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As a long-time fan and two-time owner of FWC campers, I think their standard turnbuckle securing system is the worst feature of the company. They use hardware-store turnbuckles that were never meant for the kind of stresses to which the camper can be subjected. I replaced ours with forged steel...

Thanks to all of you! The Expo did absolutely outgrow us. We never intended to be professional event managers; we're writers and conservation workers first. We'll be able to go back to that full-time now, while staying involved with the Expo to teach and hang out with all the friends we've made...

Keep in mind something important: There's a huge amount of marketing that goes into the load rating. If you buy a truck with, say, a 2,000-pound load capacity, and put a 1,500-pound camper on it, it will not drive and handle correctly. The camper will still compress the springs, affecting the...

As the owner of a 2012 Tacoma, a 1973 Land Cruiser FJ40, and a 1993 Land Cruiser Troopy, I say buy the Ford. All my Toyotas (many besides these) have been superbly reliable, but I think the F150 is a superior design to the Tundra, starting with the Ford's fully boxed chassis compared with the...

If your camper is really only off-center by an inch I strongly doubt that is the cause of your uneven tire wear. Few trucks are balanced side to side from the factory, and even filling the fuel tank will throw that off anyway. Much more likely it is an alignment or shock issue.

We have a Fleet with the shower. When the weather is nice we shower outside with a pop-up enclosure; however when it's cold and/or blustery we love the indoor option.

That is a brilliant design and execution.

Wow, that would be me, although I don't recall you being ugly! Technique aside, that book is about as outdated as can be these days. I believe I discussed something called "film."

Frstnflt, You actually answered your own question. As you surmised, installing higher numerical diff gears would give you some extra pull in first gear with your manual transmission. Beyond that, all it's going to mean practically is that in each gear the engine will be turning slightly...

We get 17 if we're driving conservatively, 15 if not. Stock height suspension, manual transmission. A lot of things you might not anticipate contribute to fuel economy. A winch bumper with a bull bar is a huge drag, for example.

We currently run LT 235/85 x 16 BFG All-Terrains on: a 1973 FJ40, a 2012 Tacoma w/FWC, a 1986 Land Rover 110, and a 1993 Land Cruiser Troop Carrier. I guess you could say we're fans of that tire.

When I switched from 255/85 x 16 BFG Mud-Terrains to 235/85 x 16s on my FJ 40 I gained almost exactly one mile per gallon, which when you're going from 15 to 16 is respectable. However, part of that was the switch from MTs to ATs. Nevertheless, going to a smaller and lighter tire has numerous...

I don't think any repair will do much but gain you some time before it happens again. The sheet metal of the bed is clearly not up to the task of supporting the stress from the camper. The backing plate is nearly pointless as it does not appear to bear on the bed steel except over a few square...

As already noted, use care with a receiver-mounted winch to keep the pull straight. Also, the wiring from a front battery to a rear-mounted winch needs to be massive to carry adequate amperage. Two-gauge won't do it.

You're not removing stress. You are simply moving it as your first sentence says. I'm not sure why there is an argument regarding my basic premise, which is unassailable. Yes, the Tacoma diff is strong enough to handle reasonably larger tires and lower gearing. But it will be compromised, and...

Hodakaguy, let's start from the beginning, okay? By installing larger tires—even though 33s are far from crazy—you are putting extra stress on the driveline and many other components. Those tires are heavier and their rotational inertia is higher than the stock tires. Braking distances will be...

Fellow Viking, It's not the quality of the winch that is in question, just one's ability to safely use it, which should include the ability to access the spool and the line on it. You can use the hidden winch as long as you're careful to properly re-spool the line in even, tight layers as soon...

Please say no to hidden winches! I know the concept is attractive, but it is critical for safe winch operation that you have easy visual and tactile access to the drum, to ensure the line is spooling properly and to be able to correct issues if necessary. With that said, it sounds as though...

The reality is, every step down in gearing you take, especially if you are compensating for larger, heavier tires, does matter. Sure, people get away with unwise combinations all the time, and 4.88s with reasonably sized tires is not as radical a setup as I've seen. But you are putting...

One downside is a weaker differential. To increase the numerical ratio (i.e. lower the gearing) the pinion gear must be made smaller in diameter. The current Tacoma rear diff is quite strong, but a smaller pinion gear is weaker than a larger one; simple physics. Larger tires put more stress on...

Regarding Timbrens once more: Watch the video here and you'll see clearly that they only engage once the vehicle is loaded and the suspension has already sagged. They might keep the rear suspension from actually bottoming out under a load, but they do nothing to maintain a proper and safe ride...

Cabinfever, Timbrens definitely do not perform the same function as air bags. Timbrens only engage after the suspension has sagged, whereas air bags keep the suspension at the correct height to begin with, and can be adjusted to compensate for varying loads—most notably when you install or...

I would strongly recommend staying with an E-rated BFG or similar tire. A 10-ply carcass is simply overkill. I also recommend staying away from Timbrens, which are overload devices that only engage once your suspension has sagged. You need a proper rear suspension that maintains a level ride...

Very cool!

Ken, There are two ways to go, depending on whether or not you plan to remove the camper between trips. If you do, then stock rear springs and air bags are really the only way to go to preserve a safe and comfortable ride with or without the camper on. Upgraded and preferably adjustable shocks...