Slide-in camper max weight?

I am sure this has been answered every way it can, but i can't find it! I am feeling my age crawling in and out of my camper deck in the middle of the night to - well you know.

I need to know what my 2013 Access Cab can carry slide-in camper wise, and what mods i might make to increase the capacity. Thanks for any help!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2013-taco-shell-sleeping-deck-with-solar.464624/

 

The safest answer is, “What ever the payload capacity is”

That said, A leaf pack or add-a-leaf would help.
Along with a proper brake adjustment and good brakes.

 

Great build you have at your link, for what you show, a add-a-leaf will help for empty weight but may be inadequate if you carry a lot of gear when you go camping. For that you may want to get air bags to adjust for times you have heavier loads. Guessing you’re close to 300 lbs of camper shell and plywood extra weight when empty which about the best you can hope from a good, 3 leaf add-a-leaf

If you want to replace what you got with a slide in camper check out the FWC page, suggestions for how to carry 1100 - 1300 lbs in the bed. Not recommending you carry that much weight but people are doing it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-fwc-thread.520138/

 

I know I am in the minority but I personally don't take payload numbers too seriously especially if you are "within reason" and make appropriate supporting modifications. With our trucks we don't have many "good" options. You go utilitarian and get a Go fast camper that weights less than like 600 lbs. Or get a cream of the crop Four Wheel Camper which can weigh anywhere from 900 to 1300 realistically. Without getting into the weeds too much, I've been running a loaded Four wheel camper (has a cassette toilet) for a couple years now. Definitely not one of the affordable options, its expensive for the square footage! But that isn't why I have one. Its small and overlandy, and i love it. I did a HD leaf pack from Dobinsons to support the weight. Tried bags first but wanted to know i'd be alright if i popped a bag, so i did the whole leaf pack too. Many Tacoma/FWC people run just bags and get by just fine. Yes I could have bought a half ton and thrown the camper in without worry, but most of my half ton friends STILL had to do bags, hauling the same camper. So they're hardly better off than me. They just have more power to get around but the 4.0 does a decent job. I am at 4640 empty and 6220 loaded up with 35 gallons water, cooler, gear.

 

Woh, this thing is awesome. Got pics of the inside? How much did it run you?

 

Like I said not cheap, 26k slightly used and that was before Covid destroyed the market and prices went up. They're hard to find used and buying new is a long wait. Its a commitment but I was convinced I had to at least try one so I went for it. These are the pics I have at the moment, my new phone with the fisheye would do a better job capturing the tiny space haha.

 

GFC is less than 300 lbs, SP is like ~350. Wedge campers are in their own league compared to slide-in's when it comes to allowing the user to operate with the limited GVWR of mid-sized trucks. Half ton trucks as well, since most people configure their half-tons with crew cab short boxes and not single cabs nowadays.

that 700-800 lb weight difference is massive. But you have to make sure to manage the weight on other mods, particularly armor by making an honest assessment of what you'll be doing with the truck. Eventually building out a rock crawler isnt compatible with building out a camper. Same dilemma as building out a track car that you drive on the street.

 

Are those peanut butter pretzels?

 

ohh yessss

 

Good. Good

 

That's the way to go, never leave home without them.

 

Gotcha. Looks awesome, but maybe not for me. I think I'd either do a GFC or full trailer if I had money to burn. At least with the GFC you can still somewhat use the bed.

 

Good info - thanks all!

 

You might want to look at the FWC Project M, it’s the top half of what @Weissenheimer has without the bottom half so it attaches to bed like a normal camper shell so similar to a GFC but more room inside. Unfortunately you don’t get the stove, water heater or furnace because they normally mount in the bottom half - but that may be a plus for a do-it-yourself type person who wants to build what they want. Weights less and cost less than a full FWC and keeps your tailgate so you can still use your truck to haul what you could with a regular camper shell.

 

Much appreciated. Sounds like i should sell my entire rig and look to a larger truck...

 

Thanks all for the feedback - much to think about, but it appears i will be selling this rig and going for a Tundra based slide in or pull behind capable of offroad-ish stuff.