Ford Broncos are the best cars for camping and other outdoorsy activities. The reason Ford Broncos are the best is that they are very functional. It leaves room for the addition of different accessories like a tow hitch or a sleeping deck. The focus of this article would be on how to install a sleeping deck.
If you are planning on going on an adventure in your Ford Bronco, then you need a sleeping bed. Building camping tents in the wild is not always the best idea, especially when the weather is cold or you are scared of raccoons and wild bears. A sleeping deck in your Ford Bronco will keep you safe, warm, and fuzzy.
In building a sleeping deck in your Ford Bronco, there are certain things you need to consider, like its affordability, cost-effectiveness, and space efficiency. By considering these factors before building, you can make the best sleeping deck in your Ford Bronco.
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Materials and Tools Needed
- 3M spray adhesive
- Staples
- 3/4 plywood
- Carpets/rugs
- Support beams
- Screws
- Flange
- Carbon fiber rods
- Measuring tape
- Wood handsaw
- Power drill
- Utility knife
- Aluminum/steel pipe legs
Step by Step Process Involved in Building a Sleeping Deck
The steps involved in building a sleeping deck in your Ford Bronco are outlined below.
Taking accurate measurements
The first step in building a sleeping deck is taking measurements of the interiors of your Ford Bronco. This is where the tape measure mentioned in the materials and tools section comes in handy. Take measurements of the interiors’ length, width, and breadth, depending on how elevated you want the deck to be.
It is advisable not to make it so high so that you can conveniently climb into the deck. Also, remember to leave an inch or two allowances in your measurements. If you know you cannot cut the plywood to measurement, do so at the hardware store to avoid wrong sizes and waste.
Sourcing for materials
Since it is a DIY procedure, you can look around your house for any tool that would be useful. If you can’t find enough, buy the materials from any hardware store near you. Before purchasing the required plywood for the deck, ensure that the interiors of your Ford Bronco have already been measured so that the right side of the platform can be cut in the store.
First fittings
The same way brides try on their wedding dresses to check the fittings is the same way you need to check the fittings of the plywood you bought. Fit the bare plywood into your Ford Bronco to check that the dimensions are a perfect fit. If it’s not, have the plywood recut or sawed.
Cut the carpet to size
Before covering the plywood with the carpet, you will need to cut the rug to size to fit it perfectly. Spread the carpet on the plywood, measure extra four inches and cut out the outliers. The additional four inches is to make it easy for you to staple the carpet to the plywood when placed over the plywood.
Cover plywood with the carpet/rug
Not everyone would want to cover the plywood with carpet because of cost, but it’s essential to bring out the beauty of your work. This is where the 3M adhesives come in handy. Spread it all over the plywood before placing the carpet neatly across it. Use the staples to hold the carpet to the plywood in place securely. Before stapling, remove all creases that might have been formed from placing the rug on the adhesive plywood.
To maintain the aesthetic of the interiors of your vehicle, you can buy a carpet having the same color as your car seats or a close-range color. Also, source for a rug with a corduroy covering so it can be easily cleaned out.
Add support beams
The only way that mounting the deck in your car would be possible is by adding a support beam and flanges underneath the covered plywood. With the support beams, the deck becomes removable, especially after camping and you want to move stuff around.
According to the size of the screws you bought, drill holes on the four plywood corners. Again, if you cannot drill holes with the correct dimensions, you can ask for help at the hardware store. After drilling holes in the plywood, fix the flanges and support beams in each hole using the screws. Make sure to tighten screws so that for a firm deck.
Add the pipe legs
The legs are what will make the deck stand firmly. The aluminum or steel pipe legs you bought are useful in this step. Fix the aluminum pipe legs into the flanges. Make sure to hand-tighten the fixture so that it wouldn’t give out once there’s a lot of weight on it.
Note that you can use your legs to measure the length of the pipe legs before cutting them to size. The pipe legs will determine the durability and longevity of the deck. Hence, ensure to buy the best.
Second fitting
After fixing at least two pipe legs, place the deck into your car to check the fittings of the deck. Imagine how convenient it would be to get into the deck before finalizing that it’s the final design. If you find the deck too high because of the length of the pipe legs, you can remove them and resize them.
Place foam and pillows
After fixing all the pipe legs, you can place the deck in your car. The foam and pillows should be placed above the deck with other camp necessities set beneath. The recommended size of foam for Ford Bronco is 40″ X 72″.
Conclusion
In building a sleeping deck, always make sure to buy quality materials. You don’t want to get to the campground and discover that the deck cannot take on your weight. If you are not well-versed in purchasing hardware, you can ask for help and suggestions from a professional. Building a deck in your Ford Bronco will make your camping experience comfortable and exciting.