06 Tacoma with ATC camper mod.

[slooowr6]

After a year of back and forth between, 235, 255 and 265.
With these in consideration:
1) Power lost.
2) Center of gravity. CG is pretty high on the truck cause of the camper.
3) Tire's ability to resist fold on off camper slop.
4) Tire weight.
5) Ride quality.
6) Quietness.
7) Traction on the terrain the camper will be on.
8) Price.
9) Side wall toughness.

Finally I decided to go with 265/75R16 Load Range D tire.

Nitto Terra Grappler 265/75R16 Load Range D.

The truck rides MUCH more stable now, I go through the same ditch everyday with the stock tire the rear of the truck will rock back and forth I always thought there is not enough damping in the shock. After putting on the Nitto drive through the same ditch the rear of the truck only swing slightly. I can't believe the stock tire flex that much. The Nitto gives me much more confidence going through a turn the stock tires are like marshmallow! The tire does ride a little harder compare to the stock marshmallow but it's not a bad thing.

 

[Prybry]

Question on tie downs...

Are you only using the front turn buckle tie downs? or do you have something to hold down the rear of the camper to the truck bed?

Did you have any problems with the tie downs coming loose during your first "shake down" trip? Did the camper move around much?

thanks,

 

[slooowr6]

Are you only using the front turn buckle tie downs? or do you have something to hold down the rear of the camper to the truck bed?

The rear is tie down with the internal tie down come with ATC/FWC.

Did you have any problems with the tie downs coming loose during your first "shake down" trip? Did the camper move around much?

thanks,

The rear did come loose as expected after first couple hundred miles. After re-tighten the turn buckle they have not come loose since. The camper does not move around in the ruck bed much in my 25miles drive to race track in DV.

 

[slooowr6]

how the truck sits from the side, not as pretty as 255/85.

 

[tele'n]

did you have 255's with a pic on this thread? i went back a few but didn't see any?
i have a taco access cab in white but went with a roof topper instead of a full camper. i debating the 255 size but not too sure yet. i'm presently using the 265 but want a skinnier tire for my winter adventures up here in canada.

 

[slooowr6]

did you have 255's with a pic on this thread? i went back a few but didn't see any?
i have a taco access cab in white but went with a roof topper instead of a full camper. i debating the 255 size but not too sure yet. i'm presently using the 265 but want a skinnier tire for my winter adventures up here in canada.

I went with a 265/75R16 instead of a 255/85R16. The power lost from going to a bigger tire from OEM size is very noticeable with the camper on the truck. I'm glad I stay with a 32" tire instead 33". The power lost from going to a 33" tire is noticeable. You can read about Redline's thread about his regear decision to use a 255/85R16 tire. Redline has a V8 4runner. A 265/75R16 tire actual diameter vary from 31.5" to 31.9" depends on which manufacture. Take a look at 235/85R16 some people are happy with this size, the catch is this size usually comes in load range E.

 

[kcowyo]

. The power lost from going to a bigger tire from OEM size is very noticeable with the camper on the truck. I'm glad I stay with a 32" tire instead 33". The power lost from going to a 33" tire is noticeable.

Even with the supercharger?

I went from a 265/70/16 to a 285/75/16, before getting the FWC (but with the SC already). I couldn't tell much difference at all. Perhaps a slight lag in getting it rolling but once up to travelling speed, the power was still there with plenty in reserve.

So is the ATC staying on the truck fulltime?

 

[slooowr6]

Even with the supercharger?

I went from a 265/70/16 to a 285/75/16, before getting the FWC (but with the SC already). I couldn't tell much difference at all. Perhaps a slight lag in getting it rolling but once up to travelling speed, the power was still there with plenty in reserve.

So is the ATC staying on the truck fulltime?

Yes, the ATC stay on the truck pretty much fulltime. I use anothe 10year old car as DD.
Have not tried without the camper on the truck. I would say without the camper going to a 33" with supercharger should not have that much of difference. With the camper on the truck after I switch to 265/75/16 (31.5") the supercharger engage much more ofter than when I have the oem 245/75/16 (30.5"). Once the SC kicks in the truck has plenty power to move but MPG goes way down on the scangauge. So I'm thinking with the OEM tire the truck has just enough power to give the truck a reasonable acceleration and SC helps when extra power is needed. By going up 2 size in tire, it tips the scale to the truck just have not enough power to move the truck so SC kicks in more often to help and this hurts the MPG. I think the bigger tire lower the RPM also hurts the power.

 

[tele'n]

Thanks for the info. i'm running the 265 now but want a skinnier tire but not really any smaller. don't know if they make such a beast or not.

 

[slooowr6]

Thanks for the info. i'm running the 265 now but want a skinnier tire but not really any smaller. don't know if they make such a beast or not.

235/85R16 is a 32" tire it may actually taller than some 265/75R16 tires. not sure it 235 is too skinny for you. The Yokohama Geolander AT-s in 235 the thread width is actually about the same as OEM Dunlop in 245/75R16.

 

[tele'n]

235/85R16 is a 32" tire it may actually taller than some 265/75R16 tires. not sure it 235 is too skinny for you. The Yokohama Geolander AT-s in 235 the thread width is actually about the same as OEM Dunlop in 245/75R16.

ohhh... ok! i'll have to do some checking on this stuff then. my favourite tire i saw was on a military benz up here in canada.
thanks

 

[ScottBailey]

Tripp-Lite Inverter/Charger

I bought a Tripp-Lite 1250w inverter/charger and sent it to ATC

slooowr6:

Considering a Tripp-Lite install. Worth it, or not?

SB

 

[slooowr6]

slooowr6:

Considering a Tripp-Lite install. Worth it, or not?

SB

I would say it's worth it. The Tripp-Lite is a inverter/smart charger so whenever it's plug into shore power it'll recharge the house battery. It's pretty convenient that I can charge the battery without moving the bench, open the battery box, get a charger and etc. Having a 110v in the camper is pretty nice.

 

[slooowr6]

Recently I got Spidertrax 1.25" spacer for both front and the back. I was hoping a wider track will help with the high center of gravity cause by the camper. After 400 miles, I decided to remove the front spacers today. The spacer cause the steering very sensitive to the road surface. I did some rough calculation. If the horizontal distance between the center of the rim to the pivot of the steering is 4.5" adding 1.25" backspace will increase the force at the tie rod end by 27%. The spacer also changed the scrub radius. I did a quick test drive after remove the spacers. It feels much better now. I left the spacers on the rear cause most of the weight is on the rear. I'll give it some more time and see if I want to keep it on the rear.

 

[slooowr6]

A trip to the Benette Juniper:

The Juniper tree is really impressive and Ken is very friendly to talk to.