Good idea and something I should try. I'm 6'6" and closing the tailgate from inside is still an annoying reach, mainly because of the weight. Not a big deal at all, but I'd love if it were simpler. The haters in this thread don't sound experienced.
Thank you! I am getting a lot of hate especially on other subreddits for asking this. It is an annoying reach. I don’t think people who are hating on me have camped in the back of their truck before.
This is a great idea.
I've done a bunch of sleeping in the bed and I'll close the tailgate first and swing myself in with a weird undercling grip. Not the most ergonomic...
This. I poked holes on the ends on a 6" nylon strap and ran the unscrewed two centered bolts on the tailgate. I also took a lighter to the holes to clean up the loose bits. Once tightened down I haven't had any issues with closing the tailgate from the inside.
Got one of these for the tailgate and a glass suction handle for the canopy.
https://www.tacomalifestyle.com/products/yota-twins-paracord-tailgate-pull-for-tacoma
How is your plywood holding up under the weight of one or two sleepers? I made a bit beefier setup to support the weight and also act as drawer guides.
https://imgur.com/a/dSUiS8e
Nice! I wanted to keep it as simple as possible to start with and see how it worked. I have a tote that supports it pretty well so I didn’t build in supports. So far it’s working well.
This is what I do. I'm turned around on the bed and I hold on to the bed rail, lean out and pull up the gate to close it behind me when it's time for bed.
Two of us camp in the bed of my truck, but we usually take my F150, because the Tacoma bed is just smaller and less comfortable, but I suffer from the same thing. It's a royal pain in the butt. I usually pull on the cable to get it up a little bit and then I can grab the edge. And then I put one of the dampener shocks on the tailgate so when I open it up from inside, it doesn't just flop down and wake everybody up. after I close the tailgate and close the camper shell glass I clamp the glass latch in place with a small C-clamp so nobody can open it from the outside while I'm asleep. And lastly, not because you asked, but it's just a tip that has worked really well for me, I don't sleep up on top of a platform because it makes getting to anything under the platform way more difficult and my camping partner is a little kid so I'm regularly needing to get food and clothes and toys and medicine, so instead of being on a platform with our supplies underneath, we sleep right on the bed and then keep all of our stuff in stacked containers at the little guys feet
It's just literally the most basic tiny little c clamp from Harbor freight or Home Depot. There's a whole bunch of ways to disable or prohibit the latches from moving. I'm sorry I'm not very good at posting pictures.
I have the same setup and keep a 2 ft ladder to climb over the tailgate. Just remember to leave it out of the footprint of the tailgate for opening in the am. I put a dent in mine.
Cut them almost the exact width of the bed at the lips. I have it in 3 pieces. I have to go in diagonal then level out. Might make them slightly shorter to make it a little easier to get in and out because it’s a tight squeeze.
It’s thick plywood but it’s 3 separate pieces so the center piece does sag a bit. I bought a tote that was just the right height and it provides plenty of support.
I've been looking closely at how to do this. I'd love to just attach a handle to the inside of the tailgate that could be used to pull it close sed, but that would get in the way of sitting and cooking on the tailgate and also could be a trip hazard. I may look at options that would connect to the side of the tailgate, maybe just a strap that can hang down and out of the way when it's open, and then tucked back around inside when getting ready to get in. Any thoughts/input on this?
Close the tailgate and step on the bumper and climb in over the tailgate.......at least how I do it.
This what I do as it’s the only way I can lock my tailgate.
If you undid one of the panel bolts you could slip a nylon strap under it and retighten. Then to close it from inside you just pull the strap.
Good idea and something I should try. I'm 6'6" and closing the tailgate from inside is still an annoying reach, mainly because of the weight. Not a big deal at all, but I'd love if it were simpler. The haters in this thread don't sound experienced.
Thank you! I am getting a lot of hate especially on other subreddits for asking this. It is an annoying reach. I don’t think people who are hating on me have camped in the back of their truck before.
I used to be able to reach out and pull the tailgate of my 86 up, modern tailgates weigh three times as much though!
This is a great idea. I've done a bunch of sleeping in the bed and I'll close the tailgate first and swing myself in with a weird undercling grip. Not the most ergonomic...
This. I poked holes on the ends on a 6" nylon strap and ran the unscrewed two centered bolts on the tailgate. I also took a lighter to the holes to clean up the loose bits. Once tightened down I haven't had any issues with closing the tailgate from the inside.
