Setting up for my truck camper on tundra need advice

1. I going to do a rear trd sway bar and Firestone airbags and bilstein 4600 for the suspension so far but I wondering what is a budget leaf spring that stays at stock height and gives some help with camper that is on half the time for I live in it and move from place to place the camper is a 1995 lamce squirelite 150s 8'6" short bed and my truck is a 2012 tundra limited 2wd 5.7 gas

 

Yes I have proper mounts coming for the camper

 

General spring sells an HD Leaf spring that is stock height. Reasonably priced as well. Most aftermarket springs are going to be for lifted applications so the General Spring is the only HD option I’ve been able to find. Airbags or other suspension enhancements such as RAS (not sure if it’s robust enough for the weight) or Sumo springs might work. I’ve run airbags for years on my tundra and love them but a proper spring pack is a better option, IMO.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2nd-gen-anyone-running-general-hd-leaf-springs-installed.140947/

 

The general springs may help, but they are rated for 2000# and the lightest Lance slide in weighs in at 2100# dry. It’s way too much camper for that truck.

 

According to this, the dry weight is 1490. Already at or close to payload (since it’s a 2wd) before water, battery, propane, or anything else is loaded. Adding more parts only reduces the payload.

https://www.lancecamper.com/docs/Lance_1995_brochure.pdf

Need a bigger truck.

 

If that camper is only 1490# dry that’s at least a better start. By the time you load gear and what not you are likely still over payload and potentially axle ratings.

 

That’s a big camper - I run a FWC fleet maybe 200 or so days out the year. Front and rear sway, e rated tires and ride right airbags have done me very well.

 

I like where this is going...

I'd say if you are running airbags, you probably won't need heavier leaf springs. For you, start with the bags first and see how it goes.

 

This 150s is 1500~ dry

 

First thing 2wd has more payload then a 4wd also I'm on disability and living out of the camper I need something reliable and truck is paid off the camper is the lightest non pop up I could afford I got it for 1800 no leaks or damage everything works and yes it right about ay payload but I seen others run lamce 650 on there tundra those dry rate 2100 so I doing pretty good , I figure by doing a front and rear trd sway bar the Airbags and upgraded springs and shicks I be ok , it be slow process saving up each month and buying a part each month i be ok the truck did handle the camper pretty good on the ride home I just trying make it best I can

Thank you for your input I do appreciate it

 

Air bags, sway bar, brake upgrade.

 

And probably different tires that are e rated

 

Yeah I plan going to 18s because seems they make more e rated tires that are all terrain that are reseasonqbly priced

 

It’ll work. But a very heavy camper on a not-so-heavy duty truck.

 

Also like I said I'm on disability (SSi) pretty much live in the camper and the trick is paid off do it not like I can get another truck or another camper Sadly I got make do with what I have and so I just trying make the best of it but thank u

 

I'm wanting put a truck camper on my SR5 as well.

 

Another bump for e rated tires and ride rites

 

That's EXACTLY what I joined this forum for. So I could learn about what I need to do to put a slide in on my 2014 SR5. It's a 5.7l 4 wheel drive, Rough Country Vertex suspension, TRD front and rear sway bar, ARB bumper with Smitty Built 10K winch. 305/55R20 A/T tires. Not sure if they are E rated or not. Probably not. Currently has a bed cap but I'm wanting to put a camper on it. I've looked at several but haven't really paid attention to the weight. It has the stock spring pack.

 

If you are going to have some rough access roads, maybe look into agm battery as well. Mine crapped out on this trip, but it was also end of life.

 

AGM battery? Oh, yeah, a new 12V battery. Yeah, this one is probably about ready to go. Although I've checked it with my meter and it's still good. Thank you for the advice! I'm seriously contemplating selling my house and heading up to the NW and living there. So my truck would definitely be gone through and gotten to be ship shape.

 

Thread revival to ask about weight and how it has handled it. Does the camper live there full time?

 

I think this is much heavier than 1500. How has the truck handled it? Does it stay there full time?

 

I added trd sway bar and first one air bags and new heavy load shock and heavy load load struts and coil overin front plus trd front sway bar and and front trembren and rear general spring for heavy loads then I put 116 xl all terrain tires size r18 and then I added happi jack mounts with happi jack turnbuckes

 

This pleases me, it's very similar to what I have in mind. Does it live there full time? Have ya broken anything? Are you happy with the happijack? It's a bit of a tossup between those and the torqlift

 

It was on there for long period sadly my camper was damage by milton I currently working with fema see I can get help fix it again

I haven't broke anything on the truck it even drives better with camper off

I also recommend getting a rubber bed matt it helps keeps camper from shifting and recommend getting backup and rearview camera for when the camper is mounted

 

The bed mat is a great idea, I definitely had the back of it shift around a bit on me. I did the camera above the door and it's been great since it doubles as my rearview mirror. I've gotta mount some lights on mine as well since it's longer than the bed and kinda hides tail lights.

 

Make sure do leds I had upgrade my camper to leds because u could barely see the lights during the day

 

it stays on from April to late October / early November. Handles it fantastic. Camper is about 800lbs.

Just took it off to rebuild this winter actually.

 

Only 800? Is that a "cowboy camper" with like no interior?

 

Ba

Basically - it’s a 72 four wheel camper fleet. Lightening it up further this winter. (Going to take some length off it)