Do you believe camping means giving up a comfortable bed for sleepless nights? This isn’t necessarily true! Building a Folding Sleeping Platform for An SUV is an affordable way to travel and explore the outdoors.
There are many options and amenities available to make your camping experience more enjoyable. SUV sleeping platforms are one of them. Due to the increasing use of bed platforms by SUV users. Sleeping with comfort in your SUV is possible thanks to the design of a sleeping platform. This type of platform allows you to maximize your vehicle’s space. During the day, these provide places for eating and sitting while it rains – saving space when not used for a good night’s sleep. Building a foldable sleeping platform for an SUV is an easy process.
You can find SUV sleeping platforms easily. The market is full of options. Adding a sleeping platform to your SUV camper is easy. We thought you might want to learn why they are so popular. You will learn everything about building a foldable sleeping platform for an SUV, including its advantages.
What’s the concept of an SUV Folding Sleeping Platform?
Because of how they’re made, SUVs with sleeping platforms are ideal for getting some shut-eye while driving.
There is a wide variety of styles and lengths available for sleeping platforms. Storage room beneath a sleeping platform is a handy addition for transporting essentials. However, there are also popular foldable sleeping platforms for SUVs. Use the floor space in your automobile to its full potential with one of these sleeping platforms. These are space-saving at night but come in handy during the day as a place to dine or relax while it’s pouring outside.
Building a Folding Sleeping Platform for An SUV and other vehicles is easier to come by than you imagine. The market offers a plethora of choices. Your SUV can double as a camper if you have room for a bed.
Folding Sleeping Platforms for SUV Beds!
Tents, sleeping bags, or hammocks have fewer benefits than car sleeping platforms. A camping backpack may make your camping experience safer and easier. Here are some benefits:
It remains dry
Firstly, sleeping platforms inside vehicles remain dry even when it rains. Furthermore, the bed keeps you warmer than a tent, which improves your sleep quality. A sleeping platform will make you feel safer than staying in the wild. You may even find that a bed platform in your car is cheaper and easier than buying and constructing a whole tent.
Prepare nothing
Platforms make sleep easy since they are ready to use. The best tents require some work to set up well, as anyone who has pitched one knows. A helping hand makes pitching a tent easier if you are camping alone. Camping allows you to enjoy other activities you came for.
Installs easily
Mobility is also easy with an SUV as well as other sleeping platforms. Sleeping bags and tents do not need to be folded and stored. An ideal sleeping platform allows you to move freely. SUV campers can purchase folding sleeping platforms they can use as needed. Also, SUV sleeping platforms allow you to choose locations where you will not be noticed, such as parking lots.
Comfort is key
Compared to sleeping on the ground with a sleeping bag or pad, sleeping on a sleeping platform with a mattress or foam is quite comfortable. Your camping trip can be more enjoyable if you are relaxed and in a clear mind. The physical demands of camping activities like hiking or trekking are essential.
Personalized to the max
Lastly, sleeping platforms are advantageous because you can customize them to fit your specific needs. This depends heavily on your creativity. Your sleeping platform can have extra features if you have plenty of space. The possibilities are limitless. Occasionally, you may need more storage space. Additional tools such as heating, electricity, and water can be included for those who want to go the extra mile. You can save time and money while enjoying your trip comfortably, as well as have all the utilities you need.
Things you need For Building a Folding Sleeping Platform!
You need some things for building a folding sleeping platform for an SUV. Know that before the process. When designing a platform, consider these factors:
- Mattress: There are two types of mattresses: memory foam or air mattresses. Choose one of them.
- Platform material: Consider the material of the platform itself. Your SUV mattress will be resting on plywood or other wooden surfaces?
- Legs for the platform: Metal or wooden?
- Platform location
- Platform height
Take all your measurements and keep them in mind the next time you go out and draw the rear seat of your truck or SUV and take measurements. Your platform design should only be planned based on these measures. Pre-made sleeping platforms are available that you can stick in your car and use as a sleeping platform.
Building a Foldable Sleeping Platform for An SUV!
Building a foldable sleeping platform for your SUV is an easy process. Installing a sleeping platform for an SUV is as easy as following these steps:
Materials & Tools
- Bubble length from medium to long
- A measuring tape
- Handsaw for cutting wood Sandpaper Utility knife
- Glue gun
- Electric drill
- A 1/8th inch drill bit with a mark or tape indicating the depth at which it should be inserted
- Square bit for a screwdriver – Pipe cutter (or a knife)
You can save time by having Home Depot or another hardware shop cut the plywood and lumber you buy to the exact proportions you need.
Create a Working Model for Your Platform
Designing your vehicle’s platform is the first step in platform construction. At this point, the long bubbles stage, tape measure, some bookshelves or other means of adjusting the level’s height, and a notebook and pencil will come in handy.
At this point, the most important metrics to track and factors to weigh are:
Total possible length of your platform. Our final length was 73 inches, making it identical to the size of our bed.
How much room will there be for section 1 of the platform (the trunk) if the back seats of your automobile are flipped up? Be sure to measure the proper HEIGHT, as the rear seats will tilt even farther back the higher they are off the ground.
