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New platform bed in my prius v wagon- ready for some camping!

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by RandZsports, Sep 25, 2017.

  1. RandZsports

    RandZsports Junior Member

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    2013 Prius v wagon
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    After not finding any good designs for building a bed in a prius v without removing any seats, I decided to build my own.

    I raised the trunk platforms by 5" so that they would be level with the folded-down backseats. I did this by building a skeleton out of 1x4's and 2x2's.

    I brought the folding trunk-panel on top of the skeleton so that the stuff below is still accessible. This was nice, too, because those styrafoam bins now have enough space to store some larger bags!

    Next I built a set of interlocking plywood panels to go over the battery-section and above the chairs.

    All in all, the whole setup couldn't have cost more than 40$ of materials (hard to calculate exactly since I had screws, glue, etc leftover from past projects).

    If people are interested in the design I could probably sketch up some plans! On the plus side, since I am currently on the road, the only tools I had access to are a jigsaw, drill, and orbital sander - so the building is relatively simple!

    I'm sure the you all have some suggestions how to improve it - I would love to hear that as well!

    Now to move onto some of the other projects :).
    While I have you're attention, does anyone have solutions for (or have better luck searching forum posts for ):
    -- easily opening the prius v wagon door from the inside (maybe a clever lever design that interfaces with the emergency access panel.... or an electronic solution that imitates the outside handle?)
    -- charging a third car battery that can be used to run a miniature cooler/led lights?

    Pictures:
    IMG_9075.JPG IMG_9076.JPG IMG_9077.JPG IMG_9079.JPG IMG_9081.JPG IMG_9082.JPG IMG_9083.JPG
     
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  2. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Thanks for the photos. What do you use for mattress pad?
     
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  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Great carpentry work!
    Are you saying the v floor is not flat when the rear seats are down, like the Gen2 and Gen3 and Gen4 with spare?
     
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  4. RandZsports

    RandZsports Junior Member

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    Haven't gotten that far yet hahaha, likely I will use my camping inflatables on top of a layer of carpet to start.

    Correct, the back seats have a weird plastic back, so rather than laying flat that have a scalloped surface that rises about 5" above flat.
     
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  5. SnoozinJTD

    SnoozinJTD Junior Member

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    I’ve been wanting to do this but I am concerned about blocking the cooling vents for the battery that are located under the driver and front passenger seat. Please keep us up to date with any changes you notice in fuel efficiency etc... it looks like a great build! Thanks for sharing :)
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how are the cooling vents affected?(n)
     
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  7. SnoozinJTD

    SnoozinJTD Junior Member

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    Some of the camper platforms I’ve seen seem like they may block/partially obstruct some of the air flow to the vents. I don’t know how open the path to them needs to be in order for them to be completely effective.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gotcha. if it's just laying on top of the folded down seats, it shouldn't be an issue.
     
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  9. SnoozinJTD

    SnoozinJTD Junior Member

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    Yea, it looked like there were items being stored behind the front seats on the floor under the platform though. I am interested how crucial it is to keep that space clear. I used to always put my groceries in the back seat floor boards of my last hatchback because we used the cargo space for my partner’s wheelchair, but now I have to be more away of keeping things on the seats or in the middle.
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    as long as the cooling vents are open, and the battery intake grilles are clear, it isn't a problem. but if there is an intake on the from of the seat cushion at floor level, you have to be careful not to block it.
     
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  11. livingandlearning

    livingandlearning Junior Member

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    Congratulations for a wonderful build and keep us Prius V owners updated with your progress. We also camp with our Prius V 2013. Our build is different from yours but with the same quirk that the back seats of the Prius V do NOT lay flat. builds that work for the regular Prius do NOT work for the Prius V. Keep us updated with helpful tips.
     
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  12. HotelPrius61v

    HotelPrius61v New Member

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    Thanks for the info. I am also trying to build a sleeping section in the back of the prius v but I do not want to take out the seats I will use your idea but I only want to use the 60 percent back seat partition and leave the other part of it. Thanks for letting me know how much to raise it to make it flat.
     
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  13. HotelPrius61v

    HotelPrius61v New Member

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    Living And learning
    Would you share how you did yours?
     
  14. Scribe

    Scribe Junior Member

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    We don't have munchkins so don't need second row, the seats removed saves several hundred pounds of dead weight.

    I took an aluminum angle and bolted to the front seat anchors using the same bolts (to keep track of the bolts) then unmounted and built a front out of 3/4" plywood braced it in place and used cardboard to rough out the sides and top, once the templates were made the design was transferred to 3/4" plywood and cut out, assembled with glue and screws, the top is a gullwing design with a 4" center stabilizer.

    The top cantilevers the front 2" and the sides 3" so it clears the door handles by 1/2 inch or so, I glued light gray indoor/outdoor berber style carpet to the box and top, then cut the sides of the gullwings where they but the rear 4" stabilizer. I had carpet left over so I made a pocket. 20181023_183037.jpg 20181023_182936.jpg 20181023_182831.jpg 20181023_182807.jpg on the front. 20181023_183105.jpg
     
  15. ecoblanco

    ecoblanco New Member

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    Hey! I know this is a kind of an old post now but I absolutely love your design. I just got my Prius V yesterday and developing a solid comfy setup is super important to me! I was curious if you could post a few more pictures to show how the front half of the bed(over the rear seats) functions exactly. I understand how you lifted the back floor panel with the 1/4s and 2/2s but im puzzled about the portion over the batteries and the front portion as well. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Also what is the total length of your platform when fully assembled?
     
  16. RandZsports

    RandZsports Junior Member

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    Wow, pruischat never notified me that so many people had replied to my post over the last couple years. I'll try to reply to everyone in turn.
    Cheers
     
  17. RandZsports

    RandZsports Junior Member

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    The battery vents are underneath the rear-right-back seat. As you noted, storing stuff in the foot-well doesn't effect the airflow since the vent is near the back of the seat and air can flow to the left, right, and even straight up.

    The total length is 6'. At my height this is okay. A taller person could make the section longer, but with some caveats.
    The section over the battery is connected to the 1x4+2x2 section. It is just a piece of plywood that is attached to the whole contraption. Fun fact, the whole back section lift comes out as one piece and can be removed if I am trying to fit something big in my trunk.
    The front section is 2 layers of 3/8" plywood, The layer on the bottom is just strips of plywood that I have arranged and glued on in a truss-like pattern (triangles). I interlock the front and the back using teeth on each half.

    Interlocking teeth on each half:

    upload_2020-4-5_9-32-51.png

    Picture of bottom of the headboard truss structure:
    upload_2020-4-5_9-33-51.png
     
    #17 RandZsports, Apr 5, 2020
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 5, 2020