Why did you choose to go this route for your Truck?
The low cost and utility; the platform and drawer can be removed in a minute or two and I can have full access to the truck bed. As someone with no building experience and limited tools, it was also approachable. I travel for work and was able to build it in the backyard and kitchen where I was staying, so it’d be an easy project for anyone!
How long did your build take you?
I’d guess six hours total. Three for the platform and three for the drawer. It would have been faster if I had experience, for sure.
What are the benefits of a DIY Platform Build?
Cost of course, and you can alter it to your taste and preferences. Because it’s cheap and only uses a few materials, if I decide to go a different route in the future, I won’t be upset or at a major loss.
What are the challenges of a DIY Platform Build?
Mostly just figuring it out and getting the fit right in the truck as someone with no building experience. It was actually really easy.
What would you change about your Build? (if anything?)
I would make the platform a little lower. But, the Tacoma has slots to insert the cross pieces without having to attach anything to the truck bed, and they are so easy to use! They just sit the platform up kind of high. I don’t need that much storage space under the bed, so I’d rather have the headroom.
What supplies/tools did you use:
Tools used:
Cordless drill and circular saw, speed square and tape measure, wood glue, 1 ½” wood screws, staple gun and one bar clamp.
Materials: I salvaged two sheets of ¾” plywood from a job site, and bought one 2" x 6" x 10’, one roll of indoor/outdoor carpet and a piece of rope that I had.
Rescue some slightly used sheets of plywood from your job, or buy it if you have to.
Buy a 2" x 6" x 10’, you can get it cut at the wood shop so you don’t have to drive with a board sticking out of the cap. You’ll need two 57” planks for the cross supports. Tacomas have slots that these fit perfectly into, so you don’t need to attach the wood to the bed in any way.
Grab some cheap indoor/outdoor carpet while you’re there. And any other tools/materials you need from the list above.
Measure and cut your sheets of plywood so you have two pieces for the platform. I measured mine to 70” x 28” to leave room for the carpet. Reserve the scraps for building your drawer.
Put your 2" x 6" planks in the slots in the truck bed and lay the plywood over it. You’ll need to notch out the corners near the tailgate. I used a “guess and check” method on this. I drew a notch, cut it out and tested it. That’s probably what carpenters do, right?
Roll your carpet out, fuzzy side down. Put your plywood pieces on them and trace and/or cut the shapes out, leaving two inches or so for stapling the carpet down.
Fold the carpet around the boards and staple the carpet on the undersides of the plywood. You may need to snip some cuts into the carpet to get it to fold and lay flat.
Your platform is done! Open a beer to congratulate yourself, if you haven’t already. If you want to build a drawer, keep reading.
Find the plywood scraps left from your platform. I cut the four side/wall pieces from one scrap piece: two 7” x 18” pieces and two 7” x 70” pieces. Then from the other scrap, cut a 70” x 18” bottom piece.
Glue and clamp together one of the 7” x 18” pieces between the two 7” x 70” pieces, these will be three side of your drawers, you could put the other short piece on the other end if you have two clamps, but remember this is a budget build so I only bought one clamp!
Drill and screw your pieces together, let the wood glue dry.
Then wood glue and drill your bottom piece to the sides of your drawer.
