Alu Cab Khaya

[chuckburt28]

Considering all options, I am hoping to get some thoughts on the Khaya. I do like that it is a total enclosed camper as opposed to a topper shell, and really is well-designed. My concern is the weight and I'm hoping I have bad info. The website says the weight ranges from 900-1600 lbs, which I'm assuming still doesn't factor in battery, and of course water, etc. I would assume I would option it out, but maybe not. Where this is built for the small truck world, how does anyone not totally blow way past their payload limit just by the install, especially if they take their family with them in the truck? My Colorado's payload limit is 1488, I have seen that Tacomas are the same or even less, but many have installed these and not looked back. Am I overthinking the payload limit numbers, or how do others make this work? I realize that there are suspension upgrades to help, but that doesn't change the payload limit, right? Or is there really a way to increase the payload limit?

 

[gnel]

Considering all options, I am hoping to get some thoughts on the Khaya. I do like that it is a total enclosed camper as opposed to a topper shell, and really is well-designed. My concern is the weight and I'm hoping I have bad info. The website says the weight ranges from 900-1600 lbs, which I'm assuming still doesn't factor in battery, and of course water, etc. I would assume I would option it out, but maybe not. Where this is built for the small truck world, how does anyone not totally blow way past their payload limit just by the install, especially if they take their family with them in the truck? My Colorado's payload limit is 1488, I have seen that Tacomas are the same or even less, but many have installed these and not looked back. Am I overthinking the payload limit numbers, or how do others make this work? I realize that there are suspension upgrades to help, but that doesn't change the payload limit, right? Or is there really a way to increase the payload limit?

It was built for the small truck world but not the USA small truck world. The USA small trucks suspension is built more for comfort than heavy loads.

My truck has a 980 kilo payload and the Hilux is 960. I'm sure the rest (Isuzu, Nissan,Mitsubishi ect.) are similiar but not in the USA.

You should be able to get more payload with a suspension upgrade. My brother did with his murican taco.

 

[SimplyAnAdventure]

I rocked one for a few years on a DCOR TACOMA and to be honest we freaking loved it.

Super well built comfortable, heater was amazing all and all it was a great camper.

I sold it to a member on here, truck and all, whose screen name I can’t recall or I’d tag him. He’s is adventuring all over CO with it now.

All that said it was too small to really live or work comfortably out of but as a camper it was great. We did many multi week trips and it had been from the South East to Maine all the way to Glacier and many points in between.


Here she is in current form (from the CO owner). One thing I really miss is the ability to hold things on the roof!!!

My new build is a lot more spacious but I can’t carry my boats anymore. :-(

 

[chuckburt28]

I rocked one for a few years on a DCOR TACOMA and to be honest we freaking loved it.

Super well built comfortable, heater was amazing all and all it was a great camper.

I sold it to a member on here, truck and all, whose screen name I can’t recall or I’d tag him. He’s is adventuring all over CO with it now.

All that said it was too small to really live or work comfortably out of but as a camper it was great. We did many multi week trips and it had been from the South East to Maine all the way to Glacier and many points in between.

View attachment 879586
Here she is in current form (from the CO owner). One thing I really miss is the ability to hold things on the roof!!!

My new build is a lot more spacious but I can’t carry my boats anymore. :-(

Thank you for sharing. Really nice rig you had there. I guess what I'm wondering is, (if you don't mind me asking) how far over your payload capacity were you sitting, and how did you come to terms with that? This is me honestly asking and I sincerely hope I am not coming across negatively. I would love one of these, and am trying to figure out if I should just buy a bigger truck and modify to make the Khaya work on a 2500 so I can not think about the payload numbers, or if it really isn't that big of a deal and people usually just don't pay attention to them?

 

[MR E30]

Thank you for sharing. Really nice rig you had there. I guess what I'm wondering is, (if you don't mind me asking) how far over your payload capacity were you sitting, and how did you come to terms with that? This is me honestly asking and I sincerely hope I am not coming across negatively. I would love one of these, and am trying to figure out if I should just buy a bigger truck and modify to make the Khaya work on a 2500 so I can not think about the payload numbers, or if it really isn't that big of a deal and people usually just don't pay attention to them?

I have been rocking Alu-Cab's Canopy Camper, their empty, non-slide in version of the Khaya, for 4 years now, though they aren't exactly alike. This is on a 3rd gen DCLB Tacoma.

When I am 100% loaded, water and food and all, I am over GVWR, and I designed an exceedingly lightweight build for my camper. Meaning, no drawers of any kind, things bolted directly to the composite bed, things worked into areas in between things like the water tank and the fridge, instead of being in their own container, etc.

