How I carry my Four Wheel Camper Eagle on my Toyota Tacoma l Suspension Upgrades you NEED!

I discuss the suspension upgrades my Toyota Tacoma has and what is necessary to do to carry a Four Wheel Camper properly.

[@CarsonSchmidt03]

Yo! Long time since you posted this but I have some questions if you don’t mind. I also have a short bed taco and am getting an eagle fwc. Did you add wood under the camper to clear the truck depth and roof rack? And are the bed bars that lock in the camper the same as a 6ft bed? Thanks!

[@LiveWayOut]

I did not add wood. I do have the rubber mat the FWC sells that I need to sell and I have the short bed mounts sitting in my truck ready to be sold too. I do not believe the front mounts are the same if I remember correctly. I think the long bed uses a different mount. I could be wrong but I thought they were a bit different. I ordered the mounts and mat from FWC directly. If you are interested let me know. Where are you located? Also you will clear the roof rack with no mat. The mat helps with sliding. and gives you half an inch but it isn't needed.

[@grayman618]

Looks like a 6 ft bed would've been the first recommendation

[@LiveWayOut]

When you own your truck years before the camper you just roll with it 👍

[@elegantearth6523]

Looks great. If you don't mind my asking, what's your mpg like with the camper and upgrades?

[@LiveWayOut]

@@elegantearth6523 I was getting around 9-13 depending on where I was driving and how fast I was going. That’s loaded with water, tons of gear in the truck too. 33s and no regear

[@mreverything4629]

Beautiful rig bro

[@LiveWayOut]

Thanks man, I appreciate that. 🤙

[@motohaus1]

Thanks man!

[@ConnorRickey]

Would the tailgate close if this were in a 6ft bed? (asking for myself hahaha). Thanks!

[@LiveWayOut]

With the Eagle, I do not believe it will close. I think if you found a Finch or the SWIFT I believe it is, it would fit because those are made for short beds.

[@ConnorRickey]

@@LiveWayOut Good to know! Epic rig man, looking forward to having mine dialed like this!

[@LiveWayOut]

@@ConnorRickey thanks dude! I haven’t been using it as much as I should but it is so kickass you’ll love it

[@aharrington3]

I know this post is a bit old but if you happen to look - what do you have for your bike rack and swing away?

[@LiveWayOut]

My bike rack is a Thule T2 with an extension.I think it is a 8" or 10" extension. No swing away. I have a clamp on the extension so it doesn't rattle or jump around. Did lots of miles with this and worked great. Also use the rack as stairs to get in to the camper. Haven't had a problem

[@BlakeHemmel]

How much does the camper weigh? I'm getting a 475lb camper for my 22 TRD sport. Wondering if an add-a-leaf and the airbags will be enough for me?

[@LiveWayOut]

Camper is about 950lbs dry, with water and gear more. I had a shell and rtt on prior which was around 500 lbs combined and I just ran option 3 Icon leaf pack. But once loaded for trips I would sit level or slightly sag. Add a leaf and airbags will be plenty for that weight. What camper?

[@XtremeXJ]

Why an E rated tire for a 6K pound rig... ? It is loaded sure, but ALL the time ? Most tires are 2 or 3 ply sidewalls, KO2s are 3 ply with your E range tires having 10 TOTAL tread & sidewall. I'd be more concerned with 3/4 of ton in a lite duty 1/2 ton, which you've helped with suspension upgrades and Toyota are slightly overbuilt, but you still have the same stock 1/2 ton axles and components in the axle. The gearing would be on the forefront with my concerns.

[@LiveWayOut]

I have always ran E rated tires on this truck. Out here in the Southwest the trails are full of nasty jank and damage sidewalls before anything else usually. I don't offroad as much as I used to but I have always ran E rated on every rig I have owned and never have had problems. Sure tad bit rougher ride but the insurance for me is worth it. Yes you are right you can only build the truck to a point and it is still a tiny mid size with stock axles. When I have weight I don't drive it fast or hard and it does fine. I did the best bang for your buck modifications to haul this camper with, still be able to offroad my truck, and haul anything I may need to. Spending 3500 in gears just isn't something that is a priority since most of the time I am going 5-6 hours with the camper. If it aint broke don't fix it and save it is my motto lol

[@davelangley6304]

Sumo bags opinion?

[@LiveWayOut]

@@davelangley6304 they sound like people like them

[@BVDsGoneFishing]

Time for a bigger truck my guy.

[@nhmtnguy3802]

Any idea what you are getting for mileage?

[@LiveWayOut]

Based on my truck computer which is never fully accurate, fully loaded with water and gear, between 13-14 mpg. On some passes in third running around 65 it would drop to 12.5 but then the flats in 5th or 4th would pull it back to 14. So my guess would be a consistent 13-13.5 running around 70mph consistently. I’m pretty happy with it considering tire size and stock gearing.

[@nhmtnguy3802]

@@LiveWayOut Thanks, that sounds pretty good.

[@mikecagle984]

I usually carry mine on the bed of the truck🤣

[@geographyinaction7814]

Your Tacoma has a max payload of less than 1200 lbs in the double cab configuration. You cannot increase factory payload, you simply can't do it. Any weight added to your Tacoma, extra springs, airbags, anything, adds to the overall weight, and must actually be deducted from your payload. If you have added 75 lbs. to your weight through aftermarket upgrades, you have just made your available payload even less by the same 75 lbs. Payload must include the passengers, fuel, anything in the bed which includes the camper dry weight, water, gear and anything else you are carrying. Your dry weight camper, upgrades, you, tank of fuel, water, the whole bit, probably has you sitting at at least 300 lbs over but probably closer to 500 lbs. over the allowable GVW for your truck...you are now illegally overloaded. If you are pulled over in a Canadian Province or US State and are weighed, you are driving an illegal load. A new Ranger might get you roughly legal, but you need to remember that the Toyota Hilux trucks sold outside of N. America have roughly 1000 lbs. payload more than the ones sold here, people are being lead to believe that they can carry these, you can't. Suspension upgrades are attached to increase ride quality, not to increase payload, and as I have already pointed out, anything you add to the truck, even heavier tires, decreases your available payload. Go ahead and do this if you want, but don't advise others to do so. The truck's handling, braking, and overall safety are now seriously compromised.

[@LiveWayOut]

I am well aware of the payload issues. I’m not advising people to ignore their payloads, I am literally explaining how I carry this camper in my truck, the safest way possible given the circumstances. You know before the Internet no one cared about payload. If it worked, you did it. I’m not crunching numbers and worrying about that, I’m a bit overload my truck did great on a 3k trip no problems. Do you see all the pos cars pulling trailers down the road? Way more worrisome than a camper in the truck. A trailer being pulled behind a car that isn’t made to pull it is far more dangerous. Anyways, thanks for the insight, however not once did I advise people to go against their payload. I’m frankly showing what I do. As do 100s of others who put campers in their Tacomas. Also, the majority of campers in full-size trucks are too heavy too. They are over payload. Unless it’s a 250/350 3/4 ton. Have a good day, and remember just send it 🤘

[@geographyinaction7814]

@@LiveWayOut I get what you are doing, I just don't like the camper companies claiming these campers work for Tacomas...now if we could buy a Hilux in Canada or the States, that would be a different story altogether, as the Hilux payload would be closer to 2200 lbs.

[@djkenny1202]

I honestly would not care much.

[@Teporame]

@@geographyinaction7814I have not seen a single report of any of all those terrible things that you predict will happen when installing a camper on the bed of a Tacoma. Isn’t it weird?