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Living in a Go-Anywhere, Stealth-Adventure Toyota Tacoma Camper
I’ve been going through a lot of my old photos lately and they make me really miss my old 4×4 Ford F150. So this is the perfect time for this guest post about how to live and have adventures in a 4×4 Toyota pickup. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The shell at the dealership
Camper going on the truck.
The camper empty. The 2x4s go across above the wheel-wheels, creating a ‘basement”.
With the plywood lifted up, you can see the basement underneath. He sleeps on the cot to the right and uses the overhead for storage.
I had a larger hatch installed in the front bulkhead as a passthrough to the truck cab, giving me access to 12V power, more ventilation and the truck’s HVAC system.
Later on I left SD to catch a job in OK and then returned to Houston afterwards. I attended to some maintenance items as well as installing SuperSprings to firm up the rear as well as increase the load capacity. I decided on this route vs airbags because of the cost and simplicity advantages. I’m very happy with the ride improvement after the installation.
SuperSprings going on
After this install and enjoying Thanksgiving with my family, I caught a 3 day job up in OK again. Once it was finished, I had time off to relax again, so I decided to go to Colorado and enjoy the mountains..It was about the same distance to go to Estes Park as it was to return to Spring, TX.
Vents being installed.
The camper on the new Tacoma.
When you have this small a space, getting a crew cab adds a huge amount of room!The microwave is on the floor in the back seat.
I later added an ARB 47l fridge/freezer to replace my ineffecient Coleman cooler. I used it recently to drive out to San Diego from Dallas, the food was nice and cold the whole way. Well worth getting if you are vehicle dwelling.
My Scanguage II out of the 2004, set up in the 2008 now. Well worth getting, it really teaches you how to drive for fuel mileage. I set up a 300W inverter for smaller items like my shaver, camera and laptop. Also have USB chargers for my tablet, phone and hotspot.Installed two 12v incandescent drop lights for improved and warmer lighting vs the cold LED dome lights..
Finally got the wheel and suspension upgrades done. Tacoma’s are great trucks with notoriously weak rear springs. Mine was sitting on the bump-stops after the shell was moved onto it. I got SuperSprings again, an add-a-leaf and a 2″ lift f/r. I also bought M/T black Classic Lock 16″ rims, shod with ProComp A/T 265/75/16 tires, upgraded from 245’s. Truck drives great and the speedo is dead on with the GPS now.A little espresso anyone? lol My Brikka moka pot on the camp stove.
My project is substantially complete now. I have since added a remote start security system and have new bumpers on order. This rig isn’t for everyone, but for me, it has satisfied my goal of a go-anywhere stealth vehicle which can be comfortably slept in.
For more details, please follow my link on the CheapRVliving Forum:
http://www.cheaprvlivingforum.com/post/Thinking-of-buying-a-utility-shell-for-a-stealthadventure-vehicle-camper.-5873334?trail=15
I asked William some questions, and these were his answers:
Question: Can you tell the readers some prices?
Answer: The shell was $5345 including AZ sales tax.
PRICE LIST (approximate)
- Microwave $50
- 300W inverter $40
- 1000W Inverter $100
- ARB fridge/freezer $800 ouch!
- Plywood/ 2×4’s $50
- 75″ cot $55
- Honda EU2000 generator $800
- Mr Buddy heater $85
- Small hatches (2) $16 each
- Big hatch (1) $20
- SSA7 SuperSprings $250 ’04 truck
- SSA19 SuperSprings $360 ’08 truck
Question: Was the old Tacoma able to handle the load and is the new one better?
Answer: The 2.4l 4 cylinder with approx 142hp was fine in the flatter areas and OK in a lower gear. You could feel it working on long grades.
The 4.0 V6 has 236 HP and a 5 speed automatic and does fine, though somewhat thirstier. Brakes have been fine on both trucks. For some reason, Toyota sticks with rear drums, even on the newer models.
Question: How much does the shell weigh?
Answer: Haven’t weighed the rig, but I have read the shell weighs 300 lbs. Four shop guys were able to manually move it to the newer truck. At worst I think I’m at 400 lbs of extra stuff, including the contents of the cab.
Question: For the coffee lovers, tell us more!
Answer? The coffee pot is a Bialetti Brikka with a patented head producing the awesome crema. I bought the 2 cup pot from Amazon here: (4 cup)
Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator
I love the results I get. You really don’t need to spend the money on a high end pump model.
Any idea of what kinda mileage the new rig gets?
CAE, sorry, I don’t know. I emailed him telling him I was pooting his story but I haven’t heard back. Hopefully he will chime in and give us some more info. I couldn’t even venture a guess myself.
Bob
CAE, I’ve seen a high of 22 on AZ and less than 15 in wind or hills.
Nice article. I like the way you built out the shell.
