Slide In Campers? Fourwheel Campers? Whats your total Weight?

Pretty sure Base Kimbo is the lightest. May not be the best for your application though, and the FWC comes standard with more equipment which if added to the Kimbo would raise the weight.

 

Lightest would probably be the alucab canopy camper, also as an Alu Cab owner I may be biased but the Canopy Camper and Khaya are in a different league all together than the FWC, the FWC is more spacious but for off road and hard use the Alu Cab stuff is much more rugged. Yes I’ve used them all, even had one of the very first GFC’s there’s always a trade off. It’s just what is most important to you.

 

2001 Northstar mc600 truck camper. Sorry, I haven't been to the scales. Here is a post where I list a bunch of upgrades that help with the weight (I have most of them). I go into the installation sequence over here. GL!

 

@Round the world will probably be of a lot of help since he's done it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/taking-a-tacoma-around-the-world-need-advice.585792/

 

@Stopmithering should also be able to give some pointers. These 2 guys have done it. I would trust their word over people that have no experience with any of it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/stu’s-ute.621331/

 

Thank you guys for the information!

 

If I'm not mistaken, one or both of those guys weighed their rigs......or maybe I'm just making that up in my mind Either way, they both have first hand experience with something like you want. It's not I had a 1970 something with 44 tires in the bed without a problem, or you'll bust into flames if you add 3 extra lbs type of thing.

 

Reading his build now to see if there is a weight. I am more just curious! I am sure I will be okay. I ll just make sure to strap a light dirt bike on the back.

 

Or you could just build a trailer out of your bed

 

That is awesome. I mean, I will have an extra bed after I put on a flatbed? Looking good!

 

I picked up a bed rack the other day, RTT should be here Friday, and a buddy is hooking me up with a tailgate at the end of the month. Should be a decent little camp trailer.……reasonably priced too. I also think it's funny as hell pulling it down the road

 

Bumpers, skids, sliders, gear, gas and 2 people, right around 6000lbs at the scale. I can't see how anyone with a similar setup wouldn't be over the GVRW.



Definitely well over hauling the bike around. Still handled fine, cruised at 110km/h with no issues through the mountains and still averaged 14L/100kms

 

Alucab Canopy camper is a great option if you are looking to maintain the off/on road handling. I love mine to death.

I'd love to have more room but the drivability was a huge factor when picking a set up. Would I love all the space that something like a Van provides? Hell yeah, but I dont want to drive a van for 200,000 miles.

Alucab is also a step above GFC when it comes to functionality. Easier set up, more secure/sealed.

 

OP, if you're going to go the slide in route or any route that puts you close to our over GWVR I would consider different springs than the OME ones. I had a set on my 2nd gen and they were comfortable with a light load and carried a reasonable overland setup well when new, but after one season of hauling around that weight and light/moderate off-road they had sagged slightly unloaded and got softer. I never measured anything before the truck was destroyed but on my current setup I went with Dobinson leaf pack and no regrets. It's a little more firm than the HD dakar springs from OME when new, but after about 2000 miles with light or no load, they have softened a bit but I can't measure any loss of height unloaded. Loaded with a bed completely full of firewood they supported it very well and rode great. I was impressed. Deaver leafs get lots of praise, too. I have no experience with those.

 

Thanks for all the insight guys. I hope my OME HD springs will be okay. I plan on adding firestone airbags as well. Time will tell. If my springs go "flat" something tells me I will be contacting OME for replacements. They seem like a good company.

 

I'm selling a 2012 All Terrain Camper Bobcat shell model. 550lbs. message me if interested

 

Instead of replacing springs, sometimes a shop can re-bend leaf springs and/or add a leaf and longer u bolts.

 

i just sold a FWC that i had on a 2013 ACLB. it was an eagle shell model that said 530lbs on the nameplate but had solar with wiring, AGM battery, ARB awning, yakima tracks/bars and a bigger maxxair fan and weighed closer to 850lbs. thats still doable with Tacoma if you are packing light with 2 people and your base rig isn't armored.

i loved the FWC and am really sad to see it go but i was having an issue with storing it when off the truck and honestly my truck was too armored to take that extra weight... plus i like to wheel and was concerned about wear and tear.

my advice to anyone considering putting one on a Tacoma is find a lighter shell model and keep your gear and pack list light. in the same way we all accept our trucks aren't in the same power, towing, and braking league as the F250s, we also have to accept that a camper with absolutely every option on it is a camper we aren't going to be able to carry safely on our Tacoma. if you absolutely have to have all the options you will be better off starting with a bigger truck. edit: something exactly like the Bobcat @tacojoe1237 is selling is perfect.

the go fast camper and vagabond type options look good too and are light but i think the FWC still rules for comfort to weight ratio. not only did i sleep great in the FWC... spend an afternoon on the couch in a FWC waiting out some rain with a book/movie and a coffee/beer and you will get it.

 

@honkonbobo Totally agree. slide ins for a tacoma are not the best idea they are just too underpowered. The payload is also an issue. Also I was getting terrible gas mileage with mine on due to the wind resistance. I think if you could get an ATC custom made to not hang off the sides of the bed rails and have the cabover section as close to the cab as possible, it'd be a game changer. I sold my camper and now am on the hunt for a flip pac or tall shell.

 

I made a list of campers that fit the Taco over here