Happy with your 1/2 ton and customized shell camper?

[generubin]

I'm not sure why guys with 3/4 ton pickups are saying it's not safe to put a fully loaded FWC on a 1/2 ton. Lets remember there are many different configurations that these truck manufacturers are offering in thier 1/2 ton trucks. Most offer at least some of their trucks with a payload that are easily able to handle a fully FWC, including passengers and extra gear. I did the math before buying a new truck as well as ordering a new camper.
Have these alarmists actually read the specs that the manufactuers post before they make blanket statements that all 1/2 ton trucks with FWC's are unsafe before they post?
Apparently the vast majority of FWC owners are all unsafe and the truck manufactuers are wrong about their own trucks.



This post above is perfect timing after my yesterday's experience.

I've owned a FWC on a Toyota, and I have driven other people's FWC on 1/2 tons. 3/4 ton gets you nice things like a full floating axles for long bearing life, available diesels for great mpg (up to 20), solid front axle for better off road articulation and the wonderful security of loading the vehicle with plenty of margin.

But here is the real reason. With Tacomas and 1/2 tons the braking is inadequate. I put 3,000 miles in the arctic on a Chevy 1/2 ton that I would have to plan my stops in advance. Just yesterday I was returning from Carrizo Plain over a the mountain pass, came around a corner and there was a fallen bike rider in the road. I braked very heavily and stopped with room to spare. With a 1/2 ton's small brakes I might have squished him. Had I, I would have felt horrible, likely been PTSD'ed for life and if my truck was deemed overloaded by one pound (what if your math isn't perfect) in the investigation that would have followed, I would have been liable for his death. More than a few people on this site have started with 1/2 tons and switched to 3/4 tons. Just saying, margin for error is nice.

 

[Steve Scearce]

I have a 2003 Tundra Access Cab with a 1999 Phoenix Coyote and AirLift airbags. The dry weight of the camper is 750 lbs. I made the mistake of NOT buying E-rated tires. The truck has a mushy ride with the camper on, and the braking distance is definitely longer. A 3/4 ton would be nice, but I own this rig and I'm doing OK with it. When the tires get retired (prematurely), I'll be putting on some e-rated rubber.

 

[bsharp007]

My math isn't perfect...but Ford lists the payload for some of their half tons as over 3000lbs so I can miss a few. If Ford thinks I can carry the weight and usually their specs are conservative..that's going to hold more weight with me (pun intended). If my Tacoma could carry a fully loaded Eagle, I dont think I'll have any problem and I know I'll be well within the rated ability for my vehicle.
Dont get me wrong..could a 3/4 ton carry the weight more safely...probably. But then with that reasoning a one ton truck could carry a Hawk more safely then a 3/4 ton. But is it necessary. The vast majority of FWC owners that I see on the road dont think so.
Btw nice job on avoiding an accident, sounds like it could have been ugly.




This post above is perfect timing after my yesterday's experience.

I've owned a FWC on a Toyota, and I have driven other people's FWC on 1/2 tons. 3/4 ton gets you nice things like a full floating axles for long bearing life, available diesels for great mpg (up to 20), solid front axle for better off road articulation and the wonderful security of loading the vehicle with plenty of margin.

But here is the real reason. With Tacomas and 1/2 tons the braking is inadequate. I put 3,000 miles in the arctic on a Chevy 1/2 ton that I would have to plan my stops in advance. Just yesterday I was returning from Carrizo Plain over a the mountain pass, came around a corner and there was a fallen bike rider in the road. I braked very heavily and stopped with room to spare. With a 1/2 ton's small brakes I might have squished him. Had I, I would have felt horrible, likely been PTSD'ed for life and if my truck was deemed overloaded by one pound (what if your math isn't perfect) in the investigation that would have followed, I would have been liable for his death. More than a few people on this site have started with 1/2 tons and switched to 3/4 tons. Just saying, margin for error is nice.

