Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

I know, I know, you love your tent. It's lightweight, easy to set up and just makes you go all gooey on the inside when you think about it. You love it so much in fact, you almost don't mind setting it up in 50mph winds or a blinding snowstorm. Heck, you don't even mind if it flaps all night, so you can't sleep a wink.

Yeah, right.

Here's my autumnal wisdom: take a deep breath, and try something new, even before New Year's resolutions are in order. Ditch the tent for your next adventure, and try this:

A build-it-yourself sleeper platform for your pickup or minivan. Check out the possibilities and see if you don't find yourself just a little bit tempted. There are more than a few ways to set up your bliss: bells and whistles or basic (go down the page for a series of photographs).

All you need is: vehicle, few basic tools, nails/screws, lumber, a little ingenuity, and a plan!

• truck
• camping
• tents