mpg guesses with 1200 pound camper?

I am thinking about getting a Tacoma and putting a light weight pop up camper on the back (FWC Eagle), maybe 1200 pounds wet. Any guesses on what kind of mpg I'll be getting?

 

Well, you said guesses so here is mine.... I have an 09 regular cab 2wd (low suspension) as my work truck. It has a large utility shell with a similar profile to a pop up camper and probably 1000 lbs or so in the back. Four cyl, 5 speed, it gets 18 in mixed driving without me really trying.

You didn't say if you are getting a v6 or not. My v6 4x4 gets 18-20 with just a regular campershell on long trips. So, I dunno. If you get a 4x4 or prerunner with the v6 I would say probably 13-15 highway. Four banger would probably get close to 18 all highway driving in a prerunner.

That's my guess. There is a forum on truck campers and such I believe its "wander the west" or something like that.

 

Towing efficiency greatly depends on the terrain. Having a nice trailer in good repair with large wheels leveled properly is barely noticeable on flat ground.

Anyone that's every towed a bike trailer will tell you, its the hills that get you.

Get that tiny popup with tiny wheels and try to make it do 70.

Wait, by pop up camper, you mean a truck bed camper?
Not a popup trailer? (just looked up fwc) You know 1200 is a bit over payload right?
But the above pretty much still applies, minus the tiny wheels thing. Also would need airbags.

I just go with a truck cap and cook on the tailgate myself.

 

i'm not sure about your setup but assuming you have an access cab or doube cab with v6 you should definitely get the rear tsb or an aal from toytec.

 

Screw Add a leafs. Turn your truck into a tractor suspension if you like. But they're a joke.

Airbags, nearly the same price, easier to install. They're only on when you need em. Add a leafs are the poor man's way out under every circumstance. Never the best way to do anything.
Yea, I can't think of a time you'd ever want them over any other option. They're just super mega cheap.
I wouldn't even suggest the "tsb" leaf springs over airbags. They put those leafs on there to make for an awesome ride with almost no wheel hop/washboard wobble. Air bag it and keep everything you have and add springs that will support more than the bed ever will.

You might not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get.

 

probably about 1/2

 

Ya think? I HIGHLY doubt that. Lets make him promise to come back and tell.

Of course, you don't take campers on your daily commute to compare to do you?

Its a rolling load. If we're taking wags, I'd say.. 17%

 

Thanks for the feedback. I did mean a truck camper, and I am planning on getting a V6. According to the web, payload goes up to 1300 lbs. I drive cross country at least once a year. One question is which coast to buy it on...

I have heard people swear by leafs and airbags. I'll need to research that some more. A leaf seems like the simpler solution.

 

It depends on what you want to do with your truck. Aig bags aren't the best for off-roading but are great for hauling/towing. AAL's are cheap but they do work. If you're loaded all the time, the cargo weight will smooth out the ride. If you're talking about a V6 with 1,200 lbs in the back, I'd guess you'll be at 14 - 15 mpg tops depending on the driving conditions. I barely get 17 with just a mid rise ARE shell on a V6 double cab.