Hello folks,I am considering buying a 2008 Toyota Tundra Doublecab long bed 4 x 2 pickup and a Travel Lite 625 truck camper. I want to make sure that I won't have an overweight problem. I will be the only passenger. I weigh 160 lbs.Here are the specs for the pickup in pounds:GVWR: 7000GAWR: 8050Curb Weight: 5345Payload: 1655Reserve axle capacity: 2705FAWR: 3900Curb weight front: 3080Reserve axle capacity front: 820RAWR: 4150Curb weight rear: 2265Reserve axle capacity rear: 1885Here are the specs for the camper:Dry weight: 1285 lbs9 gallon fresh tank. No grey or black tanksFloor length 6.2 feetI want to have the camper all the war forward so as to have a deck utilizing the remaining bed and tailgate.The center of gravity will be way forward, at least 12 inches from the rear axle. The Toyota manual says to keep the center of gravity within a few inches of the rear axle.Will I be okay with weight if I keep my stuff to a minimum and will the forward center of gravity be a problem? Anything else I should be concerned about?Here is a write-up on the camper if you're interested: http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/tcm-exclusive-2016-travel-lite-625-super-liteThanks for your advice.

Does the Tundra have P rated tires? If so, I would probably upgrade to E rated and maybe add airbags and you should be fine.Gman

The real variable will be the actual weight of the camper. Spec weight and real world weight is often drastically different. Batteries add weight, propane tanks add weight. Experience would lay odds that you could easily end up a couple hundred pounds over weight. But that may or may not be the end of the world as there are a lot of folks here with tens of thousands of miles on their rig and all been slightly over published weight limits. With a couple suspension modifications, you might be fine.

Dry weight on that camper is going to exceed available payload on the Tundra. Horrible match.

Grodyman wrote:Does the Tundra have P rated tires? If so, I would probably upgrade to E rated and maybe add airbags and you should be fine.GmanYes, it does have P rated tires. Good suggestion.

I just sold my Travel-lite Mountain Star 800. The posted weight was within 100# of the actual!So you should be good to go, just watch what you add.Yes better tires do help, and Air Bags are a must, but get the ones that have an internal bumper so you don't have to have air in them.You might need new better shocks, I did all the above, as well as put most of my stuff in a utility tiny trailer.

Weight Concern | Good Sam Community

46 Replies

Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
For what it's worth i love toyota trucks but before i bought a tc i saw tundra's just loaded with a bed load of wood and it was sitting real low. I've got a ram 3500 and am with in me weight carrying capacity and I will be getting air bags.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2015
myway_1, I am very pleased that your thread has been positive. Lots of good feed back without the typical Trolling and Flaming BS. I congratulate those members that that posted. From a moderators (and members) point of view thanks.

Wayne
Moderator
billtex
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2015
myway_1 wrote:
My post wasn't very clear. I will be going with a Ford, GM or Dodge 250 / 2500.

Just sayin' ...you have decided to go with an HD truck. Get the 1 ton...
No advantage to the 3/4 ton.

Bill
myway_1
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
My post wasn't very clear. I will be going with a Ford, GM or Dodge 250 / 2500.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Dec 18, 2015
myway_1 wrote:
Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. Your advice is much appreciated. If I decide to go the route of a truck camper I will go with a gas powered, rear wheel drive heavy duty truck.

Now that the decision has been made, I will tell you that the reason I wanted a Tundra is the terrific rating they get in terms of cost and frequency of repairs from the survey that Consumer Reports subscribers submit but I doubt if many of those people haul a truck camper or heavy cargo with their vehicles.

One, or both of these is the problem:

1. Toyota doesn't make a heavy duty pickup truck.

2. Camper manufacturers do not produce a product that is TRULY workable on a light-duty pickup. The "dry" unit would have to come in at under 1000lbs, and have the amenities that people expect. Such a thing may not be possible without using exotic lightweight materials, which then price the camper right out of the market.
myway_1
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
Rear wheel drive meaning 2 wheel drive. Sorry about that.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 18, 2015
Maybe 2wd instead of 4wd?
jmtandem
Explorer II
Dec 18, 2015
rear wheel drive

I am a little unclear why this comment. None of the GM, Ford or Ram heavy duty trucks are front wheel drive. They are all rear wheel drive.
rottidawg
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
My Jan 16 CR has satisfaction rating of trucks:
Chevy 2500HD 80%
GMC 2500HD 80%
Ram 2500 80%
Toyota Tundra 77%
Ford F250 75%
myway_1
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. Your advice is much appreciated. If I decide to go the route of a truck camper I will go with a gas powered, rear wheel drive heavy duty truck.

Now that the decision has been made, I will tell you that the reason I wanted a Tundra is the terrific rating they get in terms of cost and frequency of repairs from the survey that Consumer Reports subscribers submit but I doubt if many of those people haul a truck camper or heavy cargo with their vehicles.

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Weight Concern

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