Eagle on 2006 Tacoma, seeking advice

[bootpacker]

Background info: I had a 2008 Ford Ranger FX4 with a 2005 4WC Eagle. The Ranger had no modification and I did the camper installation myself. The camper had stayed on the truck for the last several years. I had to retire the truck recently and took the camper off for the first time in a long time.


I bought a 2006 Tacoma double cab for the camper. I would appreciate any feedback on my plan.


1. The bed of the Tacoma is deeper than my old Range which didn't require anything under the camper. Based on my measurement, I would need to raise the camper by an inch or more to make it fit in the truck bed. I have a 3/8 inch rubber mat that's pretty solid. I am also considering using plywood or 2x4s, or buy a thicker (3/4"?) rubber mat to add to the other one. I'm wondering how much space is enough between the camper and the sides of the truck bed.


2. To secure the camper to the truck, I used stainless steel eyebolts and round washers on the bed of the Ranger and they did the job. But the movement throughout the years lifted the areas around the eyebolts quite a bit and the nuts and washers became quite rusted. I am hoping to do a better job this time. How do you properly secure the eyebolts on the truck bed? I have seen some large rectangular shaped plates being used instead of washers on a 4wc instruction video but I can not find them in the local hardware stores. Do you use a different type of eyebolts and nuts? Do you attach them to the frame or just the bed?


3. As the camper is likely to be on the truck most of the time, I'm planning to add rear leaf springs and air bags to the stock suspension. Any alternatives? What about Timbren or Sumo?


4. Other than E rated tires, I don't plan to do any more upgrade to the Tacoma.


I appreciate any feedback to my plan.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I assume your Toyota has a composite bed, so you shouldn’t use through the bed eyebolts. I believe ATC and FWC use bars that are attached to the bed to frame bolts, and the turnbuckles attach to them. Hopefully, one of the Toyota owners here will respond, too.

IMO, this is worth a call to ATC or FWC. If you don’t want to make them yourself, my guess is that ATC will be the most affordable.
Here’s an older thread on the topic. Post #7 by Stan Kennedy is how FWC mounts them.

Mounting a four wheel on a composite tacoma

Hi im new here ive recently purchased a 2010 Tacoma access cab 4x4 i would like to add a four wheel camper to either a finch or an eagle shell most likely i want to be light. Its very apparent to me that there are some challenges to mounting the camper to this trucks composite bed ive seen a...

www.wanderthewest.com

 

[bootpacker]

I assume your Toyota has a composite bed, so you shouldn’t use through the bed eyebolts. I believe ATC and FWC use bars that are attached to the bed to frame bolts, and the turnbuckles attach to them. Hopefully, one of the Toyota owners here will respond, too.

IMO, this is worth a call to ATC or FWC. If you don’t want to make them yourself, my guess is that ATC will be the most affordable.
Here’s an older thread on the topic. Post #7 by Stan Kennedy is how FWC mounts them.

Mounting a four wheel on a composite tacoma

Hi im new here ive recently purchased a 2010 Tacoma access cab 4x4 i would like to add a four wheel camper to either a finch or an eagle shell most likely i want to be light. Its very apparent to me that there are some challenges to mounting the camper to this trucks composite bed ive seen a...

www.wanderthewest.com

Thank you very much for the information provided. I looked up on the bars you mentioned. They seem sturdy and easy to install.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

You’re welcome!

TorkLift might be another option.

 

[rubberlegs]

Yes on the FWC/ATC bars, for sure. Super secure. We've had great success with E-rated tires.

On suspension, we've only added black Sumosprings, which for the most part we've been happy with. However, we keep adding weight* (I must eat too much, burp!) and the rear seems to be sagging a little, maybe an inch. I'm considering upgrading the leaf springs and wrestling with what to do. I just took off the camper yesterday, and the OEM leaf springs still work ok and our truck is nose-down again, but I suspect the Sumosprings are taking much of the camper load. Pros: Sumos are easy to install and the ride is fine, and probably better than air bags because they can't leak. Cons: similarly to air bags, your bump stop location is taking a lot of the rear axle load -- could that be a fatigue issue for the frame or axle?

* We're 10%+ over GVWR, and ~9% over rear GAWR. Hopefully you'll be under!

 

[DesertDog]

Thank you very much for the information provided. I looked up on the bars you mentioned. They seem sturdy and easy to install.

You may be in luck, someone is selling the bed bars off their 2008 Tacoma.

4Wheel Camper Tie Down System for 2008 Toyota Tacoma

First thing you may want to confirm is if you can get the bed bolts to come out. After 18 years there is a good chance they are rusted in place and the torx head is known to strip out before the bolt comes loose.

 

[nikonron]

You'll want the bed bar tie down system for sure. I ran mine with them for several years but have since removed them and bolted my Eagle in because I too leave it on full time. I run OME Dakar heavy duty springs and it is great. 10 ply 'E' rated tires also. I use no mat under mine and it sits perfectly right at the top of the bed rail.

 

[bootpacker]

Yes on the FWC/ATC bars, for sure. Super secure. We've had great success with E-rated tires.

On suspension, we've only added black Sumosprings, which for the most part we've been happy with. However, we keep adding weight* (I must eat too much, burp!) and the rear seems to be sagging a little, maybe an inch. I'm considering upgrading the leaf springs and wrestling with what to do. I just took off the camper yesterday, and the OEM leaf springs still work ok and our truck is nose-down again, but I suspect the Sumosprings are taking much of the camper load. Pros: Sumos are easy to install and the ride is fine, and probably better than air bags because they can't leak. Cons: similarly to air bags, your bump stop location is taking a lot of the rear axle load -- could that be a fatigue issue for the frame or axle?

