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Truck camper for '12 Tacoma ???

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by lotsip, Jan 6, 2013.

  1. Jan 6, 2013 at 6:16 PM
    #1
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    '12 Tacoma Access cab, 4x4, off road, v6
    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
    Looking for a truck camper for my '12 Taco, access cab, 4x4, off road, v6, tow package. The problem I am having is weight. My toyota salesman told me my payload max was 1305, however, the sticker on my door says 1150.....what to believe ? DOes payload include my weight ? I am so confused.

    Even those pop-up campers from outfitter manufacturing and fourwheelcampers seem too heavy with anything inside them , especially if I have to keep my payload under 1150, ughhh..

    I want to truck camp in florida this winter, and in the maine mountains in the warmer weather.

    anyone else with a camper on their taco who can help? thanks.
     
  2. Jan 7, 2013 at 8:18 AM
    #2
    BVCOTaco

    BVCOTaco Well-Known Member

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    Your payload does include everything you put in the truck, including you! I would recommend some sort of suspension upgrade to handle the load of a camper. Even a small slide in pop up camper is going to weigh at least 1000#. Then once in load all your gear, food, water, etc, you will easily add a few hundred more pounds. There are different suspension upgrades that you could do like airbags to help with the load. Just remeber that the additional weight and change in center of gravity will greatly effect the handling of a Tacoma!
     
  3. Jan 7, 2013 at 8:28 AM
    #3
    stevigee

    stevigee It's a MOD, MOD World

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    2010 TRAIL TEAMS FJ CRUISER
    TRADED FOR 2010 FJ CRUISER TRAIL TEAM Kenwood KDC x792 deck and SW1 pwr sub,cruise,intermittent wipers,hidden hitch, tint, debadge,Nitto Grapplers 265/75-16,Black Powder Coated Toyota Steelies, black steel Toyota wheel center caps, Vent Visors, front guard, leather seat covers, black front badge, shortie antenna, tow hook, seat maglite mod, shock & leaf spring TSB, Extang Trifecta tonneau cover, custom black Fabwright rock sliders 1 3/4" DOM tubing w/ kickout, skid plate, Pop-A-Lock, Bilsten 5100 shocks, BLHM, Azela black tail lights, LEER topper w/rack, tent
    Check over at Expedition Portal. Im sure them guys can help you out with specs and such.
     
  4. Jan 8, 2013 at 10:27 AM
    #4
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
  5. Jan 8, 2013 at 10:37 AM
    #5
    2013NauticalTaco

    2013NauticalTaco Active Member

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    Katskin heated leather seats duo-tone black/blue, flowmaster dual side exit exhaust,Leer full window length camper, dick cepek dc2 wheels,Bridgestone AT 30" tires,2.5" readylift leveling kit
    You should get a truck bed tent and all necessary accessories and you'd be well under 3 K .... 14 thousand is way too much for that or buy a used tow behind for alot less . or just buy a camper shell and sleep inside that... alot cheaper than that ugly thing but to each his own
     
  6. Jan 8, 2013 at 10:39 AM
    #6
    wyotaco06

    wyotaco06 Well-Known Member

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    A fourwheelcamper Eagle has been on my want list for a bit of time now. But I feel that it is still just to heavy for a Tacoma. I want my pickup to last a long time, and I feel that it would put too much stress on the drivetrain over time. I have spoken with two owners of the Eagle, and both claimed that they loved the campers. But I also felt that they were not interested in the longevity of their Tacoma's, and would trade them in after 100K.... I would hate to buy a used Tacoma that was hauling one around unknowingly.

    I feel it is much better to just buy a full size truck and get a full size camper. After touring the inside of an Eagle, while nice, I would feel very crammed in there for extended periods of time. Also, there is not much price difference in a nice full size pop up over a tiny version.
     
