Tacoma Confessions

[CBone]

Yes, if you want to make the truck camper your base camp and spend a few days wheeling and exploring it is easily done. You have four legs that bolt to the side of the camper, you untighten your turn buckles, lift the legs, drive out from under the camper, lower the camper and welcome to home for a few nights.

I'm able to remove my camper in less than 30 minutes and put it back on in about 45, max.

In responding to a few other comments, the floor is reinforced 3/4" plywood. And, it is balanced in such a way that you can have two adults and a child in the bed uptop, on a windy night and the camper would never tip over onto it's nose.

When I store the camper at home, I have built a system to both reinforce the floor, so to speak but more so to support the weight of the camper. When we're sleeping in it, I like to take the weight off the four legs and put it on the platform I've built. But, the platform stays home and when we're on a trip where the camper serves as a basecamp, the factory floor and the bolt on legs work just fine.

I believe the option of removing the camper to make it your basecamp is built into the design of the camper itself, the floor and the bolt on legs.

Wil Morgan, who owns the Tundra and FWC and wheeled it at CruiseMoab, took his camper off after their first day on the trail, had their deluxe accomodations at Slick Rock Campground in the evenings and were easily able to take off and put the camper back on to head home.

It's really very easy to do and again, there are no problems associated with doing so. Both Wil and I have commented the only potential issue is someone raising the legs of your camper, driving underneath and making off with it. But, again, there are ways to prevent that, as well.

More pics when I return from work travel--don't keep the fun pics on the work computer

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

Yes, if you want to make the truck camper your base camp and spend a few days wheeling and exploring it is easily done. You have four legs that bolt to the side of the camper, you untighten your turn buckles, lift the legs, drive out from under the camper, lower the camper and welcome to home for a few nights.

I'm able to remove my camper in less than 30 minutes and put it back on in about 45, max.

In responding to a few other comments, the floor is reinforced 3/4" plywood. And, it is balanced in such a way that you can have two adults and a child in the bed uptop, on a windy night and the camper would never tip over onto it's nose.

When I store the camper at home, I have built a system to both reinforce the floor, so to speak but more so to support the weight of the camper. When we're sleeping in it, I like to take the weight off the four legs and put it on the platform I've built. But, the platform stays home and when we're on a trip where the camper serves as a basecamp, the factory floor and the bolt on legs work just fine.

I believe the option of removing the camper to make it your basecamp is built into the design of the camper itself, the floor and the bolt on legs.

Wil Morgan, who owns the Tundra and FWC and wheeled it at CruiseMoab, took his camper off after their first day on the trail, had their deluxe accomodations at Slick Rock Campground in the evenings and were easily able to take off and put the camper back on to head home.

It's really very easy to do and again, there are no problems associated with doing so. Both Wil and I have commented the only potential issue is someone raising the legs of your camper, driving underneath and making off with it. But, again, there are ways to prevent that, as well.

More pics when I return from work travel--don't keep the fun pics on the work computer

Very cool!

 

[AxleIke]

Can't comment on the ability to be in it w/out the truck but my folks just pack it away and drive off. Takes about 5 mins to drop the roof and latch it down. About 5 mins again when you get back to camp. The 4WC is a really sweet set up.

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

 

[CBone]

That pic is Chris, the guy who runs Rocky Mountain FWC's old truck and camper. He's moved up to a big ol Dodge I think and is making it a flatbed camper.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Goodness, I can't imagine the money tied up in that nice Tacoma.

 

[CBone]

To confuse you even further, there's also a flatbed model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEunjijCzcc

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

Getting closer... I hear the 2017s might be out as early as late July/early August..

 

[OilHammer]

To confuse you even further, there's also a flatbed model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEunjijCzcc

I personally think the aluminum flat beds are a great idea. Once you get over the look being different, I think you find the functionality of it far exceeds the factory bed. Ever tried to have a forklift set a full size pallet of something in the back of a factory bed? How about a full size 4 wheeler in a small bed? How about being able to strap down just about anything without worrying about denting or scratching the body? There's been some major progress in the looks of the flat beds, especially now that they offer storage bins underneath and modular camping pods that you can "clamp" on.

