Hi Matt,
With the short bed Tacoma the FWC sticks out I think about 8". I generally remove the tailgate when we go camping but didn't this past weekend, just because I was in a hurry. The camper rests in the bed of the truck and has no weight on the tailgate. If we were up on trails wheelin' and camping, I'd always remove the tailgate.
Also, when we're on trails or camping for more than just a weekend, I also remove the jacks you see on the side of the camper, as you definitely wouldn't want those catching a tree, rock or anything.