Ford Ranger Sleeping Platform

[NorCalBronco]

Hey guys, just thought I'd share my little sleeping platform I built in the back of my Ranger. Thanks for checking it out!
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/2258/rangerbednoshellzn8.jpg
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/5512/passengersidebedws1.jpg
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9990/bedhalfopenwn5.jpg
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6460/bedmockup3cd7.jpg
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2193/bedmockup2xj4.jpg

[ujoint]

Nice! What kind of carpeting is that?

[HMR]

Excellent work!

[NorCalBronco]

Thanks guys. The frame is made from 1"x10" pine and 3/4" plywood for the top. Its covered by some thin outdoor carpet I got from Home Depot. They have it on a big roll in the store that you just cut off however much you want. I got like 6'x12' for something like 30 or 40 bucks.

I have four plastic bins like you see in the picture that I have all my camping stuff packed in that fit perfectly underneath the center sections. The sides I have stuffed with all my tie-downs, axe, gloves and other random stuff. The center section is easily taken out and either layed on the bed in middle or put aside if I need to put bigger stuff in the back like my mountain bike or something.

A side benefit of this is that since I'm always carrying my dog around in the back I get to keep all my stuff under the platform where she can't chew on any of it :)

[Accrete]

Excellent work. Very functional.

I made a similar one (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=102894&postcount=3) some time ago, even out of the same materials! Worked like a charm : )

Thom

[NorCalBronco]

That looks pretty nice, easy to take out. I wish I had a taller shell like yours though, its a little tight inside but not too bad.

[opie]

Looks good.

[Accrete]

One of the things that really made that particular A.R.E. top so nice is the option of having a full hatch or smaller man door...my wife would use the door at nite to go in/out. Handy, and we still felt safe with all closed about us in cougar/bear country.

http://accrete.com/p-tgl/taco/TLFtaco01c.jpg

: ) Thom

[NorCalBronco]

yeah I was thinking I would probably get a shell with a door like that if I ever were to buy a new one, looks alot easier to close from the inside than a tailgate

[Accrete]

you're right. and it can be secured from inside also so u feel relatively safe from lock picking raccoons ;-)

[NorCalBronco]

Does the big door thing provide a couple more inches in length for the bed towards the middle? That would be cool since I'm 6'2" and need to sleep diagonally in my 6 foot bed right now.

[gnarlycharlie]

Here's what I've done. It's simple and I love it.