Car Camping Solution

[jenos96]

May just try this out the first time and adjust from there. Feels like just addressing the step down that way would still be reasonably comfortable

Do you need the back row seats? Removing them gets you 4” of headspace

 

[DeepDive]

Yes. The camping solution would be a three or four times a year thing for me. If I were constantly running down to Baja, I’d do the wood solution from the company in San Diego. Looks like a pretty solid solution, but for the amount of times I’d actually use it, doesn’t make sense for me.

 

[EOD Guy]

May just try this out the first time and adjust from there. Feels like just addressing the step down that way would still be reasonably comfortable

My issue was, I could definingly feel the transition from the mattress to the hard back of the folded seat, too uncomfortable for my taste. I fabricated a 4" platform out of extruded alum and laid up a carbon fiber deck, the new mattress touches the back of the front seat and the closed rear hatch, so fills up the entire available length. I notice a very slight incline at the head, but very comfortable now.

Total cost somewhere around $250-300 bucks

 

[DctrEvil]

I originally posted this in the wrong thread so I deleted it….
I made my own “Bam-Beds” style platform. Pretty happy with how it turned out especially since I used scrapped plywood flooring and have almost no carpentry skills.

Now I just leave the lids off the 3 storage bins and have enough room under the platform to store the air mattress under for “hidden” storage

This is great and I really like how you've put the OEM mat over the top and can leave the cubbies open for easy access! It makes it look totally integrated. Any chance you drew up any plans/measurements to share? Curious what shape the supports are under the platform.

 

[DeepDive]

My issue was, I could definingly feel the transition from the mattress to the hard back of the folded seat, too uncomfortable for my taste. I fabricated a 4" platform out of extruded alum and laid up a carbon fiber deck, the new mattress touches the back of the front seat and the closed rear hatch, so fills up the entire available length. I notice a very slight incline at the head, but very comfortable now.

Total cost somewhere around $250-300 bucks

That sounds like an exceptional solution. Pretty light and easy to move in and out when it’s not used? That’s really the only thing that would prevent me from doing the wood version from the San Diego company, that one seems like a great solution if I were using it every month, but that’s really not my intention

 

[EOD Guy]

That sounds like an exceptional solution. Pretty light and easy to move in and out when it’s not used? That’s really the only thing that would prevent me from doing the wood version from the San Diego company, that one seems like a great solution if I were using it every month, but that’s really not my intention

It weighs less than 15 lbs. I made some anchor points, utilizing the factory hybrid battery hold down bolts, and fasten it down with some "lashing straps" I got off amazon. It takes less than 3 min to release the straps and remove the bed. When the bed's not installed, the front two straps are completely hidden by the rear seats and the rear two can be dropped into the rear storage tray. The only visible evidence are the two slots I cut into the cargo mat....... I can live with that! My EcoFlow fridge slider is mounted the same way but weighs twice as much, due to the full extension sliders and 1/8" alum deck. Additional details are on my build page.....