Bed Slats for my T@B S Max
I have seen quite a few posts on this, just thought I would share what I made for mine. I used two pieces of white maple for the rails, all wood is finished with a satin clear coat. The slats are made out of 6 pieces of Poplar wood 29” long by 5-1/8” wide, they fit the space perfectly. I used poplar due to cost and no one sees them. I routed all edges and sanded smooth, I stapled the pieces together with a flat bungee cord to hold them all together, so I did not end up with six loose pieces. This made them easy to setup and to store. I store them in the no-man’s land cabinet under the bench on the left side. I made brackets to hold them up off of any plumbing or wiring and they are held tightly in place with a bungee cord, so as not to damage anything. We removed the large table for good, to give us the extra floor space. We use a small fold up table that stores under the couch seat on the right side. This makes the bed set up much easier and we love the added room to move around.








Comments
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Nice workmanship.2018 Outback S, Silver/Black - 2015 Silver Honda Pilot 4WD - Florence, KY

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Nice job.
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Please note, I made a typo in my post, I have corrected it, the slat width should be 5-1/8" not 4-1/8"
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Loved your idea, did the same took out the table and slats we never use, had a custom memory foam mattress made and now we sleep in heavenly bliss. Thanks for the idea!!
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Very nice!!!! Definetly want to do this mod...
Kennesaw, Georgia
2016 Silver/Black T@B M@x S with Scuba Black interior. 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD 2.0L Ecoboost tow vehicle. Tekonsha Prodigy wireless Brake Controller. -
Wow! SO great, I've got to get this for mine. We don't like that table and we have a small roll up camping table we can use instead. Thanks for the info!!Sun Valley Idaho living, 2 restaurants, 2 labs, 1 helluva wife! 2016 T@B Max-S Outback towed by. 2007 Toyota FJ Crusier
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I love the ingenuity and creativity exhibited by trailer owners while adapting to their environment. Well done and will help others out down the road! Thanks for taking the time to post up the photos and share your mod with everyone.
Well done!Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ -
I got mine done today... Thanks for the Inspiration...
I decided to use three 1/4-20 through bolts and a #12 wood screw at the rear. You see them on the outside, but I feel like they are a bit more durable than just wood screws....
For now I just store the slats on top the spare tire in the big rear box...