 

[takesiteasy]

...I feel my brakes are plenty strong when loaded...

I agree. 2nd gen Tacomas with the 6 cylinder have a towing capacity of 6500 pounds. The brakes are designed to handle that load. I have never felt like the brakes were being over-taxed with the camper on and fully loaded. Similarly, there is plenty of power to handle hills and passing chores. This is not to say that you can put an overweight camper on the back and not have any issues. We travel pretty light. We like the smaller truck for many reasons and are very happy with our camper on the Tacoma.

 

[generubin]

I agree. 2nd gen Tacomas with the 6 cylinder have a towing capacity of 6500 pounds. The brakes are designed to handle that load. I have never felt like the brakes were being over-taxed with the camper on and fully loaded. Similarly, there is plenty of power to handle hills and passing chores. This is not to say that you can put an overweight camper on the back and not have any issues. We travel pretty light. We like the smaller truck for many reasons and are very happy with our camper on the Tacoma.


Hello take it Easy, the Tacoma brakes are so not designed to stop a trailer of 6500 pounds. Trailer brakes are required by law with any trailer over 1500 pounds. No way on earth any truck will brake a 6,500 pound trailer safely under emergency situation. The trailer will want to trade places with the truck by jack knifing. This is why trailer brakes have a manual activation switch, under jack knife situations you activate the trailer brake without touching the truck brake pedal in order to straighten out the situation. I do have a friend with a 2006 Tacoma and an ATC shell on it. I've driven it and it feels under-braked and over loaded, rather nerve racking. Yep he goes everywhere I go, though it takes some clutch slipping in the rough stuff. But I still prefer my extra margin of safety. But pay no attention to me, as an ex professional mechanic, and an engineering (mechanical and electrical) mind, I won't even fly on an Airbus plane. And, I won't put a camper on a truck without full floating axles.

2012 Tacoma payload is 1350 pounds, ouch! 800 pounds of camper and two people will have you at 1150 pounds. Add camping gear and supplies and you are over your limit. This 1350 applies not only to suspension but to axle bearing strengths, braking, emergency handling and even the strength of the chassis. There's just too much in life that is "out to get you" why take chances when you can make the choice to be safe and if you get a diesel, you'll get better mpg as well.

 

[takesiteasy]

...Trailer brakes are required by law with any trailer over 1500 pounds...
Gene, thanks for the correction. In Minnesota the trailer limit is 3000 pounds without brakes but I didn't even know that. Fuzzy thinking on my part- I don't tow trailers so never had occasion to learn about them. That said however, the point is that there is still additional braking capacity there after the payload for a safety margin. Safe driving behaviors also provide a margin of safety. I will stand by my comment that in our experience the truck handles and brakes fine with the camper on it. We are about to leave on a cross-country trip through Nevada, up the California coast to Oregon and back home through Montana and Yellowstone. I will report back on how the truck does.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

I kind of agree on all points.

Is it better to have a 3/4 ton truck, rather than a 1/2 ton truck?

Yes, I think so.

But can you safely put a smaller camper on a 1/2 ton truck and do OK?

Yes, if the truck is adequate and set up correctly.

And I want to emphasize ..."if the truck is adequate and set up correctly".

I see so many customers come in with small or 1/2 ton trucks that have the original wipmy stock tires and no rear suspension upgrade on their truck.



The tires squat with the extra weight of the camper, as well as the truck suspension.

If the customer is going to spend $ 12,000.00 - $20,000.00 K on a new camper, I think it is WELL worth them investing $ 1500 - $1800 for a good rear suspension upgrade and a new set of "D" or "E" rated tires.

My last 4 trucks were 1/2 ton trucks.

1987 Ford F-150 Ext. Cab Long Bed
1997 Ford F-150 Ext. Cab Short Bed
2000 Ford F-150 Ext. Cab Long Bed
2005 Toyota Tundra Access Cab Regular 6' Bed.

I have carried every sort of camper on these trucks over the years.

