Nice job! Looks stable and versatile. And, you addressed all the biggest challenges of building a platform for this vehicle with NON-flat 2nd row seats. Kudos! RAV camping is the best!
I have a rav4 which I am looking to convert into a mini camper. Do you know how much space you lose by not removing the back seats? Also your suports for the back part prevents you from accessing the chubbys underneath which are very useful.
Guessing you will need a middle support system in the back so plywood doesn't sway or buckle? Or storage units for support? Or is a thick plywood enough? I do love the look of this for a upcoming road trip!
I’m just starting to do this to my 1998 rav4 but I have no where to store back seat so the are folded down but I have to squeeze in the back doors to get in. Idk if my car can get inspected if seats aren’t in. Also any suggestions how I can close the trunk door inside to avoid squeezing in back seat door. I will be making a video about this. My idea is to just use the area as a meditation area. I have a picture on instagram of what I did so far . Lmk know if I’m allowed to say my channels name
I'm thinking of doing this and I love how it separates and you can still leave the parts in the very back and also get to the spare tire area storage as well.
@@candacedawn357 idk, I've never done this. I'm here to learn about conversions myself. I wish I could be more help in answering your question but maybe someone else can answer with some knowledge on the subject :)
This was super helpful! I used it as a guide for my own build. For anyone else interested in trying something similar, the dimensions ended up being: Plywood: 42.75 X 31.5, 42.75 X 30, 26 X 16.5 (I did not extend the front panel all the way across behind the driver's seat) 2X4s: The sideways 2X4 supports are 42 inches long. You could even go a little shorter on the rear one to make sure it doesn't rub the sides. The length of the front one isn't nearly as important because the car is wider up there. The two rearmost 2X4 supports are 28.5 inches long. Again, they could be a little shorter. Mine do rub the back door if I don't place them carefully while setting up. I didn't attach the 2X4 to the middle panel. It's very stable just resting on it.
What is the length from the back of the drivers seat to the rear when then platform is all in place? Also is your driver seat always in your driving position or did you have to push it forward?
When the platform is in place, the length is about 74" from the back of the passenger seat to the rear door when it's pushed as far forward as possible. My driver seat remains in the driving position and is about 66" from the back to the rear door.
All I keep in my trunk area is 'In case of emergency' stuff, I never use it for storage. For this reason, I don't mind that the rear section doesn't allow me regular access to the trunk area. If this is important to you, perhaps you could build the rear supports to the side of the access area and only have a stack of 4 2x4s at the front of the cargo area.
Very clever. A couple of questions for clarity: 1 - what does the head piece rest on where it is adjacent to the front seats, ie what keeps it level with the middle section? 2- does the middle section have the same # of 2*4s (for height) as the main section or does it taper down with one less 2*4 or ? Thanks
Hey Larry, the head piece mainly rests on the 2X4 lip of the middle section, then has one leg section that goes to the floor. It provides enough stability. For point 2, in order to lay level, the height at the back door is 5 2x4s thick, 4 2x4s thick at the front part of the cargo section, where the seats pivot, and only 1 2x4 is used across the back of the seats, just below the headrest. This provides the lip for the head piece to sit on. Good luck if you build this.
That is quite simply brilliant. I'm looking to buy a secondhand SUV to be used as my every day drive that I can convert to a camper. The Rav4 is very high on my list. This conversion would work brilliantly. Thank you.
Bro may I have the 2/4 in cm? sorry but here we don't really know that :) . Love the concept I would do on my rav4 too. Keeping the back seat is the way to go.