* We're 10%+ over GVWR, and ~9% over rear GAWR. Hopefully you'll be under!

Thanks! Good to hear your feedback regarding Sumo springs.

 

[bootpacker]

You may be in luck, someone is selling the bed bars off their 2008 Tacoma.

4Wheel Camper Tie Down System for 2008 Toyota Tacoma

First thing you may want to confirm is if you can get the bed bolts to come out. After 18 years there is a good chance they are rusted in place and the torx head is known to strip out before the bolt comes loose.

Good call. I'll test the bolts to see if they are removable. Thanks for the advice

 

[rando]

We have a fleet on a 2016 Tacoma full time (it is a flatbed) and replaced the leafs with OME heavy load springs, added a rear swaybar and also airbags for fine tuning. If the camper is on full time, replacing the springs seems like your best bet.

For the brief period between upgrading the springs and installing the camper (with just an aluminium flat bed) it rode like a board, so only do this if you never plan on taking the camper off.

 

[nikonron]

We have a fleet on a 2016 Tacoma full time (it is a flatbed) and replaced the leafs with OME heavy load springs, added a rear swaybar and also airbags for fine tuning. If the camper is on full time, replacing the springs seems like your best bet.

For the brief period between upgrading the springs and installing the camper (with just an aluminium flat bed) it road like board, so only do this if you never plan on taking the camper off.

I've been debating adding a rear sway bar, can you tell a difference in how the truck handles? What brand did you go with, Helwig? 2009 Tacoma here.

 

[rando]

I've been debating adding a rear sway bar, can you tell a difference in how the truck handles? What brand did you go with, Helwig? 2009 Tacoma here.

Yes we can, a lot less body roll in cornering. I actually don't remember the brand, but it was likely Helwig. We have not noticed any downside on rougher roads.

 

[JHanson]

The question I have is, what do you mean by "most of the time" the camper will be on? If it will be on all the time, then custom springs of the correct rate, with possibly air bags to fine tune, is definitely the way to go, along with firmer rear shocks. I would do that first and evaluate the ride and handling before adding a rear anti-roll bar. You shouldn't need anything in front; Tacomas are oversprung in front to begin with.

But if you'll be driving the truck around with this suspension and the camper off at all, it's going to be really bouncy in the back unless you have a pet bullock you can carry as ballast. In that case I'd recommend air bags to take most if not all the extra weight, so you can back off the pressure when the camper is off.

I do not like Timbrens or Sumo springs, which are really glorified bump stops. Proper suspension is better.

 

[bootpacker]

The question I have is, what do you mean by "most of the time" the camper will be on? If it will be on all the time, then custom springs of the correct rate, with possibly air bags to fine tune, is definitely the way to go, along with firmer rear shocks. I would do that first and evaluate the ride and handling before adding a rear anti-roll bar. You shouldn't need anything in front; Tacomas are oversprung in front to begin with.

But if you'll be driving the truck around with this suspension and the camper off at all, it's going to be really bouncy in the back unless you have a pet bullock you can carry as ballast. In that case I'd recommend air bags to take most if not all the extra weight, so you can back off the pressure when the camper is off.

I do not like Timbrens or Sumo springs, which are really glorified bump stops. Proper suspension is better.

Thanks for the detailed response. I am planning to leave the camper on unless I HAVE to take it off for whatever reason. I'm definitely leaning towards adding leaf springs and maybe air bags as well to provide the best support. I'm not opposed to have a pet bullock though

 

[DesertDog]

But if you'll be driving the truck around with this suspension and the camper off at all, it's going to be really bouncy in the back unless you have a pet bullock you can carry as ballast. In that case I'd recommend air bags to take most if not all the extra weight, so you can back off the pressure when the camper is off.

Agree with JHanson.
I have Deaver Stage III which works well for weight of a fully optioned Fleet - but back of my truck will jump up several inches when camper is removed. Not only is ride harsh, but it throws the driveshaft U-Joints to large angles which can drastically shorten their life or introduce driveshaft vibrations.
For that last reason, for occasional camper off operation, you may be better off to go to a medium rated spring and use airbags for balance of the weight.

 

[57Pan]

I have 2005 Tacoma and run ARB OME slight lift on my truck slightly heavier rear springs plus I have Firestone airbags, that I inflate to about 40 lbs when the camper is on. I made my own tie down bars and also use some conveyor belt to level everything up around the tie down bar. Also I have 10 ply KO2 tires. Truck handles excellent. This is a full camper build out Allterrain Bobcat.

 

[rubberlegs]

I have Deaver Stage III which works well for weight of a fully optioned Fleet

I've been leaning towards this. Do you know how much weight your camper adds to your rear axle? Here's ours almost fully loaded with stock springs and Sumo springs.

 

[57Pan]

I really don’t know what my additional weight is. I think the label on the camper says something like 750 lbs., but I’m guessing in reality fully loaded I’m probably closer to 1000 lbs..

 

[firsttracksbmax]

A lot of people go OME or Deaver rear springs for their Tacoma’s. I went with an Ironman heavy duty spring, which are recommended for a constant 650-700lb+ load. Lots of complaints about OME and Deaver squeaking over time, no squeaks in the Ironman.

If you end up going with medium or heavy duty springs and it gives a big lift to the rear and thus a greater dive angle towards the front, I would recommend adjusting your front suspension to avoid excessive wear on joints

 

[pnwlife]

I too am using Ironman heavy duty springs (along with their Foam Cell Pro shocks). I have this on my 2020 Tacoma with a fully loaded Swift. I also opted to install Archive Garage's Hammer Hangers - the OEM rear spring mount is a known failure point for folks that carry heavier loads on rough terrain. Could not be happier.