Just because you drive a smaller truck doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the perks that come with a truck camper. There are plenty of Tacoma campers that you can take on your next outing if you know where to look.
What Camper Fits a Toyota Tacoma?
There are a few different campers you can mount to the back of your Tacoma for your next trip. While this list doesn’t reflect all the campers out there – they’re among some of the best options you’ll have with a Tacoma.
1. KIMBO 6 – Best Overall
While the KIMBO didn’t openly make the KIMBO 6 for the Tacoma, it sure seems like that’s what they had in mind. It fits a long bed Tacoma perfectly and is lightweight enough that you won’t have to upgrade the engine or the suspension system if you have the 3.5L V6 engine package.
The KIMBO camper features an aluminum frame, LED lighting, a skylight, a pop-up interior shower, and even a single burner stovetop. The base package weighs less than 1,000 pounds, meaning that your truck can easily handle it.
In fact, even if you upgrade to the more expensive options, the KIMBO 6 will never exceed the Tacoma’s weight ratings. That’s because a fully loaded KIMBO 6 only weighs 1,100 pounds! It’s a great feeling knowing that you can go and pick out everything you want without having to worry about the weight and if your truck can handle it!
Some of the more unique features are the propane fireplace and multiple insulated windows that give you tons of natural sunlight throughout. The base model KIMBO 6 starts at $20,000, which is an extremely affordable price tag for a high-quality aluminum frame camper.
2. TruckHouse BCT – Premium Option
The TruchHouse BCT is the best Tacoma camper you’ll find. The only problem is that it’s one of the most expensive Tacoma campers on the market. It starts at $285,000, and that doesn’t include any sort of entertainment system or premium features.
A significant portion of that price tag is the truck itself – unlike other camper packages, this one comes with the truck. You buy it off the lot with everything you need to start your adventure! But since the Toyota Tacoma starts at $26,000, it’s hard to justify the extra $260,000 for the additional features they install.
You get an upgraded brake system, a boosted alternator, upgraded suspension, larger tires, and everything else you need to handle all the extra weight!
However, the stage I engine comes with the stock naturally aspirated engine, so you aren’t getting any performance benefits there. Meanwhile, the Stage II package comes with a supercharged V6 that produces 370 horsepower, but it’s still the stock engine at heart.
If price truly is no object, you can upgrade to a system with heated floors, solar panels, captain chairs, a gaming system setup, and so much more. But be aware if you add all these features the price tag can quickly climb to $400,000.
All of the options come with a cooktop and a wet bath, so you are getting a full-sized camper for your midsize truck no matter which design you choose.
It’s a great camper, but unless you need a Tacoma truck along with the package it might be worth looking at some other options.
3. Tacoma Habitat Shell Camper by AT Overland Equipment – The Affordable Option
Instead of a camper that starts at over a quarter-million dollars, why not find one that starts at only $10,000? That’s what the Habitat Shell Camper by AT Overland offers. It’s a built to order camper that will fit your Tacoma perfectly.
While there are tons of optional upgrades, the base model doesn’t lack either. It has a built-in mattress, interior carpeting, an awning, and a solid aluminum construction. Even better, it’s a pop-up camper that you can deploy in as little as three minutes!
While it doesn’t have all the premium amenities like the TruckHouse BCT, if you’re going out camping in the wild, do you really need them? The entire setup is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about finding a dry place to sleep if things take a turn for the worse.
Even better, since the entire camper sits up over the truck bed, you don’t lose access to your truck bed when you’re using it. That gives you tons of extra storage space for those longer trips!
It’s lightweight at only 340 pounds and has plenty of living space inside the tent. Since it’s so lightweight, you won’t have to worry about upgrading your brakes, engine, or any other performance features.
However, you’ll still need a long bed Tacoma as the Habitat Shell Camper won’t fit on the short bed Tacoma.
4. All Terrain Campers – Bobcat – The Mid-Range Option
All Terrain Campers makes a wide variety of truck bed campers, but the one that will fit the Toyota Tacoma is the Bobcat.
The base price is a little more than the Tacoma Habitat, but you get a little more for it too. It’s just under $16,000, but it’s more than just a pop-up camper.
They come with a two-burner stove, a 15-gallon water tank, a sink, an icebox, and even a couch and table! That’s not to say you can’t upgrade to a more premium experience, though.
You can upgrade to get either a 2-way or a 4-way fridge, a powered roof vent, awnings, solar panels, and so much more! Even better, since you get to pick the add-ons that you want, you’re only paying for the features you actually want instead of overloading your camper with features you’ll never use!
5. Four-Wheel Campers – Fleet Model – Not Model Specific
While there are many things to love about Four Wheel Campers and their full camper models, you need to keep in mind they aren’t vehicle specific. That’s not a big deal if you know how to mount them, but it can be a bit of a headache if you’re new to the camping world.
