Getting the Taco ready for a Four Wheel Camper

post-lift image

At some point last year, my wife and I decided that we wanted to add a slide in truck-camper. I researched campers for quite a while before narrowing down the choice to the Four Wheel Campers. I love their light weight designs and thought a Fleet model would look great on our 2014 Toyota Tacoma Offroad extended cab (six speed manual).

We visited our local distributor, Rocky Mountain Four Wheel Campers / Juniper Overland in Arvada, CO.

After checking out the different models and layouts, we decided to go with the Fleet, side-dinette model. We thought this configuration would work best for us. My wife often goes to bed before me(I'm an insomniac), so the side dinette’s table and the seat near the door could be used by myself, even with the bed extended/in use.

The initial plan was to go with a shell model and just build it up…until we stepped into the camper model. (They are really nice!) Long story short, we pretty much selected almost every option. She’s gonna be a well-fitted, but heavy beast.

Once we had our finances in line, We placed the order. This was is Feb of 2020, before Covid hit. At the time, we were given a 6 month lead time for the camper to be built out. During that time, Covid hit and the CA factories were closed. The build completion date for our camper was pushed out a painstaking 2 months. Our current pick-up date is now scheduled for October 9th, which is THIS FRIDAY!!!!(OMG). New 4WC builds are now sitting at 55 weeks, so we are very fortunate to have at least gotten our order placed before the RV-buying-craze began once Covid hit.

Some pretty serious suspension work on our truck would now need to happen to get the Tacoma ready to support all that weight. I’d already upgraded the truck’s tires to E Rated BFG KO2s on my stock 16” rims(now thinking about larger wheels and tires, but that's another topic). We don’t actually have a garage at our house and are planning on leaving the camper on 100% of the time. We’d discussed initially and just getting the Firestone airbags with the Daystar cradles. While this would have been the cheapest option, I didn’t want to trust our new camper on a single set of airbags. We ended up going with a full OME suspension system with the constant-load leaf springs, and bypass shocks in the rear. We also added the Firestone Ride-Rite airbags to help level out the truck and support the weight a bit easier. For the front, we went with OME BP-51 coilovers with adjustable SPC Upper Control arms.

The suspension gives the truck about a 3” lift in the front and a 6”(complete guess) lift in the rear, which should level off once we have the camper in place.

 

Did you get the camper yet?

 

Nice looking AC!

 

Looks good. Not sure if you've seen this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-fwc-thread.520138/

 

Thank you

 

Thinking about getting a camper, working on upgrading the suspension now. How is the ride without the camper in it with the constant load leaf springs. I dont think we will have the camper in year round.

 

I had an FWC Eagle (since discontinued) in my 2010 DCLB. I upgraded to OME Expedition pack along with Ride-Rite airbags. The ride was fine without the camper installed.

 

The OP hasn’t been back to TW since 10/2023, doubt we’ll hear from him again.

 

Good point, there's also this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-fwc-thread.520138/

 

Thats good to hear! I've heard nothing but how terrible the ride will be with heavy duty leaf pack without a heavy load in it. "Unrideable" as one of the online shock store customer service people put it. My ideal slide in camper is in the 1000-1200lb range.

At the moment I have a Stage 2 eibach suspension, with about 2" of lift. Rear AAL and sumo springs. I would eventually like to just upgrade the whole rear leaf pack to a heavy load setup and a rear sway bar. Any thoughts on the rear sway bar?

 

I run the Deaver U402 Stage 3 leaf springs. I thought I'd want to get a sway bar for the rear, but after our first trip with the camper (2500+ miles) I realized it was unnecessary. I never felt tippy at all. Since then I've put a lot more miles on and still happy with not adding a sway bar.

I will say my rear end is very stiff when unloaded. It is practically un-drivable if you leave the tires aired up to 60-65 like you have when the camper is loaded. Dropping them down to 30-35 helps a lot, but it's still stiff. But, I'll add, speed bumps at 10-20 the back-end wants to hop off the ground, but they feel pretty good hitting them over 50mph! hahaha. Paired my deavers with bilstein 5160s.

 

GO big or go home with the speed bumps haha. Thanks for the wisdom! I will skip the rear sway bar and see how she fairs without it for a bit. What camper are you running? The yoho? A scout is the dream for us. Someday

 

I didn't have the rear sway bar either. I think the air bags helped with that.

 

Yup, Scout Yoho. Picked it up September 2021. Love it.