Family camping out of a truck, SUV, or van always comes down to the same challenge: making the most of limited space. Sleeping in the bed of your vehicle means not just finding a flat surface, but also figuring out how to keep gear secure, organized, and out of the elements.
Over the past six months I’ve put two platforms through heavy use: the BamBeds Solo and the Hele Outdoors Hele Box. Both create flat, elevated sleeping surfaces and open up storage underneath, but they approach the problem differently. I keep both in rotation depending on the trip. This is also a BamBeds Solo review.
Table of Contents
Check out Our Video Review
BamBeds Solo Platform
The BamBeds Solo is designed for stability and comfort first.
Setup & Design
The platform comes in two halves that rest on the truck’s rails. Wooden support posts twist into grooves for a secure fit. Assembly or takedown takes just a couple of minutes, and once installed, the platform doesn’t move. It’s solid and quiet, even when rolling over at night.
Sleeping Comfort
The lower bed height gives you more headroom inside the bed. The surface is wide enough to stretch out comfortably without feeling like you’ll roll off the edge. I’ve turned and shifted plenty of times on this platform, and it stays rock-solid.
Storage
Underneath, the Solo fits two Hefty 63-quart bins lengthwise in a 6ft Tacoma bed. That’s sealed, organized storage for camp kitchen gear, tools, or other essentials. The trade-off is that it eats into bed width, leaving less space for bulkier items beside the platform.
Measurements (Tacoma 6ft bed):
- Side clearance: ~25″ (20″ at wheel wells)
- Storage height underneath: ~9.5″
Mods
I customized mine with foam boat flooring (for cushion and noise reduction) and weatherstripping on the bed rails. Both tweaks improved comfort and cut down on vibration noise.
Hele Outdoors Hele Box
The Hele Box focuses on modularity and efficiency.
Setup & Design
This is a lightweight frame that snaps together quickly. The bunks stretch over the frame, and adjustable snap-lock legs let you dial in clearance. Non-slip pads keep your sleeping pad in place. It’s stable for its weight, and I usually keep it semi-assembled to speed up camp setup.
Sleeping Comfort
The Hele Box has a smaller footprint than BamBeds and sits closer to the ceiling when maxed for clearance. That means slightly less headroom, but it’s still stable and comfortable for a night’s sleep. If you don’t need all of the space underneath, just use it on a lower height setting.
Storage
This is where the Hele shines. You can slide in four full-size SidioCrates 2.0 underneath, which handles nearly all of my family’s gear. There’s still space for small items in between or alongside the crates.
Measurements (Tacoma 6ft bed):
- Side clearance: ~30.5″ (25″ at wheel wells)
- Storage height underneath: ~13.5″
👉 Check Hele Outdoors Hele Box here
Supporting Gear
- Hefty 63qt Clear Storage Bin
- Weatherstripping for bed rail
- Foam Boat Flooring (cut to fit with a utility knife)
- SidioCrate 2.0
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How I Use Them
I don’t see these platforms as competing. They both solve the same core problem – sleeping space plus storage, but the scenarios dictate which one goes in the truck.
- BamBeds Solo: when the priority is sleeping comfort, stability, and headroom.
- Hele Outdoors Hele Box: when the priority is gear storage, flexibility, and organization.
We’ve spent months testing, measuring, and actually sleeping on both. I bought these setups (and all the other test setups) with my own money, so there was real trial and error, and costs along the way. Hopefully this review saves you from some of that.
Final Thoughts
Both platforms are high-quality, field-tested, and worth considering. If you want a rig that’s functional for family camping or long overland trips, either of these systems will make your truck, SUV, or van more usable.
Happy overlanding,
John – Overland Gear Authority
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