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Slide-in camper for mid-size truck

Original Post
ben jammin · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 852

Hello car camping aficionados. I'm wondering if any of y'all have the pop-up, slide-in camper on a midsize truck (ie Tacoma or Frontier). I recently bought a camper (a Sun-Lite Sky hawk) that weighs 1150 lbs loaded (so it says) but have yet to acquire the truck that will haul it.

I feel like I see people with the taco/camper set up all the time but when I look at the payload max for these vehicles it really doesn't seem like it would work.. I'm getting my info from here (bottom of page).
cars.com/nissan/frontier/20….

I'm wondering if anyone has a similar setup and could share how it handles, how you feel about maxing out the payload and whatnot. I understand I'll need to get airbags for the rear suspension. Do you off-road with the camper on? Nothing too serious but I'd like to get up sustained hills with some 4x4 thrown in (think the road to the Compound in Maple, or some of the more knarly approaches at Indian Creek).

Thanks in advance, if you have a picture that would awesome too. I guess I'm wondering if I can go with the mid-size or do I need the full size (Tundra or Titan).

Ryan Huetter · · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 395

I put a Four Wheel Camper (Fleet model) on my 1998 Tacoma, and although it JUST fit within the payload (weighed 800 dry), and I put airbags on, my truck was not a happy camper.
It does a lot of wear and tear on your engine, brakes, and suspension- the airbags are really only good for sway and leveling. Put gear and another person in the truck with you and you are going to be really straining your truck.
I would say for this size camper going with the full sized truck is the only way to go.

taipan jam · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 30

I have to agree with Ryan. I had a similar rig and it puts a lot of wear and tear on, especially if you are driving lots of offroad
in the hinterlands.

ben jammin · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 852

Thanks for the reply guys. Just as I thought (feared).

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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