sleeping platform finished! many pix - Page 2

van7559 · 04-19-2006, 07:17 PM

How many times, what and where did you secure it to the bed?

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photoleif · 04-19-2006, 08:28 PM

i have it bolted to the bed in front and rear, total of four holes. you can see one of the 4" brackets in the bed in the first three pix, with #2 probably the clearest illustration. that mount was easy because i had no obstructions -- just lowered the spare, reached and grunted a bit, and it was in. the other mount, which is in the same place but far fore, wasn't too pretty. turns out i measured about 1/2" wrong and the holes went in right next to the transverse support strap, so i had to put the bolts in at a bit of an angle to avoid that. grrr. it's plenty tight with those two -- not going anywhere at all. i ought to fill the holes with silicone, but at least initially i've got garden-hose gaskets compressed against the holes with the washers, then a lock-washer, then the nut. it's not beautiful but it'll do until i get around to squirting some silicone up there.

photoleif · 06-01-2006, 08:21 PM

followup lessons learned and observations:

1) the spring catches tend to loosen a bit when i 4-wheel, and if i wanted to fix this, i'd need to use hinges and a latch instead. it's not a big issue, but it's a bit annoying.

2) so far, no issues with the dual-optima setup. the internal resistances of the batteries are identical, and the charging rates seem very similar. i've had no heat buildup or outgassing. the voltages tend to equalize adequately. the starter right now is at 12.56v and the deep-cycle is at 12.91v. given that they shipped at 13.44v each i'm not too concerned. i'm thinking of getting a panel voltage readout to keep an eye on the deep-cycle anyway, so if it gets a bit high, i can turn it off and start using it.

3) the 3" memory-foam mattress is awesome, and knox foam is a winner of a company. i went cheaper with the foam elsewhere, but got the mattress cover from knox foam. great guys, highly recommended.

4) the forward compartments tend to not get used a lot since they're hard to get into with the mattress on top. i find myself kind of wishing i had my toolboxes somewhere more convenient, but that more convenient space is used by other stuff.

5) the painless wiring system is indeed painless. if you get one you'll see that you don't have to exactly follow their instructions concerning the order, but most everything does have to be completed. no missing parts...always good.

6) getting in and out of the back with the platform in it sometimes results in hitting the interior light. if yours is mounted in the rear, below the third brake light, be careful or you'll hit it with whatever... back, hip, head.

7) i still haven't figured out a proper spot to use for the tie-downs for the water jugs.

PeanutRanger · 06-08-2006, 06:09 PM

That is great man, really thought out and planned good. I love to camp sleep outdoors etc. I'm jealous!

snap-on · 06-08-2006, 06:18 PM

so hears a fairly odd question but one that can only be answered by those that have such a setup....

do you sleep head by the cab, or head by the tail gate and why?

USAtruck6 · 06-08-2006, 07:09 PM

Real sweet! You planned it out perfectly.

Bob_98SR5 · 06-08-2006, 07:12 PM

i have a 4runner that has a platform that we sleep on. we sleep with our heads towards the tailgate. it makes getting out easier. but the key is to make sure that when parking, the tail end is level or a little higher than the front end.

bob

photoleif · 06-10-2006, 07:54 PM

thanks for your kind words (USATruck6 and PeanutRanger). so far so good with the platform (can't say as much for the CVs... but that's another sob-story). we sleep with heads near the cab, since i designed the space at the end to accommodate muddy boots, etc. i also kind of like sleeping with my feet hanging off a bed (dunno why... don't ask, don't know) so the gap facilitates that. the mattress does tend to get a bit dusty despite the sealing i did around the tailgate and such. i will do a bit more to try to tighten up those gaps.

04-19-2006, 08:28 PM	#27 (permalink)
photoleif Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: 39.995, 105.119 Posts: 643	i have it bolted to the bed in front and rear, total of four holes. you can see one of the 4" brackets in the bed in the first three pix, with #2 probably the clearest illustration. that mount was easy because i had no obstructions -- just lowered the spare, reached and grunted a bit, and it was in. the other mount, which is in the same place but far fore, wasn't too pretty. turns out i measured about 1/2" wrong and the holes went in right next to the transverse support strap, so i had to put the bolts in at a bit of an angle to avoid that. grrr. it's plenty tight with those two -- not going anywhere at all. i ought to fill the holes with silicone, but at least initially i've got garden-hose gaskets compressed against the holes with the washers, then a lock-washer, then the nut. it's not beautiful but it'll do until i get around to squirting some silicone up there. __________________ '95 Xtra cab 3VZE SR5V6 \| 33x10.50-15 BFG AT/KOs \| 4" Superlift \| OME torsion bars \| Total Chaos idler arm and uniball \| Rancho steering stabilizer \| Smittybilt front & rear tubular bumpers \| Sportsman topper \| Aisin hubs \| Dual Optimas \| Extended diff breathers \| Custom center console sometime: rear locker some sometime: retire the IFS My truck page Photography: http://www.aspen-graphics.com Last edited by photoleif; 04-19-2006 at 08:30 PM.