I have never been worried about over loading the truck frame, wheel bearings, the need for a solid front axel, etc.

(if you are a hard core 4x4 off road guy, I can see the want and need for the solid front axel)

IMO most truck camper customers like off roading, but not hard core stuff with the camper on (generally speaking).

But I do have to agree the weak point on the older 1/2 ton truck has always been the brakes.

When I have a camper on the truck I just try and take my time, drive slower than normal, allow for extra braking distance, and enjoy the journey.

If you are worried about the safety factor and don't mind driving a 3/4 ton, go for it. Get the 3/4 ton truck for sure.





.

 

[leadsled9]

There is a world of difference between carrying these campers on a 1/2 ton truck and a 3/4 ton truck.

I'll never go back to a 1/2 ton.

It's fine to say you are going to take it easy and drive carefully thus providing an extra margin of safety....the problem is the other drivers on the road who are NOT driving safely. It's called an accident for a reason...it's an unplanned event. The extra margin of safety a 3/4 ton provides may save a life....it might even be your own.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

I totally agree.

But people don't all think the same.



I'm afraid for people that drive the really small cars like the new Fiat, Mini, Honda Civic, Toyota Corrola, etc.

If some dummy driving a big 3/4 ton truck makes a mistake and plows into them, who is going to lose that battle?

The truck driver will probably come out the winner.

So should everyone have to drive the big full size truck to stay safe from an unplanned accident?

Accidents are going to happen.

Yes, it is best to get the 3/4 ton truck, this we know !

But in reality some customers don't want a truck that big and will never buy one.

How to you convince them otherwise?

______________________________________________________________________________________


...the problem is the other drivers on the road who are NOT driving safely. It's called an accident for a reason...it's an unplanned event. The extra margin of safety a 3/4 ton provides may save a life....it might even be your own.




.

 

[Smokecreek1]

I agree with Stan on this one. Last Feb. I was having all sorts of problems lugging my Granby on my 99 1/2 F150 for the last five years-kept blowing out the airbags and the over the counter helper springs. Okay, the solution was either spend $50.000 for a new F250 or go to a specialist that ford recommended that would replace my 1/2 rear springs with 3/.4 ton ones for about $500.00. If I wasn't retired I would have bought the new truck-couldn't make up my mind on what to do so I posted the question here to see what you guys thought. I'll try to post this thread in here at the end, but in case I fail, it's from about last feb. and was called "rear springs instead of air bags on my F150:. So anyway, I bought the new 3/4 springs and have been happy ever since-my old ford purrrs down the road and doesn't bounce that bad in the back country. Soooo, if I had the $ now I would have bought a new F250 either back in 99 on in Feb., but since I didn't, I'm happy but realize that someday in the future I probably have to buy a new truck.

Okay, the old thread is the on the third page of the threads in this section and is dated in Feb.this year.
Here goes my attempt!
Smoke

Failed! Will go back to the instructions and try again-anyway I'm happy my springs and will post pictures if anyone is interested-I can do that-I think!

Smoke

 

[leadsled9]

I know most folks already have 1/2 ton trucks and will make due with what they have. I did for several years.

My comments are more aimed at people preparing to purchase a truck with plans to haul a camper....just trying to save them some grief and point them in the right direction. My comments are also aimed at folks who are due to upgrade their truck to something newer.

I've been a small truck owner for most of my life....small Toyotas (love 'um) and 1/2 trucks (Ford, Chevy, Toyota)...and they've served me well. I'm a real Toyota fan for sure. My Tundra has over 205,000 miles on it and still going strong.

After purchasing a FWC however, my needs changed and I made the decision to upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck. That decision has already saved one life....I've already shared the story previously so I won't bore you with it again.

 

[Desert Rancher]

I used have a 1/2T Dodge Power Wagon with a Grandby for years. It was not comfortable to drive. Brakes were way inadequate.

Now run a F250HD diesel, a real pleasure to motor around in.

~DR