2007+ Toyota Tundra long bed vs short bed for overlanding

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elevenrussians

New member
Time to upgrade our camping experience (not really, I am still keeping FZJ80) but after we had a sleeping platform in cruiser and our best friends scored an Alaskan camper  :drool: her mind is set on a slide in (8' Alaskan ideally, but used ones in decent shape are hard to come by...). However before getting a camper it seems like getting a truck first is a logical thing. I am Toyota-only guy, so its gotta be Tundra 5.7 4x4. However I am torn between double cab long bed and double cab short bed, so wanted to ask a question for long bed current/previous owners - besides parking space limitations what other issues have you experienced with how long the truck is. How capable is it off-road? Seems like there is way more space in 8' campers and they are easier to come by also, seems like long bed will be more useful for hauling stuff when needed... I am planning a moderate lift and bigger tires but nothing crazy.

Or is it way better idea to get a short bed and just use camper with open tailgate?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Believe the RCLB Tundra has enough payload to handle an 8' Alaska...believe the RC's payload is a smidge over 2000#.

8' Alaskan is 1776# wet (propane and water, no other provisions) So it wouldn't take much to blow past maximum capacity with a Tundra.

Looks like the DCSB and the DCLB have a payload of 1600#, so just the camper itself, you're already over payload.

3/4 or 1 Ton will handle that camper better.
 
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calicamper

Expedition Leader
Sadly toyota trucks are way to light for an alaskan. They are heavy when loaded. Even if you tweak the suspension your still dealing with braking limitations and the thirsty 5.7.

For that sort of camper, 2500 at least. Especially if you plan on long trips and lots of use camping. The tundra would work for the 2-3 short trips a yr. But its just too light for a near full timer use.
 
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elevenrussians

New member
I was wondering why there isn't a ton of pictures of Tundra's with Alaskan camper installed... Seems like a perfect combo. Are there other options for hard side camper that is lighter than Alaskan? Or the only reasonable way to go it pop-up. I have been always skeptical of them for cold weather camping perhaps for no reason?
 
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calicamper

Expedition Leader
Alaskan builds great campers. Their build hasnt changed since day one. We had one a 8ft non over cab type. On a full size 1T Dodge. Which we could put 22 bails of alfalfa on or nearly a cord of oak. The 1T carried the alaskan ok. But 3/4 plus 4dr and extended trip gear weight? You need 1T truck.
Even the guys running hawks on extended trips easily see 1200lbs or more, not counting passengers and extra toys.
 
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From what I read, all of the popups with fabric sides are horrible in the cold. The only other hard side popup available in the States that I know of is the XP Camper, think you're still flirting with going over payload though.

http://xpcamper.com/gdocs/?pdf=http..._16-Jun.pdf&title=V2 – Compact - Prices/Specs

cee0b7cba7889e3600860ec13416a602.jpg



If you want to stay with Toyota, could get a Hino, and don't have to worry too much about payload. :D Don't think you can get 4WD in the states though. IIRC there is a member on here, that has the part numbers to convert it to 4WD...you can get them with a diesel/electric hybrid drive train...that might be pretty cool.

http://www.hino.com/

Hino-500-GT1322-4x4-1-(2).jpg


Want to to stay with Japanese, can get a Fuso 4WD from the factory. http://www.mitfuso.com/mitsubishi-fuso/Canter-Work-Truck-Models/FG4X4

fuso-103.jpg
 
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SameGuy

SameGuy

Observer
The new generation of Tundras are great off road with a set of lockers installed, sadly not a factory option so ARB is your only choice, around $2500-$3500 front and back installed depending on what air compressor you run with. We have a 2012 double cab with the 6.5 ft bed. I don't find it too big offroad but it is a little more than I like to deal with in day to day driving, getting in and out of parking spots, etc, especially after the lift was installed and I lost a fair amount of turning radius. I don't think, knowing what I know now I would want a longer bed. Others above have mentioned but I will echo what they said about cargo capacity. Every slide in camper I have researched (and there have been a LOT) would push me over or so close to over weight I have abandoned the idea of getting one. It could be done with the addition of airbags (which I have) and or stiffer springs but at the expense of comfortable day to day driving, not to mention what 1500lbs. more weight high up would do to your offroad performance.

