Newbie Seeking Camper ID - Tacoma TRD Offroad Shortbed

[JoshWilliams]

Hi all I'm new here. Need help with mounting points and turnbuckle setups.

I just found a hard side camper for my 08' double cab short bed tacoma I will be picking it up in two weeks. How do I go about picking an attachment set up? Looks like torklift is the biggest and best but also most expensive. I'm on a pretty tight budget for the time being but need some help with my camper mounting options. Want to be safe and sturdy without breaking the bank.

Any leads/tips would be greatly appreciated.


Best,
-Josh

PS actually not sure what kind of camper it is I will also need help IDing the camper once I get some pictures to load...

http://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/5969517031.html


Here is the camper will be going on a 2008, 2WD, 4D Shortbed TRD Off road with 265/75/16 Cooper AT3 tires

[burningman]

For such a family friendly polite forum, heated opinions do tend to fly, mine included.
However, I don't think anyone said anything here that didn't need to be said.

[GeoBoy]

Reddog1 wrote:
whizbang, I think if someone asks for advice or an opinion, it should be given honestly. To do otherwise would be dishonest. As to being too harsh, we can't control other peoples sensitivity. I don't know why the OP stopped posting but I would not be overly concerned.

Wayne

X2, well said.

[towpro]

hopefully he did walk, the add is still on craigs list.

I bet the COG is just in front of the heater vent.

[Reddog1]

whizbang, I think if someone asks for advice or an opinion, it should be given honestly. To do otherwise would be dishonest. As to being too harsh, we can't control other peoples sensitivity. I don't know why the OP stopped posting but I would not be overly concerned.

Wayne

[whizbang]

Maybe I'm the one who scared him off. My comments were pretty harsh.

I do think he paid too much. For example, a 2000 Sun Lite pop-up just came on CL here it the Northwest. The dealer is asking $4400 and would probably take 10-20% off the price.

The Sunlite is a 2000. The camper the OP was considering appears to be mid-80's or so, twice as old. The Sunlite has a 2 way fridge, furnace, gray tank, battery, 12v and 110 electrical systems. The older camper has none of these amenities.

The Sunlite at $4000 seems to me like a vastly superior option to a mid 80's shell at $3000.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/rvd/5994030944.html The Sunlite is ad is pretty representative of campers that come on the market here. It is by no means a loss leader, give a way pricing deal.

Be that as it may, in the future, I shall endeavor to soft pedal my advice to folks, especially newbies, and especially when it conflicts with what they want to hear.

[Troutguy]

towpro wrote:
its been 3 days since we heard from Josh. Wonder what he decided to do.

He probably got scared off by some of the comments.....never to return again.......

[mkirsch]

If you're going to load it and take it to the scales, then any further discussion is moot. You will either crash and burn on the way to the scales or it will be "Just Fine(tm)" and you'll go on your merry way thinking most of the people here are crazy.

In short, you probably won't crash and burn. People drive total junk vehicles with worn out brakes, bald tires and parts falling off, and they don't get into accidents. The odds are heavily in favor of a safe trip even if you are intentionally creating accident friendly conditions.

[burningman]

I don't think it's been stressed clearly enough that the total weight isn't the issue, it's how far back it is! The truck's total weight rating isn't the question here.
With such a short ashtray, uh, I mean truck bed, your truck will be loading like a seesaw, you'll be adding top heavy weight to the rear and taking weight OFF the front! That's what the handling issue is. If I were you I'd get a small trailer and not a truck camper.

Then there's the fact it's an old and likely rotted camper that you're badly overpaying for!

Having said all that... yes your Toyota will carry that camper. You gotta start somewhere. I had mismatched and overloaded truck/camper combos when I was younger. They worked and I lived to tell about it. I'm just tellling you, it won't be right and you'll want something better matched.

[towpro]

its been 3 days since we heard from Josh. Wonder what he decided to do.

[DWeikert]

Eugarps wrote:
DWelkert,

The operative word is "shop," isn't it? With the new Fourwheel Woolrich Edition coming in at $40,000 +, Fourwheel isn't inexpensive. You've turned up some pretty promising used ones though.

Thanks,

Bill

Re: "shop", absolutely. Those were just the results I hit with about 5 minutes of looking. Wish I could've found one actually in the OP's price range but it's an indication of what's out there and I hoped the search sites I posted would be of help.

[Bumpyroad]

Eugarps wrote:
Bumpy,

Maybe Josh should consider starting with a truck cap and building a sleeping platform and storage into his truck bed. He'd get about the same result but with far less weight. Here's Adventure Trailers' take on a Tacoma top folder and it's just under $9K brand new. Heck, it's not a Host Mammoth but it's a place to sleep off the ground.

The second part of my post after "shop" was "save." That's what I'm doing.

Bill

the RV dealer in Kittrell, NC, had a "bare box" unit that looked like it would be a great place to start on building your own. and you wouldn't be under canvas, if that matters to anybody.
bumpy

[Eugarps]

Bumpy,

Maybe Josh should consider starting with a truck cap and building a sleeping platform and storage into his truck bed. He'd get about the same result but with far less weight. Here's Adventure Trailers' take on a Tacoma top folder and it's just under $9K brand new. Heck, it's not a Host Mammoth but it's a place to sleep off the ground.

The second part of my post after "shop" was "save." That's what I'm doing.

Bill

[Bumpyroad]

the two "good" ones linked to were in the $8-9,000 area and far above his sweet spot.
bumpy

[Eugarps]

DWelkert,

The operative word is "shop," isn't it? With the new Fourwheel Woolrich Edition coming in at $40,000 +, Fourwheel isn't inexpensive. You've turned up some pretty promising used ones though.

Thanks,

Bill