After I sold my dodge I picked up a 98 chevy 2500 with a 454. The truck runs amazing and is a very comfortable ride. I tows great and really the only downside is the mileage. I really like this truck and for my needs like camping, towing, hauling lumber, dump duty, etc it is perfect.
I have been wanting to build a sleeping platform in the back of my dodge for a long time, but never did because it just didn't seem worth it in a short bed and I didn't have a shell.
I picked up a cheap shell and after the miller motor sports run decided it was time. I had a plan in my head of what I wanted from reading a few threads online, but most of them seemed way to complicated. I checked out Steve's in the back of his Toyota and it was much closer to what i had in mind.
I started by building a frame work that was just taller than the wheel wells. I wanted it above the wheel wells to maximize sleeping area. I decided to make it rest on the wheel wells themselves to add strength and reduce the weight a little(not that it is light). I didn't want it any higher because I didn't want my nose to be touching the top of the shell.
On the ends of the frame I notched out the wood so it would sit flat on the bed. I built the frame out of 2x4 because they are cheap and easy to work with. Also, if you are careful which pieces you choose(low moisture/sap content) they can be pretty light.
I built places to hold removable 2x4 cross boards to give some strength to the plywood.
The sleeping section was made out of a high grade plywood. I chose the higher grade because the wood is more uniform and in my experience it holds up a little better than the cheap stuff. I chose to cut the plywood into 4 equal pieces so if I need to get to something underneath the platform I can move on 2 foot section and not whole thing. I also made it so the sides came out far enough into the bed that the plywood could be left 48 wide and I wouldn't have to make additional cuts.
Here are some various pictures. I know it isn't perfect and I didn't bother bolting it to the bed, because it fits pretty tight in there.
I still need to figure out what I am doing for the tops on the sides. I might put them on hinges or I might just have them sit in place. I don't even know if I am going to carpet the sides or not. It all comes out in about 3 minutes and none of the pieces are too big to easily store in my shed.
Any questions or suggestions are welcome. please let me know if you need any more info or anything.
I have been wanting to build a sleeping platform in the back of my dodge for a long time, but never did because it just didn't seem worth it in a short bed and I didn't have a shell.
I picked up a cheap shell and after the miller motor sports run decided it was time. I had a plan in my head of what I wanted from reading a few threads online, but most of them seemed way to complicated. I checked out Steve's in the back of his Toyota and it was much closer to what i had in mind.
I started by building a frame work that was just taller than the wheel wells. I wanted it above the wheel wells to maximize sleeping area. I decided to make it rest on the wheel wells themselves to add strength and reduce the weight a little(not that it is light). I didn't want it any higher because I didn't want my nose to be touching the top of the shell.
On the ends of the frame I notched out the wood so it would sit flat on the bed. I built the frame out of 2x4 because they are cheap and easy to work with. Also, if you are careful which pieces you choose(low moisture/sap content) they can be pretty light.
I built places to hold removable 2x4 cross boards to give some strength to the plywood.
The sleeping section was made out of a high grade plywood. I chose the higher grade because the wood is more uniform and in my experience it holds up a little better than the cheap stuff. I chose to cut the plywood into 4 equal pieces so if I need to get to something underneath the platform I can move on 2 foot section and not whole thing. I also made it so the sides came out far enough into the bed that the plywood could be left 48 wide and I wouldn't have to make additional cuts.
Here are some various pictures. I know it isn't perfect and I didn't bother bolting it to the bed, because it fits pretty tight in there.
I still need to figure out what I am doing for the tops on the sides. I might put them on hinges or I might just have them sit in place. I don't even know if I am going to carpet the sides or not. It all comes out in about 3 minutes and none of the pieces are too big to easily store in my shed.
Any questions or suggestions are welcome. please let me know if you need any more info or anything.