down and you're finished! |
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If I wasn't building drawers and such, I would. But I need a nice level lower platform |
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Chet's rig is the only one I've seen a photo of in this thread that would be acceptable. The platform idea seems like a great one until you actually build it. Without a tall cap, you cannot sit up in the bed. I cannot emphasize enough how badly that sucks. I had a setup like those pictured here in a 6 foot bed with a standard cap. Pitched it. I could lie down, sit up hunched over, or sit up with my head against the cap and sideways. It sucked. I'm not tall either, 5'10" |
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I 'built' this this week. I found a $5.00 cabinet at the dump. Later I bought a single sheet of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood for $38. |
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Nice use of the mid! |
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Keeping it simple is a good rule of thumb, so whatever works for you, man! |
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Chris D wrote:Let me reiterate: Do not underestimate the suck factor of being unable to sit up in the bed of a truck with a platform and a standard cap.This is important. It only took one weekend in the rain to cut the platform to make for more head room; can't read books lying down forever. |
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Looking forward to seeing the final build. |
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Here's what I built last weekend for my truck, a little different from most designs but I don't live in my truck. I wanted an optional sleeping platform that I could stow away in the truck while not using it, but could whip it out quickly and easily to create a sleeping space if I wanted. Here's what I came up with, the box at the back will serve as a toolbox (I added a facing piece of plywood along the front to hold stuff in there) and the entire platform stores away behind it. The 2x4's sit on the wheel wells for support, and the whole frame/toolbox can slide in and out of the truck. Granted I don't live in my truck and don't camp in it extensively, but I thought seeing a different design might spark some ideas. It weighs 100 pounds total and cost $50 in material (wood and hinges). |
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Tblom, sweet setup, looks similar to what mine will end up being, and awesome dog. And cool temporary rig, jay |
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All in all the holes seem to have saved between 12-15 pounds and every pound counts. I should get the structure in my truck tomorrow and then can cut the top to fit the contour of the bed and the truck cap should be here next week |
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Front of drawers
Drawers from above Have gotten both of the drawers finished, should be done very soon |