Camper shopping

Sweet setup!

 

Mine is a 17ft casita. Tacoma handles it very well, and gets about 15 mpg while towing. They are more narrow than most and not near as tall, dry weight is about 1500lbs. I’ve heard camper shells can help with towing since the air goes over the cab and then the camper, but I don’t have one and can’t prove that.

 

Nice!

 

I’m looking for a newer rpod 171 built with Azdel. Narrow and lighter so it’s easier to tow. 2 criteria are it’s gotta have a can for my prostate fuelled nightly pisses and I want to be able to pull over and get into it.

 

1. Monitoring ATF temps if you are driving an auto. Overdrive gears will generate A LOT of heat in the torque converter when the converter is unlocked (S5 and S6) and you are trying to maintain speed. Get used to S3 and S4 if you are driving an auto and get a Scangauge.2 or 3 (or something simliar) that plugs into your Taco's OBDII port so you can see in real time how changing driving / towing conditions impact transmission temps. TF1 is returning from the cooler (its coldest), TF2 is leaving the converter (its hottest).
2. Don't be afraid to rev your Taco into the 4 and 5 k range. These 3.5L V6s were built to rev and peak HP comes at 5200.
3. Weigh your taco before getting the trailer and accessories then re-weigh it with a dry trailer, then a wet trailer, then dry and loaded, then wet and loaded so you have data and understand exactly what different load outs do to your overall weight. The towing section of my build thread linked in my signature walks you through how to weigh your rig if you have never done that sort of thing. You need to be able to have data driven discussions and the only way to do that is if you have the numbers.

 

You'll probably be OK pulling the trailer, but Tacoma's Achilles heel is lack of payload. You will have to be careful that you don't overload the trucks suspension. A 3700 lb dry weight trailer will be 4500-5000 lbs once it is loaded. Figure 13% of that as tongue weight. So you're looking at 585 to 650 lbs on your hitch.

You don't tell us much about your truck, but a Double Cab 4X4 will have around 1000-1200 lbs payload. If you have a 4X2 and/or Access cab you will have a little more payload. There is a sticker on the driver's door jamb that states something along the lines of "the weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed XXXX lbs". That is YOUR trucks payload. Each truck is different depending on how they are equipped.

MY truck has 1200 lbs payload. If I were pulling a 4500-5000 lb trailer I'd have 550 to 615 lbs of usable payload in my truck. My wife and I are 360 combined. That only leaves 190 to 255 lbs for other gear in the truck before overloading the suspension.

I could certainly make that work, but it is cutting things close. Many guys new to towing only look at the tow ratings which is about 6500 lbs for a Tacoma. But in the real world payload is almost always the real limiting factor. Just be aware of that and pack carefully. If you need to carry 4 adults in the truck and/or carry lots of other gear in the bed then you need a bigger truck.

 

Grand Design 17 MKE about 5,100 or so loaded. Have not actually weighed it. Two MTB bikes in back (carbon fiber and less than 30 lbs each) SUP is 30 lbs and kayak is about 30 lbs. Misc gear is another 50 or so. Dual axle tows really nice and stable.

Tekonsha P3 brake controller, larger aftermarket transmission cooler, Roadmaster Active Suspension in the back, and Equalizer E2 weight distribution hitch. OBD fusion to monitor temps.

MPG is about 9-10. On flat trips it can get to 11. Stay in S mode. and as prior post, its ok to let the engine rev to 5k. It's a V6 not a V12 20 liter diesel! LOL.

PM me if you have more questions.

 

Downsized from an F250 diesel and 5th wheel to Tacoma OR and have been looking for something light and small to use as a “bug out box” for camping and escaping hurricanes. Wife demands shower and toilet which REALLY limits the options. Decided on this Xplorer 135x. Azdel, full bathroom, 35 gal fresh water, AC, solar, full size fridge, and lighter than you expect. Dry hitch weight 160lbs. Very pleased so far and fits the bill for the two of us and a yellow lab.

 

I really like your RV. I'm downsizing from a 32' Class C. This would be perfect for us just to get away for a few weeks in the summer. At this point in my life smaller and lighter would be better. Good luck with it. I'll be looking for one now.

 

Add a full propane tank, fresh water tank, equipment, food, beer, etc. Also consider what you'll be hauling in your Tacoma. I HAD a Jayco 154BH showing 2,700lbs dry weight. My 06 Tacoma V6 with the 5spd tranny thanked me the day I sold the TT, after 3 trips I figured I was killing my Tacoma. Bought a small class C-RV

 

I had a 2021 Jayco 154BH Baja Edition (solar panels, 2 propane tanks, larger fresh water reservoir-Canadian Specs.) I really like the fit and finish of the Jayco and their warranty was excellent. I managed somehow to bend the axle (Must have been a really big rabbit!) and Jayco replaced the entire axle assembly. If my 06 Tacoma did a better job handling the weight (2,600lbs. dry weight) I'd probably still have it...sold after 3 trips.

 

Is the photo at Valley Forge by chance?

 

at 3700 dry id guess its about 5500 loaded. i towed a 5500 pound loaded camper with a tacoma. it will tow it,. be high in the rpm's most of the time and take quite a while to get up to speed. just wasn't fun experience. never felt unsafe but man it beat ya up towing distances. in my opinion that weight trailer is better suited for full size trucks. i know when i went to a full size gmc to tow that same trailer i was much more fresh when i got yo my destination. much more enjoyable with the full size truck.

oh and watch that tacomas payload. can exceed it very quickly between you, the stuff you bring and the trailer tongue weight.

 

No. The old Fairfield Hills Hospital

 

wonder what the inside is like

 

So what is the best size camper? I thought around 3500 dry was good?

 

Specs are here: https://goriversiderv.com/xplorer-135x/ and found a YouTube walk through here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVD-tkNaZc

 

I have seen rpods, what are they made of? wood?

 

I'd recommend considering going lighter. Take a look at the Riverside Video From Tallwalker or go to the Jayco company site and look at the 154BH (2,600lbs. dry weight).
I really liked the interior layout of the 154BH. Twin bed, 2 bunks which could be used as storage above. Bathroom was very easy to navigate in and out
of the shower/tub. There is a solar panel option which worked great with double batteries. I think mine had 2 propane tanks? Units built in Idaho are "Canadian Specs" which means the
bottom of the TT is insulated. Jayco customer service is excellent and will answer any and all questions. I wish I could have kept mine but my 06 Tacoma with the 5spd. tranny just could not hack it without beating it up.