Payload Capacity Upgrade Options - TRD OR

Hi! Brand new to this website - and really, to trucks in general (so please be gentle with me, I’ll likely have some dumb questions).
I purchased a 2021 double cab/long bed TRD OR on Halloween (her name is Enchilada, and she’s AMAZING).

I’m curious if there are any options for upgrading the payload amount we can carry in the bed?

my partner has a travellite slide in (one of the 6’s, not the full sized ones) camper that comes in at just over 1000 lbs, which we’ll be using a fair bit for overlanding. According to the numbers I’ve found, Enchilada’s payload capacity is 1105 lbs (GW 5600/CW 4495), which is a pretty slim margin.

from everything I’ve read, it doesn’t look like any suspension upgrades will change the payload we can carry; I’m wondering if there are any other upgrades - maybe something to the drivetrain? - we could do in order to gain some additional weight capacity?

thanks!
Lis

**edited, as my “slim margin” joke seems to have been misunderstood - once we add ourselves and our gear in, we’re definitely OVER payload capacity, which is why I’m researching options to increase the amount of weight we can carry

 

No one knows exactly what the limiting component(s) are. Toyota doesn’t release that information. But for sure leaf packs and shocks are one of them. So look into those. Putting 1000lbs in the back you will be riding the bumpstops a lot without those.

Honestly if you want a camper I suggest full size truck or even HD truck cab and chassis.

this truck platform really doesn’t drive well with those full campers. Braking sucks, handling sucks, power sucks for that weight.

many people like GFC, vagabond mid size truck campers. Just understand the cons of a those setups on these mid size trucks.

 

Yea, a Tacoma isn't a good platform for a full size slide in. As the post above me said, either look into a bigger truck, or a smaller camper.

 

1000 pounds is a pretty light camper. But remember you never go camping without lots and lots of supplies and food and water and even passengers. All of that adds to the weight factor. There is lots that you can do to increase the safe payload capacity for your truck if you are worried about that. However you are correct that there is nothing you can do to the truck that will legally allow you to carry more weight than the vehicle is registered for. It’s kind of silly but that’s the way it is. To make things worse, most modifications you do to your vehicle to make it more capable will also add to the base weight of the vehicle which means you can haul even less. This has been a talk to text session and I haven’t read through to see if there were any mistakes so if something doesn’t make sense just sound it out. I had a fibreglass camper on my Tacoma and it probably weighed about 1000 pounds loaded with food and water. I used Timbren SES bump stops and a full suspension upgrade Old Mana Emu and Dakar leaf pack) to help handle the weight and they made a huge difference. Also if you upgrade to LT tires you get a much stiffer sidewall. That significantly improves handling cornering and reduces body roll from the high center of weight. Also a tire blowout on the highway when you’re loaded with the camper would suck. Beefier tires greatly reduce that risk.

 

If your cargo capacity is 1105 lbs and the camper weighs 1000 empty, then you only have 105 lbs left before you are over capacity.

Do you weigh less than 105 lbs?

Cargo includes everything in the truck, driver, passengers, pets, gear, food, water, dishes, pots/pans, clothes..........

Not much you can do to increase the cargo limit. Sure, you can do stuff to help the ride, but nothing will increase the cargo limit.


Suggest you look into a pull behind camper. Even on this you must be mindful of the tow capacity and cargo limits.

 

I carry a lot of weight constantly because I work out of my truck. I added the Roadmaster active suspension to my truck and it made a huge difference on how the truck drives and handles the weight.

 

I'll echo the above. No way to legally do it on a private vehicle in the US, but there are ways to do it safely. Plenty of other countries have legal ways to increase GVWR on private vehicles, but it can be costly. A couple of links below to highlight the basics to consider. Bottom line, plenty of research will be required.
https://itstillruns.com/increase-trucks-gvwr-7303951.html
https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/raising-your-trucks-payload/

 

Campers used to be much more popular until they started cracking down on overweight vehicles.. Nowadays even the 3/4 and 1 ton big boys are getting inspected and checked by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement officers.