Can you fit an entire 48-inch broad board of plywood in your car? Can a plywood board be inserted into your vehicle’s tailboard?
Is there a logical arrangement for your eight legs? Estimate each leg section’s height with the bubbling level and book stacks. Note that your platform may need to be taller than your vehicle wheel’s wells. Our platform was 10 and a half inches high at its lowest point.
Where exactly are the hooks and compartments for stowing luggage? How easily reachable are they from the position of your legs for the turnbuckles?
When your hardware store cuts your plywood platform to size, the most crucial measurements are the dimensions. We may need to keep adjusting our assumptions about our legs’ precise placement and length.
See below for a high-level illustration of our platform concept; your vehicle’s specifications will differ.
Materials Acquiring and Rough Sawing
You should be able to find wood and most of the other necessary items from your local hardware store. If you buy your wood at a store, they can usually cut it to size for you, saving you the trouble of finding the right equipment and hauling it home. Your platform pieces’ lengths will be specific to your vehicle, but all 1×4 timber boards should be trimmed to 48″ in width to match the plywood.
However, finding 3/4″ Galvanised steel pipe with flanges can be more of a hassle, as certain hardware stores may have it while others won’t. You can check if it is in stock by phoning ahead or looking on the websites of various stores.
The hardest part was tracking down an indoor/outdoor rug large enough to cover the platform, measuring 8 feet by 6 feet.
Dry Fits
When you return the plywood pieces to your house, you may dry-fit them into your car. Ensure that they’ll match the specifications of your make and model.
Please note that we had to make two more diagonal cuts to the rear platform before it would fit. Our trunk platform component should stay in the vehicle even with the back seats folded. Excellent work!
Confirm the length of your legs, their placement, and the possible placement of 1×4 support beams.
Carpet Coverage
The indoor/outdoor rug may be draped over the platform pieces and nailed to create a comfortable, sturdy bed frame that won’t snag on your sheets or mattress. This fabric is fantastic because it can be readily washed or vacuumed after being subjected to camping rigours without losing shape or colour.
With the carpet’s corduroy side facing down, roll it out on top of the plywood platform, and use the utility knife to trim it to size. You’ll need about three to five inches of additional edge to fold it over the plywood and nail it to the floor.
Pull the carpet taut and staple it on opposite sides of the platform, as if you were extending a canvas onto a frame. Make sure the carpet bottom is firm without any creases. This should result in a rug that fits rather snugly. Cut away any excess fabric in the corners before folding them down to complete the corners. It’s probably not rocket science, but I’m sure there’s a classy approach to this.
Beam and Flange Mounting Support
After stapling the top carpet layer to the platform pieces, you can attach the crosswise 1×4 beams. There are a few stages to this:
You will need to pre-drill screw holes, roughly 1″ to 114″ deep, through the support beam and into the plywood below, after positioning your 1×4 beam and 3/4″ flanges in their confirmed places. Tape your drill bit to ensure uniform drilling depth. Refrain from drilling through the plywood and into the carpet underneath. The ideal spacing for screws along the beam is every 6 inches.
Pre-drill cuts for the single beam, grab some screws, and secure the shaft to the flange, taking care not to over-drill and damage the rug opposite the platform.
You’ll want to add legs to the first piece of your trunk platform before moving on to the second section, which will house your back passengers. If you do, you might have an easier time making assumptions about the location of the beams and legs on your second platform.
Legs
Things are starting to take form now! Let’s measure our shins for each part immediately.
Attach the rubber furniture leg tips to the ends of your steel tube legs and tighten them by hand into the flanges on your platform. Ensure to take note of the longer length of the legs. Thanks to add the tip and flange and the increased height from the supporting beam. Consider the higher platform when deciding how much to shorten your legs.
Before using a pipe cutter (rated for thin steel), measure and mark your steel legs to account for the height of your platform.
Put the rubber furniture end on the snipped pipe end, then screw it into the matching flange.
A 3/4″ wooden dowel spacer placed inside a cup of the furniture tip can correct an incorrect leg length. Incorrectness is inevitable.
Dry Fits: 02 & Turnbuckles
- Now that you have legs on one or both platform portions, you can dry-fit them into your car again.
- Set up either of the two platforms within the vehicle.
- Create a chain by connecting a turnbuckle, quick-link, and latch to fasten the platform to the trunk.
- After loosening the turnbuckle by half, you may grab the ring for the cargo hold using the hooked end. And you can use the other end to get a rough idea of where the D-ring for the base is located. Put a pencil mark on it.
- Take the car’s platform out.
- Drill pilot holes before installing the D-rings.
- Install D-rings by tightening the screws and attaching the carabiner.
- Reconstruct the platform within the vehicle and secure it by tightening the turnbuckles.
Why Do People Enjoy SUV Camping So Much?
Both SUVs and trucks are available, but the convenience of SUVs has increased their popularity in recent years.
SUVs are everywhere these days. So building a folding sleeping platform for an SUV is in high demand. When compared to, for instance, flatbed trucks, SUVs are more fuel efficient. As a result, SUVs are suitable for your budget and the planet.
