camping - sleeping platform-

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Holl

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
36
Reaction score
20
Location
Texas
First Name
Rich
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
suburban
Engine Size
350
I'm looking at building a sleeping platform for my suburban for warm weather camping. Id like to have a fan, but don't want to cut the roof to install a vent/fan. Has anyone made a fan in a panel that would fit in passenger window? removable, and would plug into 12V wiring?

Also, if you leave the windows and barn doors open, has anyone made any mosquito netting that would keep critters out? I'm thinking something with magnets to keep the netting in place.

don't want to permanently modify the suburban....

if anyone has pictures they would be great....TIA.
 

Holl

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
36
Reaction score
20
Location
Texas
First Name
Rich
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
suburban
Engine Size
350
skeeter beater for the windows....
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,698
Reaction score
11,151
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
I'm looking at building a sleeping platform for my suburban for warm weather camping. Id like to have a fan, but don't want to cut the roof to install a vent/fan. Has anyone made a fan in a panel that would fit in passenger window? removable, and would plug into 12V wiring?

Also, if you leave the windows and barn doors open, has anyone made any mosquito netting that would keep critters out? I'm thinking something with magnets to keep the netting in place.

don't want to permanently modify the suburban....

if anyone has pictures they would be great....TIA.
I have pickup not a suburban so I can't speak from personal experience, but I have thought that if I had a suburban, I would get one of those SUV tents that attaches to the back doors, so you can have the tent area to stand up in and sleep in the back of the suburban up off the ground. Our climate is cooler than yours so I would want to get creative and install some sort of furnace of safe heat source, but since you area just looking for a fan, pick the window of your choice roll it down and cut a piece of plywood that will fit into the window channel. Then by a 12 volt fan smaller than the window, cut a hole in the plywood and mount the fan to it with angle brackets.

Hopefully something there will help ya!
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,956
Reaction score
23,468
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
What would be the purpose in the sleeping platform? Why not just sleep on the flat floor?
 

El Perdido

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2020
Posts
39
Reaction score
69
Location
TexMexistan
First Name
Skeeter
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Back in 94 and in 95, when I was a river guide, I basically lived in my Suburban here in Texas and in West by God Virginia for a total of 8 months. It wasn't easy, just folded the rear seats down. I don't think I would do it again, even "camping" for a couple nights.
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
2,837
Reaction score
6,356
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
My father built a sleeping platform for his old Plymouth station wagon. Used it when they drove out the day before to go hunting on opening day. Keep the guns, Coleman stove and other gear underneath.
 

oldretiredafguy

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2020
Posts
1,412
Reaction score
3,204
Location
N. Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1988, 1988, 1991, 1983
Truck Model
GMC V-Jimmy, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC-2500 CrewCab
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350
What would be the purpose in the sleeping platform? Why not just sleep on the flat floor?



What would be the purpose in the sleeping platform? Why not just sleep on the flat floor?
You must be registered for see images attach


The bear or big kitty cat will get you regardless of where you sleep. :happy107:
 

Holl

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
36
Reaction score
20
Location
Texas
First Name
Rich
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
suburban
Engine Size
350
...Id make sliding drawers under it to store my stuff....
 

Dutch Rutter

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Posts
1,070
Reaction score
1,185
Location
Independence, Or
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
One of the days when I magically come into ample disposable money I'll be buying a roof top tent for the square.
 

Holl

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
36
Reaction score
20
Location
Texas
First Name
Rich
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
suburban
Engine Size
350
....Google the Suboverland website gallery, I like that. Never wanted a roof top tent, cause I worry about sleepwalking.
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
10,018
Reaction score
14,161
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
....Google the Suboverland website gallery, I like that. Never wanted a roof top tent, cause I worry about sleepwalking.

That, and what if you need to leave for whatever reason, the tent has to be broken down and tucked away in its bag before you can go anywhere. I like the idea of having the roof top tent, and awning that extends from the side, but that is as far I would go with it, just liking it, never installing it. I prefer tent camping, or sleeping in the back of my truck, Jeep or Forester. I want to be mobile if need be. I do have a platform setup for my trucks when the camper shell goes on, and it nice to store stuff underneath it, and then the dogs ride on the platform. I have slept on it before, but it seems cramped like the overhead sleeping area of a slide-in camper or rv. I need to redo the platform, and when I do, I'll be lowering it a couple inches for better sleeping.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,853
Posts
903,539
Members
33,365
Latest member
rossivey
Top