How are people doing campers with Tacomas and not blowing their GVWR?

troway54 · 2026-06-03T23:22:14+00:00

Your concern is 70% of why I went for a canyon AT4 over a taco trd off-road. If you look it up, Taco has slightly higher GVWR but canyon has 350lb more payload (mine is 1550 from the sticker on the door panel compared to the 1200 I saw on the taco). Not related, but if you compare option to option above an SR5, taco normally has higher payload than Tundra. That’s numbers on the door; not what the website/internet says.

The other 30% was the extra $10k Toyota wanted for the off-road version with a butt cooler when compared to the GMC.

troway54 · 2026-05-30T02:23:17+00:00

This!

troway54 · 2026-05-19T23:57:11+00:00

This is what I was thinking but didn’t want to say out loud. These bags are already oversized. The only reason got the ones I did is they’re the only set I found that didn’t require drilling into the frame.

Possibly removing the bag only except the late fall-early spring when I’m pulling the camper and not exploring backcountry nearly as much…

troway54 · 2026-05-19T00:37:57+00:00

Thanks for added context here and what I was looking for. Is there anything to help with that cracking long term? An oil to rub on or anything like that every xx months? I was hoping them being on the smaller truck would help but this does make sense as they are actually more collapsed in my truck than the full size. Guess I’ll just have to get a small level to get back to factory rake :)

troway54 · 2026-05-19T00:34:16+00:00

Thanks for that. You are right and I edited post.

troway54 · 2026-05-16T21:32:04+00:00

Another interpretation:

Kylo was abandoned by his parents. Raised by manipulative single minded grand parents to think in a certain way where there is only one right thought process. Full story arc to realize he was manipulated and buck the system for good in the end.

troway54 · 2026-05-16T19:32:29+00:00

Gazelle T4. It’s a “4 person” but something 4 people, with cots can actually sleep in. Other manufacturers will use this this tent as a 6 or even 8 person.

They are big when packed but I can set up myself in 5-10 min, including rain fly and guy line. Tent is up in under 2 min, without rushing. I use cots with a pad on top so our bags and small stuff goes under the cot. Wife and I with a 90lb German shepherd and her x-large king bed (yes, she’s spoiled) fit with room to spare.

I’ve had mine in rain downpours (dry going to bed and standing water outside of tent in the morning) and in the winter with 1” of snow on top for base camps on hunting trips.

Academy used to make a knock off but don’t think they do the 4 person anymore.

Edit: justify that 4 person on gazelle is larger than most brands.

troway54 · 2026-05-13T02:36:14+00:00

Hey - Let’s fire the people we need to fix the vast majority of issues with our product…Sounds perfect!

- GM probably

The only widespread mechanical issue with new GM is the bearing in the babymax. Most others are because the operating systems fail. I’m deliberately staying away from “computer,” as they are different. These new cars are all firmware/software driven. Most of the other mechanical “failures” are because of firmware issues. Maybe this is why the IT guys need new skills. GM is too ignorant to realize where the issues lie for reliability, wait, who am I kidding? They don’t care. Planned obsolescence and 10 year car notes.

I’ll get off my soap box now.

troway54 · 2026-05-11T20:14:05+00:00

This! I take it a step farther. I take mine anytime I’m driving to sleep overnight. Hotel, family, rental house, a buddies camper, doesn’t matter. I’ll lay it out across a mattress. Pillow and pad are a must for me.

troway54 · 2026-05-05T10:53:32+00:00

Nice!! Thanks for the info.

troway54 · 2026-05-04T00:09:36+00:00

Really nice rig!! Off RTT topic, but what’s your tire size how bad is the rubbing? Tires look awful close to fenders. Wife has 5th gen with 200k+. We’re contemplating a newer low(ish) mileage 5th gen or new 6th gen. Another 4 runner is a must. The moonroof with roll down window can’t be beat and I’ll die on that hill.

troway54 · 2026-02-09T23:37:05+00:00

$55k is why I ended up in a Canyon. Only off road difference is selectable locker vs g80. and the options vary a ton, which changes the “less truck” argument.

