It’s every camper’s dream to not only have memorable camping experiences but also be comfortable while at it. For you to have such an experience, you have to find the right truck camper if you own a Toyota Tacoma.
One advantage Toyota Tacomas have to campers is that their compact builds pack lots of power. They also come in different models and variations with different payloads and towing capacities.
Finding the best camper for your Toyota Tacoma may be challenging. Before getting one, ensure your Tacoma can accommodate the camper’s weight. Check your truck’s payload rating, which ranges from 1,150 pounds to 1,620. The payload rating refers to the maximum weight you can safely add on your truck.
In this guide, we’ll review six Toyota Tacoma campers that you may consider buying.
1. Phoenix Mini Max
Mini Max comes as a fully self-contained truck camper with a cassette toilet, grey tank and fresh water tank. You’ll even find a water heater and a shower in the camper. Phoenix Mini Max matches the payload requirements of Toyota Tacomas. Its build quality matches other Phoenix campers.
Other features of the Mini Max include aluminum and composite structure and insulated lower side walls and floors. Its foam board insulation and double-welded aluminum frame make the camper more habitable. Phoenix Mini Max comes as a robust, functional and intuitive camping solution with amenities designed to mimic a small house.
The Mini Max comes fitted with a small kitchenette, a wet-bath, a large dinette forward and a 60×80-inch bed.
Its all-aluminum structure features a tube cage frame wrapped in Crane fiberglass and packed with high-density foam for durability. Other amenities to enhance your comfort include an 8-gallon water tank, an 18-gallon fresh water tank and a Dometic compressor refrigerator (1.9 cubic foot).
Though the default color on the cabinets is birch, you have the option to request more exotic finishes such as bamboo. You’ll find the solar power system (with integrated power inverters and flood lights) suitable for camping.
Other features included in the Mini Max to make camping conducive include Rotopax fuel-water containers, a low profile air conditioner, a rear ladder and roof racks. The Mini Max has a dry weight of 1,180 pounds and a floor length of 7-foot (which can fit a 6-foot bed).
2. Kimbo 6
When you first encounter Kimbo 6, it’s evident that the camper draws influences from Airstream. Kimbo 6 comprises an all-aluminum structure that reminds us of the 1960s Avion truck campers and aluminum travel trailers. The patented single wall aluminum structure comes with R5 foam insulation enhanced with suede. Unlike its 1960s influences, the camper doesn’t feature an aluminum frame.
With fitting aluminum panels (which overlap each other to prevent water leaks), Kimbo 6’s strength is admirable. The camper offers a strong rugged design needed when camping in harsh environments. You can even use it fully when detached from your Toyota Tacoma.
One factor that makes the Kimbo 6 standout from other truck campers is its lack of a rear overhang. The camper is easier to park and maneuver across camping sites.
It’s also lighter and an ideal camping solution for overlanding. Its design matches the payload ratings for Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger. Kimbo 6 also comes with a 6.5-feet headroom, 3-feet cabover clearance and 6-feet floor space.
When fully loaded, Kimbo 6 has a dry weight of 1,100 pounds (which falls within the payload rating of Toyota Tacoma trucks). The truck camper features amenities such as the 54×75-inch bed, removable lift jacks, two social seating couches and a teak mudroom/entryway.
It also boasts of three Arctic Turn double pane windows, a propane bay and a 3-speed roof vent fan. The Yeti 400 solar generator can power the LED lighting bulbs and 12 volt USB ports to enhance your camping comfort.
3. Four Wheel Campers Project M
Project M is a traditional pop-up truck camper with a cabover sleeping area, windows, pop-up roof and upper side walls. Unlike other traditional pop-up truck campers, it lacks an interior cabinetry, lower side walls and camper’s floor. Project M’s interior height is 6’6” from the metal of the bed to the roof.
It resembles a standard Four Wheel Camper from above.
You can fit a King-size or Queen-size foam mattress inside the cabover. Project M is ideal for campers looking for an ultra-light truck camper with a one-piece aluminum roof, aluminum siding, and an all-aluminum welded frame.
Other impressive features are four large windows (with window covers and screens), a 425-pound structure, and insulation on the sides and roof.
