Skinhyfish
Observer
Curious peoples opinions on theirs. Might put on a tundra, curious if it had that too heavy feel. Also curious what people liked and disliked. Thanks you all
Zach
Zach
Scout camper feel too heavy?
- Thread starter Skinhyfish
- Start date
rruff
Explorer
A Scout is one of the lightest hardside campers. But loaded up, you are going to be over GVWR. If that bothers you, then forget it. You need to get a more heavy duty truck.
If it doesn't bother you, upgrade your suspension and install E-rated tires, and it will handle fine. Precise recommendations will depend on your use case.
If it doesn't bother you, upgrade your suspension and install E-rated tires, and it will handle fine. Precise recommendations will depend on your use case.
Skinhyfish
Observer
Upgraded suspension and airbags already. Curious with height it has a top heavy feel.
rruff
Explorer
Don't put a few hundred pounds of stuff on the roof, and it should be fine...
Mine is larger than a Kenai, and it handles twisty roads and crosswinds just fine. The Scouts look like they should have decent aero. The vertical CG will go up very little, considering that the camper weighs maybe 1/6 as much as the truck.
Just picked our Olympic up the other day and put it on a 2nd gen Tundra. 1275 lbs empty on the tag. E rated tires, Airbags, 3" lift. Drove great up I70 in CO. No problems, no swaying, etc. Got a little rocking forward and back on some weird pavement bumps on the highway. Pretty bad mpg on the uphills.
I'm not planning on adding much weight. We decided against the RTT due to the weight and it being high up for CG. Will probably get a trailer for motos and mtbs and any additional gear. I need one anyway for work.
I'm not planning on adding much weight. We decided against the RTT due to the weight and it being high up for CG. Will probably get a trailer for motos and mtbs and any additional gear. I need one anyway for work.
mukker4life
New member
I agree with Shredgnar, have an Olympic on a 2019 Tundra 3” lift and airbags. I don't even notice it except for mpg. I have enjoyed it, been to Idaho and Montana From CO a few times. Did great on the long drives pulling a trailer with the toys. But I have been thinking about simplifying my set up lately to be able to use my truck again.
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Skinhyfish
Observer
What’s your MpG’s
I’m getting solid 11 with tall 35’s and my hallmark. Truck is going for a regear to 5.29’s as soon and I add up the cash
Skinhyfish
Observer
mukker4life
New member
I’m 11-12 as well at a reasonable speed. Running I80 with a head wind at 80mph I get about 8. I have 34”s
rruff
Explorer
I think the better question is whether the Scout would feel too heavy for a Tacoma with upgraded leaf springs.
Granted, the Tundra isn't on par with big kid trucks, but it's certainly up to the task for a 1500lb wet weight camper. Might not be that pleasant to drive without some suspension mods.
Granted, the Tundra isn't on par with big kid trucks, but it's certainly up to the task for a 1500lb wet weight camper. Might not be that pleasant to drive without some suspension mods.
That's a more suited tool for the job. Difference between operating close to max capacity at all times, versus being well within intended parameters. You can do both obviously (no one will stop you), but reliability/durability and safety will be different.
When users comment on "it barely feeling like it's there" it's usually because the weight is within the design parameters of the truck owned. Other reality and sometimes the case, users will have a disconnect with mechanical things in general (not a criticism, just a reality), so even pronounced changes in ride characteristics are not perceived or the full picture is not understood (ie, it's not because the truck is now level with airbags that issues are all addressed and other not created). Obviouy in the case of this comment, it is because the weight is within design parameters; something to think of however when you ask such a broad spectrum of users over the internet.
Airbags add a pronounced increase in spring force deep in the travel that exponentially increases the more they are compressed. A speed sensitive damper (most common current shock technology) cannot deal with a positional increase in spring force without negatively affecting other types of inputs. They will hold the load statically but dynamically airbags are a mess - issues will be exacerbated under dynamic inputs such as dips, ledges, off road situations. Proper spring pack built for the weight is the option to consider.