Hi everyone.From searching the Internet it would seem this website would be a great place to start.I'm a retired Firefighter living in Southern California that has enjoyed renting RV's in the past (class C to class A) always involving relatives. Now I'd like to venture out on my own so I'm trying to decide on the best way to do it. There are two different modes I've been thinking about. One is putting a small camper on my Toyota truck, the other is, towing a teardrop camper.My truck is a stock, 2007 Tacoma Access Cab with 60k mileage. From what I've read I will most likely have to modify the truck for camper use, i.e., at least suspension and tires.I really like some of the new tear drop campers I've seen which would allow for use of the truck bed for cargo. But I've also seen some really nice self contained pop up campers that fit the Tacoma bed and negate the need to tow anything.Can you guys with similar Tacoma's chime in as to which way to go and what's involved? Who makes the better Tacome size campers? Who makes the better tear drop campers?Thank you!

The Tacoma and the Casita trailer are a good combination. You get good living space and plenty of room in the pickup for all the additional gear that one accumulates.When it comes to Truck Camping, the truck is everything - it's the starting point for selecting a camper.The slide in campers, plus fresh water and gear demand at least a 3/4 ton truck in most cases.Truck camping in a Tacoma class pickup can be done. The obstacle comes when one wants to upgrade or add additional toys or gear.You might want to do a LOT of reading to see if you should upgrade to a heavier truck to accommodate your longer term goals.

Kewl, it's a trip...While I can't comment on the Tacoma best fit scenario, I can give you an insight on the Tear Drops to Truck Camper thing that I went through.... it's a slippery slope to be sure.I had a Tear Drop, Camp Inn, Kewl, they are trip... While I can't comment on the Tacoma best fit scenario, I can give you an insight on the Tear Drops to Truck Camper thing that I went through.... it's a slippery slope to be sure. I had a Tear Drop, Camp Inn, for apx 6-yrs for weekends (dive campouts) and several longer, 30+ days, trips. Luv'd it, they are the greatest thing since sliced bread for shorter time trips. While some do "Full Timers" they are few and far between. Tear Drop: Limits. They are great in 3-season shorter trips, out and back with a home base. You can adapt to Rain or wind, but when they both team up together, you can get 'Cabin Fever" quickly regardless of how you prep in clothes.. Trying to cook outdoors in that scenario is tricky and gets old 2-3 days out not to mention daily hygiene. Types of Tear Drops, I feel, I may be prejudiced, Camp Inn is the best for universal TD Camping. There are some really kewl "Off Road" TD that are geared up for "Off Road". You've probably seen them on or OFF the road. Higher clearance etc. Camper: I chose, fulltiming, to go with the camper and here comes the slippery slope.. It depends upon what you plan on doing with it... boonie, outback camping/exploring the popup would be best scenario, from what little I've learned. (I just got stuck in mud a few days ago, posted on this forum, and it wasn't pretty)I believe the general starting point is either what "Camper set up" do you want OR... what can your truck carry comfortably as you mentioned, in which case others will gladly chime in.Again, TDs are great and I luv'd them, but not for longer, full timing.Hope that helps a little... just figure out what you want to do and plan accordingly...fun..

I have an older Tacoma, and a similar size older Ranger. I would not try to haul an rv truck camper on either of them. A small camp trailer would be my choice for sure, with these small trucks.

Hey, thanks for the quick replies! I appreciate it.The Tacoma I have was given to me by my elderly Dad before he passed away. It's a stock 4 banger not a v6. It only had 20k on it at the time so I've personally only put 40k on it, it's like new still so I really would rather, if feasible, upgrade rather than sell it. I realize from researching (what I've been doing since posting here :) ) that at least a 3/4 or even 1 ton truck would be more ideal. Great advice on the teardrop's. They look cool, but ya, a few days of bad weather and wet cooking might be a bummer. I've been looking at the Four Wheel Camper Fleet Pop-Up's as a possible solution. Nice slide in campers with cool features. They're website makes it seem that just a rear suspension upgrade and load bearing tires will do,? American RV Company is about two hours from me.My plan is to spend several months just traveling around the States, see the sites, visit some relatives and play my guitar by a campfire, type stuff. So, ya, I'd be living in it for awhile.Questions, 1) FWC seems great, what other pop-up camper manufacturers would you recommend?2) As I mentioned earlier, it 'seems' like I could just upgrade the rear suspension a little, put on some load bearing tires and be good to go, true?Thanks again!Mike

You're asking a lot of a 4 banger Taco to haul anything but your butt around and maybe a passenger.....My advice is its a bad decision to do anything but tow th smallest trailer and even then every hill and headwind will suck big time. Plus you'll basically only have a glorified tent whether you strap a dinky TC on it or pull one of those rolling porta potties.That Taco would however make a great toad behind a smaller nice used class C!

New guy - Where to start? | Good Sam Community

SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
I have an older Tacoma, and a similar size older Ranger. I would not try to haul an rv truck camper on either of them. A small camp trailer would be my choice for sure, with these small trucks.
fpoole
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
Kewl, it's a trip...

While I can't comment on the Tacoma best fit scenario, I can give you an insight on the Tear Drops to Truck Camper thing that I went through.... it's a slippery slope to be sure.

I had a Tear Drop, Camp Inn, Kewl, they are trip... While I can't comment on the Tacoma best fit scenario, I can give you an insight on the Tear Drops to Truck Camper thing that I went through.... it's a slippery slope to be sure.

I had a Tear Drop, Camp Inn, for apx 6-yrs for weekends (dive campouts) and several longer, 30+ days, trips. Luv'd it, they are the greatest thing since sliced bread for shorter time trips. While some do "Full Timers" they are few and far between.

Tear Drop: Limits.
They are great in 3-season shorter trips, out and back with a home base. You can adapt to Rain or wind, but when they both team up together, you can get 'Cabin Fever" quickly regardless of how you prep in clothes..
Trying to cook outdoors in that scenario is tricky and gets old 2-3 days out not to mention daily hygiene.
Types of Tear Drops, I feel, I may be prejudiced, Camp Inn is the best for universal TD Camping. There are some really kewl "Off Road" TD that are geared up for "Off Road". You've probably seen them on or OFF the road. Higher clearance etc.

Camper:
I chose, fulltiming, to go with the camper and here comes the slippery slope.. It depends upon what you plan on doing with it... boonie, outback camping/exploring the popup would be best scenario, from what little I've learned. (I just got stuck in mud a few days ago, posted on this forum, and it wasn't pretty)

I believe the general starting point is either what "Camper set up" do you want OR... what can your truck carry comfortably as you mentioned, in which case others will gladly chime in.

Again, TDs are great and I luv'd them, but not for longer, full timing.

Hope that helps a little... just figure out what you want to do and plan accordingly...

fun..
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2016
The Tacoma and the Casita trailer are a good combination. You get good living space and plenty of room in the pickup for all the additional gear that one accumulates.

When it comes to Truck Camping, the truck is everything - it's the starting point for selecting a camper.
The slide in campers, plus fresh water and gear demand at least a 3/4 ton truck in most cases.

Truck camping in a Tacoma class pickup can be done. The obstacle comes when one wants to upgrade or add additional toys or gear.
You might want to do a LOT of reading to see if you should upgrade to a heavier truck to accommodate your longer term goals.

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