Full-size, Four-Wheel Campers start at just under $20,000, but they come loaded with features. You get a fridge, sink, stove, and additional storage space.
However, if you’re looking for a more minimalist approach, they offer a “shell version” for just over $13,000. But the shell version doesn’t offer any of the features of the full-sized camper. It’s not much more than a sleeping area coupled with a few bench seats.
6. Go Fast Campers – Most Options to Choose From
While we wanted to highlight a single option, we found there were just too many great options to choose from with GFC (Go Fast Campers).
From their Superlite Roof Tents to a more traditional platform tent, GFC has tons of great options to fit your Tacoma. One of the best features of GFC is that their campers are so affordable.
Almost every one of their options is under $10,000. Even better, they’re lightweight, so you won’t need to upgrade everything on your truck to make it work either.
While they are affordable and lightweight, they are still a top-notch option that gives you the ability to hit the open road and enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer!
Keep in mind these campers don’t come loaded with comfort features, so if you’re looking for something more akin to a glamping experience, a GFC camper isn’t what you want.
Build Your Own
If you’re looking to build your own camper, you’re not alone. While it can be a ton of work, it’s also an extremely rewarding process. Not only can you get all the features you want in your camper, but you can also do it for a fraction of the cost!
If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide breaking down how to build your own truck bed camper, there’s a good one to check out here!
Can You Sleep in a Tacoma?
Absolutely! All of the camper options above offer sleeping arrangements, but if you’re looking for a minimalist outdoor experience, there’s no reason you can’t throw a truck bed mattress in the back and sleep that way!
Just keep in mind that if you have a short bed Tacoma, you’ll struggle to find a truck bed mattress or a camper that fits your truck. In fact, most options that utilize a short bed Tacoma require the tailgate to stay down the entire time and lots of extra upgrades so it can handle all the excess weight.
Can You Sleep in a Tacoma Short Bed and What Type of Bed Fits Best?
Toyota offers two different bed options for their Tacoma trucks, a short bed and a long bed. While you can sleep in either option, the long bed provides a much easier transition.
Tacoma long beds offer a 6′ truck bed, which many truck campers can easily accommodate. So, while both truck beds work, Tacoma long beds work much better.
Tacoma Truck Upgrades and Cost
You should consider a few different upgrades if you’re planning on installing a truck bed camper on your Tacoma.
First, you should look at an engine upgrade. While they offer some smaller performance upgrades for your truck, what you’ll likely need if you’re adding a camper is the 3.5L V6.
From there, you should look at upgrading your suspension system. You’re throwing a lot of weight in the back of your Tacoma when you add a camper, and you need a suspension system that can handle it. An excellent place to start is with some Bilstein Shocks, but there are plenty of other suspension components you can upgrade as well.
Finally, you should look into upgraded tires and brakes. The best way to go is with some slotted brakes and ceramic brake pads, but you can’t go wrong with getting bigger brakes either.
For tires, you need something that’s going to get good traction for whatever surface you’re driving on. While you can accomplish this with high-quality tires, to get even more traction, you can get slightly wider tires for extra traction. Just make sure you have enough clearance before buying and installing them!
Is Toyota Discontinuing the Tacoma?
While there had been rumors in the past about Toyota discontinuing their US Tacoma line, they still remain in production today.
In fact, while Toyota recently ended their US production of the Tacoma, they didn’t stop shipping these mid-sized trucks to the US market.
So, whether you’re looking for a new Toyota Tacoma either this year or in years to come, you’re still in luck. Even when Toyota talked about discontinuing the Tacoma, they were only talking about cutting specific models, not the entire Tacoma line.
If you’re interested in the Tacoma, you don’t have to worry about it going anywhere any time soon.
How Many Miles Can a Toyota Tacoma Go on a Full Tank?
According to Car and Driver, the new 2021 Toyota Tacoma can go 480 miles on a single tank. Of course, you can expect that range to decrease dramatically if you’re towing trailers or loading a camper onto the bed of the truck.
Keep in mind that some models like the Series II and Series III TruckHouse BCT offer an expanded fuel tank that allows you to get a little further before you need to stop to fill up. But most campers don’t provide this option.
As a final note, there are ways to improve and diminish fuel economy through optional upgrades. So, while you might get a few extra horsepowers by installing your aftermarket components, your fuel economy might suffer as a result.
The Final Verdict
Just because you have a midsize truck doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time with a truck bed camper. Whether you’re looking for a minimalist design or a camper loaded with luxury features, there’s an option for you.
The most important thing is that you get out there and enjoy a sense of adventure! So, what are you waiting for? Upgrade your Tacoma and hit the open road!