In addition, the available storage space in a vehicle is a crucial consideration when picking out a bed. SUVs are gaining popularity because their spacious interiors can be converted into comfortable sleeping platforms.
Many sport utility vehicles (SUVs) also have four-wheel drive, another helpful attribute. For this reason, they are perfect for camping trips in remote areas where broad, paved roads are only sometimes readily available.
Because of their larger dimensions, trucks and SUVs offer more flexibility when finding the ideal sleeping platform. Extra room is beneficial for stowing your belongings and installing any additional amenities you might want while on the road. This ease of use is crucial for people who want to boost their platform.
Advantages of a Platform Bed for Your SUV!
Tents, sleeping bags, and hammocks are less convenient than car sleeping platforms. If you go camping, consider getting one, as they can make your trip easier and safer. Let’s run down the list of advantages:
No rain has fallen.
First, a sleeping platform inside your truck will be dry even if the weather outside is wet. The camping platforms are more comfortable than tents or other outdoor gear because of their superior insulation.
A sleeping platform will make you feel much more secure than camping in the open. A car sleeping platform may be cheaper and faster than buying and building a tent.
No preplanning to build a Folding Sleeping Platform
A sleeping platform is ready to be used when brought into the bedroom. You still have to put in the effort to set the tent upright, as anyone who has done so knows.
Because setting up camp requires two people, this is especially helpful if you go camping alone. More time will be available for the activities you came camping to participate in.
Setup is a breeze.
In addition, an SUV or other sleeping platform makes travelling quick and easy. You may need to remember to roll your sleeping bag and pack your tent. Sleeping on a platform is an excellent option to be mobile in bed.
SUV campers can equip themselves with portable, collapsible sleeping platforms available for purchase. SUV Parking lots, for example, are ideal places to set up a sleeping platform because of their relative anonymity.
For maximum ease, focus on cosiness.
It’s much more pleasant to sleep on a camping platform with a mattress or foam than using a mattress or pad on the ground. You can get some good shut-eye and relax on your camping excursion without worrying about anything. Hiking and other camping activities can be strenuous on your body, so this is a must.
Optimal personalization
Last, a sleeping platform’s usefulness stems from the fact that it may be modified to meet individual requirements.
A lot rides on your ingenuity and taste. Suppose you have a lot of room and want a bed with many features. You could still have a wide variety of choices and boundless potential. It requires a lot of room to store things regularly. The unit may be outfitted with heating, power, and water for individuals who want to take things to the next level.
As a result, you can have everything you need, save time and money, and travel in complete comfort.
Reasons For Building a Folding Sleeping Platform for An SUV!
- Sleeping equipment always has alternatives. The SUV sleeping platform may be the best solution if you want an affordable, comfortable, and time-saving option.
- Campers and outdoor enthusiasts prefer to enjoy the outdoors from their vehicles. Wild animals and weather cannot harm you while you sleep in the wildland.
- You can also maintain your privacy on sleeping platforms. With those platforms, you have the option of staying alone or having some privacy if you are with someone.
- Contrary to tents, their feature requires no setup or takedown. Platforms are great for sleeping if you need to move quickly.
- Space is usually saved within your vehicle by the design of car sleeping platforms. Moreover, the platforms accommodate other equipment as well, for example, with storage space.
- You can express your creativity and preferences through the variety of platforms available. It’s an ingenious idea to add comfort and convenience to your trip with a sleeping platform.
- Sleeping platforms are not only useful in cars but can also be used in trucks and SUVs. Off-road areas can be accessed more easily with this than with a car.
Conclusion
Building a Folding Sleeping Platform for An SUV is a practical and cost-effective solution for camping and road trips. By following this DIY guide, you can design a sleep space that suits your style and the cargo area of your SUV. With basic tools and materials, you can build a sturdy and safe platform. An SUV with a foldable sleeping platform is great for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone looking for more comfort when traveling.
FAQs
How Much is Building a Folding Sleeping Platform for An SUV?
The materials and tools you use will determine the cost of building a foldable sleeping platform for an SUV. The average cost is between $100 and $300.
Does any SUV have a foldable sleeping platform?
The folding sleeping platform can be built for any SUV, but you must measure the cargo area to make sure that it fits correctly. To fit the cargo area of some SUVs, the platform may need to be slightly modified.
Do foldable sleeping platforms for SUVs take a long time to build?
Your DIY skills and the complexity of the design will determine how long it takes to build a foldable sleeping platform for an SUV. Project completion takes 4 to 8 hours on average.
Can the foldable sleeping platform be removed from the SUV?
It is possible to remove the foldable sleeping platform from the SUV. You can fold up the legs, and you can lift out the platform from the cargo area.
Are there any other uses for the foldable sleeping platform?
Besides sleeping, you can use it as a workbench or storage area. You can use the platform without the foam padding.
A foldable sleeping platform in an SUV is safe to sleep on?
You must secure the platform well to sleep on it. Before using the platform, ensure it’s stable and safe.
Learn about to mattresses for sleeping check it out Best Mattresses For Sleeping In SUVs