Long Term Health of a Tacoma Carrying a Loaded FWCATC Pop Up

[brianjwilson]

I don't think the factory lockers are any more reliable than an ARB. Everyone could use an on board compressor anyway.
If that is your only hold up for getting a double cab I would just do it.

 

[MANXMAN]

I went through the process of figuring out what was the right thing to do about a truck for my camper as well. I have a low mileage 2011 Tacoma Access Cab TRD Off Road. I decided that even though lots of people put pop up campers on Tacoma trucks, I wanted to know what weight would I be asking it to carry compared to it's 1300 lb payload capacity.

FWC publishes the weights for their campers and options so lets use them as an example.

A popular FWC for a Tacoma is a Fleet which weights 845 lbs.

Options you said you wanted a few of the more common ones most of us order:

Roof rack - 8
Thermal Pack - 5
Smallest Battery - 53
Side Awning - 40
Fantastic Fan - 8
Furnace - 25
Jack brackets - 4
P/Potti - 10
Smallest Fridge - 40
1 Solar panel and controller - 25
Hot water heater and O/S Shower - 70

Options total 288 lbs. Total camper weight now is 1133 lbs.

Add in 26 gallons of water for tank and hot water heater - 217 lbs
Full propane tank - 20 lbs
You and your wife plus the Lab - lets say 400lbs +/-
The air bags and E rated tires add another 75 lbs

Now we're at 1845 lbs.

Then add in the "stuff" you have to take like food, drinking water, clothes and hiking boots, backpacks, cook ware and plates, utensils, toiletries, towels, first aid kit, GPS/Phone/Computer, small BBQ, folding chairs, etc. That stuff is going to be 500 lbs plus.

So the real weight of the camper and cargo is now 2350 lbs! If you want a second solar panel, a bigger battery, a kayak it keeps going up. That would be more than 1000 lbs over the Tacoma's payload capacity and maybe even doubling it if you do add some extras.

I really wanted to use my Tacoma but like you asked, is this kind of load expecting too much for long term health of it? Or safety? I don't know for sure but unfortunately I think it is and decided against it.

 

[Fallbrook]

Lol...I have all of the above (although I think 500 pounds of gear in the camper is a bit on the high side unless you have a lot of beer), plus I hang 800 pounds of boat tongue weight, dirt bike, and kayak off the back, and most of my time is spent on mountain roads in the Rockies, paved and dirt. All with Firestone bags as the only upgrade. Granted, you know it's there and I take things easy, but the truck always feels like it's doing fine and safe, and I still spend less on maintenance than any of my buddies with their Chevys and Fords. Just load it up and have some fun!

 

[ZempOh]

Hi all,

First time poster. This thread has been really helpful. I am planning for the future and trying to decide if a Tacoma/Fleet combo will be the truck for me. Since the last post was a bit over a year ago, how are everyone's Tacomas holding up?

 

[Stalking Light]

I have a 2015 Tacoma dbl cab long be with a 2014 Eagle. It also has an ARB front bumper w/winch and an Aluminess rear with spar and deluxe box. The Eagle is pretty loaded. I went with an OME lift with heavy springs and an extra leaf. I haven't weighed the truck but I expect I'm overweight.

That said, the truck handles well, acceleration and braking is fine. I've got over 50k miles in just about 2 years with the camper on full time and no mechanical issues (knock wood) with the truck thus far.


Charlie

Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

 

[ZempOh]

I have a 2015 Tacoma dbl cab long be with a 2014 Eagle. It also has an ARB front bumper w/winch and an Aluminess rear with spar and deluxe box. The Eagle is pretty loaded. I went with an OME lift with heavy springs and an extra leaf. I haven't weighed the truck but I expect I'm overweight.

That said, the truck handles well, acceleration and braking is fine. I've got over 50k miles in just about 2 years with the camper on full time and no mechanical issues (knock wood) with the truck thus far.


Charlie

Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

Sounds like a pretty awesome set-up, exactly what I would eventually want to do! Do you have any pictures? I see the one in your profile but it's kind of small.

 

[Stalking Light]

Sounds like a pretty awesome set-up, exactly what I would eventually want to do! Do you have any pictures? I see the one in your profile but it's kind of small.

Here's a couple:

 

[ZempOh]

Here's a couple:

[Images]

Very cool! What's your mpg like fully loaded?

 

[Stalking Light]

13-14 on the highway at 65-70, 15-16 at 55mph or less.

 

[buckland]

I recall you have the dry weight and the scale weight listed ...on your blog site? ...I think I remember seeing it...but it may have been your older truck.... I would love a aluminess but freak out on the weight hanging out back there. IT would be great to be able to carry a second spare.