06-01-2006, 08:21 PM	#28 (permalink)
photoleif Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: 39.995, 105.119 Posts: 643	followup lessons learned and observations: 1) the spring catches tend to loosen a bit when i 4-wheel, and if i wanted to fix this, i'd need to use hinges and a latch instead. it's not a big issue, but it's a bit annoying. 2) so far, no issues with the dual-optima setup. the internal resistances of the batteries are identical, and the charging rates seem very similar. i've had no heat buildup or outgassing. the voltages tend to equalize adequately. the starter right now is at 12.56v and the deep-cycle is at 12.91v. given that they shipped at 13.44v each i'm not too concerned. i'm thinking of getting a panel voltage readout to keep an eye on the deep-cycle anyway, so if it gets a bit high, i can turn it off and start using it. 3) the 3" memory-foam mattress is awesome, and knox foam is a winner of a company. i went cheaper with the foam elsewhere, but got the mattress cover from knox foam. great guys, highly recommended. 4) the forward compartments tend to not get used a lot since they're hard to get into with the mattress on top. i find myself kind of wishing i had my toolboxes somewhere more convenient, but that more convenient space is used by other stuff. 5) the painless wiring system is indeed painless. if you get one you'll see that you don't have to exactly follow their instructions concerning the order, but most everything does have to be completed. no missing parts...always good. 6) getting in and out of the back with the platform in it sometimes results in hitting the interior light. if yours is mounted in the rear, below the third brake light, be careful or you'll hit it with whatever... back, hip, head. 7) i still haven't figured out a proper spot to use for the tie-downs for the water jugs. __________________ '95 Xtra cab 3VZE SR5V6 \| 33x10.50-15 BFG AT/KOs \| 4" Superlift \| OME torsion bars \| Total Chaos idler arm and uniball \| Rancho steering stabilizer \| Smittybilt front & rear tubular bumpers \| Sportsman topper \| Aisin hubs \| Dual Optimas \| Extended diff breathers \| Custom center console sometime: rear locker some sometime: retire the IFS My truck page Photography: http://www.aspen-graphics.com Last edited by photoleif; 06-01-2006 at 08:25 PM. Reason: spelling

06-08-2006, 06:09 PM	#29 (permalink)
PeanutRanger Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 76	That is great man, really thought out and planned good. I love to camp sleep outdoors etc. I'm jealous! __________________ 86 4Runner, SR5, Turbo KC Hilites Bar 4 - 6in HELLA 500's

06-08-2006, 06:18 PM	#30 (permalink)
snap-on Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: STL MO Posts: 2,382	so hears a fairly odd question but one that can only be answered by those that have such a setup.... do you sleep head by the cab, or head by the tail gate and why? __________________ 94 EX cab, 5speed, V6, locked, ARB bar, NWOR headers 92 4runner, auto, V6, OME suspension, Downey headers

06-10-2006, 07:54 PM	#33 (permalink)
photoleif Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: 39.995, 105.119 Posts: 643	thanks for your kind words (USATruck6 and PeanutRanger). so far so good with the platform (can't say as much for the CVs... but that's another sob-story). we sleep with heads near the cab, since i designed the space at the end to accommodate muddy boots, etc. i also kind of like sleeping with my feet hanging off a bed (dunno why... don't ask, don't know) so the gap facilitates that. the mattress does tend to get a bit dusty despite the sealing i did around the tailgate and such. i will do a bit more to try to tighten up those gaps. __________________ '95 Xtra cab 3VZE SR5V6 \| 33x10.50-15 BFG AT/KOs \| 4" Superlift \| OME torsion bars \| Total Chaos idler arm and uniball \| Rancho steering stabilizer \| Smittybilt front & rear tubular bumpers \| Sportsman topper \| Aisin hubs \| Dual Optimas \| Extended diff breathers \| Custom center console sometime: rear locker some sometime: retire the IFS My truck page Photography: http://www.aspen-graphics.com

06-08-2006, 07:09 PM	#31 (permalink)
USAtruck6 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NY Stinkin' 5 Boroughs Posts: 130	Real sweet! You planned it out perfectly.

06-08-2006, 07:12 PM	#32 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,092	i have a 4runner that has a platform that we sleep on. we sleep with our heads towards the tailgate. it makes getting out easier. but the key is to make sure that when parking, the tail end is level or a little higher than the front end. bob

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