Tacoma, Eagle combo

Shadyapex

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2013
Messages
203
Location
Bishop, CA
Hi All, wondering how the handling is on a late model Tacoma with an Eagle mounted. I've currently got the Eagle on a '97 Tacoma (with air springs) and am considering a 2014 Tacoma and am hoping the handling will be considerably better than the '97. Anybody have some input for me?
 
Are you talking about highway handling? If so I talked to Stan a few weeks ago regarding Tom's Tacoma which is featured in the video gallery of the four wheel camper website. He said it drives very well and no problems braking with the weight. If you are talking about off road handling then check the video out. It looks like it does very well.

Good luck,
Chris
 
I have a 2001 tacoma with a 2011 Eagle . The first year I had ride rite air bags and they worked great... I had my frame recalled/replaced and thought I'd add another leaf... wow big diference... except when the camper is off... (I put a 400 lb block of cement in the bed to lower the bounce... alright for me in the NE where we need all the traction we can get in the winter!) My Tacoma has done great for the last few years and I have been in some serious road conditions...crossing beaver dams and through stream beds and wild log roads of the north Maine woods. You will be fine as long as you have class c or e tires.
Happy trails.
 
Thanks guys, I watched the video and we do some terrain that's as difficult as some of that stuff but probably not the worst of it. We don't go seeking it out but we do live near Death Valley and there are some very cool places that have pretty rough "roads" to access. Not county maintained to put it politely.
And given that the video showed a Fleet on a Tacoma I'm optimistic that I'll be happy with a new one. I've been very happy with my '97 with the exception that its a little overloaded and lurches a bit more than I'd like and its a little slow pulling steep grades on pavement.
Now I just have to finish talking myself into the new truck, I'm pretty much there but its not available until the end of the month so I still have some time to add to the justification list.
 
Hi Shady,
I had my 2012 Eagle shell mounted on my '99 Tacoma for 9 months. With the 4 cylinder I had marginal performance over 60 mph. Now I have it installed on our new 2013 Tacoma V6 full time. What a difference and I hardly know it is there. Camper weighs 1000 pounds so with me and half tank of fuel I'm up around 5400 pounds.

I upgraded the rear springs to 4 leafs rated at 1500 pounds from my local spring shop and upgraded the tires to LT265/75R16. It corners like a sports car now with good pickup when passing on 2 lane roads even when loaded for a week in the desert (over 5800 pounds).

Advice on the tires.
Toyota would NOT let me swap out the stock P265/70R16 for the LT's and me pay the difference. They sent me to their tire dealer and he gave me $50 credit per tire towards the new ones. Because of the weight of the rig I would NOT run the stock "P' tires off road especially since your camper is probably 300 pounds heavier than mine.
 
Thanks Jim, so psyched to hear it handles so well. I just got back from the dealer where they did swap out the stock P rated Dunlops that came on the truck for the BFG TA K/Os that I wanted, and they gave me $140 each for the Dunlops. Bummer that your dealer wouldn't do the same. Also I got the TRD Sport package so the truck has the 17" wheels so I'm psyched on that.
I ordered the new mounting brackets from FWC this morning so everything is coming together. I'm sure we'll be headed to Death Valley as soon as its all together. See you out there,,,,,,
 
You too Shady Have a Merry Christmas, Hanaka, or your faith holiday.
Carlsbad Toyota was not very accommodating except on the price. Anyway I will keep this truck at least 15 years so I'm sure to get my moneys worth
 

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