Needing lots Opinions Old Small Truck - New Micro Trailer

[Photogal39Travels]

This is a 2 part question: Solar & Truck/Mini Camper
I need help figuring out how much solar I need.
I haven't bought solar stuff yet. I did buy Dometic Cool/freeze Cf-18 12 volt frig.
I have tried the calculator @ Renogy. Its confusing. This is what I have and specs.
Battery in the gaming laptop - 11.1v - 90wh - approx 3 hrs battery life
Laptop wall charger: Input -100--240 v - 2.5 A - Output - 19.5 v - 6.7A
Smartphone - 3630 mAh battery - I use the phone mostly as a data hotspot for the laptop.
Domectic Frig - 35watts - 2.9 amps
Backup portable DVD player - DC-IN 9v -.08A, 110-240v - 50/60Hz
12 volt roof vent fan - down the road if I need it. - not sure how much it draws
I read/watched, that I may need at least 200 watts. I'm looking @ the suitcase to keep
weight off the trailer. I want a sealed AGM battery. I want to have enough solar that I can
use the laptop a lot.

Truck & Mini Camper
I've been pretty happy living in the back of my truck with regular fiberglass
camper shell. I want to camp host and a lot of these places want you to not be
living in back of a truck with camper shell. So, I was thinking get a mini trailer.

I bought a approx 687lb or less 4x8 BaseCamp Runaway mini camper. I had them
added cubby holes and solar prep, 2 - 12 volt accessory plugs.
Truck is 23yrs old, 187787 miles - 1 owner - Toyota Extended Cab Pickup
with regular fiberglass camper shell. Truck & camper picture is similar to mine
Automatic transmission
22RE 4 cylinder
2.4L 2wd
142 hp @ 5,000 rpm
160 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm
Max. Towing capacity 3,500 lbs.
Max. Tongue weight 350 lbs.
I've added helper springs & transmission cooler

I'll be carrying - 9gals of water when full - 1000watt generator, 1 gal of extra gas
& approx 1000lb of my things I'm not 100% sure of this, guessing.
I read in the forums I can go in OR to a closed weight scales and the
weight scales should be open. I want to see how much this all weights.

I read & was strongly advised that I really wont be able to go Flagstaff AZ, Leadville, CO,
anywhere on I 70 or anything really higher than approx 7,000 feet in elevation as the truck its self
let alone the trailer weight will struggle badly & I will damage the truck for good. Is this really true???

Thanks

 

[bullfrog]

I have a 2013 2.7 4x4 standard trans Regular Cab Toyota Tacoma with a wedge shaped fiberglass topper pulling a 6' x 8' trailer I estimate with gear to weigh 1500 lbs. It is a tall trailer with a slanted front on the box that extends 2' above the topper. I never use 5th gear when towing and can maintain 55 MPH to 60 MPH on the flat but hills require 3rd gear at 4500 RPM to maintain those speeds. When I travel from Tucson or Quartsite I stay west coming up through Parker to Kingman then to Flagstaff on I-70 to avoid the long climbs going directly north. Toyotas with standard transmissions can pull amazing loads for short distances but automatics tend to over heat the cooling capacity of the truck causing both the trans and motor to be damaged. I have never had any problems but I make sure I pull off and check fluids and temps often and avoid long grades. The lower profile on your trailer should help at highway speeds but with the additional weight of solar and gear the load on the automatic trans truck, especially an older one, would make me start looking for a larger truck. By the way my gas mileage drops from 20 MPG to as little as 15 MPG when towing. I feel I would be better off with a V6 automatic with a factory tow package Tacoma if I towed all the time. It's my opinion you will be asking too much of your truck.

 

[John61CT]

Yes it's the long-climb hills that will get you.

Temp gauge and extra radiator on the tranny will help you to some extent, but just means in killer hot weather you may only be able to drive 20-30 minutes out of each hour.

Stick to flat lands, no problems.

 

[Photogal39Travels]

Thank you, bullfrog

 

[Photogal39Travels]

Thank you John61CT

 

[Photogal39Travels]

I love the mountains, Tetons, Leadville, Flagstaff, I should have waited and saved up the money for v6 4x4 Toyota with a small slide in camper like the guy that had the green Tacoma that Bob Wells interviewed. He sold it for bigger setup.

 

[akrvbob]

Yes, you can go to those places! Just take the routes that leave you with the fewest bad hills and take it easy on the worst ones. No big deal!! In fact, maybe it's a blessing to have a 4cyl that forces you to slow down--all the better to smell the roses as you drive by!

 

[tx2sturgis]

I cant say for sure but maybe the Toyota owners here will know if there is a shorter ratio rear end available for your truck. 


This would raise the RPM a bit but provide a bit more 'pulling power' if you plan to tow that trailer a lot.

 

[Ballenxj]

I found the perfect trailer for you.
https://boise.craigslist.org/rvs/6189434078.html
Or maybe not.

 

[Photogal39Travels]

Thanks Bob! You made my Day, my Week, my Year/s :-}

 

[Photogal39Travels]

tx2sturgis, yes, I will be towing all the time. It my home. Thank for the info. I'm hoping more people, Toyota peeps do chime in. I welcome suggestions and advise. :-}
Thank you everyone...

 

[Photogal39Travels]

Ballenxj, kind of cool looking. :~)

 

[[email protected]]

Photogal39travels, I know you will really enjoy your truck and camper combo. I built a 40"w x 84" long teardrop this spring and sold it in just a few days of advertising it. The lady who bought it has a mini van and lives in Grand Junction Colo. She called me the other day to let me know that the trailer pulls like a dream. 

 
Enjoy all of your travels. Jeff

 

[Ballenxj]

Ballenxj, kind of cool looking.  :~)

Actually, it is, isn't it?

@ jbent 1, that should make you feel good about your work.

 

[tx2sturgis]

tx2sturgis, yes, I will be towing all the time. 

If you can find out the gearset that is in the rear diff, it might be able to be changed.

Normally you can find out this information from the VIN number, there should be a number in the VIN for the ratio, engine size, etc.

Sometimes there is a number or a marking on the rear-end housing that can indicate the ratio.

Sometimes the VIN info can be found online, or certainly at a Toyota dealership.

If it CAN be changed, you would also need to have the transmission speedometer drive gear changed to correct the speedometer reading for the new gears...so it can be a bit of a pain to get this done. It depends on your situation.

Any good auto repair shop or 4x4 garage can do the swap, all it takes is you know...money!

There might be a limit to what can be done, but it's worth looking into.


Here is some information to get you started:


http://www.lcengineering.com/LCTechPages/TECHGEARJANUARY.html

http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/tech/toyota-differential-identification-18588.html

 

[Photogal39Travels]

Sweet Trailer!!! Thanks for sharing...