Best truck/engine for a FWC-Eagle model

[cabinfever]

I'm new to this forum and would love some advice on picking out a truck for a used Eagle camper that I am about to inherit from my parents. Score! Problem is, we don't have a truck. We are on a somewhat limited budget so we can't afford the new 4-door long-bed Tacoma that we really want. I have driven lots of Rangers in my past and love them, and in fact my Dad used to haul around the Eagle on a '96 4.0L V6 Ranger. Looking around the used truck market I am seeing a lot of used trucks with varying engine sizes. I'd like to stick with the 4.0 L V6 but I'm wondering what else people out there have been driving and what recommendations you have? Many thanks!

 

[dauntless225]

In my opinion I would find out the loaded weight of the camper and with all the stuff you will have in it, then find a truck that is rated for that load. Being within your vehicles capacity brings peace of mind and much better vehicle handling.

 

[Beach]

I have a 06 Tundra access cab with the 4.0 and a 3.9 rear gear. The 4.0 does the job, but there isn't a lot of extra power if you plan on towing or adding kayaks and other things to the roof racks, especially when you have a stiff headwind. I added Supersprings and Bilstein HD shocks to up the load capacity and they do the job, but I have always wondered if a complete spring pack replacement would be an even better option. Haven't ever weighed my rig loaded, but I have run some #s and figure the camper and gear adds about 1600+ lbs to the truck. I would like to move up to a small/med V-8 truck so I can tow my boat. Loaded down and running 60-65 I get right at 14mpg, I think a V-8 will do at least as good not having to work as hard. To answer your question, yes the 4.0 will do it, but keep it light and get a tranny cooler.

 

[cabinfever]

Thanks! It does seem to me that you'd want at least a 4L V6 but I'm not sure if anyone out there has experience carrying a camper of this type with something smaller like a 3.6. We aren't anticipating the need to haul much more than the camper but it would be good to keep our options open.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

We hauled our Eagle shell around with a '99 Tacoma 4 cyl 4WD X-cab. That was doable for 9 months as long as you didn't mind NO performance over 60 MPH!!

Don't buy anything less than a V6. The new ones are great...even towing. Here we are at 7,000 feet after climbing the North-pass on the Wacoba-Saline Road. This setup averaged 13.9 mpg on the 315 mile stretch between San Diego to Big Pine, Ca.

 

[kmcintyre]

I have a 4.7L V8 Dodge Dakota with an Eagle FWC. It does ok. The Dodge never had great power and I've had to adjust my driving habits a bit. I have the manual 5 speed and I don't remember the rear end gearing.