Poptop camper and weight in a Tacoma

[hibernation]

Looking at a Super Pacific camper for my Tacoma, but worried it'll eat up all my capacity and an elk will bottom me out. I was pretty maxed out already with my fiberglass topper, camp, and a big bull last year. For anybody who's got a similar setup, can you still handle an elk with it? How much did you have to mod or upgrade?

I've seen a lot of suggestions but kind of out of my depth here: new leaf springs vs add a leaf, sumo springs, bed stiffeners, etc. I know it's not going to change my GVWR but if it handles just a little better for the occasional heavy trip home, that would be great. The camper would stay on year-round but I'm not looking to haul big payloads constantly - just one elk in the fall. Hopefully. The truck is paid off, new trucks are expensive, so I'm weighing all this against having to buy a full size pickup.

 

[M1SF1T]

Not much available payload on a Tacoma, especially with a camper already on it.

It would be weird to have air bags in that truck and for "occasional heavy trip" I'm not sure how much you're willing to do to the suspension. I guess the camper on full time it can't hurt to upgrade suspension and won't screw up the ride too much. Maybe a stiffer sway bar. Probably lots of opinions on aftermarket on a Tacoma forum.