Is A Slide In Camper Possible?

So is it possible to haul a slide in, cab over style camper in a 2nd gen? I know I have seen it done, but I want to remain safe.

My current set up is a 2008 Double Cab TRD Off Road, Bilstein 5100 with 885's on the front, Bilstein 5100's on the rear with Dakar Leaf Springs.

My wife says it must have a bathroom, I say I must be able to still use the trailer hitch for towing.

Do any of you wonderful people know of any camper setup that meets this criteria, or should I face reality and accept that I would need a bigger truck?

Is there any options for me?

 

They make them. I wouldn't buy one. You won't be able to tow anything with any slide-in camper in your truck.

The issue is payload. Every truck is different, find the payload sticker and GVWR sticker on your drivers door or door jamb. The listed payload is the actual weight of your truck when it rolled off the assembly line subtracted from GVWR. My trucks payload is 1200 lbs and most Tacoma's will be in the ballpark. ANYTHING you add to the truck eats up payload. The best way to accurately determine payload is to actually weigh your truck with you, your wife, and all gear inside of it and subtract that number from GVWR. It will be LESS than the number on your truck.

I weigh 220 lbs, my wife about 140. That leaves me 840 lbs payload for a slide in camper and everything in it and in the truck. If I could find one that come in under 840 lbs loaded then it would work. BUT I seriously doubt you'd have enough payload left over for the tongue weight of even a light trailer. A 2000 lb trailer would have over 250 lbs of tongue weight.

You CAN however pull a pretty good size trailer weighing 4000-5000 lbs with your truck. Maybe a bit more and have much more room.

If you insist on a slide in camper you're better off with a 3/4 ton minimum. And even many 3/4 ton trucks don't have enough payload. A 1 ton might be a better option unless you choose a 3/4 ton carefully. Payload ratings are all over the place depending on the individual truck. Most 1/2 tons can vary from 1100 lbs (less than a Tacoma) to over 2100 lbs.(more than many 3/4 tons). Some 3/4 tons have less than 2000 lbs payload and some near 4000 lbs. If you're buying a truck to tow/haul reading the payload stickers is an important task that many don't figure out until they buy a truck that won't handle the load they want to pull/carry.

 

With a bathroom and still tow something. You'll need a bigger truck.

 

Add a shower curtain for privacy and you just saved yourself thousands

 

@VanDoom I don't think my wife would go for the bucket pool noodle toilet mod. Me I wouldn't even need that!

@MarshallR and @brac2015 I pretty muck knew all of that, I just needed to hear it from everybody else. I guess I was just hoping for a miracle. haha

Thanks!

 

Marshall nailed it. These things are not set up to haul weight in them. Buy a camper top used add a air mattress and have fun fixing up the insides. One of these with a camper top makes a heck of a camping unit. 12V RV TV if I were young again that would be one cool way to travel and explore the outdoors.

 

Light weight aluminum framed pop up campers made by Four Wheel Campers (FWC) and All Terrain Campers (ATC) are specifically made for Tacomas. Don't expect a bathroom though, just a porta potti and an outside shower.

I also suggest visiting a forum populated largely by FWC and ATC owners called Wander the West. http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/

 

You can do a pop up camper, like a four wheel camper. The majority dont have a bathroom, thought it is an option that can be added, and other options can be removed to make up for the weight. My four wheel camper is under weight even with gear. Theres a very nice full camper called a Nu Cirrus https://nucamprv.com/cirrus-camper/lineup/ They are supposed to be adding a camper for a half ton truck to their lineup this year.

 

But you couldn't tow a boat at the same time.

 

Ahh missed the part he mentioned still being able to use hitch. Please disregard post.

 

That's still a very sweet camper. I want one!

 

Thanks for the suggestions you guys!