Driving a Tacoma around the world

500 lbs total weight for the camper?? That seems awful light compared to other stuff out there

 

Yes indeed, this camper is for a Tacoma (for us), although a larger one will be built very shortly (F250, etc.). We want to go on "Jeep trails" to remote places so we wanted small. Weight for us is SO important, this camper is also very strong. SO many folks just add weight, unknowingly, and when they get stuck it is a nightmare. they go over GVWR. My wife and I have been searching for a very light camper for years, and thought we had found it in the Maletc Trucks from Germany, they have a carbon fiber camper which is super light and strong and it is stunning. But the bed was too small for us so we continued to look. The Tern Overlander has a bed over the cab that is 5 inches wider than a queen size bed. Basic amenities, so no granite counter top, etc. It'll have heat, 15 gals of water, bed, one burner stove, in short a hard shell tent. The recipe for weight. I even found titanium tire irons!

 

Cool! Do have some pics? I couldn’t find much on a search. Are you thinking a weekend trips or more extended ones?

 

I'm confused, do you want a pic of the very light Tern Overlander, 'cause you posted a list of mods from "somewhere"? I don't think I know how to post pics, sorry. The only pics is of a partially built prototype, so no paint, etc. There is still much work to do but mine, the first one, should be ready within several months.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World by the way!

I was just curious as to what the Tern Overlander looks like. New lightweight products are always interesting for me and others on TW and Expedition Portal. After rereading their web page sounds like they’ll be launching this at next years Overland Expo. I went to this years OE in Arizona this spring, its super fun.

The list of mods on the bottom of each of my responses is what I have done to my truck. I also have semi-permanently mounted a Four Wheel Camper flatbed Fleet which weighs 1,600 lbs! My wife and I wanted these features because we will be living in it for three years, but they come with lots of weight

To post a photo just click the “upload a file” button at the bottom.

 

Here is the preliminary camper, i.e., the product sample to see what production problems arise, so no paint, rub rails, off road front bumper, locker, winch, more strengthening will be added, King suspension, air bags in rear, etc.
2020 TRD Pro wheels will be added as they are each ~4.2 pounds lighter, when available from Toyota (not yet).
I even found titanium tire irons since this build is all about simple and very light. Camper weight alone is ~500#, but given the truck bed is removed, and in this build only, a cradle has also been built, weight is more, then less, etc. I can't wait to see the final complete vehicle weight; it weighed 4400# when delivered new, using a certified scale.
I sincerely hope and think I will end up with total weight less than the GVWR.

And BTW the builder has successfully designed an air bag system with Firestone airbags and Daystar cradles that ALLOW use of an aftermarket bump stop, a first.

 

wow! It’s a full-size (for a Tacoma) flatbed camper! Have you started a build thread? Happy for you to post updates here if not. Love to see it get built

 

Yah, the takeaway from this I think for you is to not do your expensive spring upgrades until the truck and camper are finished, then weight each axle and then see if the very good and cheaper Dobinsons or others will work or then go for a custom spring setup. In the meantime you could temporarily install a add-a-leaf and/or airbags. The camper dealer who also did the truck upgrades, who has quite a bit of expertise with flatbeds on Tacomas and Colorado’s, was very surprised at the end weight. He’s going make it right - he’s going to buy back the Dobinsons and apply it to the additional cost of the custom springs, plus do the work for gratis. I had originally thought that custom springs were the way to go and he said the Dobinsons would work fine - oops. Lucky we have time

 

I am slowly working on a build, and though I'm trying to keep the scope creep managed and keep it lightweight, it's hard to not think about suspension when I won't have my camper for four months, I haven't ordered skids, and I don't know what I'm doing about my rear bumper. Let alone any other mods. It's nice to live vicariously through threads likes these, though!

