Taco for expedition living quarters

[RMP&O]

The basics I was thinking of are a small lift (2"-3"), sliders, a camper top, rack, tires. I've been reading on here about all the different types of lifts and dang, I had no Idea.

What would yall recommend?

Set the truck up for how you want, ie all the things you listed. Do this first and suspension last. You may have a bit of time running around with the truck heavy before suspension gets done, ie yu add this one month, few months later you add that. If that is the case which is what I reccomend you may need to do something like add a leaf just to handle the weight for the time being. Yet, this is cheap and easy to do.


Once you have the vehicle all set up for how you like and your uses then do suspension. Weigh the truck, get a total weight with it loaded and full of fuel, water, ect. Get a front axle and rear axle weight. Then go shopping for suspension. My advice is to buy the best suspension you can afford. Ideally one that is tuneable. Off the shelf kits are just that and you truely do get what you pay for. Most of the high end companies that make suspension for a Tacoma can set the valving and coil rates of your front. Custom leaf springs can be made to your needs and specs for the rear by companies like Deaver and Alcan. Anything else is cookie cutter and may not be ideal for you and your uses since it is manufactured for a wide range of people and their uses.

If you end up real heavy in the rear which you likely will with a camper (FWC) and other stuff plus gear for living out of the truck for months on end. Well, I suggest you looking into quality air bags. Doesn't sound like you need flex or off-road powers so air bags are really nice for heavy loads and light off-roading. They are tuneable on the fly depending on the load you carry which may vary a fair amount trip to trip.

my 2 cents

 

[grntrdtaco]

if you dont end up with a camper there are 2 things that will make your life much more enjoyable.

#1 an awning with side walls. somewhere to go when its raining or extremely windy and you can sleep in it.
I went with the campinglabs one and its great. inexpensive and a quality product

#2 flip up side windows on the shell that you end up getting.
much easier to get in to the storage in the back and if you make a storage/sleeping platform then its just that much better.

i highly recommend getting a new or nearly new shell if you are planning on living out of it. going with a cheap one might end up being a headache if it leaks. + finding one with flip up windows will be hard and i highly recommend them. i ended up selling a nearly new shell so i could get the windoors and i really cant imagine having a shell without them.

 

[southpier]

along these same lines, how can water leaks between the cap & bed be stopped?

 

[gfiero]

my 2 cents

I've tried the shell, the shell and RTT, I now have a Adventure Trailer Flippac and consider it the best solution. not having to exit the camper on a really rainy afternoon and evening and having room to stand is great. the profile is low enough to be stealth. having a porta potti inside is great. you can keep it bare bones or build it up. That's my 2 cents....

 

[RR1]

I've tried the shell, the shell and RTT, I now have a Adventure Trailer Flippac and consider it the best solution. not having to exit the camper on a really rainy afternoon and evening and having room to stand is great. the profile is low enough to be stealth. having a porta potti inside is great. you can keep it bare bones or build it up. That's my 2 cents....

What is great about those, you can be totally stealth with the lid closed, or have open air tent feel to it...most awesome.

 

[rsbmg]

That is about right there with the competition Four Wheel Camper, All Terrain Camper, and The Phoenix.

It takes a lot of $$$ to manufacture something like that, profit margin is still going be tight. Try building one yourself at the same level
of craftsmanship that Marc does, and report back on the money spent.

http://www.xpcamper.com/


Some of you guys are funny, try being in the boat or aircraft "hobby"...overland toys are child's play.:ylsmoke:

First, I am not doubting craftsmanship at all I just dont see that "shell" as being anyplace close to being in the same league as the others mentioned. Also it is priced above those campers.

Hey it looks like a cool product and I can't build one myself but for that price who wants one?

If something costs too much to build and there is no profit in it and nobody buys them because they cost too much then is there some point I'm missing?

Why dont all the folks drooling over that start a group buy see if there are even 5 people who are willing to buy at a discount. Or maybe the margin is to slim.........

Also I have two jeep fenders out back I'm trying to sell. I will let them both go for $3500, and they are not even from the 60's who wants them I take paypal.

 

[rsbmg]

So... are you still enjoying life in the 1960's?

I don't even know what that means. But my truck is a decade newer so perhaps you are the one stuck in time.............

 

[RR1]

First, I am not doubting craftsmanship at all I just dont see that "shell" as being anyplace close to being in the same league as the others mentioned. Also it is priced above those campers.

Hey it looks like a cool product and I can't build one myself but for that price who wants one?

If something costs too much to build and there is no profit in it and nobody buys them because they cost too much then is there some point I'm missing?

Why dont all the folks drooling over that start a group buy see if there are even 5 people who are willing to buy at a discount. Or maybe the margin is to slim.........

Also I have two jeep fenders out back I'm trying to sell. I will let them both go for $3500, and they are not even from the 60's who wants them I take paypal.

I honestly don't think $20K is that bad of price for it. There is a market for it, as Marc is selling his fullsize version, he his building the smaller Tacoma version because of demand. I guess it is all relative. To each their own.

 

[TangoBlue]

20k?:Wow1: Thats either a typo, a joke, I read it wrong or someone has spent way to much time in a closed paint booth. Cut that price by 50% and there may be a buyer for it.