 

Sorry, but the Tacoma is the wrong truck for the job....These are designed as commuter vehicles and for screwing around off road, not actual 'truck work'. The Sienna mini van can carry more :-(

 

So can the Honda Ridgeline in the awd trim.

The taco is a lightweight in the GVWR category. It’s got a decent tow capacity though.

 

The GVWR on the truck is the GVWR and there is nothing you can do to legally change that. Modifying the suspension may well help with ride quality when working close to the max weight. If you were going to be very close to the max GVWR( only over by 50-100 lbs.) I might upgrade the suspension and go for it. But by the time you get 2 adults in the cab along with supplies and other gear you're going to be WAY over loaded.

Payload is simply the actual weight of the truck when it rolled off the assembly line subtracted from GVWR. Technically you could increase payload by making the truck lighter. Strip off everything not needed to get the weight down will leave more payload for the camper. I suppose you could try taking the rear seats out, removing the spare. Any running boards, skid plates etc, could be removed and you'd get another 100-200 lbs of payload.

Choosing the configuration carefully matters too. A 4X2 will weigh less than a 4x4, the 4cyl engine and manual transmission weighs less. Lower trim levels weigh less. An access cab is lighter than a double cab. Long bed is heavier than short bed. A stripped down basic 4X2 Tacoma Access Cab with 4 cyl engine and a manual transmission would have enough payload, but would probably be very underpowered.

 

Helium in the tires.

helium balloons in the camper.

 

You can always start removing truck parts. Can you live without the hood, doors, maybe remove all of the glass? This is about the only way to increase payload capacity. I don't really think you want to do any of that. I would say you need a bigger truck or another option for camping.

 

Welcome and no. Sure you can add heavier springs and shocks but are you going to add larger brakes? Upgraded drivetrain to handle that weight? How about safety features because going over the designed mass now will make it crash completely different from designed mass.
I wouldn't tell you all this if you were only going over by 300-400 lbs, but camping takes a bunch of support stuff that will likely double that 1K... and then the truck will not be safe.
Good luck.

 

I don't even like to be looks of these slide in campers in a regular full size,,,,,, they look more like HD/1 ton territory to me.

 

As others have said, there's nothing you can do to officially change the legal amount of weight these trucks are approved to carry, but there are some parts you can install that may help mitigate the side effects:

• Complete Suspension Kit
• Airbag Helper Springs
• Brake Kit
• Wider Wheels
• $337 Goodyear LT265/70R17 Tire, Wrangler Duratrac - 312014142
  Load Range E Tires
• Upper Arm Double Shear Kit
• Gusseted Spindles
• LCA Frame Brace Kit
• Upper Control Arms
• Durobunps
• Hammer Hangers
• Rear Frame Plate Kit

I have most of these installed on my truck, and it handles great with this camper. Welcome to the site, and GL!

 

According to the truck camper adventure article, the 1,105 lb paylod capacity is limited by the OEM "C" rated tires and rims, but the axle capacity on the Tacoma is 720 lbs higher, so if you use "better wheels and tires with higher load ratings" you can actually achieve a payload capacity of 1,825 lbs .

 

That 1100 pound payload sounds generous to me. What's the doot sticker say on your truck. Camper is 1000 pounds. You and your partner just being in the truck will put you over payload not to mention anything else you will be bringing with you.

You can make it so the truck doesn't sag a few different ways but you aren't increasing payload any. You will still be over capacity. Will put added stress on all sorts of things.

 

Lol no. Only a manufacturer can set payload and they are responsible legally for all the liability that setting the payload incurs.

 

You can read about the new Truck house BCT Tacoma based camper. They do some serious work to the Tacoma to include fabricated axle, frame reinforcements, new suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, forged wheels, upgraded tires, and much more. Worth a read...
https://www.truckhouse.co/the-bct