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Cutting it down to size! The original platform for my 2015 RAV4 was built for two people and was used on a cross country road trip in 2020. It was 40.25" in width x 69.5" in length. Oh my gosh, in retrospect, did we do so many things the hard way. Large plastic totes filled with things we never used, stored under the platform making it nearly impossible to access. We also had a rooftop cargo carrier which was awesome - but again, we brought too much stuff. And, ultimately, not much room to do anything but sleep inside the vehicle.
This time, I knew I wanted to make a home out of my tiny space. My priorities were twofold :
1) have a space to meditate kneeling inside the vehicle
2) be able to sit up straight on the bed without my head touching the ceiling.
Here is the sketch with dimensions I made for modifying the plywood frame. When first assembled, the platform had a piano hinge which allowed for access to the spare tire and some tools. My redesign consisted of cutting out the meditation area (16" x 30") and making a new cut so that I had two doors to access the spare tire storage area. This enabled access to the wider side of the storage area without having to move things on top of the other side of the platform (like the cooler).
Measurements (not as exact as a real pro for sure):
Space between passenger seat and platform:
Width: 20" x Length: 10"
Meditation space: Width: 16" x Length: 30"
Platform:
LENGTH of entire platform: 68.5"
WIDTH of platform on sleeping side (top half): 24.25"
WIDTH of platform (bottom half): 40.25"
HEIGHT under platform (top half) varies: 8" - 10"
New cuts were made to create a meditation space and leg room/bathroom/living space. The area cut out is seen here in the upper lefthand corner behind the driver's seat. I kept the piece of wood and find it useful as a shelf. Another cut was made so that there are two separate storage areas in the spare tire area and two separate hinges to lift up two different sides of the plywood. The platform is still one piece as we left a 5" lip of plywood extending beyond the hinge.
As seen in the sketch above, the measurements for the spare tire area are wide-ranging. The basic take away here is 10" in height in most spots. Note the legs. Leg supports were also added to the top half of the platform for a total of four legs. Note how the sleeping side of the platform rests on the legs without the need for additional support.
Tools used by my friend Tom include circular saw and nail gun. I used a hand drill to make the holes which you see holding up the platform. Rope with carabiners attach to the hatch. I also use my cane to hold up the platform for access to the spare area.
This build provides for significant storage under the bed as well as in the spare area. It creates a living space and additional work area by using only half the space for the bed.
Note the cloth storage bags for clothing, which take up much less space than plastic containers.
When I'm not meditating outdoors, I meditate here. I also take zoom classes in this space. This extra area of legroom has been a game changer, allowing me to stretch out, use my collapsible toilet, change clothes more easily, and do other activities while sitting up. I also have enough head room to sit up straight on the bed.
For more info on not carrying a spare, please check out my blog "Spare Me".