So... are you still enjoying life in the 1960's?

I don't even know what that means. But my truck is a decade newer so perhaps you are the one stuck in time.............

Did I hurt your feelings? I regret it if that's the case. Let me make it up to you. :elkgrin:

Read your statement; read my response... it made reference to an earlier time when costs and pricing were much lower. The price of $20K isn't unreasonable in 2011. I'd actually be suspicious of the quality in material and workmanship if it was offered for half that as you suggested. :chef:

Now can you figure it out? I did type this slowly hoping it would be more easily comprehended by you. :coffeedrink:

Now help me out... I see you are highly skilled in subtraction but what's the relevance of you citing the age of my truck in comparison to yours and the time-space continuum? My 2001 is running very well after 172K miles and I just finished a 9,000 mile trip so reliability is a moot issue. What's your point?

Excessive use of 'smilies' intended.

 

[rsbmg]

True, to each their own. I just think for that price you can get an awesome trailer and live in the lap of luxery.

A trailer can't go as many places as a stand alone truck so if real outbacking was your thing 20k upgrades a truck and buys a whole lot of top notch camping equipment.

I like the concept I just can't see the value. If someone came to me and said I'm going to give you 20k that doesn't need to be paid back but you have to spend it on your truck, I still would't put my money in that shell.

Can anyone explain why having that on your truck would be worth spending 20k? Again I'm not questioning the craftsmanship or the design in fact I'm not even questioning that perhaps the materials and the time involved may in fact cost him 20k to make. What I am questioning is the value.

If someone came and said I just built this really nice bumper out of space age materials and its on sale for 5k I would ask why is it better than other bumpers? Then if it was better than other bumpers I would ask is that benefit over other products worth the money. Then I would ask is my money best spent on that benefit?

The bottom line is he is asking 20k for a campershell. Campershells cost 300 bucks on craigslist and you can put the same junk inside it. The only thing I see here is a pop top with a bed as being the "hey thats cool" thing. So If I can get a flippac for 4k, or I can buy any number of rtt's for less thans 25% of the cost of this shell. I arrive back to the same conclusion.

I like what he is making the price tag just doesnt make sense to me. Maybe a "shell only" version would make more sense perhaps I'm not seeing the value of the accessories inside. I dont know. 6k for a shell only and I may come around.

 

[sooperdooper]

i highly recommend getting a new or nearly new shell if you are planning on living out of it. going with a cheap one might end up being a headache if it leaks. + finding one with flip up windows will be hard and i highly recommend them. i ended up selling a nearly new shell so i could get the windoors and i really cant imagine having a shell without them.

I do plan on getting a new top. I'm going to keep it a while and I think it would be worth it.

I'm leaning more towards one of the "Commercial" type toppers. Similar to this one:

I built one on A.R.E.'s website and should get a rough quote back soon. I designed it 29" high, a toolbox door on the drivers side for quick access to tools, small items, etc.., and a windoor on the passenger side. The rear has 2 regular doors with windows and I asked for a rack on top.

 

[sooperdooper]

WTH!? Just got a quote back for $3150!

 

[SuperCal]

WTH!? Just got a quote back for $3150!

Seems about right, I was originally going to go the cap route but after seeing how much they run equipped the way I wanted i just went out and bought a FourWheelCamper. Couldn't be happier, having my home away from home with me wherever i go makes spontaneous trips oh so doable...

 

[RR1]

WTH!? Just got a quote back for $3150!

Yeah that is about right, Callens are in that price range.

http://callencamper.com/

Look on the used market for deals. Exterminating companies use them, might find a deal when they get new service trucks.

Sorry about the odd picture, only one I could find with the service top on exterminating trucks. Truly Nolen and Northwest use Tacomas...might be worth a call to one in your area, could have one off a truck sitting in their service yard.

 

[robert]

I'll put my vote in also for the access cab or double cab. It's nice to be able to throw your junk behind the seat and keep a bit more clutter out of the back. I've tried the platform but can't stand being that close the roof and stuck with sleeping on truck bed level which further restricts your storage. I prefer to be able to sit up and move around/change clothes easier. Just my preference. I bought the cab-high for the current truck but really wish I'd bought the one that was a couple of inches higher; I also wish I'd have gotten the windoors. Bloody things have gone up in price since I bought mine though.

Another plus for the extra space in the cab is you can keep some emergency gear in there. I travel alone most of the time even when in the backcountry and I keep certain supplies in the cab in case I'm in an accident and can't leave the cab for some reason. These include food and drink and equipment to keep me warm. I also keep a small magnetic strobe in the door pocket that I can stick on the roof if need be.

For longer trips with mixed climate (i.e. needing bulky cold weather gear for part of the trip) or when carry kayaks and/or bicycling gear I sometimes throw the Yakima box on top as it frees up a bunch of room although at the expense of a MPG or two.

A simple OME suspension should work fine for you; I've got no complaints about mine and I've carried plenty of gear including a DRZ on a hitch carrier with no problems. I bought the helper springs at the time I bought the lift but haven't bothered to install them.

The other thing I'd recommend for solo travel is a second battery.