balbir
Quebec, Canada
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Joined: 08/10/2002
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Hello,
Does any of you have experience carrying a truck camper on a Toyota Tacoma? How is handling? Are there any specific issues to consider? Many manufacturers build campers for small import trucks (lighter and narrower); are they worth considering? With the cost of fuel rising ($0.85 cdn/litre = $1.90 US/gal) I would prefer driving a smaller pickup truck with a small truck camper.
By the way, the Extra Cab 4wd has the same payload (1600 lbs) as a Toyota Tundra or a Chevy 1500.
Many thanks for your help and Happy new year!
Stef
*This Message was edited on 02-Jan-03 09:06 PM by balbir*
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robh2
Kensington, MD
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Joined: 09/04/2002
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I have met a few guys with the Tacomas that have Six-Pac campers and they have no complaints.
Robert
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dbkennel
Puget Sound WA
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Joined: 09/26/2001
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I used to have a small camper for my 1982 Toyota truck. It was a great rig. The camper weight was 930lbs. Had the 22R engine, so it was slow but sure. I do miss the 28mpg w/out the camper, and 18mpg with the camper on. Put a bunch of miles on the rig. Upgraded the tires for the extra weight, and put overloads and heavy duty shocks on the truck.
Put the same camper on a 2000 Ford Ranger. Bigger engine (4.0v6) made it nice for travelling on the highways. 18mpg with out camper, 12mpg with camper. Sway was better too. Put air bags on it, and an anti sway bar.
Never weighed the camper with the Toyota, but with the Ranger (which I think the truck itself weighed more) we were a couple hundred pounds under our gvwr fully loaded. Course, we only had a 13 gal water tank, and no grey or black. Camper just had a 2 burner stove,heater, 1 propane tank, small fridge, and a couple beds.
Hope this helps.
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4X4, 9200# GVWR, 6.0L, Auto, 4.10 axle
2007 Adventurere 810ws
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Highbeam
Buckley, Washington
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This assumption....
"By the way, the Extra Cab 4wd has the same payload (1600 lbs) as a Toyota Tundra or a Chevy 1500."
....is wrong.
Did you weigh your truck full of fuel and gear ready for the camper? Subtract that weight from the stickered GVWR to get your allowed payload.
It is also wrong because my chevy 1500 has a payload of 400 lbs, 600 lbs if I remove the canopy.
The "payload" figure you read is about as useless as the "tow rating" also printed in the sales literature.
It will be tough to be legal when all is said and done. The only way to know is to load up and weigh yourself.
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dbkennel
Puget Sound WA
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Joined: 09/26/2001
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I believe it about the payload. You have to keep in mind, the Toyota or Ranger would weigh in a lot less than a Tundra/1500 would.
A good example is my Ford Ranger. I weighed it:
6000lbs - GVWR (according to door)
3160lbs - unloaded, just fuel/ 2 people. (at scale)
2840 payload if you subtract the 2. That's better than some 3500's.
All those options add up in weight.
hope this helps.
*This Message was edited on 03-Jan-03 04:41 PM by dbkennel*
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mstiles
Seattle, WA USA
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Joined: 12/30/2002
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Yes I do and yes they are worth considering. I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma/Ext.cab/4x4/5speed/4 cylinder. I have a 6'10 Northern Lite and the wife and me love it. I do not have any problem carrying the camper at all. I have also had it over the Stevens Pass a number of times too with no problem, and remember I have a 4 cylinder under the hood. I have not figured out the mileage but it never really stood out to me that I was going through the gas, I guess that is why I did not pay attention to it. This is not a cheap camper but I believe to be the one of the best campers on the market. The workmanship is outstanding and being a 2 piece fiberglass shell it is virtually leak proof. I put a air bag system on the rear suspension and put the bags at 60 lbs.and away we go. I got the Promo package, fantastic fan, electric jacks and a rear awning on ours. Here are 2 links. The first is the manufacture and the other is where I got mine from. The red truck you see at the South Hill RV page is my truck. In case you are wondering my Tacoma is a step side. I almost got a Six Pac camper but was glad it did not fit "they said it would, I ordered it and it did not fit" after I got my money back from them I stumbled upon the Northern Lite camper by accident. Six Pac can not hold a candle to the Northern Lite. The workmanship and the product as a whole on the Six Pac was sad in comparison in my opinion.
http://www.northern-lite.com/
http://southhillrv.com/id21.htm
*This Message was edited on 03-Jan-03 07:38 PM by mstiles*
*This Message was edited on 31-Jan-03 07:46 PM by mstiles*
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balbir
Quebec, Canada
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Joined: 08/10/2002
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mstiles,
Thank you for this information. NorthernLite 6.10 camper seemed like an interesting option until I looked at the interior height. Being 6'3" tall, I think I would feel too cramped inside. I will have to consider something else.
Does anybody have experience with the Outfitter Caribou truck camper?
Thanks!
Stef
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