  7. Jan 10, 2013 at 8:43 AM
    #7
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
    So undecided.......Camplite 5.7, hard side, about 1000 DW, i can get one for 11.4K in NH, in stock.......or FWC, great product, a tad lighter, way more expensive, like 20k, like 1200 mile drive to Wisconsin to get it, or Outfitters Caribou light 6.5, 775 DW, 15K including air bags.....big problem is 4K to ship here, or drive to CO to get it.............OR just get a popup and tow it and get all the features i want, no weight worries , ever.........the Tacoma can tow 6500 lbs with my tow package. A local RV place has used 2010 rockwood freedom ltd's (they were rentals for 3 seasons) for 5200 bucks, with 30 day warrantee.
     
  8. Jan 10, 2013 at 11:22 AM
    #8
    2013NauticalTaco

    2013NauticalTaco Active Member

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    Katskin heated leather seats duo-tone black/blue, flowmaster dual side exit exhaust,Leer full window length camper, dick cepek dc2 wheels,Bridgestone AT 30" tires,2.5" readylift leveling kit
    I would op for the Tow Behind and b done with it .. More room less worries and easier to sell when you want to offload or upgrade. Just my.02
     
  9. Jan 11, 2013 at 7:44 AM
    #9
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
    good point, i can always sell buy a truck camper in the future if i decide i want one.
     
  10. Jan 13, 2013 at 8:46 AM
    #10
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
    Finally decided a tag along trailer would be my best possible solution.
    Bought a Forest River a122, hard side pop up. http://www.chesacorv.com/web/vehicle_photos/3053032/

    10K, out the door, from local rv place in mass., weighs only 2000 lbs, packed with everything i need....and then some !

    Just felt my Tacoma was not build for a truck camper, because of the weight........looked into all the lightweight soft sided slide ins...still heavy when u get a few options and load it with water and supplies, etc.
     
  11. Jan 14, 2013 at 4:12 PM
    #11
    2013NauticalTaco

    2013NauticalTaco Active Member

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    Katskin heated leather seats duo-tone black/blue, flowmaster dual side exit exhaust,Leer full window length camper, dick cepek dc2 wheels,Bridgestone AT 30" tires,2.5" readylift leveling kit
    Good choice im confident you wont regret it. As human beings its in our nature to want bigger/better/newer things as we go throughout life . So when you decide to upgrade that bad boy and maybe your truck someday to a tundra youll get the best bang for your buck verses an in-bed camper . Not to mention you wont put the everyday strain on your ride
     
  12. Jan 14, 2013 at 4:58 PM
    #12
    skidooman

    skidooman I'm your huckleberry

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  13. Jan 15, 2013 at 7:49 AM
    #13
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags
    Yup, agreed, and thanks.....oddly enough, i traded in my '06 Tundra (best vehicle I have ever owned) last april for the '12 Tacoma, haha........I had a smaller boat, wasn't planning on getting back into RVing........but, its all good.
     
  14. Jan 15, 2013 at 7:51 AM
    #14
    lotsip

    lotsip [OP] Well-Known Member

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    '12 Tacoma Access cab, 4x4, off road, v6
    wdh, sway bar, firestone air bags

    I did look at the flippacs, but, for my purposes, i wanted more creature comforts, less canvas, than those offerred............the flippacs woulda been perfect if i was gonna be doing mostly off road rving, however, neat concept!
     
  15. Feb 3, 2013 at 4:26 PM
    #15
    ETAV8R

    ETAV8R Out DERP'n

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    I have a flippac and will hopefully one day have a FWC Eagle. I know people who have taken them to some great places. The Kodachrome project used a FWC over a year of travel. For the places I go I would not want a trailer. Different goals and uses.
     
  16. Feb 5, 2013 at 5:09 PM
    #16
    kprpap

    kprpap New Member

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    Hi, the door sticker is what the law will look at. It is the total weight of what you are hauling, like a camper with water , propane , food . It does not matter if you put on extra springs or air bags to increase the load capability of the truck . The rest of the truck is not made for this , like brakes , frame and rear ends.
     

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