 

one thing to check with HAM radio is the laws in the countries you will be traveling through.

http://www.arrl.org/select-countries-a-d

 

thanks! After reading this it sounds like a lot of work. I think we’ll just carry our Garmin In reach Explorer

 

Rub rails and skid plates are two things we haven’t done and not sure we will due to weight. I know shocking isn’t it? Even an aluminium skid plate is 35 lbs. we’ll face lots of sand and mud and roads with huge potholes and washboards/corrigations but aren’t planning on offroading in large rocky areas. Hopefully we won’t regret it...

 

Have been contemplating upgrading to flatbed next year, but you're making me feel better with my shell for now

 

Yeah, I've been considering not putting skids on. I installed some 0deg sliders that kinda double as steps, but it's mainly for side protection. Aluminum skids don't really do much other than keep mud from splashing up, so it's either steal or just drive carefully.

I have an aluminum CBI front bumper that I'm planning on installing soon. I do think I want to put on a steel rear bumper, though. Not sure about high clearance or a tire swing out, yet. It's all more weight and it might look goofy with it sticking out under a high clearance bumper.

I sometimes need to remind myself that people have traveled the world with the most basic setups. I've also traveled for months at a time on motorcycles and bicycles, so I know I don't need a very complex camper. Recovery gear is something I don't think I want to go without, though. Picking up a bicycle is way easier than picking up a truck.

 

i wouldn’t have done it if not for our upcoming trip. While a flatbed truck without the camper is useful, I have found a pickup box more so. But when you consider the price of the flatbed and the additional $10,000 cost of a flatbed, the additional weight, and the fact that remounting it back onto a flatbed is more difficult, I would stick to a slide-in model otherwise.

 

Want lighter wheels? Here you go:

As part of our buiId, a primary objective is lightness, on the part of the builder as well as myself. (Ok, I must be truthful, I found titanium tire irons in Russia!) SO throw rotten tomatoes, I deserve it!

I had heard that the new 2020 TRD Pro wheels were some 4.18 pounds lighter each, which is huge, because my camper builder tells me that 1 pound off the tire/wheel combo is like taking 20 pounds off the bed, and it will make a big difference in performance; why else would Toyota go to all the effort of making the TRD Pro and only that model, have lighter wheels?

I have been trying for months to verify that the new 2020 TRD Pro wheel IS lighter, as "advertised" on the street, but have been unable to verify this information, find a part number, order one, etc. Finally, at Overland Expo a few weeks ago, some five Toyota engineers showed up and I was all over them to get help with this problem. Even they had to jump thru some hoops, but I finally have 5 new 2020 TRD Pro wheels on order. I just ordered them!

AND they each ARE 4.8 pounds lighter for 2020 versus 2019 and they will bolt right up!

Bingo......a total of 24 pounds just saved! Losing weight only happens a few ounces at a time.

Yea!

So here is the data, copied directly from a Toyota engineer:
****************
"To answer a few of your questions:

1. PT946-35200-02 (Serv P/N)
2. New Wt./Wheel = 9700 g (21.4 lb)
3. Old Wt./Wheel = 11900 g (26.2 lb)
4. Change weight = - 2200 g (-4.8 lb)
5. Wheel will bolt directly to a TRD Off Road
6. Inset is same as prior year
7. The part should be available as a service part right now."

I thought the above info might be of interest and perhaps a help to you.

Tern Overland being built as we speak.

 

Oh boy my wife is going to hate me...Thanks! Have they set a price? I spent big dollars replacing the standard camper battery with a lithium saving 50 lbs and avoiding the need of a 2nd camper battery so this makes sense.

 

So this is what you're talking about? Picture from the Toyota website of a 2020 TRD Pro. Did you order them straight from a dealer?

 

Those Pro wheels look awesome. I hope it works out, there isn't a lot out there for 7" wide wheels other than stock OR. Most everything is at least 8" wide, and I even looked into Volks and was told the 16x7's were being discontinued.

I saw this the other day: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...off-road-vs-trd-pro-weight-comparison.633500/