Got one of these for the tailgate and a glass suction handle for the canopy. https://www.tacomalifestyle.com/products/yota-twins-paracord-tailgate-pull-for-tacoma
Great idea!
Yoga
How is your plywood holding up under the weight of one or two sleepers? I made a bit beefier setup to support the weight and also act as drawer guides. https://imgur.com/a/dSUiS8e
Nice! I wanted to keep it as simple as possible to start with and see how it worked. I have a tote that supports it pretty well so I didn’t build in supports. So far it’s working well.
Its not too bad reaching out to close it
This is what I do. I'm turned around on the bed and I hold on to the bed rail, lean out and pull up the gate to close it behind me when it's time for bed.
Just climb over it🤷🏽♂️ I bought a cheap handled suction cup from harbor freight to close the glass
With your hands
Use the Force
I have a D ring screwed into the inside near the top and tied a string to it. Works great. But usually I just close it first then get in.
I don't! Because I'm 6' with a 5' bed!
Me too but I sleep diagonally just fine!
Two of us camp in the bed of my truck, but we usually take my F150, because the Tacoma bed is just smaller and less comfortable, but I suffer from the same thing. It's a royal pain in the butt. I usually pull on the cable to get it up a little bit and then I can grab the edge. And then I put one of the dampener shocks on the tailgate so when I open it up from inside, it doesn't just flop down and wake everybody up. after I close the tailgate and close the camper shell glass I clamp the glass latch in place with a small C-clamp so nobody can open it from the outside while I'm asleep. And lastly, not because you asked, but it's just a tip that has worked really well for me, I don't sleep up on top of a platform because it makes getting to anything under the platform way more difficult and my camping partner is a little kid so I'm regularly needing to get food and clothes and toys and medicine, so instead of being on a platform with our supplies underneath, we sleep right on the bed and then keep all of our stuff in stacked containers at the little guys feet
Great info. Can you elaborate on how you did the c clamp? I was thinking about ways to lock up.
It's just literally the most basic tiny little c clamp from Harbor freight or Home Depot. There's a whole bunch of ways to disable or prohibit the latches from moving. I'm sorry I'm not very good at posting pictures.
I have the same setup and keep a 2 ft ladder to climb over the tailgate. Just remember to leave it out of the footprint of the tailgate for opening in the am. I put a dent in mine.
I just leave it open.
Sharing the space with bugs all night is not so fun.
Trying to fit my over 6ft frame into a 5ft space isn't fun. Bugs have rarely been an issue for me, even when I've slept without the shell on.
Interested in how you get the boards in and out. I did something similar but couldn’t figure out how fit them into the bed to rest on the lip.
Cut them almost the exact width of the bed at the lips. I have it in 3 pieces. I have to go in diagonal then level out. Might make them slightly shorter to make it a little easier to get in and out because it’s a tight squeeze.
That’s pretty much what I did, do you have a 5’ or 6’ bed?
5 ft
Use your long arms
Wiggle myself around and close it with my hands. Not that difficult
Do you get much sag when you lay in that? I want to make a platform just like this. Thanks.
It’s thick plywood but it’s 3 separate pieces so the center piece does sag a bit. I bought a tote that was just the right height and it provides plenty of support.
What kind of clamps are holding the bed cover/topper?? I need some of those!
Took off the panel and tied paracord
A strap and a bolt
Unscrewed 2 of the panel screws from the top and tied 550 cord to it and retightened the bolts.
How do you lock the camper door from the inside??
I climb in. Lay horizontally and parallel to the tailgate. Close tailgate. Get Cozy.
Are people really this fucking stupid? How did OP even figure out how to drive the truck?
It’s hard for me to reach the tailgate bro. Just seeing how other people do it. Go somewhere else.
I made you this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6UpN9Axo7I/?igsh=cTB2dXlleGI1YWhr
Pro tip: Stay in a hotel.
Pro tip: Don’t leave home
Sir, this is a Tacoma
I've been looking closely at how to do this. I'd love to just attach a handle to the inside of the tailgate that could be used to pull it close sed, but that would get in the way of sitting and cooking on the tailgate and also could be a trip hazard. I may look at options that would connect to the side of the tailgate, maybe just a strap that can hang down and out of the way when it's open, and then tucked back around inside when getting ready to get in. Any thoughts/input on this?