Slide in Camper ?

I currently have a 2014 Toyota Tacoma double cab short bed sport 4x4 - towing package- auto trans

Tacoma is equipped with toytec 3in lift - bilsteins shocks/ springs- Rear add a leaf - Firestone air bag with Daystar cradle

I am about to purchase (great price I could not pass on!) a older FWC as a project and would like to hear what everyone thinks about it. I do have some concerns due to the fact that I have a short bed. I bought this camper for weekend camping, road trips, fishing trips, and light off roading and camping nothing too extreme.I do plan on gutting the camper down to the frame and perform a complete rebuild eventually.

The FWC is a 1984 Fleet model in fair/good condition from what I see and was told. The previous owner had on is 1997 tacoma long bed. Estimate weight slightly under 800lb dry. FYI the Fleet FWC "four wheel campers" are design to be used on the long bed 6 ft tacoma...

Main concern is the camper almost 7.5ft long and that my short bed is about 6.5ft long with the tail gate down, having close to a foot of the camper hanging over the tail gate. I have plans of welding up a T bar brace set up that goes into the trucks hitch that extend out supporting the hanging rear end of the camper also acting as rear attachment tie down point. Do you think something like this is suitable for my situation? I may even go as far as removing my rear bumper and welding the T bar support and bolting that to the trucks frame at the rear bumpers mounting points. What are some concerns of having the camper extend that far from the bed? Maybe pop some wheelies..? Edit* Due to the fact that tacoma tail gates are weak I would have the hitch T support about sit about 1.5 - 2 in(compensate flexing of T support arm) higher than the tail gate to hold more of the weight then the tail gate. Also have a piece of 3/4 in ply wood running the full length of the truck bed to the welded T hitch support. I would concluding doing the following would help support the camper and release stress on the tail gate.I may also add trailer light on the rear for safety. I would like to hear any opinions that you have.

Thanks in advance, hope to hear and learn from all of you.

 

I would weld a T support of this kind to help support the extended rear end of camper and use as a tie down point.

 

Our tailgates are weak as hell.

 

Yes, I agree that our tail gates are weak. I would have the hitch T support about 1.5 - 2 (compensate for flexing of T support arm) in higher than the tail gate to hold more of the weight than the tail gate. Also have a piece of 3/4 in ply wood running the full length of the truck bed to the welded T hitch support. I would concluding doing the following would help support the camper and release stress on the tail gate.

 

@John taco curious on your progress/solution and if you moved forward with the idea of using this camper?

 

I would just take the tailgate off and slide the camper in the bed, strap her down in 4 places, and rock on. You will have plenty of the camper in the bed itself. Its not going anywhere. It will look funky as hell though.

EDIT: Also make sure the camper doesnt rest on the bedrails themselves. Thats an easy way to crush/dent them under the weight of the camper.

 

Sorry for the late reply but below is my camper build page.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-rebuild.564702/

I was worried but with the Firestone Air Bags the truck had no problem at all. I was probably just around the load capacity. The main concern I had was the extra length of the camper behind the rear wheel not so much the length of the camper sticking out on the tailgate and off the bed. The understanding of physics and weight distribution.

Overall I drove 5,000 miles across country, through and around mountains, up and down with No issues at all.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-rebuild.564702/:burnrubber:
Sorry for the late reply Had to get it home some how right

 

Lots of nice work you did to the camper. Nice job.

 

Thanks Shado, I appreciate it

 

Just read your build, outstanding job. I like your attention to detail.