On another note, saw an early taco with a flippac coming back on 285 yesterday. I googled that and found this: http://adventuretrailers.com/campers/toyota-habitat/
yet another variation to noodle.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Seriously, Barry, does anyone /not/ think Toyota should offer a factory flat bed option? I'd happily get rid of that factory bed. I've been fighting a creak in mine that seems to be the interaction of the composite floor and the steel reinforcements in the mount points. White lithium grease, Red & Tacky, Kroil, nothing seems to last very long. I'm not super impressed with the 2nd gen bed, much too "refined", not truck-enough.

 

[CBone]

I love the flatbed, both as a bed option for your Taco, but also the camper option.

 

[DaveInDenver]

That aluminum camper/gray Taco absolutely nailed it.

 

[Jacket]

I see this guy all the time in Boulder.

 

[OilHammer]

That aluminum camper/gray Taco absolutely nailed it.

Almost. This nailed it for me: http://www.norweld.com.au/portfolio-items/toyota-landcruiser-canopy/
I like the lines of them when they have the compartments underneath.
This one is half painted to match, which I dig, but I don't like the polished bits that much. At least the chunky lines of the tray match the 70 body lines pretty well.

And:

What's weird is that the height of the tray seems to vary. If you look at the body lines on the cab, the tray on the red one is high, but on the grey one, it's spot on.

Toyota doesn't seem to think that aluminum trays here would sell. Any opportunity to charge more, for an option that costs less to make, you would think they would be all over.

 

[DaveInDenver]

That one on Norweld is really cool. I prefer XtraCabs over Double Cabs, don't need back seats or the cab space, so it's just wasted in my layout. That gray Tacoma is pretty much what I'm driving towards eventually. That was the plan with Imelda but it just never came together. Now I have more of a blank slate, lower miles (thus I will have longer!) and should have access to all the tools to build the tray that's been swirling in my head for like 10 years.

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

I see this guy all the time in Boulder.

Ralston get me a close up of this one of these days.. I like the minimalist style of this one, nice departure angle... Would work great on the HITR....

 

[CBone]

Chris, that's a Ute bed. Company is out of AU but now here in the US, up in the PacNW.

http://www.uteltd.com/

These guys will make you a custom bed, as well: http://www.alumline.com/

 

[CBone]

Living the dream!
https://vimeo.com/144813667

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

I found out that production on the 2017s starts early August. You can order one now if you want.

I am waiting to see the difference in specs for the 2017s, if not much difference, will get a 2016 and hopefully a better deal.

This color and wheel set growing on me..

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

Was not planning on buying today specifically but was surfing the internet and hit the Edmunds site. After a few clicks I had some very interesting offers.

Mountain states offered 3000.00 below MSRP for a new DBSB TRD Off Road, Magnetic grey.

Came with Premium tech and JBL, Tonaeu cover.. I added all weather mats and clear bra..

I have been watching Tacoma World's MSRP/invoice site and deals vary but this was one of the better I have seen.

I decided to lease vs buy. Pretty happy with the lease payment. I think I may have gave back about 500.00 in the end, not on purpose but still low lease, low 300s per month payment.

Really odd thing happened though.. I called ahead, they had the vehicle lined up for me, we start looking at it and another guy starts hovering with another sales rep.. We were about to take another taco for a test drive because the one I wanted was not prepped yet and the sales guy walks up to the one I was just looking at and starts pulling the vin sticker off the windshield..

My sales guy says hey this customer is making a deposit right now..

So we skipped the test drive, I had already test drove a few months back.
We go in to the sales floor, I try to give a deposit, they don't take it, we start working on the pricing deal, etc,.. Here comes the other sales guy doing the same thing on the same vehicle..

I had to kind of rush my decision on the lease, or I would have lost the vehicle. Thanks to another lease offer from another dealership, I was able to say no to their first offer and negotiate the lease down significantly to wear I wanted but still was a bit nervous to nail it all down, that quickly. My sales guy was literally running to the sales desk. Beat the other guy buy a few minutes.. The customer then comes over and shakes my hand and says you beat me out of that car, nice job and leaves the dealership..I did kind of feel bad but I had called in the morning for that specific vehicle, they had my offer all written up in advance and waiting for me. I noticed a few weeks back there were a bunch of these in this color set up but over the last few days, looking seemed like most were gone.

The lot had at least 30 Tacos but only one like the one I was after and I guess that guy also..Never had that happen before.

No pics yet, I should have but could not take home, the prep team had left for the day, so can't pick up until Monday Morning.

Really excited, glad I did not wait, I doubt I would have got the same deal on a 2017.

Can't wait to add some mods soon!