Wow, I wasn't aware that the "overweight" topic would create such a buzz!
First of all: Thank you very much to everyone who contributed. At first, I thought I was the only one who has the weight issue in mind, but it turns out that everyone is. Let me reply to some of you:
Also to answer your specific questions:
1. I am not worried about insurance. I read through the fine print in my insurance and there is no mention of weight. I don't really see this as any different than other vehicle modifications that may make your vehicle less safe (lifts, bumper bars, oversized tires, roof top tents etc).
2. I have not seen any evidence or instance of a broken frame on a tacoma from a camper, but would be interested if you had.
3. Upgraded suspension and tires and driving the truck like it is heavy (because it is heavy).
I have not seen a broken frame on a tacoma but recently read an article in a German magazine about it. If you klick on the following link (Google image search in German - I am Swiss, btw, that's why): LINK. There's no Tacoma but others.
To echo ETAV8R's comment, it really comes down to, are you going to be okay with it ? The adage here would be "know thyself".
You already know you would be overweight before buying - can't use the "I had the truck already" rational. And you'll know that everyone is different, what might work for a solo occupant may not be satisfactory for three people.
So, does having those two other occupants influence your weight concern ? Would weight concern affect where you chose to travel ? Others do it. Are you going to be okay with it ?
I would probably not be okay with being too heavy, that's why it concerns my that much. And by the amount of owners of this or similar combos I started to ask myself if there was a flaw in my thoughts or how the others do it.
Go back to square ONE:
1) Find the camper you want and get the WET weight from the mfger.
2) Make a list of EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY who will be on the trip and figure out the WEIGHT of all that.
3) Now you know what the load will be.
4) Now you can go look at trucks to see what you NEED....and that is probably a 3/4 ton based on the GVWR needed to haul you and your camper and your "stuff" safely down the happy highway.
That was exactly what I did and why I ended up so confused over the fact that so many people own combos that don't add up. Hence my questions..
One of my good friends is a Service manager for Toyota.
I told him my numbers for my Tundra. I am right at the Max most of the time and some times over. I talked to him about how the truck says X amount for GVWR.
He said read that close. It says that with P rated tires. Just the act of changing the tires increases the GVWR. I asked him by how much and he said he didn't know but The weak link in the GVWR rating for Toyota is the P rated tires.
Interesting. That could be the reason why all of the combos that "only" upgrade suspension and tires actually work..
Tubel5000,
I've written a number of article on this issue on Overland Tech and Travel. Search for JATAC and you'll find them. One looked at emergency handling, here. There's no doubt you'll be beyond the GVWR of a Tacoma with a Four Wheel Camper and all equipment, but there are steps you can take to compensate. Suspension is obviously number one.
Thanks for the interesting read, JHanson!
I'm confused why anyone would want a Tacoma/camper combo over a full size setup. They don't get better gas mileage than modern full size trucks and have a more limited range. My diesel F250 with a Hawk gets better mileage on trips than my friends loaded up Tacoma (without a camper). Also the full size trucks are more comfortable, safer in a crash, and obviously can tow more and handle heavier payloads. The only advantage to a Tacoma is it's a little more maneuverable, but how often would that really limit where you can go? Neither are going to function like a short wheelbase Wrangler off road. An article in today's paper said that certain models of full-size trucks and SUV's (like the F150) have a higher chance to make it to 200,000 miles over all other vehicles, so I don't think reliability is a factor. Tacomas are good trucks but they are not engineered for camper hauling.
In my case it's not a size issue but I intend to leave the states with the combo and a Toyota will always be easier to service/repair than a full size of the Big Three..
Isn't what really matters is that you get out and camp?
A lot of people go through years of research and then end up purchasing a used XYZ and in the end they are usually pretty content with it. Everything has trade offs, but no matter the combination most popup combos are quite versatile. I doubt there was ever a rally where somebody couldn't make it because of their combo (of course on the forum we have to take everything to the extreme ).
TRUE! But research is an important part of the process, becaus it
a) makes us believe we have the best possible option
it is a lot of fun to think about the rig we will once have
Edited by Tubel5000, 29 May 2017 - 10:30 AM.