200 Sleeping Platform (1 Viewer)

[adventurefam]

I think that any non-DIY options will require removal of the third row. Second row shouldn't be a problem, many use the second row folded flat as part of a sleeping platform. One option would be a single ARB drawer and keep one of the third-row seats installed.

I just went down this road and ordered the platform-only setup from Air Up Gear Down (which requires removal of third row). Put it together last night and hoping to install in the LC tonight. I decided that we wouldn't be needing the third row for a while, as we're not driving with anyone outside of immediate family in the near future. Plus the platform appears to be (relatively) easy to remove if needed to re-install a seat or two for a trip or event.

How removable is the system in case you needed to reinstall the 3rd-row seat when company is in town? The tutorials make it seem like removal and reinstall of the third row is fairly straightforward. Is that your experience?

 

[CharlieS]

Each side is two plastic covers and 4 bolts. An impact driver with a 14mm socket will have both of the seats out in less than 5 minutes.

 

[canyonrider]

^^Yep, pretty straightforward for the seats. The platform itself uses four attachment points, so you just loosen those and the whole platform system comes out in one piece. The hardest part of removing is the weight/awkward shape. Not something I would want to remove/reinstall on a regular basis, but shouldn't be a big deal a few times a year if needed.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Sounds awesome. However, with so much consumer involvement, I’m not sure it’s as great of a deal as I originally once thought. Shame because I do love the simplicity. Something for me to chew on.

Hello! Kyle from ADGU here; you bring up an interesting piece of feedback! We originally had an option that was pre-built and required only minimal assembly (to accommodate reasonable shipping) that required maybe 10-15 mins to complete. The challenge we ran into with this was the balance of value to the customer and price. ADGU is still a small operation, so to accommodate the time put into the pre-builds we had to increase the price. We found people weren't buying many, so we dropped the option. We have grown in order volume since, so this still an issue today. Would you be interested in a prebuilt option at a higher price?

 

[HGB]

Hello! Kyle from ADGU here; you bring up an interesting piece of feedback! We originally had an option that was pre-built and required only minimal assembly (to accommodate reasonable shipping) that required maybe 10-15 mins to complete. The challenge we ran into with this was the balance of value to the customer and price. ADGU is still a small operation, so to accommodate the time put into the pre-builds we had to increase the price. We found people weren't buying many, so we dropped the option. We have grown in order volume since, so this still an issue today. Would you be interested in a prebuilt option at a higher price?

Hey Kyle! The tough thing is ARB comes pre built and isn’t that much of a higher price point. With their warranties, distribution network, etc. It makes it hard to pay the same price for a product that is still in its infancy.

I hope you know I am far from disparaging your product, it really looks like what I want (minimal / sturdy), but giving you honest feedback as to my purchase reservations.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Hey Kyle! The tough thing is ARB comes pre built and isn’t that much of a higher price point. With their warranties, distribution network, etc. It makes it hard to pay the same price for a product that is still in its infancy.

I hope you know I am far from disparaging your product, it really looks like what I want (minimal / sturdy), but giving you honest feedback as to my purchase reservations.

Thanks for the response! We certainly appreciate the feedback, any input from our customers is a chance for us to improve so we welcome it!

A few points that I will make on the ADGU vs ARB system just for consideration:

• Our system is substantially easier to remove/install
• we have true full extension drawers
• our drawer extension lock-out function is not prone to the failures we have heard about with ARB

Thanks again for the input, like I said we certainly welcome it!

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

How removable is the system in case you needed to reinstall the 3rd-row seat when company is in town? The tutorials make it seem like removal and reinstall of the third row is fairly straightforward. Is that your experience?

So this certainly isn't going to win any editing awards, but we have a video showing a real-time removal of the system so you can see what's involved. This is obviously in a 100 series, but it's the same process for the 200.

If you explore the youtube channel we have similar videos on the drawers, so you can get an idea for that as well.

 

[BigMF]

Has anyone done a "single" sleeping platform utilizing just one side of the vehicle? I'm thinking about building something for just one side (one person) that leaves one side open for a taller fridge or other gear that may be inconvenient to store under or on top of a platform due to the size of the gear.

 

[OKRazorback]

Removed rear seats and 60 part of 2nd row. Worked pretty well with Hest Sleep System but I returned the Hest to REI and upgraded to a Tochta custom RV mattress. Will let you know how it works.

 

[OKRazorback]

Has anyone done a "single" sleeping platform utilizing just one side of the vehicle? I'm thinking about building something for just one side (one person) that leaves one side open for a taller fridge or other gear that may be inconvenient to store under or on top of a platform due to the size of the gear.

My pics of this are above.

 

[OKRazorback]

Updated with custom 10” mattress from Tochta. Much improved!