Sleeping/storage platform for 3rd Gen Expedition

[Sneeky Camper]

Hi all, I'm a new 2016 Ford Expedition Platinum 4x4 owner with plans to solo and occasionally bring my wife on stealth camp/overland adventures in my retirement. I'm going to add at least 200W of solar and battery(s) to be totally off-grid for extended periods. I was looking for design ideas on building/buying a rear platform for sleeping and storage. My Expedition is not a MAX. I plan on bringing food, water, a solar system, 12V refrigerator/freezer, an induction cooktop, CPAP, my e-bike, backpack, toilet, and overland gear. I have rear captain chairs. Do I remove the 2nd/3rd rows for max space? Metal and/or wood frame with a platform and storage? Any plans out there for a guy with a limited budget? Any thoughts would be great, as this is all new territory for me. Thanks in advance for your creativity and advice.

 

[cmc3]

I took out the 2nd & 3rd rows. DIY wooden platform. Cut so I can optionally reinstall one or both of the outside 2nd row seats. Walmart queen size mattress toppers, trimmed to fit wheel wells. Queen size sheets. This rig sleeps two comfortably on multiple weeks long trips.

 

[reklaw]

Hi all, I'm a new 2016 Ford Expedition Platinum 4x4 owner with plans to solo and occasionally bring my wife on stealth camp/overland adventures in my retirement. I'm going to add at least 200W of solar and battery(s) to be totally off-grid for extended periods. I was looking for design ideas on building/buying a rear platform for sleeping and storage. My Expedition is not a MAX. I plan on bringing food, water, a solar system, 12V refrigerator/freezer, an induction cooktop, CPAP, my e-bike, backpack, toilet, and overland gear. I have rear captain chairs. Do I remove the 2nd/3rd rows for max space? Metal and/or wood frame with a platform and storage? Any plans out there for a guy with a limited budget? Any thoughts would be great, as this is all new territory for me. Thanks in advance for your creativity and adv

I would almost recommend one of those rooftop tents. But then you said limited budget and I know that they can get pretty pricey.

 

[Steve5472]

I'm interested in this as well as I plan on doing exactly as you in my retirement in the near future. I've slept in my 22 Expedition a fair bit just by putting a 6 inch memory foam mattress down. It works pretty well but storage is a bit of an issue. I question whether or not adding a platform would make it not very roomy by the time you add a mattress of some kind. I find even with just my mattress now I JUST have enough headroom... I have considered using a rooftop storage system for my gear but I'm curious to see what others are doing.

 

[smahaffy]

If you want a really great example of what an Expedition can be built out for overlanding. The couple has a youtube channel Adventure Driven. This Expo is awesome. And they go through all the adaptations they made to their Gen 3.

Adventure Driven Ford Expedition – Blue Oval Trucks

You never see people on an expedition, driving a Ford Expedition. I keep my eyes open for Ford Expeditions that are used off road, and came across this Expedition owned by Seth and Kande Jacobsen of AdventureDriven.com. This Ford 'Expedition' actually lives up to its name.

www.blueovaltrucks.com

 

[Steve5472]

That's a great looking rig! For my style, a roof-top tent isn't for me. I want to be able to pull into a spot and not really set anything up. Also as the OP mentioned, the ability to stealth camp is important as well. I wonder how those RTT work in the winter too? Any issues with the materials cracking, freezing up so you can't open/close it, etc.?

 

[fuzzmanmatt]

Not exactly a sleeping platform, but it folds pretty close to the same height as the second row, so I can lay down and nap if I stick my feet through the middle seat, and I don't even have to take out the kids car seats.
It would be super easy to add a battery box underneath where the third row folded into, and the switches for the seats take a standard Carling style switch, so you can add switched circuits off a house battery without too much work, just putting in an on-off-on switch in the hole the seat switches left. I bought some switches, a fuse panel, battery isolator, and an AGM battery, but haven't wired them up. I managed to have a second kid after I built this and, well, I just have had other priorities since then.

Third Row Seat Replacement

I finally got fed up with hauling around a 55 gallon tote of crap for search and rescue stuff that I carry, so I pulled out the third row of seats and built a little box to shove everything into. 2007 Eddie Bauer Standard wheelbase. The box ended up being about 4'x4', give or take an inch each...

www.expeditionforum.com

 

[melackey]

I camp regularly with the Boy Scouts. About half the time I sleep I n my Expedition. Originally in my 2012 standard length and now my 2022 Max. Concur with above that with a 6 inch air mattress there is barely enough headroom to sleep but still not enough to sit up. I leave one middle row seat up for a place to sit to get dressed. Honestly my old Honda Odyssey was MUCH more suited to sleeping.

 

[Sneeky Camper]

I would almost recommend one of those rooftop tents. But then you said limited budget and I know that they can get pretty pricey.

The US is vast and I also want to stealth camp on my way to different destinations. Walmart Parking lots, etc.