I have also done extensive modifications to the frame and suspension to handle the additional weight. Gearing also helped tremendously.

My truck drives great. On road and off road, with the custom tuned suspension, it is easy to forget I even have my house back there. However, it is definitely heavy, and if GVWR is something that really occupies space in your mind, then perhaps a bigger truck with a higher payload will give you piece of mind. I love modifying my truck, and I have a particular attachment to my Tacoma, therefore I went this route (and would again if I had to start all over) but I do see the value in something like an F250 Superduty or a Ram 2500.

The Khaya is definitely too heavy for me and my desires. It looks comically oversized on a short bed Tacoma as well, imo.

 

[chuckburt28]

I have been rocking Alu-Cab's Canopy Camper, their empty, non-slide in version of the Khaya, for 4 years now, though they aren't exactly alike. This is on a 3rd gen DCLB Tacoma.

When I am 100% loaded, water and food and all, I am over GVWR, and I designed an exceedingly lightweight build for my camper. Meaning, no drawers of any kind, things bolted directly to the composite bed, things worked into areas in between things like the water tank and the fridge, instead of being in their own container, etc.

I have also done extensive modifications to the frame and suspension to handle the additional weight. Gearing also helped tremendously.

My truck drives great. On road and off road, with the custom tuned suspension, it is easy to forget I even have my house back there. However, it is definitely heavy, and if GVWR is something that really occupies space in your mind, then perhaps a bigger truck with a higher payload will give you piece of mind. I love modifying my truck, and I have a particular attachment to my Tacoma, therefore I went this route (and would again if I had to start all over) but I do see the value in something like an F250 Superduty or a Ram 2500.

The Khaya is definitely too heavy for me and my desires. It looks comically oversized on a short bed Tacoma as well, imo.

Thank you. This is very helpful. It sounds like you didn't run into any driveability issues being over payload? Do you have any idea what your canopy camper adds in weight the way you have it configured?

 

[SimplyAnAdventure]

Thank you for sharing. Really nice rig you had there. I guess what I'm wondering is, (if you don't mind me asking) how far over your payload capacity were you sitting, and how did you come to terms with that? This is me honestly asking and I sincerely hope I am not coming across negatively. I would love one of these, and am trying to figure out if I should just buy a bigger truck and modify to make the Khaya work on a 2500 so I can not think about the payload numbers, or if it really isn't that big of a deal and people usually just don't pay attention to them?

Full transparency I am sure I was over GVWR but at the time it wasn’t something I was really paying attention to. It seemed all Tacomas setup had the same problem.

I never weighed the truck or truck/ camper combo and tbh I can’t remember what the door sticker said allowable payload was. It ran and drove safely and never gave me reason for concern.

I bought it from OK4WD and trusted them to steer me in the right direction. Without question it was heavy and likely exceeded GVWR since on a Taco that’s not much.

I can’t tell you if I’d recommend it or not but if it matters I now drive a 2023 F350 Tremor with 4214lbs. of payload and a GVWR of 11,499lbs. On a CAT scale my new rig is right about 10k fully loaded.

I only say this because now I know a little more about the subject and you see what I’m driving….

A Khaya on a Tundra would probably be even better and I believe Asheville Vehicle Outfitters has done a few like that. Calling them might be a good idea.

Basically a Taco has such low payload exceeding it is incredibly easy.

My buddy has a Tacoma built with the first Aterra prototype built on it, it’s been featured on this site several times. He had the GVWR on his truck changed and I am sure it’s heavier than my Tacoma was.


Article he wrote regarding changing GVWR.

Is Your Overland Vehicle Overweight? Here Is a Possible Solution - Expedition Portal

Many overland vehicles are exceed their Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and this can be a big problem. Here is one possible solution.

expeditionportal.com

 

[MR E30]

Thank you. This is very helpful. It sounds like you didn't run into any driveability issues being over payload? Do you have any idea what your canopy camper adds in weight the way you have it configured?

Not at all. My only 'issue' may be the decrease in gas mileage, a common complaint. I drive slowly, usually around 62 mph, to average just about 17 mpg overall. This is likely attributed more to the destruction of the aerodynamics of the truck due to having all sorts of things attached to it, rather than pure weight. I do drive more slowly in numerous situations, as I know my truck is big and heavy relative to how it was manufactured. I do not drive aggressively or above the speed limit anymore either. Never tailgating or anything like that. Basically, I realize my implications of my setup and react accordingly.

I do not, though it is definitely over GVWR, but fully loaded it isn't more than the 7,200 lb. listed in the linked article below. I had my rear leafs built for 1,300 lb. at 2" of lift, and it sits right at 2" over stock when loaded up.