Jr_Explorer
Explorer
I love your truck & camper! They look well matched and refined. I hate you. JUST KIDDING! Have fun with your baby.
Forest Service Road Adventure Mobile
- Thread starter Runt
- Start date
"Tacoma's are great but don't have adequate braking power for a camper and hauling a trailer with two sleds. They only reason for going with the Tundra."
Do you mean not enough braking power hauling the camper with a trailer or just even hauling the camper in the back?
Sweet rig....again!
Do you mean not enough braking power hauling the camper with a trailer or just even hauling the camper in the back?
Sweet rig....again!
I've got a Kelderman Air Ride suspension and probably had a little too much air in the front bags at the time of the photo. With the heavy diesel engine and under bed storage, front mounted spare tire, me and my dog and some tools in the cab there is actually more weight over the front axle. Gross vehicle weight rating is 8510lbs. and fully loaded with winter gear it weighs in at 8800 lbs. but doesn't exceed the tire or axle weight ratings. Pulls great and goes 120kph/75mph with no problem on the highway. 5 speed manual tranny and 4x4 of course.
I love the custom Phoenix camper: 2 20lb propane tanks and Honda gen set, each in its own insulated storage box, 2" insulation everywhere, two layers of Thinsulate knock-off sandwiched between two layers of fabric for the pop-up soft walls. Very little condensation to deal with. AGM battery, 20k btu furnace with a duct to the shower stall that makes it almost sauna like when showering.
I don't run the water system in winter and pack water in jugs instead. For showering I use a primitive portable shower called a Hot Juggz. It is essentially a 2 gallon pump-up garden sprayer with a pressure release valve and low flow shower head. I heat up water on the stove and then take a shower with less than 2 gallons of water.
The coldest weather that I've camped in was -18C/0F and it was quite comfortable. Bring on the winter!
I love the custom Phoenix camper: 2 20lb propane tanks and Honda gen set, each in its own insulated storage box, 2" insulation everywhere, two layers of Thinsulate knock-off sandwiched between two layers of fabric for the pop-up soft walls. Very little condensation to deal with. AGM battery, 20k btu furnace with a duct to the shower stall that makes it almost sauna like when showering.
I don't run the water system in winter and pack water in jugs instead. For showering I use a primitive portable shower called a Hot Juggz. It is essentially a 2 gallon pump-up garden sprayer with a pressure release valve and low flow shower head. I heat up water on the stove and then take a shower with less than 2 gallons of water.
The coldest weather that I've camped in was -18C/0F and it was quite comfortable. Bring on the winter!
uriedog
metal melter
Hey, I ran into you last winter in Lake Louise. I'm the one that had the hard side camper on the flat deck Toyota. I'm still looking for a good pop up. One more winter in the hard sided camper I guess. Although I do have a dodge 2500 now, so more weight options!
I meant with the camper and all my work gear plus a trailer. Add a couple hundred pounds of tools, instruments, supplies for a couple weeks, fuel & water, two 700 lb snowmobiles.....it gets heavy fast. Trailer brakes never last in rough use on the forestry roads day in day out and I haul a multitude of single axle trailers all with out brakes.
Thanks for the update on your experiences and insights. Curious, what kind of gas mileage are you getting with the Tundra and camper?
With all your tools and equipment have you considered using a utility bed for the truck (trying to decide this for myself)? Have you ruled it out for reasons other than additional cost?
With all your tools and equipment have you considered using a utility bed for the truck (trying to decide this for myself)? Have you ruled it out for reasons other than additional cost?
Best I have done so far is 16....usually get 12 to 14 mpg. I did look into a flat deck with storage below the deck. Issue was the way I wanted it done to make it worth my while the flat deck would be considerably more weight then the box. The service body company spec. was aluminum with treated wood deck. Weight adds up quick so I'm careful to add it only where I need it and the resale value of the camper and truck is pretty much nil.
redthies
Renaissance Redneck
Perfect. That fits my budget. Call me when you build the next dream machine. I'll gladly take either of your Tacoma or Tundra!
Recent Pix form weekend outing to traversing part of the Alexander Mackenzie trail around Kluskoil Lk:
Trail In:
Typical Mud hole:
River Crossing:
Rickety bridge:
Camp spot:
Camp spot:
Typical fishing holes on Black Water River:
All in all the girls loved the camper....especially the bathroom lol.....oh and the escape hatch in the top was a big hit for looking at the stars. Camper held up even though the trail was far rougher then any thing a camper should be put subjected too. Smacked it off a few trees and no dents!
Trail In:
Typical Mud hole:
River Crossing:
Rickety bridge:
Camp spot:
Camp spot:
Typical fishing holes on Black Water River:
All in all the girls loved the camper....especially the bathroom lol.....oh and the escape hatch in the top was a big hit for looking at the stars. Camper held up even though the trail was far rougher then any thing a camper should be put subjected too. Smacked it off a few trees and no dents!
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Mundo4x4Casa
West slope, N. Ser. Nev.
I like your whole concept. You have some interesting features like the way the rear spare attaches. This should work well with the small, light wheels/tires you have. Since I must carry two spare tires, I am going to try a spare on a frame similar to yours, only a swing away style that plugs into the Class V receiver.
I do have some questions. Is this a gas Toyota? Were you supplied with the winter drapes that hang all around the pop-up sides? Why do you still have the tailgate on? Do you use it for other reasons?
Good job on this project.
Our October 6th, 2012 campsite in the Northern Sierra Nevada:
regards, as always, jefe
I do have some questions. Is this a gas Toyota? Were you supplied with the winter drapes that hang all around the pop-up sides? Why do you still have the tailgate on? Do you use it for other reasons?
Good job on this project.
Our October 6th, 2012 campsite in the Northern Sierra Nevada:
regards, as always, jefe
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