Introduction
If you have a camper shell (truck cap), a great way to create a seeping space and still have storage is by using a sleeping platform.
Real World Example
The best way to get the most use out of your Ford Ranger bed and camper shell is with a sleeping platform. A sleeping platform elevates your sleeping location, so you still have storage space.
In the photo below, the boxes built over the wheel wells have trap doors up by the bulkhead to access the space between the bulkhead and the wheel wells. The end of the boxes has access to the space between the tailgate and the wheel wells.
The frame is made from 1″x10″ pine and 3/4″ plywood for the top. It’s covered by some thin outdoor carpet from Home Depot. They have it on a big roll so you can just cut off however much you want.
Two plywood sheets are covered in carpet and rest on rails attached to the sides of the boxes. When in place, it creates a large flat surface to sleep on.
Plastic storage bins are used to store supplies so they’re not rolling around loose in the bed and make it easier to retrieve items up towards the front.
This owner uses (4) plastic bins to keep all his camping stuff packed in. they fit perfectly underneath the center sections. The sides I have stuffed with all his tie-downs, axe, gloves and other random stuff. The center section is easily taken out and either laid on the bed in middle or put aside if he needs to put larger stuff in. A side benefit of this is that since I’m always carrying my dog around in the back, I get to keep all my stuff under the platform where she can’t chew on any of it.
The owner of this truck also has a catalytic heater and light in the camper to make it more comfortable at night.
Yes, it’s not a Ranger, but the photo above shows a platform that uses (2) drawers in the rear instead of an open space and plastic bins.
For discussions on camping with your Ford Ranger, check out our Outdoor Adventure Forum.
Contributor
Ranger Photos By Forum Member NorCalBronco
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About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.