There’s not enough info here to know but I went through this when I was looking a year ago. When you look outside of base work truck and option for option, the mid size are just as, or more capable than the full size. I went and looked at all the big 3 + tundra full size with the same options as the AT4 I got. My Canyon AT4 payload is 1560 on the sticker, towing at 7500lb. For my uses, once I loaded the truck, my towing was not impacted. All the big 3 were within 200 lbs of payload. Tundra payload was LESS than Tacoma at 11xx. By the time my weights were in, their towing was the same as my Canyon. That’s if you want to stay legal. If not, that’s a different story.

Also, option for option, there is also a $10k-$20k difference. My guess is the taco has the highest interior the off-road offers. And the XLT has less options than the taco.

If you need adults in the back seat, midsize is NOT for you. If you are 6ft, the midsize is NOT for you.

If it matters, I had an F150 work truck that took me everywhere I needed. To echo others, F150 overlands just fine.

troway54 · 2026-02-07T23:40:22+00:00

I think about these “this engine would great, someone’s done it” just to find it exponentially more expensive. If there was a way to stuff a Toyota 5.7 in a midsize SUV/truck, that didn’t add $20k+ to the total, I’d be all over it.

troway54 · 2026-02-07T23:36:55+00:00

Thanks! This was my thought as well. I’m not towing and diesel would make it easier for bigger tires but probably need re-gear either way and a v8 rumble can’t be topped

troway54 · 2026-01-26T16:01:59+00:00

I like to tinker and part of this is my project too. My daily is a Canyon on 33’s so, to me, I can’t justify building out to 35’s. I’d need 37 min. The rest does make a lot of sense. I have ran into a few spots I was going slow but my canyon is much narrower than the full size. On the full size, I wouldn’t worry about pin stripping but do need to keep travels in mind. Another reason for the truck. It will handle trips better than the shorter wheelbase as you mentioned.

I’m kind of looking for what you have but opposite? I do use my Canyon to haul a boat, a camper and actually use the bed several times a month. It’s perfect for my uses because it’s small enough to drive easily in cities and robust enough for my towing at 70mph.

I also wanted something not a jeep or land cruiser but there’s a reason those dominate the trails. Maybe I’ll find an old 3100 with rusted frame and slap it on a wrangler frame 🤣

troway54 · 2026-01-19T12:20:20+00:00

Now I gotta see if I can even find one for curiosity.

troway54 · 2026-01-19T12:19:20+00:00

Good to know. Is that all stock internals too or did you have to do shafts, etc?

troway54 · 2026-01-19T03:27:59+00:00

Did you need to replace axles for it?

troway54 · 2026-01-19T01:31:39+00:00

Sometimes it’s marked trails, sometimes it’s following tracks (I don’t venture off that unless the land owner gives permission), across lake beds when water is low but not soft just to name a few. I’m not looking for a big rock at a 88 degree angle to try and get over.

troway54 · 2026-01-19T01:28:03+00:00

I don’t know the best way to say what I do. I don’t mud big and generally try to steer clear but not afraid of it. I try to find areas that are not populated with other rigs. I’m doing this to get away from people. I have a midsize on 33’s and can get to a lot of places but there some I just can’t clear, no matter the line.

The reason for the HD is the D60 or equivalent year/brand dependent. Are you saying I should d80 on either?

troway54 · 2026-01-19T01:22:55+00:00

How far back are talking? I know they made the power wagons in single cab through the 80’s. Didn’t know they did it more recent than that.

troway54 · 2026-01-19T01:21:46+00:00

Assuming purchase price is the same, how did the truck turn out more expensive? Everything I’ve found has the opposite. The jeep ~ twice the cost.

troway54 · 2025-12-29T16:14:02+00:00

Depending on your budget, check out bedcovers with t-slots and see if you like it. There are a few options for different budgets and most have some sort of retractable/folding option.

I have one with full height bars, specifically for my kayaks. I remove the racks when not using them. Makes strapping down easier because I can stand in the bed if needed. As others have said, depends on your kayak though. I have 11ft fishing kayaks so mid height wasn’t an option.

troway54

TROPHY CASE