Anyone use a camper that exceeds payload capacity?

This isn’t my setup. I run an RTT on a bed rack. Figured I’d share though as it’s my buddy’s and he purchased this the other year. Has been on the truck for 3-4 years. I figure the whole thing is about 1,500 lbs wet. Seems to handle just fine for him.

 

This will likely exceed payload when fully loaded for trips. When I bought it, it was 860 pounds "dry". I've since added a dinette, sink and two-burner stove. Probably 100lbs more. So once I throw in gear, propane and water, I'm sure I'm just over payload. But I'm not worried about give or take 100lbs. If a camper is a couple hundred pounds over payload dry and empty, I'd be pretty hesitant, but I'm not worried about walking the payload +/- 100lbs fully loaded.

I'm building everything as light as I can, and only run a 5 gallon propane tank, no water tank. I look at it more like a really, really comfortable version of sleeping in the back of my truck, not like a true camper. That helps me keep it simple and somewhat light.



When I bought it:




Now:






Stove will be in once some propane fittings get delivered:




When I had it in last fall, it kind of trashed my rear suspension. I had original leaf springs, new shocks, and blue Sumo Springs. Having the camper in there flattened the leaf springs, and the Sumo Springs couldn't keep up. Now I have new, HD leaf springs, new shocks and Firestone air bags. I'm interested to see how it rides. I plan to get it back in my truck in a couple weeks.

 

Would be great to hear how it rides after you have the HD leaf springs and air bags installed. I’m adding those in a couple of weeks to my 1st gen in anticipation of putting a camper on. Right now I’m just running a heavy steel bed rack and hard sided rooftop tent.

 

I'll definitely report back. I ran HD springs and air bags in my Tacoma since I towed a trailer with it so I have some idea of how it will feel, but ~300lbs trailer tongue weight is very different than 900lbs directly in the bed.

The Sumo Springs felt like they did the job for a week or two, then got compressed so much that it was a very harsh ride. I had the camper in there for 3-4 weeks during hunting season.

In addition to first gens and campers, we share a first name.

 

Yeah, towing is definitely a different feel than hauling. That's a sweet build out though and I'm guessing at least 400-500lbs lighter than what my buddy hauls (see above)- and he only has airbags - ha. I'm guessing your truck will handle well once you've got everything upgraded and the camper on there. I'm convinced my buddy is just gonna be doing suspension and other work every other year given he keeps that thing in his truck year round, but what'd I know?

Cheers to sharing a name and first gens. Sounds like we also share having owned Tacomas. My old lady has a 2004 2.7L 4wd Tacoma xtracab I used to drive before moving up into a Tundra. The original engine still hasn't hit 100k!

 

That's crazy. I only know the 3.4L V6, but it was solid. I sold the truck with 330,000 miles, going strong. Still had the original clutch. Even with the towing.

Yeah I'll bet my Tundra will handle fine with the upgraded leaf springs and airbags.

The only issue I had with the Tacoma, and I can only assume it was from all the extra weight, was a rear wheel bearing going out. One and only time it left me stranded on the side of the road. Could have been something that was going to happen anyway, but I'm guessing it was the trailer plus regular transport of a 70 pound canoe plus a bunch of gear in the back and a fiberglass topper. Probably added up to 600lbs or more. But yeah...keeping the slide-in camper in the back of your friend's Tundra year-round will do more wear & tear.

I'll say that I was pretty shocked when I finally weighed my slide-in. Until the Sumo Springs crapped out, it rode great. Sure, going around turns and over bumps in town I felt it, but I was amazed at how well the Tundra still accelerated and braked. And I've got the early, wimpy brakes. Out on the open road it was hard to tell it was there.

The Tacoma, on the other hand, definitely knew this trailer was there. It did the job, but it wasn't an ideal matchup of truck/trailer.

 

I've got the camper back in my truck. So far I really like this setup. I remember it feeling good at first with the original leaf springs and Sumo Springs, but the longer it was in there the worse it felt as the leaf springs and Sumo Springs compressed and wore out. But with the air bags, I don't see the ride degrading with time. In two years it should still feel the same way it does now.

I was thinking about this and talking to a friend yesterday. I'm sure it's the case with any truck, but my Tundra really doesn't mind hauling. It'll tow a trailer fine, but with the weight in the bed, it hardly blinks. Acceleration, braking, overall handling, it just doesn't really mind the weight. I'm loaded down for a camping trip right now and I'm sure I'm a bit over 1,000lb in the back of the Tundra. I think I had a little tail wind yesterday on my drive, but with cruise set at 70mph, OD off, it never even downshifted on the mountain passes.

I've found with both towing and hauling, having the cruise set at 70-72 is just right. I don't like pushing rpm too high, but if I go as low as 65mph, I guess I'm not into the power band, and it does a lot of downshifting. At 70 the rpm are high enough to give plenty of power, but not so high that it's stressing me out.

 

Check out Alu Cab. Pretty simple but very light weight.