AirDownGearUp SS1: Storage, Sleeper and Drawer System for 100 series

[Ayune]

Wow. Well thought out design.

I also think it would be good to have perforations in the top surface to be able to tie down cargo placed on top.

And lighting underneath so you can see all the stuff you've shoved under there.

 

[BillZ260]

^^^^ What Ayune said, google the Paulk Workbench, thinking the top on that bench would be beneficial here.

 

[enfield]

This is what I've been looking for. I was about to pull the trigger on a RTT, but this will be a better option.

 

[Live to Ski]

Of interest: w/r to the perforated surface, I'm thinking expansion bolts (kinda sorta like those expanding winged sheet rock gizmos) would work well. Can place where ever one needs, then remove or move. Total flexibility.

 

[Ayune]

I was thinking a few inlayed keyhole fittings, at least in at the corners, like this:

There are many attachments that can slide into them, such as:

 

[Hayes]

Thanks for the additional pictures.
How about some more basic stats:
What is the measurement for clearance underneath the platform? I'd like to check the fit of various coolers and boxes that I have.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Great ideas on the cargo tie down options for the top! The Paulk Workbench reminds me of the Bluco tables we use for welding fabrication at work (do yourself a favor and don't look up pricing on those!) which provide awesome flexibility for securing items. The keyhole fitting would be very simple to add to this system, we'll play with those concepts and try to incorporate some kind of cargo tie down.

For the dimensions; in order for the platform to lay flat on the folded rear seats, it ends up with 13" of clearance underneath, and is 39" deep. This was probably our single biggest heartache, as it required me personally to 'right size' storage bins and a cooler. The first picture on this thread shows what i have been using for about a year now, and I have been very happy with this set up. I was able to find simple bins that were 7.5" tall and 30" deep, which allows a little 'overflow' space under the platform for last-minute, trip specific items I may need to stash. We were also able to track down the cooler pictured on the right side, which has plenty of capacity to support 2 people for several days (depending on how much beer you are bringing!)

On this note, I spent a little time dialing in how i pack; this is what has been working well:

• emergency/recovery gear stored under the wings, off to either side. This always stays in the vehicle
• On one side:
  • one of the 7.5" tall bins contains my kitchen items; plates, jetboil, skillet, pots, etc and has enough room left for about 2 days worth of dry goods
  • the other 7.5" tall bin has other camp gear: folding saw, folding shovel, bug spray, sunscreen, chem lights, cord, hatchet, hammer, etc
• On the other side:
  • I fill up a 7 gallon water jug and lay it down on its side (ensure it's sealed nice and tight!) and push that all the way against the rear seats, the space above that is another 'overflow' area for misc items
  • the 'right sized' cooler easily accessible right at the tailgate
• on top:
  • I try to minimize this! typically this is camp chairs, sleeping bags/pads and a full size coleman stove, extra jackets/clothing, etc.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Quick video i put together of setting up the sleeping platform. With the sleeper folding out onto the rear seats, set up of the sleeper is under a minute.

 

[Hayes]

Thanks for this.
Yeah, 13" of clearance underneath is severely limiting on coolers. What cooler are you using that fits?

Great ideas on the cargo tie down options for the top! The Paulk Workbench reminds me of the Bluco tables we use for welding fabrication at work (do yourself a favor and don't look up pricing on those!) which provide awesome flexibility for securing items. The keyhole fitting would be very simple to add to this system, we'll play with those concepts and try to incorporate some kind of cargo tie down.

For the dimensions; in order for the platform to lay flat on the folded rear seats, it ends up with 13" of clearance underneath, and is 39" deep. This was probably our single biggest heartache, as it required me personally to 'right size' storage bins and a cooler. The first picture on this thread shows what i have been using for about a year now, and I have been very happy with this set up. I was able to find simple bins that were 7.5" tall and 30" deep, which allows a little 'overflow' space under the platform for last-minute, trip specific items I may need to stash. We were also able to track down the cooler pictured on the right side, which has plenty of capacity to support 2 people for several days (depending on how much beer you are bringing!)

On this note, I spent a little time dialing in how i pack; this is what has been working well:

• emergency/recovery gear stored under the wings, off to either side. This always stays in the vehicle
• On one side:
  • one of the 7.5" tall bins contains my kitchen items; plates, jetboil, skillet, pots, etc and has enough room left for about 2 days worth of dry goods
  • the other 7.5" tall bin has other camp gear: folding saw, folding shovel, bug spray, sunscreen, chem lights, cord, hatchet, hammer, etc
• On the other side:
  • I fill up a 7 gallon water jug and lay it down on its side (ensure it's sealed nice and tight!) and push that all the way against the rear seats, the space above that is another 'overflow' area for misc items
  • the 'right sized' cooler easily accessible right at the tailgate
• on top:
  • I try to minimize this! typically this is camp chairs, sleeping bags/pads and a full size coleman stove, extra jackets/clothing, etc.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

This is currently the cooler I have been using: 48 Can Party Stacker™ Cooler

While obviously not a very large cooler, it has been big enough for two on our typical weekend trips.

 

[Ayune]

Another suggestion: Add an additional, small hinged section that would allow a thin mattress to be sandwiched in the middle while en route. The added section would be twice as thick as the mattress. The mattress would probably be split for easy folding.

Folded while en route:

Deployed for sleeping:

System could also be folded without mattress in between:

 

[SoCal_80]

Any thought on offfering an option w/o the sleeping platform? Essentially I am interested in just the rear shelving portion.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Any thought on offfering an option w/o the sleeping platform? Essentially I am interested in just the rear shelving portion.