Tim, William did a real nice job. I have never worked with fiberglass so I don’t know how to work with it, but it looks to me like it would be harder to work with. Steel and wood are easy because you just drive screws in, but fiberglass is a mystery to me.
Bob
The nice thing about the Durashell transferable truck bodie is that it has mounting points throughout the inside. These are strips of pressure treated wood inside the fiberglass. So you can screw directly into it or drill holes into it without damaging the integrity of the fiberglass composite outside structure.
Rick, thanks for telling us that, I had no idea. That is a very nice touch for them to add! Obviously a well-thought system.
Bob
That’s a great bed/storage setup for truck living. I always like simplicity, and that really looks beautiful to me.
Speaking of simplicity, the shower setup (near the end of the thread) helps for me. I do office or retail type work, so being clean and neat enough to pass in those environments matters. That could be adapted to most vehicles, too. I would have to pay attention to my parking choices, but most urban environments off other shower/cleaning choices of some sort.
Calvin, for me it was as simple as getting a gym membership. It cost $20-$30 a month, but that let me take as many showers as I wanted. It’s almost as easy when boondocking. I just use a solar shower for hot water and a wash basin.
Bob
Not to be negative in anyway…I 100% respect his effort and ingenuity, but:
A few more dollars gets you into a Four Wheel Camper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhxbiIFK4wY
It’s insulated, has a 16000 BTU furnace, lower center of gravity, less wind resistance therefore better gas mileage, and re-sales of used four wheel campers, especially eagles (what fits a Tacoma): Not a problem. Probably would still need springs and airbags, and a bleed over brake valve too. They have “shell” models as well, empty in back except for a cab over bed. You can build your own kitchenette/couch set up to your needs/tastes.
6500 or so gets one into a All Terrain Camper shell model, in case you want to customize your setup. All Terrain is a “rival” pop up truck camper, the same folks who built the four wheel campers before the company was sold in… I think 2001 or so. This is a Bobcat shell model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqLADEik21g
Older used four wheels ( 70’s, 80’s) can go for under a thousand, especially in Colorado. Models that fit Tacomas and similar are however, tough to find…people tend to hold onto their four wheels…
Again, no negativity and I am not affilated with either company.
Hi Dave, no offense taken at all, the Four Wheel campers have a great reputation and a devoted following. There is no doubt about their quality! however, I believe they are much heavier. If his shell is 300 lbs, then I think even an empty Four Wheel camper would be double or even triple that. I think the weight would much more than offset the lower height.
I can’t speak for William, but I am not a fan of pop-ups as a live-in vehicle. While they are great in the heat, they are poor in the cold. And I don’t want to have to pop the top to make lunch or move camp. I understand lots of people love them I am just not one of them.
But that is a good suggestion and I appreciate you bringing it up!!
Bob
Bob
Good points all.
They make something called an “arctic pak”, basically another liner that goes on the inside, creates a dead air space for insulation. This apparently helps alot with both heat loss and heat gain. But, as with all things, the lower center of gravity you get with the pop up, you will trade off in heat/loss gain.
They run about 750-800 lbs dry weight, so you are bang on with your estimation. Add some gear and you could be well over half a ton. Maybe they are better suited to short term weekender trips vs full timing.
Dave, I had heard about the zip-in liners. It seems like it would just add to the “hassle-factor” of pop-ups. It would be hard for me over-emphasis how lazy I am!! I always take the path of least resistance and a pop-up offers lots of resistance!
That extra weight is a huge deal on the mini-trucks. They simply don’t handle it well and if you are driving around with it on 100% of the time, it is going to cause extra wear-and-tear and failures. I am a huge believer in buying a vehicle that laughs at the load you put on it, and does not groan under it. That’s why I own a 1 ton van to pull a 2500 lb trailer. Every time I hitch up I can hear it snicking under its breath and saying, “Is that all you got!!”
But I forgot the main reason a Four Wheel pop-up wouldn’t work for William: he needs stealth. I think the mini-truck pop-ups would be unlivable while down and you just can’t pop them up in the city and have stealth.
But, they really are great rigs and the perfect thing for a lot of people, just not William or me.
Bob
bob on your brakedown blog you asked were Istored my spare parts. on your van look right behind the headlights theire is a small pocket for spare belts .on the fender brace on top of battery Is were Ikeep my toe strap and jumper cables.and behind the battery Is a space for some larger items,under your air filter and on top of the shroud is a place for extra hoses. Itie every thing in place with sip ties some call them wire ties
Larry, that is very creative use of space!! You have my admiration!
Bob
thanks for the insight and comments. I considered a more traditional TC, but decided to go with the Durashell for weight and stealth. the additional features of being a hadside and lower cost against similar new TC’s was the added bonus.
Amazing things here. I’m very glad to look your article. Thank you a lot and I am taking a look ahead to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
I just sent you an email!
Bob
Elinor, I just sent you an email!
Bob
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Bob