Payload Help

Hello out there, I am possibly purchasing a 2013 Tacoma 4x4 6cylinder TRD off road with 6ft bed. The payload is 1150 lbs. I am trying to understand how people put small campers like a "Four Wheel" or "All Terrain" light weight camper which they say are for the smaller trucks but these campers are around 950 lbs and that does not leave much else to add to the truck before one is over on the payload. Can anyone out there help me understand if I am making a mistake by purchasing this Tacoma and maybe I should look at a higher payload truck? It is frustrating because I see Tacoma's with these campers all the time. I read that putting better springs or shocks does not help with the payload but only the ride. Help Please...Thanks!

 

The majority of those with a bed camper like that are exceeding their truck's payload.

GVRW (gross vehicle weigh rating) is the maximum weight a vehicle is certified for. It's calculation includes suspension, axle strength, brakes, power, and political/regulatory concerns. You can't legally change the vehicle's GVRW.
Payload is the GVRW - vehicle weight.

For the Tacoma, the first place you'll see performance loss is suspension. Folks fix that by upgrading springs and shocks. The truck handles much better, but legal payload and GVRW don't change. If you push the weight further you'll start to see issues with power and braking.

So, you can do it, many people do do it, but you'll see a performance loss. If you're only running the camper occasionally you'll probably be fine with airbags. If you're going to have it mounted full time, you might want to look at a higher payload truck.

 

Some Tacoma's have higher payload. GVWR stays the same, but the heavier the truck the lower the payload. You can find Tacoma's with payload in the 1300-1500 lb range.

 

Thanks Marshall! Do you know which Tacoma's have the higher payload? I wonder if there is a site on line that gives this info.? Thanks for your help

 

Most of the owners manuals have it.
Here is the 2013

 

You're going to just have to look at the sticker on the drivers door frame because every truck that rolls off the assembly line is different. I don't know if they actually weigh the trucks, or already know what each option weighs. But if you take the trucks GVWR and subtract the curb weight that is payload. Trucks loaded up with options weigh more. 4X4 adds about 200 lbs to curb weight, and reduces payload by about 200 lbs. But a lot of little things add up too.

You can look at the owners manual, or even Toyota's website but those will only show the MAX possible payload. Looking at current 2021 trucks a base model Access Cab 4X2 with 4 cyl engine has 1685 lbs payload. That is more than my F150. Go to Toyota's website, select different versions and then click on specs. Then click on weights/capacities When you scroll down payload will be listed among other specs. The numbers may be slightly different on older models, but should be close.

https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/features/mpg/7162/7544/7582

 

I conversed with the owner of one of the larger adventure camper manufacturers. Here’s his reply to that exact question:


“Tacoma owners represent about 20% of our camper sales.

½ ton large trucks represent about 60% of our sales

To accommodate the camper weight we recommend air bags

and “E” rated tires. We have about 20,000 campers on the road

and performing well with this scenario.”


I have a 2014 standard cab, 4x4, 4 cylinder standard transmission with E range tires and airbags. My camper is 1000lbs, I have no problems.

Hope this helps!

 

Wow! So far you all have been so helpful! Thank you so much!

 

2015 Double cab short bed with a 1000Lb camper here, upgraded my rear springs and have had 0 issues aside from stiffness without the camper(which doesn't bother me).

Yes technically you're over the GVWR, but at least in my state, you pay the road taxes on the camper so you've squared up with the state that way. In what world is an officer going to send you to the weigh station in a Tacoma - I've NEVER heard of anyone non-commercial getting sent to a weigh station with a regular camper in the first place.

People talk about insurance too - insurance doesn't care unless the added weight is the DIRECT cause of an accident - think if you tried to tow 10k with the Tacoma and your brakes fail/axle breaks/hitch rips off, causing a serious accident. That clearly falls under negligent driving conditions and vehicle loading. Your car insurance or camper insurance would still cover you because that's their job, however, they'd probably drop you as a customer afterwards. I have close family in the insurance claims world that I've talked with about the subject - not just speaking on assumptions. However, feel free to call the main phone number of your insurance carrier and speak with them anonymously about how much they care about payloads(And let us know your findings).

1500 - 1800Lbs isn't going to cause issues like that - ergo you're fine there. Any added weight including only what the truck is rated for is going to cause additional wear, that's how physics works. By hauling anything you're accepting the fact that there may be additional wear and tear over normal. Personally, that's worth the convenience of being able to drive anyplace, and camp without much or any setup at the cost of having to replace bearings maybe more frequently.