Yes! The initial offering will be for two option; storage shelf only, and storage shelf + sleeping platform. Eventually we will offer a drawer system as well. One of the key elements to this design is how modular it is. All additional features will be available individually, so if you buy shelf only and decide you want to add the sleeper, and then the drawers, that will be available to retrofit.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Another suggestion: Add an additional, small hinged section that would allow a thin mattress to be sandwiched in the middle while en route. The added section would be twice as thick as the mattress. The mattress would probably be split for easy folding.

Folded while en route:
View attachment 1449300

Deployed for sleeping:
View attachment 1449302

System could also be folded without mattress in between:
View attachment 1449303

I like it! That would be a great way to incorporate a built in mattress, would make camp set up even faster!

 

[shanester]

A built in mattress would be push me to buy one of these. Awesome idea Ayune.

 

[SoCal_80]

Might have missed it but was there a price for the option without the additional sleeping platform? Anythought of just offering a "hardware only" kit and we could source the "lid"?

 

[Live to Ski]

regarding height issues: Looks to me like the vertical legs have adjustable screw pads. Screw in, H goes down, screw out H increases. Now it's just a mater of how long the threaded barrel is. Plus, the turnbuckle fastening design might be modifiable to handle added height.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I'll jump back in and provide some specific responses on top of what Kyle's said. After a crazy few days welcoming an anxious newborn into this world some keyboard time feels like a luxury, haha.

Thanks all for the feedback thus far. There are some great ideas and Kyle and I are seeing a lot of the potential options we discussed pop up here.

That looks pretty awesome. I'd like to see a few more details of the sleeping platform and how that works, but definitely interested. What kind of time frame are you thinking on the group buy? I'll be in Colorado at the end of June and could possibly pick up then if timing works out

Lead times are still a little up in the air as we work through CNC vendor options, but we hope to have units ready by end of June.

If I was a buyer, I'd want to know more about the support structure. I see the vertical posts but can't see the horizontal sections.

There is no horizontal framing. Just strategically placed uprights with reinforcement where needed and top grade plywood (not what you find at Home Depot or Lowes). The plywood is exceptionally strong with the right anchor locations and reinforcements and completes the "frame" of the system.

Wow. Well thought out design.

I also think it would be good to have perforations in the top surface to be able to tie down cargo placed on top.

And lighting underneath so you can see all the stuff you've shoved under there.

Thank you! Lighting, top surface tie downs and drawers are my next priorities in the system.

Thanks for this.
Yeah, 13" of clearance underneath is severely limiting on coolers. What cooler are you using that fits?

Another option we've discussed is offering a 3" extension for each leg. They would simply thread on and raise the entire platform a given amount (we had discussed 3"). This 16" figure is what Kyle wanted initially because it fits so many coolers and bins. I convinced him to go with 13" because it allows the sleeper to rest perfectly on the rear seats. I think we'd offer a "Riser set" to folks that want the extra storage height and aren't concerned about the sleeper platform support.

Another option is to put the cooler on the top side of the platform like what you see the traditional systems like ARB and others.

A built in mattress would be push me to buy one of these. Awesome idea Ayune.

Duly noted. One of the biggest draws for me with the RTTs is that they already have a mattress built in. We could integrate that into this system just like @Ayune suggested. Perhaps that's a "Premium sleeper" option.

Personally, I've used the sleeper as an "instant truck bed conversion" more than an actual sleeper. I would now have guessed this prior to using it over the last year. I transported large sheet metal sheets for work on multiple occasions, home depot runs for lots of personal stuff, etc... Had I had a mattress fixed to the platform that all may not have been possible without damaging the mattress. I also use an instant inflate camping pad (queen size) so set up for sleeping has been real quick regardless. The platform is sized perfectly for a queen bed.

Might have missed it but was there a price for the option without the additional sleeping platform? Anythought of just offering a "hardware only" kit and we could source the "lid"?

The price i mentioned ($550 for the group buy) is the price we're aiming for withOUT the sleeper. A hardware only kit would be tough because the CAD designed top panels are really what make this system a step above a regular DIY job. The customer would have to cut the top pieces with a few holes in the right locations for it to work. In Kyle's video you can get a small sense for how rigid the system is when he climbs in and out. It's astounding what the right placement of the anchoring did for the system. In the wrong places the system will walk itself forward or backwards over time and wobbles. Anchored in the right places it's locked firmly in place and you move the entire car before you move the platform.

regarding height issues: Looks to me like the vertical legs have adjustable screw pads. Screw in, H goes down, screw out H increases. Now it's just a mater of how long the threaded barrel is. Plus, the turnbuckle fastening design might be modifiable to handle added height.

Yeah, you'll get some adjustment out of the threaded feet. Beyond that we have discussed offering a "Riser Set" that would allow even more adjustment. Toss in an extra carabiner or longer turnbuckle and you've got a lot of flexibility in the height.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Alright folks, group buy is around the corner. Meanwhile I have a question for those who may be interested:

Would you want an option to have no bed-liner?

This would cut some cost and work well for anyone that wants to carpet the system anyways.

My initial prototype has been carpeted and it's been great. I'm torn between the rugged bedliner and the carpet, myself. The carpeting is tough to scale up for production so we plan on (at least initially) letting the customer do their own carpeting.

What do you think? Bedliner all the way or a bare bones option for user-carpeting?

 

[ballardcruiser]

I'm interested but would want the bedliner or, ideally, the sleeper, too.