 

[Stalking Light]

I recall you have the dry weight and the scale weight listed ...on your blog site? ...I think I remember seeing it...but it may have been your older truck.... I would love a aluminess but freak out on the weight hanging out back there. IT would be great to be able to carry a second spare.

No, I've never weighed my truck. I probably should, but I worry more about handling, especially braking, and I've had no issues there.

When I first added the Aluminess all I had were airbags and the truck seemed to wallow and would porpoise at times, but since the OME lift with heavy springs and an extra leaf it handles about like it did without the camper.

I'm certainly not trying to encourage folks to overload their trucks, just reporting on what works for me. I will say I'm a fairly cautious driver and like to leave space between myself and the vehicle in front, but a few times I've really had to stand on the brakes and have been impressed at the stopping power.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

I don't know about the newer Tacos, but I have put over 80k on my rebuilt 1986 Extra Cab 2.4 RTE (turbo) with the camper since my ownership without any issues. No air bags, etc., just OME 2" STD lift springs in rear. Braking is good. Very stable with no wind problems. The truck/camper weighs 4700 lbs loaded and wet on the scales. The camper (3-way, heater, 12 gal water) loaded is under 1,000 lbs. on the scales.Gas mileage is 14-16 @ 65-70MPH. The new Toyotas should be even better and have no problems with a pop up. If I liked them, I would own one. Something is wrong if your camper is 2350 lbs!

cwd

 

[Bigfoot]

I went through the process of figuring out what was the right thing to do about a truck for my camper as well. I have a low mileage 2011 Tacoma Access Cab TRD Off Road. I decided that even though lots of people put pop up campers on Tacoma trucks, I wanted to know what weight would I be asking it to carry compared to it's 1300 lb payload capacity.

FWC publishes the weights for their campers and options so lets use them as an example.

A popular FWC for a Tacoma is a Fleet which weights 845 lbs.

Options you said you wanted a few of the more common ones most of us order:

Roof rack - 8
Thermal Pack - 5
Smallest Battery - 53
Side Awning - 40
Fantastic Fan - 8
Furnace - 25
Jack brackets - 4
P/Potti - 10
Smallest Fridge - 40
1 Solar panel and controller - 25
Hot water heater and O/S Shower - 70

Options total 288 lbs. Total camper weight now is 1133 lbs.

Add in 26 gallons of water for tank and hot water heater - 217 lbs
Full propane tank - 20 lbs
You and your wife plus the Lab - lets say 400lbs +/-
The air bags and E rated tires add another 75 lbs

Now we're at 1845 lbs.

Then add in the "stuff" you have to take like food, drinking water, clothes and hiking boots, backpacks, cook ware and plates, utensils, toiletries, towels, first aid kit, GPS/Phone/Computer, small BBQ, folding chairs, etc. That stuff is going to be 500 lbs plus.

So the real weight of the camper and cargo is now 2350 lbs! If you want a second solar panel, a bigger battery, a kayak it keeps going up. That would be more than 1000 lbs over the Tacoma's payload capacity and maybe even doubling it if you do add some extras.

I really wanted to use my Tacoma but like you asked, is this kind of load expecting too much for long term health of it? Or safety? I don't know for sure but unfortunately I think it is and decided against it.

That sounds reasonable. I have never owned a Tacoma but I borrowed a 2013 4WD Double Cab Long Bed V6 with a custom camper and extras for a couple weeks. Partially loaded it weighed 7600 lbs which was 2100 lbs over its badged GVWR. Granted that the suspension, wheels and tires had been upgraded, so it handed okay even fully loaded (full fuel, water, two people, trip supplies). However, there were two major concerns.

First, the Tacoma's power is just adequate in stock configuration. At more than a ton over GVWR it was a slug going up mountain passes. Second, we can argue weight ratings but to me the axle ratings are one area that should not be exceeded for long periods. The GAWR front is 2755 front, 3110 rear. Partially loaded the truck was slightly overloaded in the front and badly overloaded in the rear (by about 1500 lbs). To me that is asking for trouble. I was glad this was not my truck.

 

[CALIcamperdad]

I just was over at our local toyota dealer. Air bag recall on the Sequoia they have parts!!!

I couldn't believe the prices they had for used nothing special Tacos. 2014 4dr LB cloth, 36,000 miles $34,900!!!! 2015 4dr SB $38,600!!!! A new Tundra with the 5.7 had a MSRP if $38k. The Sequoia next to it msrp was $62,400!
I'll be buying private sale used yotas in the future. Or may own my first GM product ever and get a diesel Canyon. LOL...

The F150 is wide... as in really wide! SD parking would not be fun. Then again length beyond about 190inches isnt easy to park in SD either.