Kennesaw, Georgia
2016 Silver/Black T@B M@x S with Scuba Black interior. 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD 2.0L Ecoboost tow vehicle. Tekonsha Prodigy wireless Brake Controller. -
Looks great! We really like having the table removed and I am sure you will to. It gives you much needed room to move around. After we loaded everything we think we need in the camper, we didn't have any room left in the storage area in the back, that's why I used the area under the drivers side bench.
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What is the brand for your small roll up table?Rlethbri said:Wow! SO great, I've got to get this for mine. We don't like that table and we have a small roll up camping table we can use instead. Thanks for the info!!
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Here's some pic's of the table we use, very light weight, folds up easy and stores under the rear seat easily, and it only costs around $15.00 bucks at walmart -
Funny, I just bought the same table!!!Kennesaw, Georgia
2016 Silver/Black T@B M@x S with Scuba Black interior. 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD 2.0L Ecoboost tow vehicle. Tekonsha Prodigy wireless Brake Controller. -
You can't beat it, we liked it so well, we bought a spare just in case they quit carrying it. -
I've noticed that the heat vent below appears to have been covered up here. When the bed slats are implemented into others T@B units have any of you re-cut or routered the heat vent opening again below this area? I'd be interested in hearing how others have approached the bed slat issue here and solutions to keeping the heat flowing in this area since warm air rises.
What thickness is the wood you are using for the bed slats to support the weight placed on them from above?
Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ -
We cut arches in the support so the heat vent are opened on the door side.John - Kris & our Golden "Blossom"
South Carolina
Live simply,Love generously,Care deeply,Speak Kindly,Leave the rest to God -
Yes. The original design was to screw the wood into the side but it would have covered the heat vent for my 2016 Outback. So I trimmed the piece to fit. The vent is free to flow with heat and works quite well.Sun Valley Idaho living, 2 restaurants, 2 labs, 1 helluva wife! 2016 T@B Max-S Outback towed by. 2007 Toyota FJ Crusier
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Its hard to see, but when I took the picture the vent slot was slightly covered, I have since took the support back off and routed a slot in it. the board was 1-1/2"-3/4"
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I cut the rail height so that the bottom of the rail is even with the top of the heat slot so it was not blocked. That works out to 1-1/2" thick by 3/4".
Kennesaw, Georgia
2016 Silver/Black T@B M@x S with Scuba Black interior. 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD 2.0L Ecoboost tow vehicle. Tekonsha Prodigy wireless Brake Controller. -
Looks great ... can you tell me what the thickness of the boards is? would love to also see a pic of the table that you've substituted! ThanksJohn & Lisa, 2016 M@x S, Silver/Yellow, Hood Canal, WA, TV = 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
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This is exactly what we need ... Can you advise the thickness of the slats for the bed? @Michigan_MikeJohn & Lisa, 2016 M@x S, Silver/Yellow, Hood Canal, WA, TV = 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
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The boards I used for the slats are 3/4" thick
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Sorry Laura, I've been tied up on a master bedroom remodel project and have been away. Pop T@B has it right!lara9209 said:This is exactly what we need ... Can you advise the thickness of the slats for the bed? @Michigan_MikeMike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ -
thanks @Pop-T@B and @Michigan_Mike ... husband will start on it this week ... hope the remodel project is going well!
John & Lisa, 2016 M@x S, Silver/Yellow, Hood Canal, WA, TV = 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser -
Following the lead of others. Thanks for the great idea. We really like the new slats and the extra room they provides underneath. I used 1X4s for the slats 1X2 for the rails. After sanding, two coats of polyurethane with no stain.
~ Joe
2015 Max U Outback; 2011 Chevy Silverado 4X4; Austin, Tx -
And here is the table we are using:
http://www.rei.com/product/866035/gci-outdoor-compact-camp-table-25
~ Joe2015 Max U Outback; 2011 Chevy Silverado 4X4; Austin, Tx -
@Pop-T@B: I love your design and am just about finished doing is for my 2016 Outback. I'm ready to staple the bungee cords to the boards and wondered why you chose the bungee configuration you used as opposed to a continuos strip on either side?
Thanks
Charlie -
I just did this modification. I noticed you used the bungee cords cut in irregular lengths attached to the bottom. Why didn't you use one continuos strip on each side? And what is the reason you chose the configuration you used? I wanted to find out before I cut and attached my bungees!
Thanks,
Charlie Borton
2016 T@B Outback
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I stapled it on first in one piece, then when I went to fold it I had it to tight and it would not fold correctly. I would suggest start with the first board, staple it on, then fold staple to the next and so and and so on. I should have done it this way, but no one see it be me so I just left it this way.
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I used one continuous flat bungee cord (from Home depot) and was able to make it work for my trailer. I certainly appreciated the heads up from Shawn on the flat bungee cord as I thought that was a slick idea. Built a small storage rack in the bench seat next to the Alde and it is ready to go on an as needed basis. Life is good!
Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ -
Here's what I ended up with for the bed slats. Used hemlock (not cheap) but it was the straightest wood I could find and looked nice. Used 1 x 2 for the rails, and the one on the door side did not cover the groove on my 2015 Outback any more than the piece of wood inside the box. I made 5 slats from 1 x 6 and we used the 5 slats on our maiden voyage. I've found, however, that I can store 4 between the inverter and back bench quite snugly. And 4 is all you really need to support the bed. I've got quite a bit of stuff under the side bench, so freeing that space up is nice. and the boards don't get in the way in this space from what I can tell so far.
And yes, that is the Ikea Toftbo, nice rug!
2015 Max S Outback | 2010 Xterra -- Retired
2022 Ford F350 Tremor | 2022 Cirrus 620
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