TRD Pro payload capacity for a slide-in camper?

Hello everybody!

I have a 2018 Tacoma TRD Pro and I'm looking into getting a slide-in camper. I want a slide-in as opposed to a trailer primarily for better maneuverability in urban areas and ease of parking. Two of the options I'm really interested in are the Kimbo Camper 6 Series and the Scout YOHO. I'm not too savvy on terms like "payload capacity," "GVWR," "tongue weight," etc. and how flexible the definitions are. Looking for some assistance with understanding these terms and guidance with a possible need to modify the truck.

Kimbo Camper 6 Series


Scout YOHO


From Googling info, it looks like the payload of TRD Pro is 1155 lbs. According to the manufacturers' sites, the Kimbo weighs 900-1050 lbs and the Scout weighs 958 lbs. From my research, these are "dry weights." Should the truck be okay without mods since the weights technically fall within the payload capacity? Is payload something I can increase on a TRD Pro? If I need mods, what do I get? Will the "GVWR" come in to play once the camper is actually on the truck? I'm really not a math guy and there are so many numbers I did not expect, making this complicated for me...

I appreciate you Tacoma gurus out there!

 

If you put one of those in on the stock leafs, it’s gonna be on the bump stops

@YF_Ryan has a scout in his truck

 

GVWR is determined by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. The Tacoma's is very low. It doesn't include fuel, or passengers. A family of 4 can easily kiss the GVWR with normal camping gear and 0 mods.

You can modify the truck to better handle the weight - common upgrades would be suspension via springs and/or airbags, big brake kit, and a tune. None of that will increase the GVWR, but it will make the vehicle safer & more pleasurable to operate when overloaded. This is what many people do - most heavily modified tacomas are over GVWR, in many cases quite far over it.

If you're not willing to go over GVWR you're stuck with a tent-style, *maybe* a pop-up like Project M or Ovrlnd, or moving up to a bigger truck.

 

Payload capacity = the weight of EVERYTHING that you put into your Taco, i.e. the camper, you, your passenger(s), your equipment and everything you put into your camper. If your camper's dry weight is 1,000 lbs and your Taco's rated payload capacity in 1,050 lbs, then you best go on a diet.
Now, that said, there are things you can do to increase the payload capacity of your Taco. BUT keep in mind that those are typically only suspension enhancements. Your Taco is designed around what its total weight could be - things like the frame, the brakes, etc.
Can you exceed the capacity? Sure. Many of us do on occasion (or frequently). But when we do we're exceeding what the total truck is designed and rated for.
I understand the desire to avoid a trailer, but quite honestly it may serve your needs better and allow you to carry more in the Taco and avoid that extreme diet.

 

Thanks for the tag, man!

@txrninvestor, here's a thread I started: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/scout-yoho-slide-in-truckbed-camper.716186/

Wife and I are flat out loving our Scout.

 

And here's me loaded to the hilt!

Survived a 2000 mile roadtrip easily. But drank gas like none other. A little over 7mpg average.

 

When you put people, equipment and fuel in the truck plus the slide in camper you are going to grossly exceed the GVWR. Not only is that illegal but it’s dangerous too. If you are set on a slide in camper then you need to get a full size truck.
Stopping that truck when it’s grossly over weight becomes a real problem. With all the weight and the higher center of gravity with the camper vehicle control also becomes a real problem when you have to stop suddenly or swerve for something. Finally when you have an accident and you are grossly overweight, your liability increases and you will get the shit sued out of you. So you need a different truck or look into a moderate weight travel trailer.

 

I'm not a stickler for weight generally but the stopping distance on this has got to be as eyepopping as the MPG. Not something I would plan to do if I had the budget OP is talking about(80k minimum?). There's no shortage of capable trucks in the US. Why by one that doesn't fit your needs and then try to force it?

 

You are mostly right, but depending on manufacturer people do or do not deduct from the payload. Some manufacturers assume a driver in the vehicle of some weight (i've seen both 150 and 170, for example), but I have also seen a manufacturer use 150 lbs per available seat (which I was seriously surprised about, cause that added up to 900lbs for the crew cab with bench seats). This should be spelled out in any vehicles owners manual. In the case of Toyota, they do state that ALL people need deducted from cargo capacity (snip below from 2021 Tacoma Manual). As for fuel, I have yet to see any manufacturer that does not include a full tank of fuel when calculating their Payload/GVWR/etc. As for liability/etc, yup, I'm with you. Personally I have made a decision, and everyone needs to do that for themselves. I am not suggesting anyone blow past their GVWR, at least not without giving it serious thought. But if the OP wants a truck camper, as long as he does the research and still wants to do it, more power to him.

 

Those Scout's are cool campers but they look goofy AF with how high above the bed rails they sit on Tacomas... actually they look that way on every truck I've seen 'em on.

Seems like a lot of waster space.

I'll also add that putting a truck camper in a Tacoma is in the same category of "but why" as white water stand up paddle boarding, mountain unicycling, and snowshoe running.

 

The pickup was paid for years before the mods. Bought it new in 2011, didn't start modding it til about 5 years ago. Stopping, even panic stops haven't been an issue. Trailer brakes even became disconnected once and I was still able to stop the load (since replaced trailer connector to avoid that happening again). I contemplated a sway bar, but deemed it unnecessary after our 2000 mile roadtrip (my sister's Raptor pulling an 18ft enclosed trailer had more issue with wind than us).

I will definitely be buying a completely different style truck once the Tacoma wears out. Ram 5500 with Flatbed is our actual next plan. but this will do in the meantime.

 

The high sides are based on full sized trucks and the height of their bedsides. They needed to make it fit as many vehicles as possible.

 

As for that budget, our camper was about 23K i believe, after taxes. And like the OP, I already had the truck.

 

Short answer, it works with only needing airbags with stock suspension. I own a Kimbo and met another with a Yoho. Long answer:

I love my setup and have taken it off road where a trailer would not work. MPG’s are about what a Tundra gets when stock. We have a thread with a lot if info on the Kimbo here and I believe there is a tread on the Yoho too.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kimbo-camper-bs-and-mods.651104/

 

Check your driver's door jamb for a sticker that looks like this. Your payload is likely around 950lbs which puts you over the GVWR with just the empty camper and no driver, passengers, food, gear, etc. You can do it with appropriate heavy duty suspension mods as demonstrated by many people on this forum but it isn't technically legal. Whether you plan to only put the camper on the back when you use it or carry it all the time will dictate how you will want to approach the upgrading process.

 

I love Dalmore!

 

The Cigar Malt is a favorite.