 

[Sneeky Camper]

I took out the 2nd & 3rd rows. DIY wooden platform. Cut so I can optionally reinstall one or both of the outside 2nd row seats. Walmart queen size mattress toppers, trimmed to fit wheel wells. Queen size sheets. This rig sleeps two comfortably on multiple weeks long trips.View attachment 77683View attachment 77684

Nice, looks like a lot of space with bunches of headroom. Did you only go to the level of the rear where the flip-up door hides the jack and tools? Did that stop you from installing drawers or was that all the space you needed? Looks like a great space for batteries, solar controller, inverter, etc. as well as a loadout for a backpack. Thanks for the picks.

 

[Sneeky Camper]

I camp regularly with the Boy Scouts. About half the time I sleep I n my Expedition. Originally in my 2012 standard length and now my 2022 Max. Concur with above that with a 6 inch air mattress there is barely enough headroom to sleep but still not enough to sit up. I leave one middle row seat up for a place to sit to get dressed. Honestly my old Honda Odyssey was MUCH more suited to sleeping.

Thanks for the reply. I should have looked into an Expedition Max or something else, but I want to drive off the beaten path and need something less likely to get stuck (4x4 with a lift). Huge vehicle, but a weird space. OK if you are nimble enough to crawl around but that's it.

 

[2013Tuxedo]

I'm interested in this as well as I plan on doing exactly as you in my retirement in the near future. I've slept in my 22 Expedition a fair bit just by putting a 6 inch memory foam mattress down. It works pretty well but storage is a bit of an issue. I question whether or not adding a platform would make it not very roomy by the time you add a mattress of some kind. I find even with just my mattress now I JUST have enough headroom... I have considered using a rooftop storage system for my gear but I'm curious to see what others are doing.

View attachment 77686
View attachment 77687

Do you have a link to this canopy or did you make it yourself from various pieces?

 

[Steve5472]

Do you have a link to this canopy or did you make it yourself from various pieces?

It's just a 12 x 9.5 tarp that I've draped over the back and secured with varying lengths of bungee cords. It's primitive but gives plenty of coverage from wind/rain and packs up/deploys pretty fast. The two tarp poles I use on the end are super helpful if there are no trees around.

 

[Huggyb1972]

Nice setup I was looking at building a pod that slides out under the tailgate when parked, but you gave me another idea.

 

[johnmcarguy]

here is my solution: I took out the center (2nd row) seats and left the 3rd row functional. I reworked a metal frame out of a queen size 18" platform bedframe from amazon, with RV mattress on top. I cut it to the right width and length, shortened 4 of 6 legs, and rewelded it all together. I added a maple plywood top, and foam RV mattress on top (they are very comfortable, even for my girlfriend who is much more accustomed to the Ritz Carlton!). I sized it for 11.5" of storage access underneath, which fits our suitcases, camp chairs, camping stove and gear, water & coffee setup, and bike gear. I also added an IceCo fridge which is both 11v and 12v, and keeps the beer at 33 degrees. The roof rack is for a batwing canopy.

 

[johnmcarguy]

here is my solution: I took out the center (2nd row) seats and left the 3rd row functional. I reworked a metal frame out of a queen size 18" platform bedframe from amazon, with RV mattress on top. I cut it to the right width and length, shortened 4 of 6 legs, and rewelded it all together. I added a maple plywood top, and foam RV mattress on top (they are very comfortable, even for my girlfriend who is much more accustomed to the Ritz Carlton!). I sized it for 11.5" of storage access underneath, which fits our suitcases, camp chairs, camping stove and gear, water & coffee setup, and bike gear. I also added an IceCo fridge which is both 11v and 12v, and keeps the beer at 33 degrees. The roof rack is for a batwing canopy.

oh, and I forgot to mention that it was pretty inexpensive. $25 for yard sale frame, and $250 for the fridge. the maple plywood was ridiculous at $90, and the canopy was more expensive but worth it, at around $550. I also added a front receiver hitch to carry more bikes, and I'll add solar panels next.

 

[Huggyb1972]

I'm so glad you posted this. I'm in the process of preparing for a baja trip next month and I'm working the angles on how to sleep in the back while on the road for that 2 weeks. Your idea is a simpler solution to my thoughts. I've got the costway version of you refrigerator. I'm looking at adding a 100 watt solar panel to mix with a charge controller to keep the fridge power separate from the truck power. Now that the bumpers are done I get the comfort focus on..

 

[johnmcarguy]

Glad it was helpful. I'm very happy with the way the bed turned out and it fits real well in the EL/Max. It's just the right height for looking out the windows while laying down, and plenty of storage underneath. And I can take it out easily if I want to use the 3rd row for passengers.

 

[Huggyb1972]

Glad it was helpful. I'm very happy with the way the bed turned out and it fits real well in the EL/Max. It's just the right height for looking out the windows while laying down, and plenty of storage underneath. And I can take it out easily if I want to use the 3rd row for passengers.

Yeah you inspired me to get mine done. 4' banquet tables from menards make excellent slide trays and you have a table also.

 

[Adieu]

2nd and 3rd rows fold absolutely flat unless you have captain chairs or a middle console (if so, swap to 8 seater configuration).

Just toss an air mattress over it and you should be fine unless you're like 7ft tall.

Get a roof rack or one of those luggage box things for stowing your stuff on top to clear out the back instead.