We have a beefed up teardrop which works great most of the time, and are working on a topper over the bed with a sleeping platform and storage solution underneath for when we want to travel lighter and faster, or further into unknown territory.

IMG_2780.jpg
 
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elevenrussians

New member
Thanks all for reply. I have an outfitted FZJ80 with platform/drawers/queen mattress which works for summer camping/more involved offroad. I was trying to stay brand-loyal but after further research it seems like it wifey wants comfort of a larger camper we gotta go with something domestic and larger. Looking at diesel dodge 2500/3500 now.
 
montypower

montypower

Adventure Time!
Tundra weight rating is low from the factory with passenger rated tires and soft suspension. It has no issue handling much more weight with proper suspension, shocks and tires. Mine handles as good or better than stock with about 2,500lbs or more on trips. It has deaver springs, sway bar, icon 2.5 resi. You can drive as fast as you want on the roughest roads. Motor has plenty of power. Brakes are massive. Any rig pulling similar weight will get similar mpg. I'm at 14mpg consistently loaded on trips. Have over 30k miles so far... no issues.

I'd get the DC short bed or Standard Cab Long Bed. For one reason: turning radius. Tundra has the best turning circle of any full size. It's the same as the Taco DC with 6ft bed. Rather impressive.
 
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montypower said:
Tundra weight rating is low from the factory with passenger rated tires and soft suspension. It has no issue handling much more weight with proper suspension, shocks and tires. Mine handles as good or better than stock with about 2,500lbs or more on trips. It has deaver springs, sway bar, icon 2.5 resi. You can drive as fast as you want on the roughest roads. Motor has plenty of power. Brakes are massive. Any rig pulling similar weight will get similar mpg. I'm at 14mpg consistently loaded on trips. Have over 30k miles so far... no issues.

I'd get the DC short bed or Standard Cab Long Bed. For one reason: turning radius. Tundra has the best turning circle of any full size. It's the same as the Taco DC with 6ft bed. Rather impressive.
Click to expand...

They say the Tundra is built like a 3/4 Ton....I would worry about the legal aspect of it, if you ever wreck it being overloaded the lawyers would have a field day in court. You can re-rate a vehicle's GVWR to a lower spec on paper, don't think you can do it the other way around without some serious paperwork fussing.


http://www.worktruckonline.com/chan.../03/re-rating-gvwr-why-and-how-it-s-done.aspx
 
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TacomaJack09

TacomaJack09

Observer
Look into Northern Lite and Bigfoot fiberglass slide in campers. Also, Callen, NW Custom Campers, Camp Lite, and I've seen Four Wheel Campers make there models hard sided. I believe the 6ft northern lite and Bigfoot campers are around 1200 wet. That's what I'm looking into anyway!!
 
p nut

p nut

butter
TacomaJack09 said:
Look into Northern Lite and Bigfoot fiberglass slide in campers. Also, Callen, NW Custom Campers, Camp Lite, and I've seen Four Wheel Campers make there models hard sided. I believe the 6ft northern lite and Bigfoot campers are around 1200 wet. That's what I'm looking into anyway!!
Click to expand...

Even at 1200 wet, doesn't that only leave a couple hundred pounds at best for DC/CM Tundra's? Add in passengers and other cargo, and you're over GVWR. To me, GVWR is like towing capacity. I never want to test out its limits--I stay well below.

I agree with most here. Get a 2/3500. I get a kick out of people claiming their overloaded rig handles better than stock. Like Toyota engineers are clueless idiots. :D
 
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surlydiesel

Adventurer
I've been having the same debate and decided that the Tundra will only work as a tow rig for us. If we want to get a truck camper again, it will be in a 1 ton domestic. Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

Cheers,
Jorge
 
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