Four-Wheel Campers attached solar-powered batteries on Project M. The batteries generate enough electricity to power lighting appliances, phones, computers, and portable refrigerators.
You can use the hitch racks and topside to carry bikes, kayaks, snow skis, and surfboards among others. Project M features interior design elements such as cabinets and drawers to help you organize your camping items.
4. Scout Yoho 6.0
Yoho 6.0 boasts of reduced height, width, and length as well as a lower target weight when compared to its predecessor. It features a ratchet tie-down system and a built-in Renogy Monocrystalline solar panel (160 watts).
Other features include a portable Lifesaver water tank (4.9 gallons), Goal Zero Yeti 1000 lithium batteries, and a Newport 4.5 BTU heating system.
Yakima’s Scout Yoho 6.0 features multiple industry-approved amenities that help enhance comfort and save on space.
The removable add-ons include a dining table, a Dometic propane cooktop, a Dometic CFX3 refrigerator-freezer (75L), and a roof-top pop-up tent. You can use the pop-up tent to double the sleeping capacity if you have friends or family with you.
The 6-foot bed on Yoho 6.0 fits well in a Toyota Tacoma truck. Scout Yoho 6.0 weighs 913 pounds and has a 5’8” floor-length for maximum comfort.
It is also ideal for camping during all four seasons thanks to its robust insulation and propane fireplace. Yakima used composite structural panels, an exo-skeleton shell, and a rugged aluminum shell on Yoho 6.0 for increased strength and durability.
5. AT Overland Summit
The Summit comes as a next-generation camper designed to function as a slide-in camper and a truck camper. It boasts of a spacious yet lightweight structure with diverse features built for comfort for high-end customers.
With a two-people sleeping capacity, the Summit can allow you to work or stand in its lower quarters while your companion is in bed. You also get to enjoy a bed with 3-foot headroom and 80 by 48 inches in dimensions.
If you’re looking for a luxurious camper, the Summit may suit you. AT Overland Summit comes with a 5052 CNC honeycomb composite and aluminum structure for durability. With a net weight of 340 pounds, the camper can carry a cargo of up to 100 pounds on its roof. You can even attach flush threaded fasteners on the Summit to carry camping gear.
The insulation on the roof helps regulate both condensation and temperature. A standard AT Overland Summit model comes with a waterproof, breathable, and fire-retardant canvas.
The model also features light-blocking panes and Thinsulate liners (to match the window openings). Other features that make the Summit ideal for camping across all four seasons include a heater that runs on gas or diesel and a wax-coated canvas.
6. Four-Wheel Camper Fleet
As a pop-up truck camper, the Four Wheel Campers Fleet boasts of a 6-foot bed that fits in medium-sized trucks. It stands out for its simple, lightweight, and durable design and spacious interior. You can purchase the Fleet in layouts such as Front Dinette, Side Dinette, and Rollover Couch. Thanks to its wide range of options, the truck camper can suit your unique camping needs.
The Fleet features a durable aluminum structure with amenities such as a kitchenette (with a sink and two-burner stove) and a 20-gallon freshwater tank.
Other amenities include attractive interior woodwork, a 3-way 1.7-cubic foot reefer, and a 60×80-inch queen-size bed. You even have the option to add an outside shower and a porta-potty as amenities.
The 160-watt solar system mounted on the roof works with the built-in 6-volt dual battery setup. You can use the 10-pound propane tanks as a source of fuel in the kitchenette and the 65-l compressor refrigerator for food storage. With a dry weight of 1,045 pounds, the Fleet comes in different color shades.
Despite its weight, the Fleet won’t hinder your Toyota Tacoma from maneuvering on rough terrains.
Conclusion
As discussed above, truck campers differ in terms of weight, standing height, and amenities. When shopping for one, it’s important to decide whether you want a hard side or a pop-up truck camper. You should also consider the bed size and type of walls (soft-side pop-up walls or hard-side pop-up walls).
Floor plans and types of bathrooms matter when choosing a truck camper. You have a single slide, double-slide, and triple-slide as the floor plan options and dry bath, wet bath, and no bath as the bathroom options. Base your choice for the best truck camper on your camping needs and budget.
