Simple Cargo Area Leveling Platform & Sleeping System

DIY Removable Sleeping Platform Build for the 5th Generation Toyota 4Runner

Sleeping in the cargo area of the 4Runner is a popular way to spend the night while out on the trails or camping overnight. If you are not pitching a tent or sleeping in a rooftop tent, sleeping in the truck is a great option.

In the old days with all previous generation 4Runners, you could just fold rear seats down, throw in an inflatable mattress and be sleeping comfortably in no time.

With the introduction of the slide-out cargo tray and 3rd-row seats in the 5th Gen 4runner that’s no longer the case.

The new 4Runner models have a two-inch intention between the seats and cargo area to accommodate the tray if you choose to get one as part of your package. For those that don’t, this indention is there to stay, making sleeping in the cargo very uncomfortable.

Rear Cargo Area Spacing Limitations

The 4runner’s rear cargo area has a 2-inch indention that prevents the cargo area from leveling flat when the seats are folded down.

There are many options to compensate for this.

One is to install a drawer system with a fold an out to make the cargo area flat. This is a fine option for people who are going to store some gear in the drawers and just use the cargo area for sleeping.

My only issue with this is that it minimizes the cargo space so things, like storing extra gear or sitting up, maybe a bit of a challenge.

Additionally, it increases the weight added to the cargo area so having some beefed up springs is a must especially if you have other mods like a rear bumper, fridge, ladder, etc.

How to flatten out the cargo space

Pictured above are the measurements needed to fit the plywood between the wheel wells.

This got me thinking, how can I flatten out the cargo space while keeping things light, easy to remove and not sacrifice cargo area. I came up with my own solution. My criteria were as follows:

• Must be easy to build
• No permanent modification to the interior of the vehicle
• Must be removable
• Must look good
• Most be wife approved!

After a few sketches and calculations, I decided to take a trip to the local Home Depot.

For this mod the materials you will need are:

• 1 3/4 inch plywood
• 4 eye bolts and turnbuckles (optional)
• Outdoor carpet
• Heavy-duty stapler & staples
• A saw
• Tape measurer

The first step is to measure the area between the wheel wells right before the plastic folds down into the carpet. The measurements I came up with were about 43.5 inches. Next measure from the front of the cargo area to about halfway up the intention towards the back. This is about 35.75 inches.

These measurements allow for a slight gap between the wheel wells and plywood making it easy to install when needed. The idea is to make it fit snug between the wheel wells.

CUT AND WRAP THE PLYWOOD

After you’ve got your measurements cut the piece of plywood and wrap it with the outdoor carpeting. At this point, you can really use anything. I thought about bed-lining it with raptor liner or using rubber plated flooring.

Ultimately, I decided that using carpet would be best to minimize friction when installing or removing the cargo platform and to keep a consistent look.

Final Sleeping Platform

Finally, you can choose to add eye bolts at each corner and attach it with a turnbuckle to the cargo tie down points for added security.

The finished product should look something like the picture above. As you can see this levels out the rear cargo space pretty well, and best of all it’s a simple solution to make sleeping in the cargo area more comfortable without sacrificing much cargo space or doing much modification to the vehicle.

There is about 1 1/12 inch space between the platform and cargo floor that can be used to store blankets or small pillows.

The entire process took about 1 hour to complete and is wife approved since it can be easily removed when needed.

In the future, I may add a sliding table between the platform and the cargo floor or build an entire drawer system should the need arise.