DIY Sleeping and Storage Platform for 2 Door 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL

UPDATE: https://lifenewandimproved.blogspot.com/2020/06/diy-sleeping-and-storage-platform-for-2.html final wood measurements added over here!  Read more below for actual construction tips and tricks.

I searched and searched for a system for a two door Jeep Wrangler JL that wasn't just a small rear storage system but also contained the entire rear of the vehicle and also extended to sleep on diagonally.  I'll admit it may have been a big ask... so I went about making one myself.

I started with measurements and a general idea of what I wanted to achieve.  Knowing damn well I'd have to make adjustments and would make discoveries that limit the plan as I went along.  I had hoped initially to make it out of two or three large pieces and a hatch.  The goal was to hide all seems and the hatch hinge for security purposes but even with the seams it turned out pretty beefy and difficult to break into.  As with any car thing if someone REALLY wants in I'm sure they'll find a way.

This cad drawing is the original but a lot of this was just as a template, the Jeep dims are the same but the parts and pieces changed along the way.

The concept overall:
- full coverage of the rear of the Jeep
- Secure storage with the gate closed
- Lockable access internal when inside the vehicle.
- Rear lift hatch to make access easier
- Sleep extension to make a 6' diagonal
- Something in 4-6 parts so it was easily removable but also storable.

Things that changed along the way:
- How I separated the pieces
- How accurate the upholstery was
- Where the front wall sits in relation to the front
- How to kickstand the extension flap
- At the rear next to the roll bars I realized you can't extend the hatch around them if you want it to fold up so that was just cut straight.  I'm working on blocks that fill that gap created so folks can't reach through the hole there.  But have them cut and ready to install so should be a pretty easy addition.

The initial hardware store run I bought a full sheet of 23/32nd ply.  This was stronger than 1/2 inch but just slightly less ridiculous than 3/4.  I wanted it to be strong enough to stand on without much or any flex but saving anything on weight is helpful as I want it to be a seasonal easy swap out.

I started with the support walls out of simple 2x4's to have a base to attach to as well as make sure my connection to the rear seat brackets method would work.  I held off on painting and finishing most items until I knew the entire puzzle was going to fully come together.  I ended up right around 2'9" x 1'2" but I know I shaved a little off so see what works for you.

I installed the walls with U bolts around the seat brackets in the floor and hand tight wing nuts with washers.  I originally used lock washers but they dug into the wood and made it difficult to remove so for ease of install and removal I went to flat washers.  This does mean I check to see if they are tight after any big off-roading or washboard vibration drives.

Turns out, the walls sit almost perfectly flat on top of those brackets so you just need to get the height right.  Note that the brackets are different depths so I needed two different sizes of U bolts.

Next, I templated out the panels with cardboard, a ruler and a pencil.  This is where the real "who knows what the measurements are gonna be" part came into play.  I altered and trimmed up cuts until they fit right knowing that the upholstery would also shift things.

The first panel I cut and installed was the front.  No porthole cut for access yet.  I just wanted to have something to make the walls a structural box so I could measure more accurately moving forward.  This work beautifully!

You'll see more pics later but I used carriage bolts sunk in with Torque Washers so everything could be permanent on the panel and covered by the carpeting in hopes of fewer security issues with access to them.

This is also when I learned that the idea of a single panel across would not work.  I wasn't able to Tetris it into the Jeep in any way with the top still on.  This was important to me as I will have it in more than just summer when the top is off so I altered it to a two-panel front system for more manageable sized pieces and the ability to install with the top on or off.

 

Next came getting all the bolts and things finalized before carpeting it all. The carpet is marine grade boat fabric so waterproof but also VERY difficult to work with. It's thick and cumbersome to wrap your pieces with. It should resist most UV fading as well as hold up to any water however I may reupholster it next summer with something much thinner just to see how that goes.

I only wrapped and stapled my carpeting but I would recommend running some glue lines on all the surfaces as you go so that the middles of the carpet don't lift or warp over time. Mine is fine, but I do see it move and lift at highway speeds. It doesn't seem to be hurting anything but I would like it to be a little more in place.

From here it was just a matter of trying out each piece as I went since bolts and holes were all in place already.

Below you'll see pics of the general install and piece details.  Feel free to post any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

Next, I had to determine how to span underneath more pieces than I had planned so I have two cross members bolted through from the top under the carpet with a support span on top and the connection piece below.  The rear one also serves as a connection point for the hinged hatch piece.

Once everything was bolted in place it was crazy sturdy and strong.  I've been impressed with how it has held up now over a few months.

Finally was the sleep platform swing up the extension.  This had to lay flat but also clear the seat and the center console.  There are a few angles and rounded corners to do so but otherwise, was fairly easy.  I installed a 1" bar rod along the passenger side wall with an angle piece and cut a hole through the front panel in order to slide that through and support the extension.  I'm still working on the best kickstand option for this but have a hinge in place now that does the job until I refine the system.  Also installed a kickstand on the back hatch so I could prop it up to lean against when inside and also to hold it open when loading gear into the rear of the Jeep.  See the rest of the images for these details.

In total this was a skill level medium project, not crazy hard, just time-consuming.  The total hours I put into this project were around 40 hours over the course of a week off of work.

The final product has been high quality and easy to use and care for.  I may post an update after living with it for a full season and using in more ways both in the city as well as outdoors and camping.

Thanks for all the support and sharing the love for this product from those who have already expressed so much interest.  If you found me via my blog HERE is the YouTube video walkthrough of the platform/storage system.

All the best out there Jeep'n and cheers to other die hard 2 door fans who also want to sleep in their Jeeps but still have a passenger seat.  You are my peeps 💚

I hope all of this is helpful to anyone looking to recreate a similar thing without quite as many stumbles as I ran into.

August 6th 2019 update:

Since writing this article I've found from a fellow JL Forum poster this great option without a sleeping platform but fills what a lot of us have been looking for in the 2 door

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/slipstream-jl-2-door-available.32937/

https://shop.diabolicalinc.com/collections/all/products/slipstream-jl-2-door