Camper setup question...

Hey Everybody!
I'm new to the forum and to modifying my Tacoma so I have a pretty basic question for you all. I have a 2003 Xtra Cab TRD with the 3.4L V6. Everything is stock on it and I use it for my everyday driver and for hauling occasional loads (firewood, soil, gravel, lumber, etc). I just purchased a small slide-in camper for it though and need to figure out what to do to make it road worthy. The camper is just over 1,000 pounds and I'm not doing any real four-wheeling with it, just highways and Forest Service roads. From what I've read here it looks like all I really need is to install air bags in the rear. I'm looking at the Ride Rites and they look fairly simple to install. am I missing anything else though? I have the tie-downs figured out but I can't find that I need to do anything else.

Any suggestions?

 

How do the stock leaf springs look? These Toyota's were prone to sagging rear ends with the stock leafs becoming weak. Maybe some ome dakars or something along those lines with a little lift arched into them and higher spring rate for that 1000lbs would be helpful along with air bags. Don't want to have to air up the bags so it rides like a dump truck to compensate for weak stock leafs.

 

look up "Leaf spring helpers" They sell them at auto zone or any auto parts store. Its an inexpensive option that will make your leaf springs stronger and help your truck carry more weight. They can also be used for axle wrap which is caused by weak leaf springs. Thats what i used them for. Worked like a charm. There is a post somewhere on here about it. I Bought mine for under $20

 

You are running LT tires, right? Honestly, I'd look at new leaf packs...at least. Then decide if you need "helpers" or bags. Just my opinion and I could be incorrect. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think the leaf springs are fine. The truck doesn't have any sag when unloaded and can handle hauling materials in the bed without maxing out the suspension. Is there any specific way to determine if they are ok?
I like the idea of the Dakars since I've also been wanting to lift it some as well! I think in the mean time I'll go with the air bags and helper springs. And yes, I am running LT tires.

 

You would be surprised just how fast the weight of camping gear adds up.

Along with the rising of the center of gravity

Just you or more people ??

I like my Heavy Duty leaf springs from General Spring along with my Super Springs for any added weight I put on my Truck

 

Welcome to TW. You might want to add a Rear Sway bar when hauling the camper -the higher center of gravity plus the added weight can cause swaying with strong side winds.

 

Check out the wanderthewest forum. Lots of info on what folks have done for slide in campers. I have a popup on my 2004 tacoma. Loaded it weighs about 1,000lbs. Got by so far with Wheeler's progressive 3 leaf add-a-leafs. But wheelers have old man emus springs with the additional leaf that should work for more weight. Is the 1,000 lbs wet or dry weight. Doesn't take long to add an additonal 300 or 400lbs with gear and water etc.

 

Thanks! This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. It's looking like upgraded leaf springs are in my near future...
It's just me and my wife and our mountain bikes but I can definitely see how all the gear adds up to a lot more weight.
We originally wanted a pop up camper but they have been very difficult to find in a size that fits the truck and that is in our price range. We recently found a 1975 Perris Valley hard-side camper that was dirt cheap and recently gutted and in the process of a remodel. We're finishing the remodel and trying to lighten it up as much as possible. The info plate on the back of the camper says it weighs 1,100 lbs wet (10 gal water, 5 gal propane and deep cycle battery) so I'm guessing we can get it down to 1,000 pounds when we're all done.

 

Check out Timbren SES. Function similar to airbags, but a (maintenance free) rubber bumper instead of... air.

 

I would second the Timbrens. Easy to install, much cheaper than most airbags, and they work very well. Check out the pic below (my camper is about 1000lbs or so).

 

Any other mods besides the Timbrens on your setup?

 

That looks pretty good, how does it like hauling it? I've toyed with the idea of doing this, although I don't think they make a camper that'll fit in a short bed unfortunately. If that's the case, it's just another excuse to buy me another Taco just for camping purposes!

 

Timbrens - that's it. However, the owner before me had redone the leaf springs and rear shocks. That would certainly add to the 'lack' of sag as well.

It drives very well for the weight - I just take it easy and things are fairly predictable. When I looked at the Timbrens (with camper on) they were just resting on the axle/leaf spring (so about 1-2" sag). Haven't had the Taco/camper off of asphalt yet. I have the 6'2'' (74") bed, so there's a small bit of overhang onto the tail gate. I think there are some campers out there that would fit a short bed, that would also be light enough for a Taco.

Like this one:

http://www.fourwh.com/product/finch-popup-truck-camper-mid-mini-tacoma-crewcab/ - this is a very nice pop-up.

 

Make sure you have an external transmission cooler if yours is an auto.

 

I’m surprised you say your truck doesn't have any sag when unloaded. My 12 year old OEM leaf springs are sure sagging.

I have an ARE cap, Thule basket, and kayak racks on the truck and the back end lost its rake long ago. About 2 years ago, I started to tow an enclosed motorcycle trailer, so I added firestone ride rites.

They were a relatively easy install and do a good job of raising the back of the truck to basically any height I want (within reason). I keep about 6 psi in in each bag full time and add about 7 more PSI when I hook up the trailer.

Word of caution…if you change out the OEM leaf springs in the future…you may have issues with the bags. Right now, I have mine bolted top and bottom and the OEM springs don’t flex enough to cause them problems. Allegedly, a more flexible leaf spring may damage the bag due to greater articulation. And firestone doesn’t want folks to use day star cradles with their bags…

 

Ditto to what Voyager said. The first mod. I made to my 2001 DC was the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags and the second was Bilsteins 5100s, both front and rear (Yes 5100 on the rear, 1" over). My stock springs were starting to sag a bit. When you are not under a load, Firestone recommends your psi in the airbags should be around 5 lbs. With these two mods, my truck rode and drove so much better.

I eventually replaced the rear OEM Springs with Deaver's 9 pack springs giving me 3" of lift (which matched the front by then), but kept the airbags and they still work great. No, I do not go "Rock Climbing", so greater articulation was not as important, but I do a fair amount of towing and exploring off-road. The Firestone Ride-Rite let's me control just the right amount of lift and suspension support that I need, when I need it, carrying heavy or light. Highly recommended.

 

Interesting... You kept the bags bolted top and bottom, yet they don't overextend and rip when the leaf springs go to full droop (like raising the truck up on a car lift or diagonally crossing a ditch)?

 

Yes, Bags are bolted Top and Bottom, and have so far been able to withstand a "Full Droop". Bags were installed sometime in 2010 on the original Springs. These Bags are the 5000lb full Ride-Rite system and not the lighter duty Bags.

It is interesting that you asked this question, which is a good one. I work for Old Dominion Truck Leasing, which we lease Tractors and Straight Trucks. Our "Springs" Vendor installed the new springs for me on my Truck, mind you, he has over 40 Years of experience with nothing but Truck Springs, and he thought the same question you did Voyager, that the Air Bags would rip or have a blow out. I told him let's try it and see, since they were already installed. He installed them back in the same manner they were in the original setup. That was over two years ago and they are still working well on my new setup. Of course with the new Springs, I don't have to use the Bags as much under load anymore.

Follow-up. I installed the Firestone Model 2304, the "Air Helper Springs" are rated to a Maximum PSI of 100lbs. That's a lot of pressure on these "Double Convoluted" Bags and they must be incredibly thick and strong to withstand that (I could not find a Spec on the Thickness), so they must be stronger than we think. Note, mine do not have the built-in Stoppers, but now they are selling the Bags with them.

 

I just added the same model

$425 Firestone 2304 Ride-Rite Rear Air Spring Kit

Firestone 2304's and they specifically say to bolt top and bottom. So far they've been great and really helped the truck hold the camper weight.